Misc. Questions on Difficulty, Party Composition, and Spell Selection Options

[thetruth]

You can use him as a F/M, if you don't have one.

Mage buffs + SI:Abjuration and he is very good in the front line distracting enemies.
His THACO is not so good, but I was using him mainly to distract the enemies.

Also with UAI and some Timetraps he helped a lot in some very difficult battles.
I kept him back (out of the enemies' visual range) and he set his Timetraps, then my characters retreated to trigger the traps.

Remember that while the time is stopped, ApR is only what matters. You will hit anytime even if you have an awful THACO.
So give him Belm and Kundane (or Scarlet after UAI), cast on him I.Haste and Offensive Spin for 10 ApR. Just try to give him high STR in order to get the bonus to dmg from high STR.

Finally there were battles where I used him only as a secondary Mage (for buffs and his powerful Remove Magic) and to sing his Improved Bard Song (-4 to AC, +4 to THACO/dmg and other useful immunities).

There are also many cheesy tactics that involve the Bards, like multiple Mislead-clones' song, Defensive Spin and Free Action, or multiple Offensive Spins, but I prefer not using them.

[nataben1314]

Update: I've started! Unfortunately, my progress is going to be excruciatingly slow until I can either figure out what's wrong with my computer, or reformat, because the game gets unplayably choppy after about 15 minutes (this has nothing to do with IA as it's been happening for a couple months now).

After playing for a bit with that six char party, I came to the realization that I absolutely despise micromanaging six characters (all my BG2 runs up until now have been solos, but I know solo is impossible on IA). So I've decided to try a four player party, and am having much more fun:

1. protagonist halfelf ranger/cleric, dual-wielding hammers/flails/maces
2. Cernd
3. Gnome Fighter/Illusionist, dual-wielding longswords and eventually maybe scimitars for belm, if I ever sum up the courage to visit its now guarded location.
4. Human Berserker dual-classed to mage at level 9, will get grand-mastery in axes and dual-wielding, and maybe pick up points in short-sword for kundane if I need extra ApR.

I'm still working on the untouched portion of the game, so we'll see how it goes once I get to the IA stuff, to see if I am tactically good enough to pull off a four player party. Hopefully the fact that the chars will be of a higher level, and there will be more gold available will help make up for the lack of two characters.

[Shaitan]

Sorry to hijack this thread!

@thetruth: Have you given any thoughts about a F/I instead of a F/M? There are some bonuses to the gnome that others don't get, but a gnome don't get the necromancer spells. Is it worth it to play F/I instead of F/M?

Regards

[thetruth]

Sorry to hijack this thread!

@thetruth: Have you given any thoughts about a F/I instead of a F/M? There are some bonuses to the gnome that others don't get, but a gnome don't get the necromancer spells. Is it worth it to play F/I instead of F/M?

Regards

Oh yes you are right.
A Gnome F/I would be even more powerful with +1 spell/level and better s.throws.

You won't miss much the Necromancy spells (especially if you have another Mage in your party).

[Shaitan]

He! I guess I'll go for:

F/I
Minsc
Jaheira
Anomen
Aerie
Nalia



This post has been edited by Shaitan: Apr 24 2007, 12:51 PM

[thetruth]

Yes, this is an even better party for IA.

This post has been edited by thetruth: Apr 24 2007, 01:27 PM

[sturmvogel]

I'm getting set for my first IA game and would like some advice about party composition using the usual suspects for party members. My PC is a R/C and I'm inclined to bring Keldorn (love that double-strength Dispell!), Kelsey, and Cernd as an Auramaster along. But what of the other two spots? One more mage is obviously necessary, but I'm undecided between Nalia and Aerie. I've never tried to play with Valgar, but I'm wondering if it would be a bit much to have two ranger types in the same party. Perhaps Minsc, as a Berserker, instead?

Comments, thoughts?

[Toxeus]

But what of the other two spots? One more mage is obviously necessary, but I'm undecided between Nalia and Aerie

f/m is a must for IA, so may be try Xan? Berserker also will be very usefull (5* in halberds or two handed swords, rage, best THAC0), but you can forge very nice items for Valygar, so take whom you want.