Party Advice for Ascension

Indra · Post by **Indra** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 11:16 am

I have a Half-Elf CG T/M, whom I hope to play with my 3rd time. I'm doing ascension for the first time, so I was wondering what a feasible party would be for me. Right now I have:

1) T/M
2) Jaheira
3) Minsc

and will take Tashia this time. So I have:

1)T/M
2) Jahiera
3) Minsc
4) Tashia

I'd like to have just 5 permanent PCs, leaving me space to take Sarevok in TOB. That would mean 1 empty PC slot through SOA for quest NPCs (assuming I take Tashia) Should I:

a) Take Anomen as a F/C?
b) Take Aerie instead?
c) Take Imoen into Ascension and forget about Sarevok?
d) Take both Imoen and Sarevok and leave someone else?

Any alternative party suggestions and advice would be really appreciated. Thanks..

nephtu · Post by **nephtu** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 11:52 am

Well....

What you should do really depends on what you want out of your party. There have been about a bazillion threads on best party, but you'lll get much more useful advice if you tell us what "Best" means for YOU - is it cheese-o-rama, Dr. Evil & henchmen, funny banter, Goody twoshoes, what?

Generally, melee-heavy parties are easier to play, where caster heavy parties are a bit tricker, but can become insanely oveprowered - especially Sorcerors like Tashia - and that's good when you're playing Ascension

Other than that, play who you like

Have fun!

Indra · Post by **Indra** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 5:20 pm

I'll try to be clearer..

I'm trying for low or no cheese (no stealing, no unlimited selling, no wand abuse), chaotic good (no evil chars), non lawful (no paladins, except for quests) style play.
Thinking more about my questions, my main issues are:

1) I'd like to take chars who I haven't taken before. I've taken Minsc and jahiera before, just don't know how a chaotic good char can ditch his companions, especially in his situation.
2) I feel I need an extra cleric. Hence Anomen, as he's new, and I've never liked Aerie.
3) I don't know how Imeon and Sarevok influence the final battle in Ascension. Hence I'm wondering if it makes sense to take them both with me, or if I can ditch them for other companions. With Tashia and Me, I really don't need an extra mage, and dumping Sarevok would allow me to take Sola...
4) As I've never played ascension before, I really don't know the melee power required to complete the final battle against the five and Melissan. Hence the concern...

Thanks..

nephtu · Post by **nephtu** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 9:42 am

Well..

If you want to avoid evils, Sarevok is pretty much out, no? I don't have a clue how they influence they fight, since I've never played ToB with either of them. I'm assuming you've installed more than just Ascension -i.e., you have most of the tactics options, as well as item upgrades and ease-of-use (hint, hint) is that right?

So, we've more=or-less eliminated Valen, Edwin, Korgan and Viconia (evils), Keldorn (Paladin) and Aerie (annoying), right?

A character you should definitely consider, IMAO is Valygar - he's a well written and interesting NPC, great scout, and puts a majour hurt out in melee - backstabs with melee THAC0, ouch!

Anomen is also well written, sufficiently so that meany people find he drives them crazy. I think his story line is really rather interesting, and he's a decent fighter with all those nice clerical abilities. In a party like that, I'd think you'd want Jaheira as main tank (load up on skins

), with melee backup from Valygar and Anomen. It is a valid use of Shadowkeeper to make Anomen a specialty priest of Helm, since that IS his religion - you can also switch his weapon proficiency to something useful, like flails or hammers.

For member 6 in later SOA & ToB - I dunno, Kelsey? You'd have two sorcerors, which would permit some insane damage output, or perhaps Jan, just because he's so funny, Haer'Dalis for Bardic skills, or Solaufein (Fighter/Mage) - he's a damn fine adition to any party. Probably take some time with your 5 core members, and see what you feel you're lacking - then add an NPC suited to that gap.

Obviously, it's your show, but those strike me as some good choices for you.

Good gaming!

Boris · Post by **Boris** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 5:30 pm

What's "ascension"? This isn't a spelling query, but a serious question about a potential game aspect of which I had not heard.

BTW, CG M/T is the only way to go, IMO. Am trying an NG F/C right now, but wishing I was back in my old Seani shoes so I could choose whatever party I want - with a T/M at the core, all you need is a few fighters and any old cleric or two...
Quite fancy that Viconia one, though don't know how J. will react & can't afford a 3rd cleric in current party...

B.

(edited for really uninteresting spelling mistake)

IHateUsernames · Post by **IHateUsernames** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 5:56 pm

Ascension is a mod that alters the end fight and Balthazar. It toughen thing up a litle. I really should have played through the end before installing. Oh well.

Boris · Post by **Boris** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 6:29 pm

Ascension

Where does one find this "Ascension"?

I haven't seen anything on the Web that wasn't on the Patches CD, but I'm probably just demonstrating my ignorance...

BTW, latest on Barbarella -

The Angel says "We'll probably be shot down by the Black Guards".
B. says "Not with my Mini-Missile Projector we won't!"

