Just got the game (woohoo!). Any simple suggestions for my party? Should I treat this like I did IWD, or not?

<font color=skyblue> Hmmm...This game is more fight intensive than IWD, so you will need some more strength than previously attempted with the original. I personally enjoy fighter classes above magic-using ones. I do not want to take time to cast spells. I like to rush in and cause some bleeding. That is just my style. Of course, having a cleric in-tow is very handy. I like to set her aside to watch the boys get dirty. Then momma bandages them up when they have finished playing. </font>

Well there was a great thread on this topic that got posted to a web site:

http://www.nomiata.com/iwd2/IdealParty

Basically the "formula" is to go with 2 "Tanks"; 1 "Leader"; 1 "Sneaker";
1 "Healer"; and 1 "Blaster". If you fill those roles with a starting party, you'll have all your bases covered.

Excellent, thank you much!

And if things get tough... the tough get summoning!
There are ALOT of summoning spells in this game, all the way down to first level mage/cleric/druid. They can be exceedingly helpful, even if they only stick around for a few minutes.

Yep - my favorite is having my Ranger do a level 1 "summon nature's allies" spell. You get things like rats, cats, and dogs [img]smile.gif[/img] They can be great for a diversion and to keep things at a distance while you cut them down with ranged weapons. And it's funny to see them nipping at an orc's heels [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 11-17-2002, 11:30 PM: Message edited by: Gimli ]

I suggest that you ditch the rogue and go for:

3 tanks:
Paladin
Barbarian
Fighter

3 spellcasters:
Wizard
Cleric
Druid

Initially I went with

Paladin, Fighter, Ranger, Rogue, Cleric, Abjurer, but as I went further in Chapter 1 I decided that my Wizards spells were doing real damage, so I dumped my Ranger and took a Sorceror instead, good call as it turned out.