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

[Kerkes]

I do have one question - who will cast breach, ruby ray until cernd hits level 14 and, later on, who will cast spellstrike?
I don't know which battles will be easier. IMO, none. anyway, good luck!

[darkjeshush]

I do have one question - who will cast breach, ruby ray until cernd hits level 14 and, later on, who will cast spellstrike?
I don't know which battles will be easier. IMO, none. anyway, good luck!

It's possible, just gotta skip alot of content until chapter 7 and do roadblocks on easy setting. I did a no arcane run with zero ruby rays and breaches cast the entire game except through JD wish.

Vagrant protag (bleeder main dps, evil response bonuses)
Vagrant (JD/DW tank and wishable)
Double R/C multi
B-C (2h staff)
Keldorn (dispels) swap for pickpocketing/quests etc.

Basically I had to skip almost everything until high levels, forge all haste boots as quickly as possible, then go back when I could outlast enemies. Epicly fail on every early-mid game encounter that requires fast debuff and alphakill, especially because early enemies instantly gg a group of six melee with emotion and confusion. Also pretty horrible having no bottomless bag for most of the game. The biggest mandatory roadblocks for me were Tanova due to lack of death fog, kobold shard, and drow ambushes. Other than those roadblocks there's enough easy xp lying around to ascend to high levels.