Re: Tweaking
Hi, love your party setup for IWD2, much similar to my own setup.
All your characters can be made in TOEE, but with a lvl cap on 10 you have to choose your feats and skills carefully
Paladin :
if multiclassed, take Paladin or Fighter lvls first, you cant lvl as paladin if you lvl up as anything else after class is chosen( i.e F4/pal x Or Pal6/F x) Take 2 levels of fighter if you opt for Improved Critical feat, 4 if Wpn specialization is important. ( a +2 on dmg for only one Wpn class is poor imo )
There's no HOLY AVENGER in TOEE, but lots of nice Holy weapons.
Focus on one wpn type and stick with it, you can create powerful weapons with your spellcasters. CLEAVE works wonders in TOEE, consider GREAT CLEAVE as well ( 2 fireballs then into the fray )
Diplomacy alone will get you through dialogs in the game
Dwarf Fgth / Brb
same as above, 2 or 4 lvls of fighter depending on your style. ( i recommend 2 ) Brb gain dmg reduction at lvl 7 and extra rage at lvl 8 ( both useful ) I would choose Half orc and use Great axe or Greatswords ( or any two-handed wpns ) Dwarves are Godlike in IWD2 but it doesn't matter in TOEE, there aint many hostile spells.
Human Cleric
In TOEE try Elven Cleric ( elves can use long swords & bows) and choose WAR as one domain power for free Wpn Focus:long sword feat. high dex for ranged, rest is opt but high STR & CON make for good backup fighter/ alt. Tank. You don't need to turn undead ( not many and all are weak ) Choose Domains with useful abilities. Combat casting CAN be useful but i'd skip it if high CON and maxed Consentration skill. Spell focus Abjur. is a total waste imo, better to chose item creation feats and/or 1-2 Ftr feats
For ranged attacks PRECISE SHOT is a must-have(else you get -4 on all shots)
The most powerful items can only be made by lvl10 char. so you need more then one maker or else you wont have enough spare Xp to spend. Xp comes slow at high levels. Creating your own stuff is one of the fun things in TOEE, u wont find lots of power items.
Human Ranger/rouge
This is the one to skip, or replace one of the other Tanks. You dont need a rouge at all, or not many lvls of it. Sneak Attack is great but being able to hit at all is better. 1 level of rouge is great for social skills but if you include a Pal. he will do the talking.
Theres hardly any traps (only on a few locked chests) and the Knock spell opens all locks and also disables the trap if one is present. Anyone can sneak around due to Elven Boots and ELven Cloak and/or rings of invisibility ( + spells)
Elmo is a lvl 4 Ftr that lvls up as Ranger to 10 for F4/Rng6 and chooses Two-wpn style. He has A magic battle axe and you can make powerful weapons for him both normal and light wpns.
he can fill this slot, he's a good npc for good parties since he doesent loot (only a small amount of coins, nothing to worry about)
Human sorceror.
Powerful imo. i always have one as bombardier. spell focus isnt important, better to chose spell with no save and spell penetration for the heavy end fights. Ray of enfeeblement and acid arrow is great spells so i chose Point Blank shot and Precise Shot at lvl 1. (ranged touch attacks) 1-2 metamagic feats are also great (Empower spell, or Heighten spell,which lets you put Magic Missile in ALL your spell slots)
Sorcerors shouldnt make items due to poor spell selection and spell are prerecs for most items.
Consentrate on offensive magic. 2 spell focus feats increase DC for ONE type of spell by 2, 2nd lvl spell Eagle Splendor does the same for ALL your spells. Have a caster create a wand of it(20 charges)and you are ready for some action!!
Human Wizard
i always include one and NEVER specialize in schools. You dont need the extra spell slots, you'll need variasion. The mage will learn all spells then create scrolls & wands, wpns and armor for the rest of the party. Scrolls are cheap to make and give the mage lots of options in combat. where the sorceror has lots of castings but few spells the mage has the rest of the spells,ALL of them.
you can take a npc wizard such as SPUGNOIR ( hes good at high levels,adds nice feats and some nice spells) but youll make a far better mage on your own.
I recomend dodge and/or Combat expertise for mages(use Comb. Expertise at all times for a nice bonus to AC) You may take an elf or gnome but the extra feat at lvl1 is nice.
Try and experiment with the npc's , you may like some of them !
Finally i'll give you my favorite party Build
Human Rouge 1 / Fighter 9
takes Social skills at lvl1 (rouge)then Intimidade, Tumble and more social skills. FEATS : combat reflexes,power attack,cleave,exotic : bastard sword,wpn focus: bastard, wpn spes:bastard,gr wpn focus:bastard,great cleave and imptoved critical:bastard, combat expertise. Party TANK and SPOKESMAN.
+ best wpns (2 Artefacts) in the game are bastard swords.
WARNING : They are too powerful, might take some of the challenge away, but as you see i take wpn spes. for them since i've already wasted feats on them. If u dont like bastard sword go for improved critical for you wpn of choice
Dwarven Cleric 3 of Fharlaghn/Fighter 7
Domains: Luck & Travel.
Skills: Tumble,Survival,Spot,Listen,Heal,Use Magic Device
FEATS : Brew Potion,Craft Wndr Item,Power Att.,Cleave,Combat Reflex, wpn focus : warhammer(not crucial but i think its nice)Great cleave. Second TANK plus ITEMS & HEAL
Travel is a GREAT Domain for all chars.
You find some VERY good warhammers lategame
Elven Cleric 10 of Corellion Lathander
Domains: War & Good (combat bonus/heal bonus)
Skills: cons. spot, listen , heal spellcraft, tumble, useMagicDevice
FEATS: Combat expertise, improved trip, craft arms & armour, craft wand OR craft rod after CO8 patch ( adds more rods to create) Third TANK and HEALER plus ITEMS and RANGED
Uses the Holy Long Sword +1 (really +3)
Human Sorceror ( female ) 10
Skills : Bluff, cons, spellcraft, tumble, listen, spot
FEATS : Point blank shot, precise shot, heighten spell, empower spell, spell penetration
Focus on Offensive Magics all the way + some defense
1 : M.missile,Ray of Enfebl,Shield,Charm person,Burning hands
2: melfs acid arrow,tashas laughter,scare,mirror img.
3: Fireball,Lightning bolt,Haste
4: Ice Storm, Confusion
5: Cone of cold
With Heighten Spell Feat u can cast 30+ Magic missiles each day at high levels, hits everything !! Main BOMBARDIER
Enchants her own Holy Heavy Crossbow Of Fire,Of Frost + 3
Human Wizard 10
Skills : Appraise,consent, spellcraft ( maxed ) Tumble,spot, listen
FEATS: Combat expertise,combat casting,spell focus : enchantment (2), craft wand, craft arms&armour,craft wondr. item
Spells: Will learn all spells and focus on enchantment (Suggestion
& Charm monster are great) Always have 1 Teleport memorized for fast exit from the temple ( at lvl 9-10) Doesnt need to focus on any Wpn but enchants a nice + 3 crossbow for himself when not using wands or spells.
This Party has worked wonders for me, hope any of this will be of use to you.
