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EEWorzelle · 09-14-2003, 07:32 PM

Actually, Sultan, there is nothing "second rate" about a properly developed Bloodlusty Bard. That one character is enough to take out any one thing, toe to toe, in short order, including the Savant himself. With Beserk and an extra Swing, she is simply awesome.

A Fighter or Rogue cannot participate effectively in the main activity of the Magic-Heavy party, which is destroying all enemies at once, a bit at a time with Spells. A Ranger, Gadgeteer, or even Ninja, Monk or Samurai, can. Powders that cast Attack Spells lose all effectiveness against resistance later.

It is just not in the nature of players to enjoy having a character in the party who's efforts are wasted. If the Fighter or Rogue takes out one or two enemies at range while the others are casting magic, so what? That usually makes no difference. The "balancing" I was referring to is early on. Say you are facing six Roustabouts, on Arnika Road, you are fighting from a nook, as you should be, and your Spells have reduced them all down to about 30 HP, so far. You have a new round of Spells all lined up, but notice that one, who was behind a tree for part of the time has about 60 HP left, rather than about 30. That's a great target for you Gadgeteer's Lightning Rod, that will do 20 or 30HP of damage.

When the damage is even, for example if your Mage's Whipping Rocks and Psionic's Shrill Sound take all of the enemies out, the Whipping Rocks and Whirlwind the Alchemist and Priest had lined up won't get cast at all. On the other hand, if one enemy was left with 30 HP, those spells would be cast, for just that one enemy, mostly wasting the Spell Points. That's why balancing is good, and a useful thing for the sixth party member to do before they get their own spells.

The Fighter is pretty awesome and most who reported trying one with a Magic-Heavy party just ended up doing Melee, which wastes the Magic but also, and much worse, does not let the party get all the experience they really need along the way to really be effective throughout the game. For example the Fighter can take out the Noxious Slime very quickly, when it should take another round or two of intensive, Level 1, pinprick Spells (Energy Blast, Frost, Make Wounds, Mind Stab and Acid Splash) to do that. The party becomes good at what they use to get the job done.

[ 09-14-2003, 07:40 PM: Message edited by: EEWorzelle ]

09-14-2003, 07:32 PM	#9
EEWorzelle Manshoon Join Date: October 25, 2002 Location: Gilbert, Az Age: 73 Posts: 234	Actually, Sultan, there is nothing "second rate" about a properly developed Bloodlusty Bard. That one character is enough to take out any one thing, toe to toe, in short order, including the Savant himself. With Beserk and an extra Swing, she is simply awesome. A Fighter or Rogue cannot participate effectively in the main activity of the Magic-Heavy party, which is destroying all enemies at once, a bit at a time with Spells. A Ranger, Gadgeteer, or even Ninja, Monk or Samurai, can. Powders that cast Attack Spells lose all effectiveness against resistance later. It is just not in the nature of players to enjoy having a character in the party who's efforts are wasted. If the Fighter or Rogue takes out one or two enemies at range while the others are casting magic, so what? That usually makes no difference. The "balancing" I was referring to is early on. Say you are facing six Roustabouts, on Arnika Road, you are fighting from a nook, as you should be, and your Spells have reduced them all down to about 30 HP, so far. You have a new round of Spells all lined up, but notice that one, who was behind a tree for part of the time has about 60 HP left, rather than about 30. That's a great target for you Gadgeteer's Lightning Rod, that will do 20 or 30HP of damage. When the damage is even, for example if your Mage's Whipping Rocks and Psionic's Shrill Sound take all of the enemies out, the Whipping Rocks and Whirlwind the Alchemist and Priest had lined up won't get cast at all. On the other hand, if one enemy was left with 30 HP, those spells would be cast, for just that one enemy, mostly wasting the Spell Points. That's why balancing is good, and a useful thing for the sixth party member to do before they get their own spells. The Fighter is pretty awesome and most who reported trying one with a Magic-Heavy party just ended up doing Melee, which wastes the Magic but also, and much worse, does not let the party get all the experience they really need along the way to really be effective throughout the game. For example the Fighter can take out the Noxious Slime very quickly, when it should take another round or two of intensive, Level 1, pinprick Spells (Energy Blast, Frost, Make Wounds, Mind Stab and Acid Splash) to do that. The party becomes good at what they use to get the job done. [ 09-14-2003, 07:40 PM: Message edited by: EEWorzelle ]