First Party - Advanced Help

[Mordenheim]

Hey guys

I have looked around and tried to find my answers. I find a lot of info but some goes against each other (to be expected).

What I am looking at is

Fighter
Valk
Rogue
Psionics
Bard
Ranger/Priest

My questions are

A. Ranger or priest.. what would fit better?
B. Good party or any tips?
C. Advanced: Any masters got tips on races to use and what places would be best to give the points to?

Thanks for any help

[dplax]

The choice between ranger and priest is quite a hard one. If you want to fnd all the nice tems in the game then go for the ranger, but if you want a healer (although later you can get an instrument which casts heal all) and later a very powerful offensive caster possibly (see another thread for discussion about the priests potential) then the priest is for you. I myself would use both of them, one of them instead of the valkyrie (since her spellbook also overlaps with that of the priest), since you can pick up one of them in Arnika if you want to. But feel free to do whichever you like.

The party composition seems quite good to me, the rogue and the fighter are the best meleers in the game, the bard can get to, be powerful in close combat also, and you an find some cool instruments for him later on. The psionic is also a powerful spellcaster, though towards the end of game, you run into too many high resistance monsters, so will probably need powercast above 60 to be effective. The ranger is the best in ranged combat and searches for hidden items, while the priest just keeps your party alive. I think it is quite a good party, and I don't think it should have problems during the game.

For races I would choose, though some here might disagree:
Lizardman Fighter
Hobbit Rogue
I don't know what to take for a valk, since I've only played vi as a valk, but probably human or drakon
Female Hobbit Bard (for lockets of reflection and other only female items)
Elf Psionic
Elf Ranger / Dwarf/Elf Priest

[Mordenheim]

Thanks for answering Dplax

I will take that advice and drop the valk. I will go with both the ranger and priest.

Giving me

Fighter
Rogue
Ranger
Psionic
Bard
Priest dwarf or elf, what do you prefer or is it a toss up?

I also prefer one human (only one). What class do you think would take the less hit with a human in it?

welcome mordenheim. i'm not a master, but i have no shortage of opinions (even some that contradict myself ). taking your questions directly:

(my wife says my posts are too long, so here's a reader's digest edited reply)

a) ranger. (note: dplax's advice is better. it's nice to see someone think outside the box.)

although the valk covers off the priest book for you, they wont develop it quickly or to a very high level, like the priest will (small tick to the priest). however, you currently have no one covering the alchemy book. since mixing (an ability conferred by alchemy skill) is a great way to get cash, and your party has quite a few characters who can use some pretty expensive equipment later, you'll want access to the money. your ranger will do this for you (big tick to the ranger).

b) yes, good. but there's no bard parties - it's how you play them [img]smile.gif[/img]

it's a melee heavy party, with only one pure spellcaster. the big gap is no access to the mage spellbook. in addition to being an excellent attacking book, it offers two of the best buffs in the game: missile shield (the best, imo) and enchant blade. for a melee party, these spells would be great additions.

for my style, i'd go mage instead of psionicist. but that's just me.

c) there's definitely no right or wrong to this one, but some thoughts...

fighter - dracon. the lizardman has better starting stats, but i dont like the big penalty to mental resistance. the dracon's a bit more balanced. i prefer strength and speed for beginning development. by doing speed, instead of dex or vitality, you open up extra swings per attack and better initiative to strike early.

valk - human. this gives you the best balance for supplemental spell casting, which you'll need to do since no other character covers the priest spellbook (assuming you go ranger). i'd put a bit into intelligence at the beginning, but not too much. put the lion's share focus on strength and dex.

rogue - hobbit. the king of rogues. 60 bonus points - drop 20 each into strength, speed, and dex. then pump strength and speed to the max, then dex. arm them with double stilleto (daggers) or sword and dagger and watch the carnage. they're the best whirling dervish in the game.

psionicist - my experience with psi's is minimal, but i'm sure others will have good advice.

if you go mage, i'd strongly recommend elf. run up intelligence to the max and pump up speed then senses (to maximise initiative). a little vitality later can help their carry capacity (for throwing stones)

bard - the mook bard is one of the game's true powerhouses. eew has done some great detail work on their development, so i'll ask you to look up his posts. in short, pump strength and dex, build them like a melee'r. but use their music as much as possible, and in particular take advantage of the hasting drums when you get them.

ranger - again, mook is a good choice, but i like gnomes. pump dex and senses early, then add strength and vitality. dont forget to mix potions whenever you get the chance, to build their alchemy without having to put points in at level ups.

