All-melee party

Matti · Post by **Matti** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:57 am

Hi,

This is my first post on this forum, but I've played through SOA & TOB several times. I've used several party formations (I only used NPC's the 1st time, from then on I've used multiplayer or solo)

I've decided to go through the whole game again, but I wanted something of a challenge, so I made a few rules for myself :
- 4 or 5 characters (1 to 3 characters become to powerfull to soon)
- no arcane magic (adding a sorcerer or wizard adds to much power to the party)
- limited or no priest spells (getting your ass kicked means getting your ass kicked. It doesn't mean getting damaged and then healing or raising your characters)
- I want to use diffrent styles of typical characters (I dont want 4 berserkers and if I should use a dwarf or something he should use an axe or a hammer)

So, I want an all-out melee party that is not overpowerd, but still tough enough to play through the entire game. My main concern is that I've always used a lot of archers and spellcasters and usually used fighters as cannonfodder, so now I want to focus on hand to hand combat. (I've tried a solo kensai/mage but he soon became too powerful)

I thought of the folowing party :
1) human inquisitor
joril's dagger -> Carsomyr
2) half orc barbarian
duskblade -> dragons breath or spear of withering -> Ravager or Ixil's spike
OR
celestial fury & Belm -> Spectral brand or Celestial fury & Defender
OR
Staff of Rynn -> Staff of the Magi -> Staff of the Ram
3) Dwarven wizard slayer
Frostreaver & stonefire -> Axe of Unyielding & Crom Fayer
4) Human berserker
Flail of the Ages & Defender of Easthaven -> Flail of the Ages & Purifier
5) Elfish Swashbuckler
Adjatha The Drinker & Short Sword of backstabbing -> The Equalizer & Short Sword of the mask -> The Answerer & Short Sword of the Mask

I haven't decided what weapon choice to take for the barbarian : I realy like the staff of the ram, but a barbarian with a large stick doesn't seem so cool.

Now for my question : Is it possible to play through the entire game without arcane & priest spells with a party of 5 characters? I don't want to waste my time playing through the first chapters to get stuck later on. Has anyone tried this before? (I've tried searching : I've found some useful tips, but not quite what I'm looking for)

Grombag · Post by **Grombag** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 10:39 am

Not sure it is possible, I suppose it is, not sure though. Questions though:
Will you be using spells from magic items?
If not, how do you plan on penetrating enemy arcane mages?
Will you use bought divine spells (from the temple)?

A pointer for the staf thing:
If you saw a person (think Conan the barbarian lookalike) running towards you with bloodlust in his eyes. Would it matter what kind of weapon he would hold? Both "the double handed sword of slicing and dicing" and "the big stick of lets break every bone in your body" are quite deadly

The point is that in the hands of a skilled fighter a staf may look not so good, but that is until you are at the receiving end

Oh and welkom to these forums.

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 11:48 am

This is quite doable and also good fun. I can recommend to not have too many characters dual wielding though as it can get crowded in melee that way. Two handed weapons have better reach so have atleast a couple of those.
You may want to consider having another paladin that can cast spells aswell for lesser restoration and turn undead. Level drain is a hassle.

Elessar · Post by **Elessar** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:00 pm

Quite doable

An all melee party is definitely doable. I soloed my monk through SOA and TOB. TOB was not easy at all.... but a party of melee is definitely doable.
I would strongly recommend a MONK for your party. Monks kick some serious backside later in the game and in TOB, especially once their magic resistance gets above 70% or so.

Pellinore · Post by **Pellinore** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:32 pm

Sounds great. Just a thought... I don't think a Barbarian can use Staff of Magi and I don't think a Berserker can use Purifier. Otherwise it all sounds great, I was pondering the idea of running a party of all Paladins with a cleric thrown in... Good luck!

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 2:21 am

It should be fun with some cool battles. I once ran a party of 5 archers and a cleric/thief through the game. & stealth characters can be deadly.

Silvanerian · Post by **Silvanerian** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 3:06 am

Purifier is usable by all good aligned characters iI am not mistaken. You need to be lawful good to draw it from the stone though.

I agree that Level Drain is an issue for your party, but only if you are not careful. Paladins can use the amulet of power, so just equip your Inquisitor with that and let him do the vampire bashing for the party - suggest use of azureedge or improve mace of disruption.

Regarding weapons, seems you have a good grip on the gear available, however, am puzzled on how you will be having Drizzt's weapons when also having a Paladin in your party? Your choice of course, but doesn't make sense RP wise.

For a melee party, unless your PC is the Paladin, I suggest you use the bastard sword Foebane for late game for your PC, as when upgraded it casts larloch's minor drain on each hit, which virtually makes a fast hitting character 'heal' himself tremendiously fast. (4 hp per successful hit)
It's a good way to keep your PC alive ; )

Lastly, for your spear guy, suggest you look into the weapon 'Impaler'. Best spear in the game damage wise due to the "+10" impaling bonus. Maybe have dragon's breath on switch for elemental damage versus spellcasters.

Overall looks good, and I agree that it is most definitely possible to go through the game with this party.

One of your main issues with this party will be to avoid unpleasant spell effects. Though killing rate will be through the roof, your party will easily fall prey to spells like symbols, chaos and possibly the insta-death ones too.
Therefore, you might want to load up on as many imunity weapons and shields you can get your hand on. While such a set-up will not be the best for quick kills, it will help you out against the spellcasters, keeping a handy 'spellcaster slaying gear' handy is advised.
Your wizard slayer and Inquisitor will be key in those fights.

Crenshinibon · Post by **Crenshinibon** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 6:46 am

The purifier can only be used by paladins.

Get a Mace of Disruption +2 (early on in SoA) and Angurvadal +5 (late ToB) to prevent level drain.

The barbarian, berzerker and the swashbuckler are better off as halflings due to a very hefty bonus to saving throws against magic and poison. From your proficiency choices, I'd give the barbarian Flail of Ages and the Defender of Easthaven, otherwise Axe of the Unyielding, if you feel like changing your mind. Barbarians can't use Staff of the Magi.

Berserker should have almost the same weapon choice as the Barbarian. Leaf the Defender of Easthaven off this one. Berserkers can't use the Purifier.

For the Swashbuckler, ideally, I'd tell you to use Ninja-To +3 and Belm +2. He'll probably end up being your tank, having the most AC after getting use any item.

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:14 am

Dwarves also have very good saves and have better hp.

Crenshinibon · Post by **Crenshinibon** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 9:11 am

The HP bonus isn't that much and I prefer to have the extra AC instead, but in this case, I assume that no one, aside from the Inquisitor, will be getting stat bonuses so as far as the saving throw bonuses go, the halfling and the dwarf would get the same bonus at 18 and 19 constitution as the next bonus would come at 21 constitution.

Matti · Post by **Matti** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 4:29 am

Thanks for all the replies!

I was indeed planning on using magic items, etc, ... else it would be realy difficult to finish the game I guess.

I'll rethink my weapon choice and races a bit.

Thanks