multi-classing a Gadgeteer

[Kzonon]

I'm starting my second time through the game and I wanted a gadgeteer in the team (because the gadgets were an aspect of the game that I didn't get to play).

I was thinking of starting a Hobbit Ninja (to get some Stealth and Critical Strike) before I switched him/her to a Gadgeteer at a fairly low level ( Probably around 5-8 ) so that s/he has lots of time to build up engineering.

The rest of the team (if you are curious) would be....(and though my mind is pretty made up, I can be persuaded to do otherwise)....

2 Lizardman Fighters, a mook Samurai (to use the Giant Swords), an Elven bishop and a Bard Faerie that will change to a Ninja at a low level to use C of C. (Purely a Haste Bard).

If I pick up any NPCS ( and that is a big if....it'll only be the Monk ). As you can see this would be a big thumping team....two with berzerk, two with critical strike (three if you count the monk), a bishop to buff them up and lastly, a ??gadgeteer??

All comments welcome....

[Gimli]

"I was thinking of starting a Hobbit Ninja (to get some Stealth and Critical Strike) before I switched him/her to a Gadgeteer at a fairly low level ( Probably around 5-8 ) so that s/he has lots of time to build up engineering."

Well I can see where the stealth would come in handy. For a Gadgie though, your best combat bet is the omnigun, and critical strike only works with melee weapons (well, except for ninjas with thrown weapons). I think you'd be better off going with a pure Gadgie to get the best omnigun enhancements - for some defense, build up the shield skill.

"2 Lizardman Fighters, a mook Samurai (to use the Giant Swords), an Elven bishop and a Bard Faerie that will change to a Ninja at a low level to use C of C. (Purely a Haste Bard)."

Lizzie fighters are quite effective. I'd make the Mook a female as the GS sucks up alot of stamina. The bishop is fine. The faerie bard->ninja is cool, will actually be effective for pretty much the whole game (pure faerie ninjas are very weak early on).

As for RPCs, what might help this group would be taking Vi and making her a Priest - she actually has good stats for that class. The Mook and the Bard/Ninja could use a stamina battery. And I just think having a pure Priest around is really handy to keep the rest of your party going at 100%.

[Kzonon]

Thanks....I automatically assumed critical strike applied to ranged weapons for the Gadgie but this new information certainly throws a wrench into my plans....back to the drawing board I guess....

I read your other posting about priests and so I went ahead and played around with starting a priest. The game manual (and I know what you are thinking....who is this guy who still reads manuals) recommended rawulf or dwarf. But I found their starting Int to be very low and so I tried out the spellcaster races (Elf and Faerie) and was much happier....what race do you usually use/recommend?

Also, already having a Bishop in the party, don't you think it may be a little redundant having a priest as well? I don't ignore the fact that 90% of the spells I cast with my bishop are priest spells...its the remove cursed ability reason why I hang on to the slow to level Bishop.

[Gimli]

I like Rawulf for Priests - I don't bother too much with Int because I don't go for powercast with them. I'd start Int off at some # with a 5 on the end (45 for example), and be content to raise it by 5 in the Trynton fountain. I try to max Pie first with Priests. Dex, Str and Vit are the other stats I'd go for, probably in that order.

Also re: 2 bishops and a Priest. Basically I use them differently. One Bishop I would have learn the Priest and Wizardry schools. He'd be used mainly for offense, and as a back-up healer. The other would go for Psionics and Alchemy, he'd be the "designated haster", and for more offense. The Priest is solely there to buff/cure/heal, and will be really effective quickly that way compared to Bishops. It's probably best suited for large parties (I always liked having 6 party members and 2 RPCs). You have enough offensive characters that way, and having one character devoted to defense I found is invaluable.

I used to stick the Priest into the middle rank - my last party's formation was usually like this:

Front - Dwarf Fighter(sword/shield); RFS-81(martial arts)
Flank - Human Monk(staff)
Flank - Mook Ninja->Ranger(giant's sword)
Middle - Vi(polearm); Rawulf Priest(staff)
Rear - Felpurr Bishop(mace+flail/shield); Elf Bishop(mace+flail/shield)

So the Priest was pretty safely tucked in the center rank where he almost always just cast defensive/buffing type spells. But with the extended weapon he could attack things the front guys could hit too. And sometimes I would switch him and Vi with the 2 Bishops if enemies managed to get behind the party. Priests are nice that way too, they can wear good armor and get pretty good HP - not bad as emergency tanks.