(whew, glad i cut that down [img]tongue.gif[/img] )

edit: dplax and i must have been writing at the same time. edited to acknowledge his excellent advice.

[ 10-14-2003, 07:35 AM: Message edited by: sultan ]

Originally posted by Mordenheim: Priest dwarf or elf, what do you prefer or is it a toss up? I also prefer one human (only one). What class do you think would take the less hit with a human in it?

if you want to cast offensively with the priest, and they only get offensive spells later in the game, you'll want to go elf. dwarves start with too low of intelligence to make effective attacking casters as priests.

for those 6 classes, i wouldnt recommend any humans. but if i had to pick one, i'd make it the ranger. hybrids have much broader learning requirements, making the balanced human stats well suited.

[dplax]

Originally posted by sultan: edit: dplax and i must have been writing at the same time. edited to acknowledge his excellent advice.

Hehe happens some time. The advice you give is good too. And missile shield and enchanted blade will be missing, though I think (not too sure), that there is an instrument for one of them.

the bard gets magic screen, and bless, and haste. but i think those are the only buffs. perhaps you're thinking of a gadg item? i think they get armorplate and guardian angel, but i dont remember missile shield or enchant blade.

however, you can buy scrolls of missile shield and enchant blade, if you are patient and wealthy. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Mordenheim]

Thanks a lot for the reply Sultan

No doubt in a game with so many choices (I peeked and got scared [img]smile.gif[/img] ) that there will be differences in opinion. Having never played a Wizardry game, I thought it best to seek advice.

What I am sure on

Fighter
Rogue
Elf Mage - I would feel more at home with a mage then a psi. I thought a psi might have been a had to. If I can get away with a mage then I would prefer it.
Bard
Ranger

my last would be either a priest or valk. I take it a priest is similiar to a cleric? a valk is similiar to a ranger in the sense of low to medium magic with melee possibility?

I would prefer a priest. Do you think my class above will be able to handle the loss of the valk?

Appreciate the answers guys

Originally posted by Mordenheim: Having never played a Wizardry game, I thought it best to seek advice.

no worries, mordenheim. happy to help. it's good to know you're new to the game, as our recommendations, and reasonings, are likely to change.

Originally posted by Mordenheim: What I am sure on Fighter Rogue Elf Mage - I would feel more at home with a mage then a psi. I thought a psi might have been a had to. If I can get away with a mage then I would prefer it. Bard Ranger my last would be either a priest or valk. I take it a priest is similiar to a cleric? a valk is similiar to a ranger in the sense of low to medium magic with melee possibility? I would prefer a priest. Do you think my class above will be able to handle the loss of the valk?

with those five, i'd definitely add the priest. between the priest and the mage you'll get all the good buffs in the game, and the ranger and bard will cover the only other ones that matter.

this party has good balance of magic and melee and defense, so it's a good one to test against your style of play.

as a new player, the best advice i can give is focus. develop each character with a definite vision in mind, and some idea of how you expect them to work together with the others. it's not easy at first, but with a bit of trial and error, you'll find what you like and dont like, and you may just become as fascinated with it as many of the rest of us.

and if it doesnt go well, dont sweat it. take what you've learned and start again. i must have run 2 dozen parties before i actually finished the game. some got all the way to the peak before i gave up, others didnt make it out of the monastary.

good luck - and keep us posted!

[Mordenheim]

For sure and thanks again

Anyone else totally dig the look and feel of Wizardry 8? Unique and I really enjoyed the few minutes I spent to take a swim in the water [img]smile.gif[/img]