Greetings

Cornbread · 05-19-2003, 02:07 PM

Hey all, I have been playing wiz 8 for the past few weeks and I am loving it. I can't wait to finish this first game so I can start trying out freak parties. I did have a couple questions for the experianced players though. I was thinking about making a REAL ULTIMATE POWER party, with 4 ninjas, a monk and a samarai. Any thoughts on how viable this would be.

One thought I had was to start solo, then just rely on NPCs as extra party members, how would that work? Anyways, take it easy and thanks in advance,

Cornbread

Nightowl2 · 05-19-2003, 08:10 PM

You can do the solo route, but it isn't much fun. One reason is you miss out on the chatter from your own team, and their personalities are part of the game's charm. It's especially good because, if anyone starts to get on your nerves, you can just give them a new personality, something not possible with NPC's.

Also, every NPC has one or more areas they refuse to enter. You can force them in, but they are "hexed" while there and not very competent.

As for power party, well, there are different ways of defining "power". As far as muscle goes, nothing really beats a well-developed berserk fighter with a good two-handed weapon or maybe two good one-handers. Ninja and monks are okay, but just not in the same league.

I never had any luck with Samurai. They were never as good as my fighters. Even when, out of frustration, I hacked their stats, they didn't do well.

Magic users are handy for buff and protection spells, plus as few well-chosen offensive ones, like Insanity and the like. You should have one or two in the group, whatever you decide on.

Nightowl2

Kakero · 05-19-2003, 09:06 PM

I assume solo means 1 character play only? when you say you want to play solo, stick with that plan and don't invite any RPC as it will ruin the solo game.

ChaosTheorist · 05-20-2003, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nightowl2:
As for power party, well, there are different ways of defining "power". As far as muscle goes, nothing really beats a well-developed berserk fighter with a good two-handed weapon or maybe two good one-handers. Ninja and monks are okay, but just not in the same league.

Amen to that. The two fighters in my current "no magic" party--one with Excaliber, one with Fang and Diamond Eyes--routinely dish out in excess of 250 HP of damage per round. Unless I have the Gadgeteer with the Invigorator Belt cast Superman on them....

Quote:

I never had any luck with Samurai. They were never as good as my fighters. Even when, out of frustration, I hacked their stats, they didn't do well.

A Samurai isn't supposed to be the melee power-house that a berserking Fighter will be--but that Fighter doesn't cast Nuclear Blast worth a damn. Personally, the Samurai is one of my favorite classes. Unless I'm running a pure-caster-only party, I pretty much never invite a Mage--I let the Samurai fill the Mage-book slot. They're a little slow getting started, but having a level 16 Samurai get a 6x Lightning Strike against Nessie for 25-30 HP a pop--while the summoned Greater Earth Elemental distracts her--makes it well worthwhile.

EEWorzelle · 05-20-2003, 03:45 PM

In agreement with the other posters, what constitutes ultimate power in this game depends on your style of play. It can come down to things like strategies you tend to use during combat, whether you like to carefully and thoughtfully assign every attribute and skill point, or just want to get back to the fighting. The difficulty level you are playing at matters. For example, in Expert mode it is important to get your Soul and Element shield up before enemy casters get a chance to hit you. That means having a couple of very fast characters. The ultimate power party for me may only frustrate you and vis-versa.

Every class in Wizardry 8 is very powerful... potentialy. Those who love those characters (and there are always some, for every character) have found ways to develop their potential in ways far beyond what others have. There is a lot of short, medium and long term strategy.

It is unlikely, IMO, that your ultimate party will end up containing 4 of any single thing, but I can't be certain. Some have played parties like that and liked them... I don't know. I do know that sometimes the first of a character class in the party is very powerful while the second is less so. For example, there are only so many instruments in the game and two Bards have to share them (same for Gadgets and Gadgeteers). There are lots of spell books in the game and most of them can be given to a single Bishop. Equipping two (or 3 or 4) Bishops is more difficult (but can be done eventually), mostly.

Play this game with various parties for a year and you will start to form an opinion of what the ultimate party is for you. Then play it for another year and it will change. After two years of periodically intense playing, I can compare two specific parties or the same character developed in different ways, but I don't have a clue what the ultimate party is. It's just too individual (a bit like different snowflakes, they're all made of water).

ChaosTheorist · 05-20-2003, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by EEWorzelle:
It is unlikely, IMO, that your ultimate party will end up containing 4 of any single thing, but I can't be certain. Some have played parties like that and liked them... I don't know. I do know that sometimes the first of a character class in the party is very powerful while the second is less so. For example, there are only so many instruments in the game and two Bards have to share them (same for Gadgets and Gadgeteers).