Out of the "exposed" front line and flanks, everyone had Stealth which really helped (and it was "true" stealth, not the cheesy "trained in the Monastery" at level one variety) - well except for the Dwarf, who had natural damage resistance, plus ironskin, plus fighter HP, plus a shield [img]smile.gif[/img] Everyone but the front guys used extended range melee weapons. It worked out really well for me, and hopefully gives a better context to how I used the Priest.

[Gimli]

PS - also the Priest is sooooo sweet against any unfortunate undead that happen to cross paths with him. Priest's turn undead ability is quite a ways more powerful than the Bishop's, and can make certain fights a cake walk.

[snooch_dawg]

You can do the ninja/gadgie thing. You just have to steal the Mk 5 Omnigun from that Trinnie gadgeteer NPC in Trynton. That way you get a sweet gun and a gadgeteer who can sort of fight.

But if your worried about criticals, don't worry about taking a straight gadgeteer, after a while he'll dole those out in bushels anyway because of omnigun mods.

On a sorta related topic, I pretty much ignored the modern weapons in the game, muskets, blunderbus, rocket launcher's etc... are any of them worthwile enough to drop some skill points in modern weapons in a non-gadgie class? (I don't take gadgeteers anymore, once you've built all the gadgets the novelty goes away).

P.S. don't drink rum and play wiz 8... I saved my game in Rapax Rift while dying in a pool of lava... couldn't get out... and had to replay alot of it [img]smile.gif[/img]

Keep yer sticks on the ice.

[MaskedFrog]

Gadgeteers build slowly so diluting them with other classes makes them much less effective. I would stick as a straight Gadgeteer. Eventually the Omnigun becomes awesome.

As for spell casters, a single bishop should do the job. I found in a six player party two spell casters were sufficient (Psionic and Bishop). I did have a ranger and ninja who also could cast as well as a backup.

In my current four person party I only have one pure spellcaster (Bishop) with the Lord and Ranger as backup. The fourth is a Gadgeteer. His gadgets and omnigun are helping tremendously. I admit it was a tough start but the party is coming into its own. I expect by Bayjin they will be a rocking party. Since I only took one RPC (monk) the experience per character is great and I am finding the game easier in the mid game than with my 6 person party.

[Holywhippet]

Actually rangers also get ranged criticals, that isn't helpful though since their criticals only apply while they are a ranger and rangers can't use omniguns.

The last game I played I decided to leave my Gadgeteer as a pure class so that she could keep using the omnigun. My bard however I changed into a fighter to get the fast stamina regeneration.

[Wereboar]

I was thinking of starting a Hobbit Ninja (to get some Stealth and Critical Strike) before I switched him/her to a Gadgeteer at a fairly low level ( Probably around 5-8 ) so that s/he has lots of time to build up engineering.

Don't. Never multi-class a gadgeteer. Their best point aren't the gadgets, but the omnigun. On level ups, the omnigun will improve. But you need gadgeteer level 22 (or was it 24) to get the final weapon (with the armaggeddon attachment). If you play some levels as another class, they won't reach that gadgeteer level.
In addition, the gadgets require a minimum gadgeteer level, in addition to an engeneering skill. For the high-level ones, you need gedgeteer level 18 (and more, if you want to use them at high levels).

2 Lizardman Fighters, a mook Samurai (to use the Giant Swords), an Elven bishop and a Bard Faerie that will change to a Ninja at a low level to use C of C. (Purely a Haste Bard). If I pick up any NPCS ( and that is a big if....it'll only be the Monk )

Lets see:
You want a melee ninja (CoC). Monks are best with hand&feet. Samurai can use Giant sword as extended weapon, but want to duals swords for criticals. And then two fighters.
IMO thats too much characters that want into the front rank. Well, you can leave the front rank empty, and use middle&flanks as one big front. Nonetheless, i'd recommend dropping one of the fighters (or even both).
I'd replace one fighter with a ranger (or a bard that uses only bows), and probably the other one with a valkurie (that will be happy in the second row once you hire RFS.

[Holywhippet]

Armageddon attachment? I don't think I ever got up to that level. What does the Armageddon attachment do?