LotR Party

Stephen Bungert · Post by **Stephen Bungert** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:09 pm

I'm thinking about playing a lord of the rings party (was going to play a party in of 1st levelers in Hof but everyone got slaughtered by the first Goblin we met... don't know how the people who said they survived in Hof with a new party survived).

I thinking:

Gimli: Batleguard of Tempus (for the axes + there is no real cleric in LotR)
Aragorn: Paladin
Borimir: Barbarian
Legolas: Fighter (with bow skills)
Gandalf: Wizard
Frodo: Thief

What would other people do? I don't like multi-classing much so I normally play straight classes, also I looked at the Ultimate Powergaming Party guide... I didn't like this after about 5 minutes of playing I found it boring... none of the chracters seemed real which i find important since the story line in IWD2 is not as involved as BG2. Having said that I'm not a roleplayer either... it's a game after all. I don't want to buy ale in pubs or spend three days talking to the other punters.

Stephen Bungert · Post by **Stephen Bungert** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:11 pm

I'm tempted to replace Borimir with Arwen (as a druid), but I prefer to have more strength and less magic so I'm not sure.

Philos · Post by **Philos** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 3:26 pm

This might help

Welcome to GameBanshee Stephen.

We discuss this idea on the Icewind Dale 1 forum, here's the link: [url="http://www.gamebanshee.com/forums/icewind-dale-11/creating-a-lotr-party-61158.html?highlight=Lord+Rings+party"]http://www.gamebanshee.com/forums/icewind-dale-11/creating-a-lotr-party-61158.html?highlight=Lord+Rings+party[/url]

I realize IWD 2 uses 3rd edition rules while IWD 1 uses 2nd edition but might give you some ideas about what class to make people.

I would make Aragorn a ranger instead of a paladin. Although he is noble and does display some paladin-like traits. He is called a ranger in the books, and his skills as described in the story are most definitely that of a ranger (such as tracking the orc party carrying off the two captured hobbits). I would also disagree with Boromir as a barbarian. With his background as son of Denethor (keeper/protector of the city of Minas Tirith) and therefore hailing from probably the most civilized city of Middle Earth, I can't picture him as a barbarian. Barbarians come from the wilds, areas that are untamed. I would make him a fighter to keep him in character. But that's my 2 cents.

Hope you have fun.

Kipi · Post by **Kipi** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 1:33 pm

Stephen Bungert wrote:Gimli: Batleguard of Tempus (for the axes + there is no real cleric in LotR)
Aragorn: Paladin
Borimir: Barbarian
Legolas: Fighter (with bow skills)
Gandalf: Wizard
Frodo: Thief

Okay, this is my opinion, based on my knowledge of LOTR and IWD2:

First, I would change Gimli to fighter. Reaso is that he really is fighter than cleric, as you stated yourself and cleric isn't must on IWD2, you can survive without one (know that since done that, many times).

Secondly, as stated already by Philos, Aragorn is ranger. In the books and movies he has been called as "one of those rangers". So definately ranger, maybe Orc or Goblin as favoured enemy...

Thirdly Boromir is more like fighter, maybe even paladin, definately not barbarian.

Lastly, I would change Legolas to ranger also, since he is more like Aragorn than Boromir. Maybe ranger specialized to bows and Goblins/Orcs as his favoured enemy...

smileycrawford · Post by **smileycrawford** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 3:34 pm

Digging up an old thread, I wanted to try a bit of a challenge, but not crazy hard. I am only going through the first time through, so no HOF. I am attempting to get as close to the actual characters as possible rather than powergaming. I looked at making the party based on LOTR and The Hobbit characters (Bilbo). Considering the party is coming to Targos to help save the town, money and adventure, I built my party around this. Anyway, here it is.

1. Gandolf - Aasimar(is "summoned" from the heavons) Wizard - he does use a sword so I will take the sword feat
14-8-12-18-14-14. It was hard to keep his stats this low as I think they could all be higher, but am unable to. Nuetral Good - he is good, but can be a little deceptive, so chose nuetral. Realistically, Charisma could be maxed as he is extremely influential, but what do you decrease?

2. Aragon - human, starts as Ranger(Strider-level 5), then change to Paladin(the King). Lawful Good. 16-14-14-10-12-10. Like Gandolf, it was tough to keep all his stats low as he should be very good overall. Charisma will be pushed up all through the game. His Charisma did grow during the movies, so this makes sense. Take Wilderness Lore as a skill as a Ranger.

