Your party composition and its development really depend on what you are want. Your choices seem very sound. I did not try to find the "best" race for each class. I just picked whatever looked good at the time.
Critical hits are based on Speed and Senses for Samurai. For a ranger it is Senses and Int.
You can make an effective Mook Ranger with decent speed by taking 1/3 of your bonus points and applying them to speed at character creation. Also in applying points every character in my party with the exception of my bishop got points in speed. I prefer a party that hits first as opposed to harder. For my samurai I applied 3 points to strength and speed until they maxed. Now I am working on vitality and Dex. For the ranger it was Spd and Senses.
I cannot comment on the other classes as I have not played them but I still would favor speed.
|