I MUST be doing something wrong!

[CursedShadow]

I am fairly early in the game (about level 9 for most of my characters) and am playing a Fighter, a Samauri, A Lord, a Gadgeteer, a Bishop, and a Ranger plus the two "extra" characters I recruited. I am usually fine when I am in town or in a building, but it seems as soon as I hit the road, the only way I can survive is to usually run like a little girl! I have tried "staging" my battles so that I am backed into a corner and can take on the enemy a few at a time, but I usually get overwhelmed by 10-12 opponents and I either run out of stamina or start gettting people killed. I usually start out with ranged weapons but generally five of the eight switch to melee when the chips are down. Is my party that lame or am I expecting too much too soon? It's not much fun playing the game this way.

[Variol (Farseer) Elmwood]

Maybe it's your name, "cursed"shadow aha aha aha..

Seriously though. I never take more than 4 in aparty and no RPC's, ever. You party looks fine really. I really like the priest-bishop for rest-all. That will keep stamina up. You should be ok in a fight if you're in a corner. Use the "Jack-in-box" to scare some of the enemy to give time to regroup.
Just remember that 8 in the party really thins the exp you get and slows your skill development as well. Less is more in this game, trust me. And when you've played a 3 or 4 party you won't go back. My best and easiest party ever was 3 Gadgies and 1 priest.
I'm not ready for a 1 or 2 party yet though!

[killerTeddy]

Of course it's important how your characters developed, and what weapons and stuff they carry. But probably your'e just going somewhere where you shouldn't, at you're current level? Mountain Wilderness for example?
Also it might just be bad luck, as most of the encounters are random - one game you give up because your party seems to have no chance, another game (or the same game, some days later) the same party will have no problems at all.
One general advice: try using everything! you find: use bombs, powders, magic potions, try all spells, look in areas where you didn't look before. The problem is not theres not enough stuff to help you, the problem is to choose right and remember all possiblities!

[bladedog]

I'd be interested to know where you are.

I'd guess at level 9 you are in Tryton or on the road trying to get there. Or maybe you are cutting back to the Northern Wilderness after Arnika (assuming you ever went to Arnika but since you talk about being OK in buildings.....).

The Arnika/Trynton road spawns some tough fights. The bands of Higardi rogues etc. always seem to be slightly tougher than you, but of course they have no magic etc. Also the Juggernauts and Modai "whatevers" are hard work too. Add them to the constant stream of plants (crimson poppies, sleep anyone? everyone?) and its a tough area of the game at that level.

Trynton usually has a tough fight everytime you enter too, again plants and occasionally Rapax. At least once past these you can stick close to trynnie guards and get a little help.

I'd definitely look at your party's equipment. Are you using dual weapons on the Fig/Sam/Lor? At level 9 I guess you have poor off-hand weapons so far, daggers and such like. Maybe they'd be better off with a shield initially? And (assuming you've been to Antone) are they all carrying and wearing the very best you can afford?

[CursedShadow]

Bladedog, that is exactly where I am at and those are exactly the types of enemies that I am running across, usually 7 or 8 Juggernauts with their accompanying Seekers or 7 or 8 Higardis of various nature with a band of plants in their party. I usually hold my own for awhile, but eventually run out of stamina. I have upgraded my weapons as I've gone along and am fairly satisfied with the possible exception of giving my fighter "bloodlust." When it strikes, she does a lot of damage but she might go three rounds in a row when she just whiffs. I guess I will keep plugging along for awhile, but I have never played a rpg before where I seemed to be running away so much!

[booklord]

My bard got a lot of use out her poet's lute at that stage of the game. My bishop did wonders with his isanity spell. If you can just keep hitting them with status effects it should go well.

My biggest problem was the plants. They're immune to a lot of status effects, but they seem to delight in inflicting them on you.

I am very familiar with the accuracy problems with Bloodlust. But it is a awesome sword. My samurai only recently replaced it with a light sword and he's not doing that much better. I found that giving my sam an ankh of dexterity helped a great deal with accuracy at least until his stats were able to catch up.

[Nightwing]

if you don't have blinding flash for your bishop get it or some flash powder it will really cut down the amount of foes so you only have to fight a few at a time. There are a lot of spellbooks to purchase in Arnika if you just rest a whole day inventory will change at the shops. Bloodlust is best in the Sams hands because the fighter can beserk anyway, senses and dex really help you hit a lot better. you have a very strong party you may have leveled up to quickly and your just waiting for your stats to catch up.

[Wereboar]

I'd give Bloodlust to the Samurai. The fighter can berserk with any weapon.

You're at the stage where melee-oriented parties have some trouble. Although it is often said that offensive magic is weak, three spellcasters would kill most of the enemies in three rounds.

Use the 'buff' spells: enchanted blade, armorplate, magic screen. Cast bless. That should help your fighters hit anything.

If you run out of stamina, use the spell (stamina, or rest all). Or use stamina potions (they are very cheap). Or pickmeup potions, which i prefer - some decent heal and stamina.

Getting people killed is not a big deal. You surely stocked up some ressurrcetion powders?

And ... why fight, and not run? On my first trip to trynton, i usually try to avoid the fights, except the two fix ones in the graveyard. Arnika-Trynton road can be quite tough at times.

[CursedShadow]

Thanks for all the advice. I will switch Bloodlust to the Samauri's hand. I will try all of the various spells you named. I have tried some of them. I do have resurrection potions but they cost me 2200+ each and I don't like using them up unless it is somehow worth it (say, after a major battle that I gain lots of exp. points). I just don't like the feeling of having to turn tail and run so often. I feel that I should be able to handle at least most of what I come across at this point. Maybe I have been a bit unlucky running into so many tough enemies travelling together. Anyway, I will keep pluging away.

[turtle]

I don't think I would have survived half the fights I did without the spell "Rest All". I don't remember what level you get it at, but it is definitely a lifesaver. I've literally run enemies into dropping into unconciousness from exhaustion while I'm still plugging away - and if you can get multiple characters set up with the spell, it's even better! Just my 2 brass pennies.... thanks for listening!