3. Gimli - s. dwarf fighter, nuetral good. 18-14-18-8-10-8. A pretty easy character to build

4. Legolas - elf ranger(could have gone with fighter maybe, but he seems one with nature), nuetral good. 12-20-14-8-12-10. Increase wisdom as the game progresses as he becomes more "wise". Take the bow as a weapon feat to start, but also take dash and dodge as he is very fast.

5. Bilbo - halfling rogue, true nuetral. 14-18-14-16-8-6. He seemed to be an outsider in the closely knit group in the shire and wanted to run out on his own party, so I thought I should be able to drop charisma down. Went on the adventure in the Hobbit for "adventure" and money, so thought he would be perfect character to be part of the party.

6. Arwen - Elf Druid, Neutral Good. 12-14-14-10-16-10. Would join the party to help her husband.

None of the main hobbits from LOTR were put in the party as I only felt Frodo was there because Gandolf realized that he was able to carry the ring, and none of the other 3 would have come if not for Frodo going. Frodo would serve little purpose on this quest, so it is unlikely Gandolf would seek him out.

Philos · Post by **Philos** » Sun May 01, 2011 1:21 pm

I like your choices Smiley and think your reasoning on each is solid. Very interesting perspective on Aragorn. Toughest call to me is taking Bilbo over Frodo. But echoing what you were saying on Frodo, he did go on the quest specifically due to the ring. Bilbo adventured because he liked to travel and the experience. Frodo's adventure was more "thrust" upon him.

Of course you could always use Gollum as the rogue. :laugh:

smileycrawford · Post by **smileycrawford** » Sun May 01, 2011 10:27 pm

Philos wrote:I like your choices Smiley and think your reasoning on each is solid. Very interesting perspective on Aragorn. Toughest call to me is taking Bilbo over Frodo. But echoing what you were saying on Frodo, he did go on the quest specifically due to the ring. Bilbo adventured because he liked to travel and the experience. Frodo's adventure was more "thrust" upon him.

Of course you could always use Gollum as the rogue. :laugh:

I actually did consider Gollum, but I think it would have been more of Gandolf pushing him by promising him the ring if he helped.

I actually really tried hard to put Elrond in the party as I think I could make a cleric out of him, but he only helped in LOTR's at the absolute last minute because he didn't want to get involved with human affairs/issues. After doing some research on him, he is actually half elf, making Arwen partially elf. I guess I could make her half elf, or leave her as she may be mostly elf.

I think I will change Legolas to a fighter after more research. I just couldn't find enough attachments with nature to make him a ranger. I think I'll leave his stats as is though.

Forgot to mention to take weapon specialization for Gimli with the Axe. He always has one.

Darth Malignus · Post by **Darth Malignus** » Mon May 02, 2011 4:09 pm

smileycrawford wrote:I think I will change Legolas to a fighter after more research. I just couldn't find enough attachments with nature to make him a ranger. I think I'll leave his stats as is though.

Yup, leather armor, dual wielding two small blades, shoots a bow, his father is the King of Mirkwood... no chance EVER of that being the possible qualities of a Ranger.

kmonster · Post by **kmonster** » Mon May 02, 2011 5:38 pm

If you're insecure if you should make Legolas a ranger or fighter, just take both. He'll also be a little more powerful this way than a pure class fighter or ranger (both weapon specialization for bows, bonus feats and a few favored enemies).
Take even levels to avoid an XP penalty. Start as ranger, you can save the one skill point you get at fighter level up until the next ranger level since intimidate isn't a skill which fits to him. As archer he should start with rapid shot which is the true archer feat.

I'd take only 4 ranger levels for Aragon before switching to paladin, the 5th ranger level doesn't add anything useful except BAB, no saves, no casting. The 6th ranger level adds +1 to all saves, a second level 1 ranger spell and another favored enemy, but since you don't have a cleric earlier access to paladin spells will be beneficial.

smileycrawford · Post by **smileycrawford** » Tue May 03, 2011 9:20 am

Darth Malignus wrote:Yup, leather armor, dual wielding two small blades, shoots a bow, his father is the King of Mirkwood... no chance EVER of that being the possible qualities of a Ranger.

You and KMonster make good points. I think I'll do half and half with fighter and ranger.

smileycrawford · Post by **smileycrawford** » Thu May 12, 2011 9:29 am

Well, part way through chapter 1, the party is doing well. I managed to save the entire bridge which is an indicator to me if the party is strong at this point. The lack of a cleric is not being felt by the party at the moment, but I think it will more in the middle and end part of the game. I decided to only take Aragon to level 3 and have switched him over to Paladin. I may take 2 or 4 levels of fighter later on as he was quite the skilled fighter in LOTR's. Gimli's been awesome, but pure fighters with maxed strength have always been awesome for me through the first few chapters.