Current class & switching questions

Currently trying to plan out future class acentions for a solo elf. Is there any advantage, for example, to having a warlock as a final class once you've learned all the spells you want? I'm thinking the ability to use armor and "real" weapons would be a major advantage, meaning that samurai or paladin or barbarian would be a better choice, at least until the special roles become available. That is to say, go with maybe a wizard/ barbarian/ ranger/ bard/ monk/ warlock, and then pick one class to really run with (paladin or samurai or maybe ninja.

I do assume that you get the speed and parry numbers for your current class, feel free to correct me if this is in error.

Is there any advantage to having a "current" monk or ninja with regard to kung fu? As presently understood, of course.

[Sazerac]

Being as I have not yet played a 1-person party, I don't know that I'm the best to answer this, but seeing as no one else has attempted, I will try.

IMO, on a one-person party I would start with a wizard (to get the Sun and Stone magic) and learn to run like h**l when the going gets tough. If you're using an Elf, he will go up very rapidly in levels, especially playing as one person. Choose the Samurai quest to gain entry to the Warrior's Guild, then cancel the quest (go back and click on the Samurai Icon in the Role Ascension screen). Now go to the Warrior's Guild and choose "Barbarian". Gain thieving skills and lots of needed HP. Switch to Paladin, and get Spirit magic (and try to stay there until you get the Crusade trait which gives you 2x experience on killing undead. You get Crusade at 5th level Priest guild (the 2nd Ishad N'ha Priest quest). Now switch to Ranger to get Vine magic, then to Warlock to get Moon & Fiend magic and finish out all other unfinished magic spells. Wherever you want to go from there is your choice. I would probably choose to do the Assassin quest and finish out as Assassin. Dependent on if you have a female, you could eventually ascend to Valkyrie (right at endgame, haha) or to Zenmaster if male or female (again, right at endgame).

This is one strategy; one that will give you all schools of magic without having to wait for Zenmaster. Others have tried different strategies, including starting with Warrior and working from there.

Hope this helps,

-Sazerac

[carg]

Sounds like a good plan. A few remarks: collect cure poison potions, because this way you'll have to finish the serpent temple without cure poison. Take care not to be warlock in the stout mines: you may NOT use a pickaxe! And it might be nice to be a member of the bushi guild when becoming a warlock: kung fu is the best way to fight as spellcaster. (Don't ask me why a warlock may learn all sorts of martial arts!)
Anyhow, you don't really need crusade, esp. being an elf: the game looses it's challenge when you rise too fast.
And be sparse with skills: you'll have your two columns full in no time and then you can't increase some skills at level up.

Thanks for the replies. Think I'm getting the hang of this (famous last words.)

how come I can't be a warlock in the stout mines?

[carg]

Adam, you can do the stout mines, but because a pickaxe is restricted for Warlocks, that character is not allowed to use it. (At least I wasn't.) If it's your only character you can't complete the mines in the regular way, although you can work around it.
(I'm not too specific because I'm not sure you've already been there, and don't want to spoil too much.)