Actually, there are plenty of instruments and gadgets in the game to keep multiple members occupied. My current "no magic" party has two Bards and two Gadgeteers. Both Gadgeteers have gadgets in all 8 personal slots, with the Searchlight left in the party inventory. The Bard sitution is even more extreme: each carries 8 instruments, and there are still *6* in the party inventory. 2 Gadgeteers is probably the limit, but a party with 3 Bards could keep all 3 fully employed during combat.

Cornbread · 05-21-2003, 11:54 AM

Sorry, shoulda described what I meant by real ultimate power. Check this site out, it is pretty funny, just don't take it too seriously.

http://www.realultimatepower.net/

Cornbread

05-19-2003, 02:07 PM	#1
Cornbread Elite Waterdeep Guard Join Date: May 15, 2003 Location: San Diego Age: 52 Posts: 40	Hey all, I have been playing wiz 8 for the past few weeks and I am loving it. I can't wait to finish this first game so I can start trying out freak parties. I did have a couple questions for the experianced players though. I was thinking about making a REAL ULTIMATE POWER party, with 4 ninjas, a monk and a samarai. Any thoughts on how viable this would be. One thought I had was to start solo, then just rely on NPCs as extra party members, how would that work? Anyways, take it easy and thanks in advance, Cornbread

05-19-2003, 08:10 PM	#2
Nightowl2 Galvatron Join Date: December 11, 2001 Location: Plateau of Leng Age: 47 Posts: 2,190	You can do the solo route, but it isn't much fun. One reason is you miss out on the chatter from your own team, and their personalities are part of the game's charm. It's especially good because, if anyone starts to get on your nerves, you can just give them a new personality, something not possible with NPC's. Also, every NPC has one or more areas they refuse to enter. You can force them in, but they are "hexed" while there and not very competent. As for power party, well, there are different ways of defining "power". As far as muscle goes, nothing really beats a well-developed berserk fighter with a good two-handed weapon or maybe two good one-handers. Ninja and monks are okay, but just not in the same league. I never had any luck with Samurai. They were never as good as my fighters. Even when, out of frustration, I hacked their stats, they didn't do well. Magic users are handy for buff and protection spells, plus as few well-chosen offensive ones, like Insanity and the like. You should have one or two in the group, whatever you decide on. Nightowl2

05-19-2003, 09:06 PM	#3
Kakero 40th Level Warrior Join Date: March 24, 2002 Posts: 10,215	I assume solo means 1 character play only? when you say you want to play solo, stick with that plan and don't invite any RPC as it will ruin the solo game.

05-20-2003, 03:45 PM	#5
EEWorzelle Manshoon Join Date: October 25, 2002 Location: Gilbert, Az Age: 73 Posts: 234	In agreement with the other posters, what constitutes ultimate power in this game depends on your style of play. It can come down to things like strategies you tend to use during combat, whether you like to carefully and thoughtfully assign every attribute and skill point, or just want to get back to the fighting. The difficulty level you are playing at matters. For example, in Expert mode it is important to get your Soul and Element shield up before enemy casters get a chance to hit you. That means having a couple of very fast characters. The ultimate power party for me may only frustrate you and vis-versa. Every class in Wizardry 8 is very powerful... potentialy. Those who love those characters (and there are always some, for every character) have found ways to develop their potential in ways far beyond what others have. There is a lot of short, medium and long term strategy. It is unlikely, IMO, that your ultimate party will end up containing 4 of any single thing, but I can't be certain. Some have played parties like that and liked them... I don't know. I do know that sometimes the first of a character class in the party is very powerful while the second is less so. For example, there are only so many instruments in the game and two Bards have to share them (same for Gadgets and Gadgeteers). There are lots of spell books in the game and most of them can be given to a single Bishop. Equipping two (or 3 or 4) Bishops is more difficult (but can be done eventually), mostly. Play this game with various parties for a year and you will start to form an opinion of what the ultimate party is for you. Then play it for another year and it will change. After two years of periodically intense playing, I can compare two specific parties or the same character developed in different ways, but I don't have a clue what the ultimate party is. It's just too individual (a bit like different snowflakes, they're all made of water).

05-21-2003, 11:54 AM	#7
Cornbread Elite Waterdeep Guard Join Date: May 15, 2003 Location: San Diego Age: 52 Posts: 40	Sorry, shoulda described what I meant by real ultimate power. Check this site out, it is pretty funny, just don't take it too seriously. http://www.realultimatepower.net/ Cornbread

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