Kefka1983 wrote:Hmm, that sounds like a really hard way to play through. Am I wrong?
Both more difficult, and conversely quite a bit easier.
I tested both types of characters, (though for the Assassin with 3 fighter levels instead of 3 swashbuckler levels), against a variety of opponents.
It does work at every level provided you can run far enough away, (which isn't to far), to hide - and if you have enough room to run it works very well. Once you get HIPS it is a LOT easier (..click on "hide").
None of it "plays" (fights) like a normal game of NWN's, and the biggest difference is against mobs of opponents. You don't simply wade-in and take-on everyone (a'la armored fighter with great cleave). Nor do you (always) fire off a few fireballs and hope you cast them (in the correct location) before you get beaten-to-death.
Here you:
1. cast a summon to distract opponents and then make attacks of opportunity, or
2. cast grease/web (or some other form of "hold" spell) and "fling" darts within 30 feet of your opponents, or
3. run and hide and:
Set traps.:mischief: A few traps (as high as possible) can take out a LOT of opponents, or can "hold" them - depending on the type of trap.
OR with HIPS you can also do the sneak/death attack for each opponent.
- and that is the "difficult" part.
It gets very easy when its against only a few tough opponents - *extremely* easy if they aren't immune to criticals/sneak attack.
It does require more "micro-managing", but that can be more interesting to play AND it can result in an over all easier game-play in difficult situations.
In this respect it kind of reminds me of ToEE. Most people usually say they found that game difficult, but I thought it was easy. The reason: I planned out a group combination that primarily focused on the spell Entangle (druid 1st level) and every one using ranged weapons to pick-off each held opponent.
What you specifically do NOT do is the typical: cast spells and rest, cast spells and rest, etc. (..with a party that is sleeping more often than doing anything else).
Of course all of the above is in reference to fighting.
Because of the character's high intelligence, high skill points, and broad selection of skill points; other areas like dialogue, purchasing, detecting and disabling traps, opening locks, etc. - will probably be much easier.
Two more interesting points:
They are actually both capable of casting spells (though not with the same power). Typical scenario:
Wizard scribes spell, passes scroll spell to Assassin. Assassin uses scroll spell with "use magic device".
You do of course have to plan-out which spells are most efficient.
Also because of the higher dexterity - ranged touch attack spells have a better "shot" at hitting opponents.. and there is a "critical" component with this type of attack (with a feat to decrease the critical's threat range).
