It seems most people take a mix of classes in their parties. I never do this, maybe 3 of 1 type and 1 of another at the most, but my best parties are usually 3 of the same type.
I'd love for ya'll to prove me wrong!

I've finished the game over 40 times now, and i've tried Trios of 3 each of the following:
Lords, Rangers, Ninjas, Bishops, Bards, Valks, Priests, and Monks (all of which Ascended on Normal but the Lords on Expert)
And Pairs of: Bishop, Bard, Lord, Gad, Ninja. All Ascended on Normal.
And the folloing 2-and-a's: 2 Bards and a Gad, 2 Lords and a Ninja, 2 Fighters and a Rogue, 2 Priests and an Alchemist, 2 Fighers and a Bard. Some of these were Expert, but i don't remember which.

But i have to say, a more mixed group is usually easier and often more fun.

Scatter - I'm impressed. Only have about 20 under the belt. Pretty much all parties work if you work at it. That's the idea of balnce, IMO.

I'm really thinking of doing 3 monks and a bishop. Overall I think monks kick the most butt as long as you can keep their stamina up.

Everybody is entitled to play the way they think is fun, but to me if I only wanted to play one class I'd play a solo character. The fun part of a group to me is having access to different skills and abilities. I like small parties but always want to add one more class. I like all the hybrids especially those with critical strike. (I have seen a single character get seven critical strikes against 9 mobs.) I like bards, bishops and Alchemist. I like 'em all, so for me I have a hard time leaving any of them out.

By the way, isn't a critical strike against a mob that is almost dead kinda frustrating?

[ 06-26-2004, 09:04 AM: Message edited by: ChrisHwk ]

Yes it's frustrating, but I've had several combats today where my first hit with the stilleto was an instant kill!

The main reason i played the Trios i did was to test development and training. I used 3 because that is for me the most efficient point in the balance between hard-to-survive and level-reasonably-fast. I must say, though, it's very easy to have quite a variety among 3 of the same Class. You can have different Races, Weapon and Armor, Attribute and Skill development, etc.

Though an important thought occurs--if you're playing Solo, your development will be very different from even a Trio. In fact, my Solo Lord had a few Bishop levels, none of the Trio bothered. (I wanted X-ray for the Solo)

And about Stealth: When everyone has 100, there's a noticable improvement in sneaking around and how often the mobs "are defending". If even one character is 99 or lower, everyone gets swung at more.

Ok, I just finished my party of 3 Gadg. and 1 Priest. This was by far my best party ever, maybe the best party ever. With Vaporizor's and especially the "Negatair" it's easy going. Sometimes I kill 8 out of 9 enemies with the Negatair alone. There's no critial strike that compares to that!
The thing is though to take lots of 'em. 3 is best to get the best use of gadgets and the priest does rest all, mostly.

I think monks are great to!!
But when their stealth gets up, won't your Bishop be in for a bashing?

I don't think so. With Armorplate, Guardian Angel, Bless, maybe high speed, a chamail +2 armor and a shield i'm sure he'll survive (with so much fighting power in the front row :D ) .

[img]graemlins/monster5.gif[/img]

I've started a Monk a few times but always stopped the party and started over. They just never inmpressed me much. Low damage and rare critials made them boring for me.
I'd like to hear how to develop them and maybe give them another try. I really don't think any char. can match the Gadg. for instant kills though.

I have played several times with the following :
Ranger - M Bumping INT,DEX,SEN: Scouting, Alchemistry
Ninja - F Bumping INT,DEX,SEN: Criticals, Marshal art
Monk - M Bumping INT,DEX,SEN: Criticals, Psionic
Gadgeteer - F Bumping INT,DEX: Engineering, Locks/Traps
Madge - M Bumping INT,DEX: Alchemy, Air, Divine
Bard - F Bumping INT,DEX,SEN: Music, Pickpocket, Communication
This time I tried a little 'dual-classing' (LVL2)
Samauri -> Ninja (she's still nearly naked !)
Alchemist -> Ranger (working on Divine,Air,Water !)
The Monk's Critical hit skill grows fast (I also look for extended one-hand weapon [Whip is nice] and any 'close combat' secondary that a Monk can equip - split up thrown stuff (if he has 8 shuriken, 4 are Primary and 4 are secondary), he started throwing twice per round at level 1 !
I might want to try Psionic -> Monk next time, because the Monk's magic lags the Ranger's (I do not develop my Ninja's magic much, more like as situations allow - development of magic is promoted for my Ranger and Monk and virtually all I let the Madge do (when the Monk runs out of spell points, he uses anything we've found - powders, sticks, bombs, etc. and I NEVER add points to any combat arts for the Madge - all magic [some Artifacts/Mythology]).
Using 'dual weapons' for "on the job training", the Ranger, Monk, and Ninja are developing combat skills very quickly despite some added hits that a shield may have helped with (more chance to cast 'heal' to have enough power to cast a more formidible Elemental later).
Dang, I'm talking myself into starting over with a Psionic -> Monk now...

I push Divine for "Elemental", Air for "Portal", and Water for "Stamina"/"Paralyze"
Don't know if I'll try Samauri -> Ninja again, although critical hit grows fast - it's hard to find good Ninja 'clothing'.
The Alchemist -> Ranger has some very powerful Alchemy already, scouts well, and fights very well.

I also do not use the 'default' formation - my guys are spread in a line, with the Madge behind my Ranger (who's surrounded by Ninja and Monk, with gadgeteer and bard on the ends). The bard get a beating more often, but everyone has a better chance for close combat...

Tom