Ironworks Gaming Forum - View Single Post - General thoughts/info on my party... (LONG)

Fantasm · 01-31-2002, 04:48 PM

Great post!

Some suggestions for your samurai - When you say you may start working on his magic, I assume that means you haven't done much with his magic yet. You're really missing out if this is true!

IMO, the ideal use of a samurai is to equip him with Bloodlust and an enchanted wakisashi (you did head down the mountain in the mountain wilderness long enough to take a peek behind that waterfall, didn't you?

.

With Bloodlust, much of your complaints about his damage will go away, and when he gets a lightning strike, look out!

Obviously, with a cursed weapon you won't be able to use any bows. So when battles start, if you want him taking an action every turn (and let's face it, EVERYBODY should be doing something useful every turn, if only to practice skills), then that means magic. Even if it means useless level 1 fireballs or level 2 web spells.

My samurai was pretty pathetic at first, but I made it a point to ALWAYS cast a spell if he wasn't within range of his sword. Even if it was a terror spell against Savant minions. =) In the process of scouring the land for spellbooks to satisfy my Bishop's undying thirst for power , I picked up alot of extra books for my samurai along the way (I almost have a trade route established from Mt. Gigas to Arnika to Trynton to Crock to Marten's Bluff

, and before long, without any real intention of doing so, my Samurai knew almost all spells up through spell level 4. He's 15th level now with a wizardry of 68, just became eligible to learn 5th level spells (for which I had 4 spellpicks saved up

, and can cast Fireball and Freeze All with the best of them (ok, my Faerie Bishop might still have a leg up on him there

.

In two more levels he'll have snakespeed, and shortly thereafter he'll have Reflexion, at which point I will finally get to his senses, strength, and intelligence (yes, I want him to be an effective spellcaster

. I expect his raw damage and crit percentage to start picking up then...

Note that in my party, my bishop is my ONLY pure caster, so this strategy may be a little redundant for you with an alchemist in your party. I know that for me, having another person to cast spells in the first couple rounds is very nice. But look at it this way. For me, oftentimes when I let loose everything I've got, by the time my bishop, bard, gadgeteer, valkyrie, and samurai all take their turn in the first round, monsters are often asleep, unconscious, webbed, paralyzed, AND insane. =) With an alchemist you can make them nauseous too. 8^)

Have fun the rest of the way! (you're right where I was at with my first party before I decided to start over with my current group, who is almost to that point again...here's hoping the rest of the game is as fun as this has been!).

01-31-2002, 04:48 PM	#2
Fantasm Elite Waterdeep Guard Join Date: January 9, 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 17	Great post! Some suggestions for your samurai - When you say you may start working on his magic, I assume that means you haven't done much with his magic yet. You're really missing out if this is true! IMO, the ideal use of a samurai is to equip him with Bloodlust and an enchanted wakisashi (you did head down the mountain in the mountain wilderness long enough to take a peek behind that waterfall, didn't you? . With Bloodlust, much of your complaints about his damage will go away, and when he gets a lightning strike, look out! Obviously, with a cursed weapon you won't be able to use any bows. So when battles start, if you want him taking an action every turn (and let's face it, EVERYBODY should be doing something useful every turn, if only to practice skills), then that means magic. Even if it means useless level 1 fireballs or level 2 web spells. My samurai was pretty pathetic at first, but I made it a point to ALWAYS cast a spell if he wasn't within range of his sword. Even if it was a terror spell against Savant minions. =) In the process of scouring the land for spellbooks to satisfy my Bishop's undying thirst for power , I picked up alot of extra books for my samurai along the way (I almost have a trade route established from Mt. Gigas to Arnika to Trynton to Crock to Marten's Bluff , and before long, without any real intention of doing so, my Samurai knew almost all spells up through spell level 4. He's 15th level now with a wizardry of 68, just became eligible to learn 5th level spells (for which I had 4 spellpicks saved up , and can cast Fireball and Freeze All with the best of them (ok, my Faerie Bishop might still have a leg up on him there . In two more levels he'll have snakespeed, and shortly thereafter he'll have Reflexion, at which point I will finally get to his senses, strength, and intelligence (yes, I want him to be an effective spellcaster . I expect his raw damage and crit percentage to start picking up then... Note that in my party, my bishop is my ONLY pure caster, so this strategy may be a little redundant for you with an alchemist in your party. I know that for me, having another person to cast spells in the first couple rounds is very nice. But look at it this way. For me, oftentimes when I let loose everything I've got, by the time my bishop, bard, gadgeteer, valkyrie, and samurai all take their turn in the first round, monsters are often asleep, unconscious, webbed, paralyzed, AND insane. =) With an alchemist you can make them nauseous too. 8^) Have fun the rest of the way! (you're right where I was at with my first party before I decided to start over with my current group, who is almost to that point again...here's hoping the rest of the game is as fun as this has been!).