Vuki's experience with IA V5.0, Using a special party composition Options

[Vuki]

I started a new party because I was a little bit tired and bored with the previous one. My previous party was a usual IA party: sorcerer protagonist + barbarian + blade + ranger->cleric (dual) + cleric/mage (multi) + monk. I will surely continue my old game later on but at the moment I concentrate on the new party. Ok, so this is the new party composation (and their current statistics):

Protagonist: Lothar, a half-elf Vagrant: Chaotic Good; lvl 9th; Axe++, Flail++, Club++, two-weapon style+++
Barbie, the half-ork barbarian (he is a male! ): Chaotic Good; lvl 9th; 2H Sword++, Spear+, Quater Staff++, 2H weapon style++
Ince, the Inquisitor: Lawful Good; lvl 9th; 2H Sword++, Halberd++, Quater Staff+, 2H weapon style++
Rancle, the Ranger->Cleric (dual class): Neutral Good; lvl 7/9th; War Hammer++, Club++, Flail++, Mace++, Quater Staff+, two-weapon style+++
Berti, the Berserker->Thief (dual): Chaotic Neutral; lvl 9/10th; Long Sword++, Scimitar+, Short Sword+, Dagger+, Club++, Dart+, two-weapon style+++
Cernd, the Auramaster: True Neutral; lvl 11th; Scimitar+, Dagger+, Quater Staff+, Sling+

Yes, there is no arcane caster at all! And there will be no arcane caster in the future as well. I will replace sometimes Cernd with other NPCs to trigger their quest but not arcane caster NPC. That was my intention from the beginning and it is a concept and not an accident.

I think in a lot of cases it will make my life harder but some battles will be easier. Also I do not have to prebuff as much because I am not able to do as much prebuff as with an arcane caster. Life is good.

I will write here my experience with this party as I advance in the game. I will update my second post here (so, not this one). I will write it from the viewpoint of Lothar. Btw, I have no idea how I was able to find such a name. Lothar. In the other cases I think the naming logic is clear.

Ps. Sorry for my not so good English! I hope it would be still enjoyable.

Update:
Part 1 is finished
Part 2 is finished
Part 3 is finished
Part 4 is partially entered

This post has been edited by Vuki: Sep 1 2008, 09:33 AM

[Vuki]

Is it worth to buy these items?

- Sensate amulet: I have two priests and the highest charisma is only 14. It can be raised to 15 by Friends but my priest could have 16. I realized there is no difference between 14 and 15 but I think there could be a difference between 15 and 16. Also the +5 HP and permanent prot from evil are very nice. I could buy it for 16k.

- Harmonium Halberd: My Kensai could use it. His strength will be raised to 20 from 19 by using this halberd. It would cost me 35k.

I think the sensate amulet is really worth the money but the halberd not.

This post has been edited by Vuki: Jul 10 2009, 06:06 PM

[Raven]

Is it worth to buy these items?

- Sensate amulet: I have two priests and the highest charisma is only 14. It can be raised to 15 by Friends but my priest could have 16. I realized there is no difference between 14 and 15 but I think there could be a difference between 15 and 16. Also the +5 HP and permanent prot from evil are very nice. I could buy it for 16k.

- Harmonium Halberd: My Kensai could use it. His strength will be raised to 20 from 19 by using this halberd. It would cost me 35k.

I think the sensate amulet is really worth the money but the halberd not.

I would say not to spend money on either. Cha 16 gives you a small (5%) discount from shops but this isn't really worth it in my opinion. Cha 20 is what you really want and that can be achieved later with the Ring of Human Influence equipped by a mage + Friends. The halberd is ok but not worth the money; Str 20 is not very different from Str 19. Also it is redundant later on (it is not as if you can use it for an upgrade).

Have you thought about which IA upgrades to do in Ch 2/3? I would save money for those.