IWD Help with number of party members ?

[falcon]

Hi all, having read many posts on this subject I am asking to see if my understanding is okay and overall balance is okay. This is only the second time i have played the game.
I started off with a party of 3 and just added the 4th:-
Thief > Mage at level 7/8
Paladin (single class)
Fighter (single class)
Cleric (single class) - just added

My idea is to boost them up asap by gaining more xp each and then add 2 more members:-

Ranger > Cleric at poss level 3 as can only get 2 wp for bows and any other wp to go to clubs. This will be main archer later in game.

Fighter > Druid at poss level 6 and give wp to spears or clubs.

I know many people say bards are good but it's not for me, i like my fighters and spellcasters.

I am planning to take party into HOW and hopefully ToTL.
At the moment I am in chapter 1 and cleared area outside the tombs and caves and cleared 2 caves.
My question is whether I am doing the right thing in introducing the 2 new members now or leave it a bit later. Also what weapons to apply wp ie. are there good spears,clubs,maces etc in the game.
Thanks to anyone who wishes to reply.

[Aerich]

Overall balance is fine; one mage/thief, two clerics, a druid, and two warriors will get you through no problem. Just be warned, you will probably be dual-classing your thief, and therefore losing its thief functions, just before the nasty traps at Dragon's Eye.

Do not take bows with the ranger->cleric. Characters that dual-class to cleric have to abide at all times by the cleric's weapon restrictions, even after they've regained the use of their former skills. Therefore, while you might still have the knowledge of how to use the bow, you will be barred from ever using it.

Fighter->druid at lvl 6 is ok, but I'd prefer to do it at lvl 7 to get an extra 1/2 melee attack per round. The xp difference between 6 and 7 isn't much, in the grand scheme of things. It's well worth it. I'd take scimitars or spears as the main weapon focus. There are lots of good scimitars and at least two excellent spears. There's only one really good club that I can think of, and it's in HoW.

I think you'd be ok adding the two new characters now - just make sure you add them in town so you can buy them equipment.

Now, on to weapon proficiencies...

Paladin must have specialization in long sword, and I like to have specialization in a blunt weapon (usually mace or flail) and a one-handed missile weapon (sling, axe, not dagger).

Fighter should go for five points in at least one weapon, preferably axe or greatsword. Get at least up to specialization in a blunt weapon and missile weapon.

Cleric will eventually be proficient in all weapons it can use. I'd take staff and club last. Mace, flail and hammer are all fine, but there's a special mace that saves a lot of grief in HoW. Take mace with either your R/C, fighter, or paladin. The R/C should be specialized in slings and a melee weapon of your choice. Make sure it's specialization, since you won't get the chance to specialize after you dual to cleric.

I've discussed druid already, but make sure you have specialization in slings as well as your chosen melee weapon (maybe spears is best, because you can attack from farther away and behind your real warriors).

The thief/mage's weapons don't matter much. Take bow for archer support in the early going, and take dagger for the mage daggers.

[falcon]

Thanks Aerich for your reply and some really good advice there. I like your point about Fighter > Druid at level 7 where he will get extra 1/2 melee attack and I will wp with a spear so can tuck in behind the front line. Looking forward to using the druid later in the game, never used one before.
Good point about not being able to use arrows when d/c the ranger > cleric so I think with the ranger I may keep as single class coz I want a specialist bowman. I think this should be okay as will have a single class cleric and also paladin and ranger get cleric spells later.
One question from your comments - when I d/c say from fighter > druid does that mean I will not get any further wp points for the fighter - even later in game when both classes at same level?
Thanks for your help

[Aerich]

Once you dual to a second class, you start using that class's tables for advancement. E.g. Your new druid will get one proficiency point to spend on a druid weapon every four levels, and will not be able to put more than one point to any weapon. When you regain your fighter levels, you will also regain the weapon skills and specializations of the fighter.

On a related subject, specialization "trumps" any additional points you put into a weapon. If you put 3 proficiency points in spears as a fighter, and put a point into spears as a druid before you regain your fighter levels, you will still only have 3 points in spears once you regain fighter levels. The other point is lost.

[falcon]

Thanks again, i understand it clearly now.