The priestless party

Rodo · Post by **Rodo** » Fri Aug 10, 2001 8:35 am

Today I finished SoA (3rd time I actually bothered to go to Sulldanesselar at least) using this party:
Bahamut - TN, Kensai/Mage (your usual katana wielder, with the occasional help from a long sword)
Keldorn - Carsomyr, silver sword, heavy crossbow of accuracy
Valygar - spear of withering, impaler, mana bow/heartseeker
Cernd - elemetal staves, water's edge +3, sling of everard, staff of the woodlands
Mazzy (queen of saving throws) - all long swords, all short bows
Jan - crossbow of affliction, staff of the magi, short sword of backstabbing -> boneblade +4 -> cutthroat +4

Now, while this party REALLY packs a punch (and I mean it, it can wallop anything) it has its little problems:
-Trouble dealing with undead because of no cleric.
-Trouble dealing with demons until I got Carsomyr
-Cernd's werewolf form always count as a non-magical weapon so he can't hit most things towards the end

Other than these there's absolutely no enemy this party can't handle.

The only serious problem was my ken/ma's HORRIBLE saving throws (he was my main frontline fighter in addition to my main mage) and his AC (which was 0).
Since I didn't feel like using my potions of invulnerability for everysingle fight, this can be counteracted with 3 simple spells:
Chaotic Commands (lasts a long time)
Death Ward (lasts a long time)
and the spell that saved my butt so many times: SPIRIT ARMOR

Barkskin helps too. For the saving throw bonus if anything.

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Fri Aug 10, 2001 8:50 am

Well this time through SoA (now in ToB) I have no clerics. I have -

PC Druid Avenger
Jaheira
Mazzy
Edwin
Imoen
Sarevok (for Korgan)

Xyx · Post by **Xyx** » Fri Aug 10, 2001 12:14 pm

*** Nitpick Alert ***

You must mean Clerics, right? Cernd is still considered a priest.

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Fri Aug 10, 2001 1:06 pm

Posted by Xyx -

*** Nitpick Alert ***

*Yshania starts scratching*

You are correct. I have two druids in my PC and Jaheira who have enough healing spells, and my party are never short of a potion or ten

The only thing I lack (but have not missed!) is turn undead. I never rated it anyway...

Rodo · Post by **Rodo** » Fri Aug 10, 2001 4:05 pm

I really missed Turn Undead actually. My ranger/cleric could blast vampires out of existance like nobody's business whenever he wanted to.

And yes, I do realize that druids are simply Celtic priests I was going for the whole priceless <-> priestless effect in the topic.

And I like Viconia.

Doc · Post by **Doc** » Fri Aug 10, 2001 7:13 pm

I agree that clerics in SoA are very over-rated (as compared to IWD where they seem to have a few more powerful spells). I keep Aerie around, but really only because she's a mage too. I have to admit though, I have a high level Paladin and I loath the idea of playing through the game without being immune to level drain (yeah, yeah, I know a spell or two prevents it, but it's still a pain) and being able to blow undead to smithereenes with the turn undead is a feature worth the price of the game itself.

glory · Post by **glory** » Sat Aug 11, 2001 12:06 am

Yes i agree that you can make it without a cleric...however what clerics are good at is what makes them clerics. making the life of your party easier. without cleric spells you have to rethink a lot of fights especially with undead creatures...while you can do without clerics...you must admit they make life easier...a lil bit

Xyx · Post by **Xyx** » Sat Aug 11, 2001 2:24 am

There is hardly any need for more than one Cleric, though. One turns undead almost as well as two. Still, the fact that they can weave attacks and spells greatly adds to their power.

Fezek · Post by **Fezek** » Sat Aug 11, 2001 2:48 am

I have Viconia in my party only because she has a randy voice!

Rodo · Post by **Rodo** » Sat Aug 11, 2001 12:06 pm

I just remembered my BIG problem in this game: Clay Golems.
Since I had nobody using blunt weapons (except Cernd and Jan, and they aren't exactly heavy hitters) they were a huge problem until I remembered - Jan can set traps and when he couldn't, the wonderful power of the Wand of Cloudkill. I used up an entire completely charged up wand, all 50 charges.

I kept Viconia around because she was my romance (the first one that worked, damn Jaheira) and because of her massive clerical abilities.

On a completely unrelated note:
There's absolutely no use for the spells Holy and Unholy Word.

[ 08-11-2001: Message edited by: Rodo ]

666th_Phantom · Post by **666th_Phantom** » Sat Aug 11, 2001 3:07 pm

i have
me (assassin)
keldrron (my right-hand man)
minsc (hes cool enough)
anomen (once he becomes a night he dosnt whine anymore, and sides hes a good warrior and cleric)
jaheira (i own her,or she ownes me?)
nalia

I NEVER used turn undead, i jus use sunray from daystar and anomens sunray at the same time. Liches are VERY easy to kill with 2 sunrays.