worst char?

[Horpner Sneed]

Since the Armorplate gadget doesn't need to be used in combat, you can leave in party storage and thus get help lugging it.

Horpner

[Scatter]

same with X-ray, Searchlight, and Mandolin of the Magus.

[Kylospylon]

Let's not forget the ammo for the omnigun. That solo faerie gadgeteer's gonna have to shoot something, (and for a while it's mainly stones).I'd take the bard over the gadgie any day. Rapax Samurai + Missile Shield + Solo Faerie Gadgeteer = Fun!!!

[dplax]

Against the rapax samurai you mentioned Kyslospylon the gadgeteer could just use gadgets to kill him, since shooting with the omnigun wouldn't be too fun.

[Starfire]

For me the worst characters have always been psionics. They never seem to get powerful in my parties and they die a lot. However I suppose this could be because I mostly run 6 character parties, if I run smaller parties I never choose psionics so I have no idea if they do better in a smaller group.

[Scatter]

no.

[Holywhippet]

Gadgeteers and Bards are a mixed class. They can be very strong when you get the items they require. I generally find the Gadgeteer is a bit ahead of my magic users simply because gadgets and instrument cast with a high power level fairly often. The stamina drain can be a problem though. You really need someone to cast stamina or rest all during the later fights as about three powerful uses can knock them out. Some items are outright blessings though. The holographic projector gadget which casts guardian angel has saved the skin of my characters more than once.

As for the weakest class? I'd have to go with the monk. It might just be the way I build them up but I find the other fighter classes tend to do more damage.

[Wereboar]

Monk the worst character damage-wise? Sounds like you never had a high-level one.

In my experience, high level monk #3 in damage output (after fighter and rogue). And due to the 25% martial arts skill, he does 50% more damage than ninja at high levels.

[ScottG]

pure solo - psionic faerie 3 prob.s here: 1. pitifull hitpoints (a prob. for most spell casters); 2. no real defensive spells particularly against physical damage (though you do get soulshield); 3. not much AC protection throughout the entire game.

pure general class - the gadgeteer. sure you can meta-hunt the gadgets, but this is even more cheese than I'm willing to put up with. IF you meta-hunt gadgets AND you have another character in your party essentially doing nothing, (which you shouldn't have), that can cast a stamina spell on the gadgeteer then the gadgeteer is pretty good if not excellent depending on what gadgets they have and when they can use them.

The monk is the most difficult character to develop but does get good past level 18 or so w/out excessive training. Unfortunetly they also suffer from stamina problems with martial arts (especially considering that stamina will likely NOT be one of your 2 primary attribute increases). In fact its the attribute problem that really cripples this class untill later character levels.

[Kylospylon]

Yeah, solo faerie psionic is just asking for trouble, even a solo faerie mage would have a better chance. The psionic is a niche filler, really good for boosting a parties power through most of the game, but on it's own.... well I wouldn't even consider running one.

I run larger parties mostly and, unless I'm randomizing them, I always include a psionic, monk and/or bishop just for the psionic spells.