obesessed with generating characters

[dulouz]

I'm considering starting yet another game. i started soloing a mage/theif/fighter this last time and its already looking really easy. I'm considering a group of 3 or 4 now for a new game. i've already been the following:

wild mage (favorite so far, in ToB currently)
figher/mage/theif
mage
theif
ranger
cleric
bard (quickly aborted, didnt like it too much)


i'd like to stay away from a spell caster, or pure spell caster i should say. what types of fighters are fun? Oh, i'm also thinking strongly of being a half-orc. so that limits me to fighter kits, clerics, barbarian, and theif kits. leaning towards a berserker. how are wizard slayers? they seem appropriate given who you're hunting down (in SoA and ToB).

For Wizard Slayer, how much does the inability to use magical items besides armor and weapons come into play? does this include potions?

maybe i'll play some kind of Outcast/Misfit party. Myself, Viconia, Heardallis, and Cernd [img]smile.gif[/img] None of them quite in the domain of normal society.

peace,
dulouz.

[Nerull]

Originally posted by dulouz: I'm considering starting yet another game. i started soloing a mage/theif/fighter this last time and its already looking really easy. I'm considering a group of 3 or 4 now for a new game. i've already been the following: wild mage (favorite so far, in ToB currently) figher/mage/theif mage theif ranger cleric bard (quickly aborted, didnt like it too much) i'd like to stay away from a spell caster, or pure spell caster i should say. what types of fighters are fun? Oh, i'm also thinking strongly of being a half-orc. so that limits me to fighter kits, clerics, barbarian, and theif kits. leaning towards a berserker. how are wizard slayers? they seem appropriate given who you're hunting down (in SoA and ToB). For Wizard Slayer, how much does the inability to use magical items besides armor and weapons come into play? does this include potions? maybe i'll play some kind of Outcast/Misfit party. Myself, Viconia, Heardallis, and Cernd [img]smile.gif[/img] None of them quite in the domain of normal society. peace, dulouz.

Half-Orc barbarians are strong; so are kensais. Wizard slayers cannot use potions, last I checked. Berserkers are always solid, but if you have never played a barbarian then give it a try. There are plenty of NPC clerics in the game, so no real need to play one yourself (it's not like the four main romances in the games are priests or anything ). I generally steer away from Wizard slayers, unless I have at least one cleric in the party (then again, you could challenge yourself by playing one without a cleric...).

I guess it all depends on what you want to play. The Half-Orc barbarian is the normal stereotype, and is a solid combination. However, it is kind of cool playing outside the mold by playing a kensai (everyone probably makes fun of him, thinking he is trying to act more "cultured" than he is. That is, until he dices them to shreds with his katanas...).

[spydar]

I vote for a kensai. I had a wizard slayer for a bit and while they rock with the magic resistance it was just really annoying to not be able to use any potions. A kensai can't wear any armour at all though, not even bracers, but they have bonuses up the ying-yang and there are plenty of other nice items that you can get besides armour. Plus having a character who can dual-wield katanas is always cool.

[NiceWorg]

Well since you have ToB you should be able to use some potions with a WSlayer, such as healing ones. I love my WS, he´s doing a great job sending Beholders to where they belong.

[Mahlennacht]

Kensai//thief

kai + 4x backstab with Celestial Fury, yummy

(and why not dual-wield while you're at it too - Flail of Ages in off-hand???)

[Sparhawk]

Originally posted by NiceWorg: Well since you have ToB you should be able to use some potions with a WSlayer, such as healing ones. I love my WS, he´s doing a great job sending Beholders to where they belong.

Huuuh what are U talkin about...I played with my WS for a long time and NEVER have I seen him drink a poiton...or rather be allowed to do so!

[Thuram]

I would say either Kensai or Barbarian.

However, since you asked and if you trust me on this, play a bard. Specifically a Blade. Its just something different.

If you play a bard you should ask: What do I want to be today for this quest?
a) Should I be a warrior? Go for Tenser Transformation and Offensive Spin. Probably one of the strongest warrior with the Kensai. (And he is protected by stone skin and similar.

b) Should I be a mage? Devastate your enemies with skull traps (best damage spell for a high level caster like a bard - better than a mage in THIS point). You can protect yourself with Spell Immunity -> Necromancy. And while in Defensive Spin the enemy warriors will have a hard time hitting you.

c) Should I be a rogue and earn some money? Very cheesy but you will have "infinite" resources with the steal&sell tactic

d) Shall I be an invisible fighter? Cast Mislead and then invisibility on your mislead. Then decide either to hack&slash or kill your enemies with magic.

Give it a second try. If you use the right tactic (and a bard gives you many choices) and with the right equipment it is a VERY powerful character. The fun with the blade is based on the many choices you have and playing a character that is not just straight forward.

[Raistlin Majere]

wizard slayers CAN use healing potions, though they cannot use buff potions . Im not sure, however if you can use healing potions with vanilla SoA. you might need to install the latest official patch + baldurdash or ToB.

[Pirengle]

Originally posted by Raistlin Majere: wizard slayers CAN use healing potions, though they cannot use buff potions . Im not sure, however if you can use healing potions with vanilla SoA. you might need to install the latest official patch + baldurdash or ToB.

Having played a Wizard Slayer with SoA, you can't use potions at all.

Having played the same wizard slayer with ToB, you can use healing potions and antidotes and that's about it.

Wizard Slayers are NOT for the faint of heart if you don't have a cleric in your party or don't plan to dual him/her over to thief.

WS can wear armor, use weapons, and wear helmets, and drink healing potions and antidotes if you have ToB installed. Their magic resistance is okay, their dispel magic on hit is even better, but if you have Keldorn in the party, it's not really necessary.

My suggestion on parties:
monk
Cernd
Valygar
Haer'Dalis
Viconia
Nalia/Jan/Imoen

or

wizard slayer
Keldorn
Anomen
Mazzy
Minsc
Korgan

or

swashbuckler/cleric
Aerie
Jaheira
Cernd
Edwin
Mazzy

or

Think: what is the most bizarre party I could make and make it.

The party I'm going to try next:

wizard slayer/wild mage (with the help of Shadowkeeper)
CN Anomen
Jan
Cernd
Valygar
Korgan

[SixOfSpades]

Originally posted by Pirengle: WS can wear armor, use weapons, and wear helmets, and drink healing potions and antidotes if you have ToB installed. Their magic resistance is okay, their dispel magic on hit is even better, but if you have Keldorn in the party, it's not really necessary.

Small correction--Wizard Slayers do not Dispel on hit, they cause 10% (cumulative) chance of Spell Failure on anybody they hit. This works even through things like Stoneskins--it's loads of fun watching a high-level Mage fumble all of his spells because you've hit him a few times. Then again, any warrior using a weapon that does Elemental damage can do essentially the same thing.

Short Evaluation of Wizard Slayers:
- If you have ToB installed, Wizard Slayers suck.
- If you do not have ToB, Wizard Slayers suck hard.
This will change soon.