Totally new, aimed at HOF mode, powergaming party

[Klorox]

Please let me know what you think of this one:

Character 1: Male Drow Rogue 3/Fighter 4/Barbarian 3/ Illusionist X

This is my scout, and a melee type for most of the regular game. The Illusionist levels are only for HoF mode, but I might be able to add a few in regular mode as well. I don't plan on having this character be heavily armored, but I like the idea of him weilding a greatsword and really putting the hurt on some bad guys. He'll pour his skills into the stealthy types. Evasion, Uncanny Dodge, and some defensive spells will make him a great scout also. I'll concentrate on buff-type spells with this character only. Alternative: If I choose to dual-weild, I could add 3 Ranger levels also. I'd almost definitely not be able to add Illusionist levels until HoF mode then.

Character 2: Shield Dwarf Battleguard of Tempus X

This is my main Cleric, and will also double as a great tank. She is based on a PnP character of mine, and I really love her!

Character 3: Aasimar Paladin 2/Cleric of Lathander X

This is my backup Cleric, and will be a pretty good tank as well weilding the Holy Avenger sword. I don't plan on adding the Paladin levels until late in the game, so that I can establish this characters power as a spellcaster first. I also know I need to take both Cleric levels sequentially, since you can't multiclass this Cleric class with any Paladin order. I just really like the Lathander offensive spell special abilities.

Character 4: Human Sorcerer X

This is my main arcane spellcaster. If these guys are anything like they are in BG2, I'm sure to really love them!

Character 5: Drow Rogue 2/Conjuror 25/Bard 3

This is my backup spellcaster. I plan on playing him as my lock handler, trap finder, pocket picker, and loremaster as well. The Bard levels would be added only after the character was (at least) Rogue 1/Conjuror 20. With the Lingering Song feat, he could sing one of the first two songs and for a round when not casting. It's also possible I'll just go Rogue 2/Conjuror 28.

Character 6: Human Monk 1/Druid X.

This character offers a different type of divine magic, and can be a very good fighter while shapeshifted.

I'm also considering a Deep Gnome Monk-type character here. I've heard a good decoy is important in HoF mode, and these guys look like they'd be great at the job. I'm not sure about how I'd go about multiclassing him though.

Another idea is a Drow Bard 11/Druid 19 (or 12/18). This character would get to Bard 11 (or 12) and pretty much squat from there. The Druid spells are just icing on the cake for later. I wouldn't worry too much about this guy because he'll be far in the back and out of combat.


Final Thoughts:

First of all, I'd like to state that it was intentionaly that I added more ECL races to this party, but kept care to make sure that my main spellcasters were "pureclassed" and to be at the maximum level possible.

I'm also really not set on character 6 yet. I've got thoughts of adding a Paladin 1/Sorcerer there (do you get two Holy Avengers if you play HoF mode after regular mode, or do you lose your items?), and I'm also open to suggestions. I really hate reloading all of the time, which is why I'm so insistent on "getting it right" the first time.

Also, I'm not all that familiar with the specialist Mages in this game. Am I choosing appropriate specialty schools?

EDIT: Added the Druid/Bard option for character 6.

[ 01-12-2007, 10:33 PM: Message edited by: Klorox ]

[Aerich]

Just a few quick comments, since I need to get to bed.

1) Character 1 and Char 5 are going to take a serious XP hit. I'd use wizards (favoured class for drow males) instead of specialists.

2) With Char 4, you may wish to take a couple of Paladin levels at some point. A sorceror's spell progression levels off at higher levels (20+), and 2 levels of paladin and the consequential saving throw increases and Aura of Courage may be worth a spell slot or two. If your bard or rogue does all the talking, there's really no barriers to adding paladin levels.

3) With Char 5, I'd take a second level of rogue fairly early on, for evasion and better rogue capabilities.

4) With Char 6, a deep gnome monk tank/decoy can be risky in HoF - particularly before it hits lvl 20 and acquires Perfect Self. You can get very good AC, but very good is often not enough. A monk is dominant, if adequately supported with spells, in the middle-to-late stages of a normal game. For games going to HoF, casters offer you more options. That's not to say that a pure monk is a true liability at any stage of the game.

A deep gnome monk should not be multiclassed, IMO, not so much because of the XP hit, but because of character progression and stat distribution. Unless you are multiclassing from monk to the favoured class of your monk's order, you cannot multiclass back to monk. That means, to get other classes (e.g. such as illusionist, which is otherwise a natural fit for a deep gnome tank/decoy), you have to take those classes first. This is not a good idea because the monk will have few monk levels in the middle stages of the game, and will be useless to tank/decoy against the quality of opponents the party will be facing. You are behind from the start with the 3 ECL penalty, so you are that much further behind if you, e.g. take 5 levels of illusionist. Secondly, you might have to allocate your stat points differently depending on what other class you want to use. It's not a problem if you want a couple of rogue or clerical levels (fits with high Dex, high Wis, and the monk orders), but it's a problem if you want to be an illusionist (since a deep gnome monk must be drained of its Int at character creation to get the most benefit out of the character).

[ 01-13-2007, 03:49 AM: Message edited by: Aerich ]

[Klorox]

I've decided to go with a Bard/Druid for character #6. A Female Drow, with one level of Dreadmaster of Bane.

The levels will probably look like this:

Bard 11/Druid 18/Dreadmaster 1

I will build the character up to Bard 11/Dreadmaster 1 before ever adding Druid levels. I will squat until I can get Druid 10, and then take the XP penalties as they come. This character is in my party only as a supporting member, and will be singing and casting buffs 99% of the time.

She'll act as a pretty good "mule" for a long time, as she should be behind the rest of the party in levels.

[ 01-14-2007, 11:45 AM: Message edited by: Klorox ]