Starting with new Party style

[shaughn78]

Starting a new game and trying a new party style, in past always use more of a combat orientated party with multiple tanks, thie time going with more magic.

1. Human bard that will lead the party
2. Half-Elf druid, possibly take 1 or 2 levels of fighter
3. Tielfing Conjurer
4. Human Paladin Mystra/mage (haven't choosen a school yet) will level at either a 1:3 or 1:4 ratio.
5. Ghostwise halfling Ranger 1/Barbarian X to take advantage of duel weapons
6. Halfling cleric of Mask/thief will level up evenly

[Opalescence]

Personally, I can't really see why you'd choose a bard to lead your party. A sorcerer works just as well (also needs high CHA), but has a better selection of spells and is an all-round better spellcaster. I just don't see the bardic music a good enough replacement for a good fireball or three ... just my opinion of course.

[shaughn78]

Went with the bard for the sole fact that I've never really use one before and since she had the high cha decided to take advantage of that with her as the leader.

[Wrath-Of-Egg]

and if you use bards songx20 time thing... your party does more damage in melee than by spell casting...

[neocool00]

[QUOTE=shaughn78]1. Human bard that will lead the party
2. Half-Elf druid, possibly take 1 or 2 levels of fighter
3. Tielfing Conjurer
4. Human Paladin Mystra/mage (haven't choosen a school yet) will level at either a 1:3 or 1:4 ratio.
5. Ghostwise halfling Ranger 1/Barbarian X to take advantage of duel weapons
6. Halfling cleric of Mask/thief will level up evenly[/QUOTE]
1. Ok, sounds fine to me, although I don't care for bards.
2. If you're going to mix a druid w/ a fighter, might as well take 4 levels of fighter to get weapon specialization. 2 levels is pretty much useless, one would be ok, but you only get an extra feat and can use any weapon except for the bastersword.
3. Ok
4. I think in order to keep your Paladin skills when going back and forth between levels you can only mix with a straight Wizard. Since you're wanting to focus on magic more than combat, I would suggest Paladin 3/Mage X. Start by taking the Paladin levels then you can specialize in whatever school you want when you start taking Mage levels. With a 1:3/1:4 ratio, you're not going to be able to cast any of the higher level spells. Also, if you decide to specialize in a school, be sure to pick something that covers what the Conjurer can't take.
5. I would change this to a Half-Orc Ranger/Barbarian. The Ghostwise Halfling has Barbarian as a favored class, but starts w/ a -2 to stength.
6. I wouldn't mix this evenly. Instead, do like Rogue 2/Cleric Demarch of Mask X. You only really need a small amount of Rogue levels. Besides, you'll want the higher level spells. Remember, you can only advance to level 30 and in a normal game w/ a party of 6, you're only going to end up at leve l16 or 17.

[M_J]

I am just curious, how did you distribute your bard stats, i never use bards because no matter what race i chose, i never have decent stats.

[Wrath-Of-Egg]

if you are planing to make 30 level bard... max cha is good.. and rest points like you would have those with cleric/warrior if just 11 level bard 12-14 cha and more points in other atributes....

[M_J]

A human bard would then be 18char, 12str,12dex,12con,12int,10wis
Is it me or does that simply mean good char, rest of the stats s*ck
HE/she can talk,do minor spells,sing but is weak in meele combat, i dont see the real use of a bard compared to a sorcerrer.

[Wrath-Of-Egg]

..... Get lingerine song feat....
when playing pause game and start singing... when game is paused you can sing multiple times and get multiple bonusses... so even your wizard does 80 damage with 10 strenght(with every hit)... so dont say that bard songs are weak +there is sirens yearning too bad it doesn't work with me...

and as for abilitys for bard.. he it is...
14-16strenght belt bought from kuldahar...
10-20dexterity... armor bonus..(and if archer)
10-15constitution more life...(but 10 con is enough)
6-18intelligence.. max only if planning to use intelligence based skills(like alchemy)
6-16wisdom high points in here is totally pointless since bard songs can give you 40-70 saves....
18-30 charisma more spells...(summons and party boosting)

[shaughn78]

my starting stats with the bard 13/14/12/10/10/18

[shaughn78]

Back a bit to the half-orc ranger/barbarian I originally considered it but wanted more of a unique character. With the halfing I have the higher dex. to improve my AC with light armor so I can have the duel weapons. The rage skill lets me increase the strength and the 5 other charactrs all have spell casting abilities and 1 or 2 of then can buff the barb up while the others start thier offensive spells.

[talyn]

I suppose that makes sense with the Barbarian, though I never have Halflings or Gnomes, as I swear the female ones are bald and they are all Dwarf shaped, which they shouldn't be. It just bugs me. And Wrath you realise the Lingering Song Bard huge bonus thing is C-H-E-A-T-I-N-G. If you are going to cheat then you might as well go the whole hog and dale-keeper the buggers aswell. Bards I don't like, and if I do have one, they sit at the back with a crossbow. I agree that Sorcerers, while having lower health, do make better party leaders. Especially if you give them high strength and proficiency with a greatsword. Then of course, when enemies swarm around you, a mirror image and a few fireballs later you're ready to start hacking at them.

[Wrath-Of-Egg]

well is not cheating... it is either bad programming or black isle planned it that way.. were you member of black isle?

and let say you are facing army of noble paladins what are you going to do? use that 1d1 rusty dagger or 50d200 +100 doomblade of anti do gooders?

[M_J]

Obvious bad programming if you ask me.