BEST 4-MEMBER PARTY!

[Rikard_OHF]

BTW Halscion
before you talk about a Druid being better becoz they level up faster realize this a Cleric level 15 needs 1,575,000 XP and a druid level 15 needs 3,000,000 XP that almost twice that much and at 3 milj. XP a cleric is level 21
A druid look tempting but actually is a very bad class at the end of the game
especially compared to a Ranger DUALLED to cleric

SPOILER
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Probably too late but you get heaps of EXP for not killing Glacias! You can cast charm or domination and he snaps out of it, as he is one of the good guys who is mind controlled

I was thinking of running a party also. I am considering using Shadowkeeper to create a beserker dualed to a shapeshifter at lvl 12, as they seem well complimented and 'realistic' ie the inner wolf cause the fighter to lose his cool.

Also a swashbuckler dualed to an illusionist, rather than a beserker/mage, as the permanent AC bonus is useful for mages to protect them from suprise or ranged attacks and thief skills are useful.

Monk, because I haven't played one and it seems interesting.

Kensai dualled to a conjurer at level 9

My only concern is that all of them will not be able to wear decent armour. Should I replace the Monk with a Cavlier or Undead Hunter? Can a fighter/shapeshifter wear armour?

NB I intend to keep Viconia in the party as a love interest and the last slot for other NPC's to complete quests.

[el_kalkylus]

Ahh...that was a nice spoiler. I should have guessed!!


About your 5-member party:
The illussionist don't get spells like abi dalzims horrid wilthing, and some other cool spells at high levels, but still it is a good choice since you will have a conjurer as well.

If you are playing on insane difficulty, as I am, I think you need at least 2 to take the hits, and Viconia and your fighter should be able to do so. Don't pick a paladin, it is boring, and a fighter is better. I have heard much about the monk, so I think you should try it out.

Rikard: Druids level up to where they can cast Ironskins, Insect Swarm and Summon Fire Elemental very quickly. After that -- who cares?

[Rikard_OHF]

ehm hally
A ranger/cleric level 7/20 gets about 7/8 ironskins and 4 keeping dooms
That is What i wanted to say
they might be weaker in the beginning the eventualy get very strong
besides that
you can equip a cleric with Crom Feayr and make him a Tank
And that is something I truly need
as I only have half a tank if I have a druid

[el_kalkylus]

besides the cleric spells are very good. Halscion, I replied your message with a very long explanation. Did you see it? Just go up, and you will see it.

[el_kalkylus]

I haven't noticed this before, but the thieves that backstabs in front of the thievesguild-building are only worth 14 exp. They can kill you in one blow on insane difficulty, and you only get 14 exp!! I was kind of disapointed.

riky, el_kalkylus:

You're both right. A Ranger/Cleric is a better rounded spellcaster and a better fighter than a Druid of any kit. But no matter how you slice 'em, they take a long time to get to where they can summon fire elementals.

My main point is that fire elementals are *VERY* useful early on. Moreover, we're talking about Insane dificulty. I don't care how tough a character you've got -- you're NOT smart to use it as a tank at Insane. That's when I'd focus on Archers & Summoners (Druids & Conjurers) with any fighters being fighter / mages who can cast multiple Stoneskins, Mirror Images and have those same spells in their Contingency and Trigger slots.

A side point is that Ranger/Clerics must be good. Goodness is not your friend when you're fighting evil clerics. At those times a Druid's neutrality is superior.

For a conventional game (non-Insane) where you can survive as a tank for a while, sure, try the Ranger/Cleric. I'm playing an Archer/Cleric (dual'd at level 9) through the Underdark right now. I wouldn't recommend this combo -- it's annoying that one can only place two '+'s in Slings as an Archer, and of course it takes a long time to level up, blah blah blah.

Anyway, tastes vary. Druids are very good bang/buck early on, but they don't go much farther in the late game. IMO that isn't really an issue -- the place they end up works fine for me. And a single fire elemental can make some early encounters (e.g.: the party above the Seven Veils) significantly easier. That's an encounter where one bad guy can do 58 HP per hit, if he can hit you. Sure, when you get back from Spellhold (or finish 4-6 major quests) you'll be able to take them -- but who couldn't? IMO it's useful to get good stuff early, and Druids deliver just that.

End of rant. Good luck with your Ranger/Clerics.

[el_kalkylus]

You don't need elementals all the time. They are not THAT good.

I killed the people in the seven den right after the starters dungeon and after I got Aerie. Since I had found an air elemental scroll in the dungeon, I let Aerie cast it, kicked her out of the party, and then I didn't have to fight Mencar, because the elemental did the job for me. The others were pretty easy. With tactics you can come a long way in the game without any "good in the beginning classes". The ranger/cleric was ok in the beginning, and I have survived the dualling quite ok, without reloading too much. The fighter/thief has saved my party quite a lot in the beginning with his Tuigan bow and backstabs so it hasn't been any really tough battles except for Glacias.

I think it is a smart idea to let my ranger/cleric tank when she hasn't got any spells. She has -7 ac already from the beginning with full plate mail and a ring, and has a fighters THACO. It is smarter to use her instead of the kensai or berserker, that doesn't get as low ac. Now, when all are dualled, I can begin thinking of spells. She will soon get her ranger abilities back, there is not much exp left. The fighter/mages have already gotten their skills back, so now it is killing time.

By the way, there aren't many evil clerics in the game, and besides, they are a piece of cake (drow-clerics come to mind).

Your archer/cleric can only wear armor, this is why I didn't choose that combo.

I think it is going very well with my party, and soon, when I have time, I am off to spellhold.