Then the music changes for the really-exciting battle, wherin B. directs Hagar (The Angel)'s fire by word of mouth....

It really is a most brilliant film, ye know...

B

P.P.S. Just met the Evil Lesbian Queen, which is nice. But Barbie's a bit Straight, so no action there, alas...

Kaitsuburi · Post by **Kaitsuburi** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 7:17 pm

@Indra -- Just wondering, what difficulty setting are you planning to play on?

@Boris -- here are some nice mods, including Ascension.

Cheers!

-kaitsuburi

Xyx · Post by **Xyx** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 4:07 am

The name Ascension refers to the main character's potential ascendance to godhood. It's not just a heavy battle, but those parts have been changed as well to allow for a bit more flexibility, taste and common sense.

Sarevok and Imoen, both being Bhaalspawn, can seriously and negatively affect the flow of the first half of the mod. Interesting but an extra challenge.

Some things to consider for your party:

Wish is extra powerful here, since it can allow you to rest (sort of).
Good magic resistance really helps.
You'd have to have romanced Anomen to make him abandon his lawfulness.
Both pure clerics might lack the needed punch.
I have no experience with Solaufein, but I doubt there's anything better than an epic level Fighter/Mage, with magic resistance to boot.

Indra · Post by **Indra** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 5:24 am

nephtu:

No, I've not installed either Item Upgrades or Ease-of-Use. I have nothing agains Ease-of-Use, but Item Upgrades I found rather unbalancing when I installed it a while ago. I'm not sure if this extra punch is needed when I go up against the improved Bhaalspawn..

Kaitsuburi:

I always play hardcore..

Xyx:

Are you saying that I should take both Imoen and Sarevok with me through Ascension? To your other points:

1) Oh, oh, ..Aerie..
2) Well, no Viccy..
3) Anomen's lawfulness is nothing more than an irritation right now. More worrying is the fact that he might not be able to pull his weight..There are obviously certain situations (mostly involving stoneskins and Spell Immunity..Mae'var's Guildhouse, the Guarded Compound, The Twisted Rune) Where a C/M will wipe a pure Cleric out..I'm wondering if this holds in the final battle..
4) I think then, that I will try Sola out..

My main char has been going through a lot of changes as this discussion unfolds. The T/M is too one-dimensional to continue, as I'm not a trap kind of guy, and this effectively negates half of my Xp. I created a dual F7-Mxx, only to discover to my horror that THACO does not increase when a Fighter duals back to Mage..Ever..(like -1 decrease across 38 mage levels). So I'm back to where I was 10 days ago...multi-class F/M. A tentative party:

1) F/M
2) Jahiera
3) Aerie
4) Sola
5) Sarevok (Quest NPC in SOA..maybe Valygar?..)
6) Imoen (or Jan)

Just 2 new NPCS from my previous run..but maybe better overall?..

nephtu · Post by **nephtu** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 11:08 am

Ascension continued...

Do install ease-of-use, if only for the inventory management help, (I've taken to using that plus a bag of holding from SK at the start of every game, Inventory management != fun)

Item upgrade is not critical, either way, by the end of ToB you'll have great weaponry in any case.

If you want more melee ability, go for a multiclass F/M - you will get all those nifty HLAs, like GWW, G deathblow, yadda yadda yadda as well as quest level spells. The dual will typically not improve in THAC0 - the mage THAC0 progression is pathetically weak compared to that for fighters - if you must dual, get your fighter to at least 9, or better 12 before you do.

I would ABSOLUTELY take Tashia over Aerie, personally, but it's your show. High level sorceror w/Robe of Vecna and Greater Alacrity - ouch!

Don't sweat the party too much - take one ya like, and all will be well.

Xyx · Post by **Xyx** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 11:23 am

Immy and Sarevok make your life harder, not easier. However, they got some support in the mod, so from a story perspective they're interesting.

If you install Ease of Use (which I agree has very unbalancing items), you can decide upon each component you wish to include or exclude. You could include the super-stacking arrows only, for example.

Harbinger · Post by **Harbinger** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 10:42 pm

Yes I would have to agree with nephtu and recommend either Tashia or Kelsey over Aerie or even Edwin, well Edwins about the same, but your gonna need those extra high level spells for certain.

Boris · Post by **Boris** » Sat Oct 18, 2003 7:13 pm

Just to say thanks to Kaitsuburi

... for the link to Ascension (sp?).

Haven't finished downloading it yet, never mind installation, playing, etc. But I do very much appreciate the simple, practical advice (never mind the "even an idiot can click on this" link). Especially since I haven't/will not pay you any money... Well, not unless you want to make a gang & go robbing banks/whatever, in which case(s) you can count on me to guard your back.

Thanks again, oh K-person.

B.

fable · Post by **fable** » Sat Oct 18, 2003 7:22 pm

Don't neglect Aerie! The deeply troubled and insecure little elf becomes a powerhouse in ToB, where she can produce trigger spells containing both high level mage and high level cleric spells. She's the only one who can do that, and it makes dealing with both the undead and the living a lot easier.