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NobleNick · 02-12-2002, 12:06 AM

Darkman,

You really NEED to have high STR, DEX, *AND* CON for front-line guys. I don't know what I would do if my fighters didn't have 18/18/18 (or higher, where race allows it) for STR/DEX/CON. I started out with 4 fighters, a paladin, and a Gnome mage/thief. I averaged about 30 minutes rolling EACH character, to ensure each one could max out on STR/DEX/CON/XXX; where "XXX" is whatever the prime requisite was for the multi-class, or for the class to which I ultimately intend to dual-class three of the fighters (e.g., "WIS" for priest, "INT" for mage).

You need a total of 88+ on the ability dice to do this comfortably. (This allows 18/18/18, plus 18 in a fourth (prime requisite) ability and 8 in each of the other two.) This takes some patience (20 to 40 minutes of die-rolling per character); but I have enjoyed the results.

Another way to get a lot of bang for your buck is one I have already alluded to: dual-classing. Think about who you want in the party, then start everyone you can as a fighter (obviously this won't work with paladin or bard; and you shouldn't dual-class everyone, because only humans can dual-class, and someone in your party needs infravision.)

The extra HP that high-constitution fighters get really adds up: You can get a 70 point headstart on your mage's HP by going to 5th level as a fighter, first. (This costs you 16,000 xp, which is a PITTANCE in IWD.) Also, fighters get a lot of proficiency points; and they get to stack up a lot of those proficiency points in one weapon.

An example of one thing you could do: I am grooming one fighter to be a dynamo fighter in mage disguise. I am taking this fighter to level 7 before switching over to specialist wizard. (You get an extra proficiency point at level 6 and an extra 1/2 melee attack at level 7.) I am stacking 4 proficiency points into 2-handed sword. This immediately gives her an 84 HP headstart and will eventually (when she reaches level 8 mage) give her 3 melee attacks per round, each attack with 18 STR and weapon master bonus for "to-hit" and "damage." When the party is in a pinch for front-line tanks, she could cast "blur" and "mirror image" onto herself, then wield the 2-hand sword (hopefully with additional bonuses from a magical weapon)... With about 130 HP, incredibly hard-hitting and also incredibly hard to hit, she will be QUITE a melee force to be reckoned with! Now I call that a versatile and FUN roleplaying character to have in the party!!

Total experience to get to 7th level fighter, then dual-class to 8th level specialist wizard (128 HP): 64,000 + 90,000 = 154K.

154K XP will see a single class fighter into the 8th level (112 HP) OR a single class specialist wizard into the 9th level (54 HP).

I know which character I'd rather have!

Hope you found this amusing.

02-12-2002, 12:06 AM	#4
NobleNick Quintesson Join Date: February 5, 2002 Location: Huntsville, AL, USA Age: 65 Posts: 1,045	Darkman, You really NEED to have high STR, DEX, AND CON for front-line guys. I don't know what I would do if my fighters didn't have 18/18/18 (or higher, where race allows it) for STR/DEX/CON. I started out with 4 fighters, a paladin, and a Gnome mage/thief. I averaged about 30 minutes rolling EACH character, to ensure each one could max out on STR/DEX/CON/XXX; where "XXX" is whatever the prime requisite was for the multi-class, or for the class to which I ultimately intend to dual-class three of the fighters (e.g., "WIS" for priest, "INT" for mage). You need a total of 88+ on the ability dice to do this comfortably. (This allows 18/18/18, plus 18 in a fourth (prime requisite) ability and 8 in each of the other two.) This takes some patience (20 to 40 minutes of die-rolling per character); but I have enjoyed the results. Another way to get a lot of bang for your buck is one I have already alluded to: dual-classing. Think about who you want in the party, then start everyone you can as a fighter (obviously this won't work with paladin or bard; and you shouldn't dual-class everyone, because only humans can dual-class, and someone in your party needs infravision.) The extra HP that high-constitution fighters get really adds up: You can get a 70 point headstart on your mage's HP by going to 5th level as a fighter, first. (This costs you 16,000 xp, which is a PITTANCE in IWD.) Also, fighters get a lot of proficiency points; and they get to stack up a lot of those proficiency points in one weapon. An example of one thing you could do: I am grooming one fighter to be a dynamo fighter in mage disguise. I am taking this fighter to level 7 before switching over to specialist wizard. (You get an extra proficiency point at level 6 and an extra 1/2 melee attack at level 7.) I am stacking 4 proficiency points into 2-handed sword. This immediately gives her an 84 HP headstart and will eventually (when she reaches level 8 mage) give her 3 melee attacks per round, each attack with 18 STR and weapon master bonus for "to-hit" and "damage." When the party is in a pinch for front-line tanks, she could cast "blur" and "mirror image" onto herself, then wield the 2-hand sword (hopefully with additional bonuses from a magical weapon)... With about 130 HP, incredibly hard-hitting and also incredibly hard to hit, she will be QUITE a melee force to be reckoned with! Now I call that a versatile and FUN roleplaying character to have in the party!! Total experience to get to 7th level fighter, then dual-class to 8th level specialist wizard (128 HP): 64,000 + 90,000 = 154K. 154K XP will see a single class fighter into the 8th level (112 HP) OR a single class specialist wizard into the 9th level (54 HP). I know which character I'd rather have! Hope you found this amusing.