[IA 6.2] Advices for a melee-oriented party Options

[Tarnesh]

Heya all !

I've been playing BG since its release back in the days, and I started playing modules 10 years ago or so.
Been trying a lot of them, but I must admit Improved Anvil is simply the best - by far - I've ever been given a chance to play.

I could probably discuss this for hours, but this is not the point here, as I'm simply after some advices for my new party composition. Tried out Vagrant and Necro runs lately, both on core difficulty, but I always end up getting bored once I get out of Underdark, my parties being suboptimal for the hardest fights coming up then. I underestimated the importance of damage resistance, and the lack of stoneskinned characters got my party nuked within a few seconds in several fights (in Watcher's Keep especially, and against golems in general).

I also tend to make as much items as possible, even if some are actually pretty irrelevant, so I eventually miss money for the best ones. I'll use a crafting planner for my next runs !

Even though i LOVE the riskbreaker kit, I also try to play with as much Bioware NPCs as possible, I like the banters, makes my party feel alive. Obviously, IA is not the mod for roleplay, but I'd like at least half of it to be vanilla toons.

Anyway, here is what I'd like in my party, knowing that I really tend to favor melees over casters, which tends to be a mistake I guess, given my brutish playstyle (stoneskin helps, again).


Melees : I like having 3 warriors, but I end up having to choose between Valygar and his awesome items, and 1 or 2 riskbreakers, knowing I also would like to have a potent 2-hander to wield those great halberds.

Divine : I love Jaheira's kit, the Avenger. Exactly the kind of divine caster I'm looking for, and she is a great 2-hander too. So Jaheira is maybe THE character I want to have in my party. But I find Cernd pretty awesome too, and I'm wondering if the lack of a proper cleric (greater restauration, and general undead protections) might not make the game harder. Or is Jaheira + Cernd a decent combo healingwise, then I'd have to rely on... something else for restauration purposes.

Arcane : I guess Necro protagonist is the way to go if I want a melee-oriented party, but then I can forget Judgment Day, which kind of BOTHERS ME ! (maybe there is a way to trick this with NearInfinity ? not really into this stuff but heh, I love dat sword !). Do I need another caster or can a Necro handle all the casting by himself ?

In other words, is this party any viable ?

Necro PC
Valygar
Riskbreaker
Riskbreaker -OR- Minsc/Custom Half-Orc Barb -OR- Berserker ***** halberds -OR- Kensaï ***** halberds -OR- Half-orc fighter/cleric -OR- Berserker 9 dualled to mage.
Jaheira
Cernd

My post my be a wee bit unclear overall, feel free to ask for more accuracy. I don't think I've been spoiling anything here, but if need be, erase/hide the spoilish parts.

Thanks again for this wonderful mod, I can't wait to play it seriously with a relevant party.

[SparrowJacek]

Hi Tarnesh, I'm glad that there are still some players that are interested in this mod!

I've played IA like 10 times but 6 of them succeeded and I'm a tester for the upcoming v7 at the moment, so I think that my words have some value

Necro - certainly he's the most powerful arcane caster and he won't have problems with all stuff that mages in your party have to do, so no need for more arcane casters, although you might be lacking some arcane power before and during underdark. When you forge MotA necro can show his real power. 2 casters would be more flexible, but I managed to win the mod with only 1 illusionist so it's doable.

Cernd and Jaheira are a good combination. They don't use the same set of items really(if that second druid helmet is available in 6.2 for non-druid protags) and have totally different purposes in party. Having Cernd will also make your clan hunter(Jaheira's summon) much more durable due to his insta-heal, and believe me, buffed clan hunter on 25'th level can solo an elemental golem if no iron skin spell is interrupted!

Valygar is a great fighter in IA, his items make him really durable and racial combat can be extremely helpful + don't forget about his 3rd level spell! Permanent IH, great AC, a bit too overpowered armor and healing sword will really help him stay alive. A good choice for your party! And he can easily put some ** into some 2-h weapons and make good use of them.

If you want to make perfect use of your 2h weapons - take half orc kensai! You only have to remember that they're not to be put in first ranks, hide them behind IS/SS characters or summons and see how they obliterate your enemies! (really, kensai with right gear and critical strike can take 1 gem golem per round in final parts of IA). Minsc is also a perfect choice OR evil barbarian(becaue human flesh armor), with 60% DR you don't have to worry too much about golems.

Your party should be able to get through all IA without too many problems whichever fighter you take for your 4'th slot, good luck with this attempt! We'd love to read about your progress too!

If you don't mind, here are some other parties that can be used:

Necro
R(7)/C or Anomen
Kensai/RB
RB/Kensai
Jaheira
Berserker(9)/mage

This is probably one of the best damage-dealing parties you can get in IA with perfect tanking(4 characters with SS/IS), 2 arcane casters, Greater restoration and such. It lacks BW NPCs though

Necro
Jaheira
Rasaad
Cernd
Kensai/Minsc
Valygar/any other fighter

In 6.2 monks are extremely powerful. They need only like 2 or 3 items to be deadly, have perfect DR (40 from hardiness, 10 from amulet, 20 from diamond body and Rasaad can have additional 10% from his boots) and regeneration that is doubled by IH. At the moment they only lack other types of damage than crushing, but anyway crushing>all else in IA. This party shows that for the most part BW NPCs can be useful in IA. This party lacks some punch if you take all-NPC-version, but with a bit of patience you can still have lots of fun!