Yet another run, this time starring a Necro, Max H2H Options

[pekkae]

As it's been relatively quiet for some time at the forum I though I'd do a post about a run I've been thinking about recently. I don't have the time to start this in the near future, but every now and then I find myself yet again tinkering with the crew composition. Any comments would be welcome.

Our last run with "double -5" worked extremely well for most parts of the game. While we has some difficulties, we managed to develop our crew to quite OP mid-game and break through the demofight.

This time instead of being insanely capable in spellcasting we thought we'd develop an extreme H2H crew, playing on insane. This is what is in the works:

The locks (edit: they turned out not to be locks ...)

PC: Necromancer. Shall get the Necro stuff thus with required buffs be a little bit competent in H2H as well. With 2 APR / Decent Thac0 through TPT & Giant Strength. We thinks she'll be ok.

Jaheira: Early game superpowers. Great 2H H2H. Skins & Critical Striking. She rocks.

Custom multiclass F/I: Early game ubertank. Will get fighter Thac0's & Critical Strikes. Worked amazingly well on the last run.

Riskbreaker (probably Imoen): Will get JD. Gets to amazing physical resistance though Hardiness + CBS + JD. Will be an amazing tank + damage dealer.

What we're thinking

A custom R/C multiclass. Shall get full access to druidic spells. So fighter Thac0's, Critical Strikes + skins. Oh and insanely low AC (effective should hover around -28 unbuffed mid game). The only character that can both tank + has about the best combat buffs available (Draw Upon Holy Might should work wonders + Righteous Magic). We think she'll be great.

And the last slot.

Valygar the Vagrant? Can probably tank a little bit with Vagrant bonuses + Defender of Easthaven + Greean leaves armour + Armor of Faith + Double Regen. And can summon. Gets ofc fighter thac0's & critical strikes.

But if not Vagrant, whom should we take? Regular fighters are out of question for physical resistance through only hardiness is rather useless on insane - the characters need something else to protect themselves or increased physical resistance though something else.

A custom made Swashbuckler/Fighter could work as a dual classed assassin->fighter.

What else?

This post has been edited by pekkae: Oct 4 2022, 06:50 PM

[kilorew]

How do you play the Swashbuckler in terms if Improved Anvil, is his dps enough to carry his weight.

Always thought his thaco later in the game would be a problem with no grandmastery etc even though he does get some bonuses to it

[pekkae]

How do you play the Swashbuckler in terms if Improved Anvil, is his dps enough to carry his weight.

Always thought his thaco later in the game would be a problem with no grandmastery etc even though he does get some bonuses to it

dps = damage per second?

Swshbuckler beats out all fighters in the game thac0 wise besides the Kensai. The other characters who can beat her Thac0 wise are a dual Kensai/Thief (with max buffs & equipment) and the Assassin/Fighter, dualled after UAI with max equipment.

For damage, I'm fairly confident that she only loses to a Kensai & RB. Though if they are not maxed, Swashbuckler comes out on top. Our version should be around 50-60pts of damage per hit (on average) with 9 APR late game. That's including the to-hit effects. That is better than what Kensai can get.

I had one run with a Swashbuckler, using version 6.2. His name was Duke Nukem and believe me, he hwas a really good asset to the party, though he needed Water's Edge in his offhand to do real damage. Now we have an option of using Hexxat as a Swashbuckler, she has great basic stats and a cloak that gives additional APR, which is the most important stat for Swashies. Swashbucklers have a nice thaco progression due to their fast level ups and kit bonuses, they can get some Critical Strike HLAs and have a kit-specific HLA Acrobatic Combat, which increases AC and thaco for 5 rounds.

This is my plan exactly .

This post has been edited by pekkae: Nov 26 2022, 07:25 PM