New Party

I wiped the game off my comp and I'm starting over. I need som suggestion on how many persons, what gender, what species, and roles my new party should have. I've heard of having just four, 2 preists and 2 wizards but I died early on in the game and couldn't do anything with my characters cause they couldn't fight. The earlier notions didn't specify races either. Please any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!! Fanx

I want to cycle all my charcacters through warlock as well, any suggestions on cycling them throught roles would be helpful as well!!! Fanx a whole bunch in advance!!

[Wyvern]

Well, this isn't my forte but I'll give it a go -
Go for a six party team your first time through the game. It's easier and gives you more inventory room.
You want at least one rogue, one fighter, one priest and one wizard. For my own party, I made a second priest and a second wizard.
You're fighter you can change to Paladin or another class whenever you might like - give them a few levels before doing so. The Rogue you probably should not change class until you reach Ishad N'ha and can turn him into a ninja - that way he continues to be able to use lock picks (very useful).
Magic users, priest or wizard, you should develop until at least level 14 before changing their class. This allows them time to master higher level spells which they will not be able to do if you change their class too early.
A Whiskas is very nice addition to the party because they see well in the dark.
Other than that - whatever suits your fancy.
Hope that helps!
Wyv

One thing - hold off changing to a warlock until your *second-last class*. It will help you to fill out the level 7 spells of every other school that you have.
My latest restart carried over some gear and 15k from a previous party that played through to freeing D'Soto, so I'm taking a different approach.
I'm using two Elves, mostly for the quick learner trait, but also because I think the animal races are incredibly lame and stupid, Humans are boring, Gnomes are ugly and Pixies are fairies
Male Elf Warrior -> Barbarian (asap) -> Paladin -> Samurai -> Ninja -> Warlock -> Assassin
Female Elf Wizard -> Ranger -> Samurai -> Bard -> Warlock -> Ninja -> Valkyrie (eventually)
I change classes at around 10 - 12 in most cases, unless I'm hanging out for a spell or trait. The warrior should change to barbarian asap, then to paladin after only a few levels. Make sure you set the spawn to hard/infrequent - although you may want to up it to hard/often from time to time
I won't get Fiend magic until the last half of the game, but Sun and Stone are adequate offensive schools, and with Vine and Spirit pretty much all bases are covered. Moon offensive magic seems do be resisted a lot, but the utility spells are good - it can wait though. My paladin could resurrect, and my wizard had Burning Haze and Lightning when they were still in the crypt. Bards suck the way they are implemented - don't waste points on Music (imho).
Join every guild with every character (select a new class, join the guild then cancel the class change). Some of the best stuff needs a high guild level.
Max out Intelligence on every char for the faster xp and skill gains. Having only two characters means that xp comes in three times as fast as a full party, and if you twink a little at the start, and buy the first few levels of magic and weapon skills, then it's not difficult at all.
Have a plan for skills, spells and roles, and focus on them. It's much too easy to piss away hard earned skill points on things that you don't need - music, bows and throwing are good examples.