ok, we've had many of this kind of threads, even recently, but I would like to talk about some "specific" favorites, which haven't been covered for a while (in the name of not raising old threads...
)
Standard SoA mainly, some Tactics spoilers maybe (anyone who likes to reply, if want to mention ToB stuff please add ToB spoiler warnings, TIA)
1. favorite recuritable NPC:
Mazzy. mainly fight with shield and sword style: short sword (SS of backstabbing and then cutthroat) + Shield of Harmony in most situations. Even without boosting strength and speed through items, she can boost her own strength and speed; plus she can cast lay on hands [to herself] and invoke courage [to the whole party].
2. favorite priest spells:
a. Insect Plague: the anti-mage spell
b. Chaotic Command (too bad it's not an AoE spell; that'll be too much I guess [img]tongue.gif[/img] )
c. Holy Smite: in higher lvl and in later stage of the game (well into ToB and to the end, more and more powerful and useful).
3. favorite wizard spells
a. Skull trap: seem odd ehh? well, any seemingly unwinable battle (playing standard SoA as newbie or later playing tactics) can be resolved by this spell; probably not using it very often, but it's nice to know it's there
b. Protection From Magic Energy: go in a tough mage or lich battle, and laugh at their ADHWs (especially those chain contingency see enemy Tactics ones)
c. Breach (however, not really appreciated in Tactics since the smarter mage's SI + invisibility trick make them untargetable and therefore unbreachable)
4. favorite summons
* early in the game (actually still quite valuable all way to the end),
Fire Elementals and the Air Elemental from Staff of Air.
* later in the game, Skeleton Warriors and Mordy swords.