IWD party ideas

[Melcar]

So I'm about to re-play IWD+HoW+ToLM since I'm bored to tears with BG2 now (and I want to try the widescreen mod :D ). Since I suck at being creative, would you be so kind as to recommend me some party builds? I seem to remember Druids and Bards kicking ass in the IWD games, so I would like to have those in somehow. I just don't want to end up with something that will stop being useful at the middle of the game, or even worse, not useful at all (no fun when you get your ass handed to you in the first dungeon).

 

[Darth Roxor]

Dunno, my generic uberparty is always warrior + second warrior + optional (usually a ranger) + halfing thief + priest + wizzard.

 

[Melcar]

Dunno, my generic uberparty is always warrior + second warrior + optional (usually a ranger) + halfing thief + priest + wizzard.

I always go back to that sort of build and always end up getting bored to tears half way. Good solid build, but since this is not my first time through I'm looking for something more "exotic".

 

[spectre]

It's been some time ago since I played that.

Bards are good for all your talking needs. It's a kind of IWD tradition, that there are nice bard-only items, and there are unique dialogue options just for them. But, I say, you don't ABSOLUTELY need one to win.

As for druids, I recall the Ranger/Druid build was reported to kick serious bum.

Other than that, c'mon man, it's good ole D&D. You need a tank, a healer, a thief and a wizard. Anything more than that it's just icing on the cake.

For your rogue needs, I'd recommend a Fighter/Thief.

Get all the bits and pieces together and you have your dream party (like - the bard already covers pickpocket, the ranger covers sneaking, so your thief has three skills less to worry about).

EDIT: Should've said you want exotic stuff. On the whole, you can try going trio or duo like Fighter/Thief/Mage plus Ranger/Cleric plus some other guy for the lulz. On the whole, just make sure you've got the basic roles covered - someone for crowd control, a miagic user and someone to detrap and unlock stuff.

 

[Darth Roxor]

Bards are good for all your talking needs. It's a kind of IWD tradition, that there are nice bard-only items, and there are unique dialogue options just for them. But, I say, you don't ABSOLUTELY need one to win.

Get all the bits and pieces together and you have your dream party (like - the bard already covers pickpocket, the ranger covers sneaking, so your thief has three skills less to worry about).

And the need for special talking/sneaking/picking pockets in IWD is exactly... where?

Ok, maybe sneaking is useful *sometimes* for scouting purposes, but after you finished the game twice, you pretty much know where every enemy is stationed.

 

[ghostdog]

I remember a fabulous LP where someone breezed through IWD with 5 thief/mages.

 

[spectre]

It's all there for the occasional village that pops up, where you get to talk with stuff and sell phat lewt for a change. You know, role playin' and shit :-P

You don't have to do it, but it can be fun.

 

[Drakron]

iWD is a dungeon crawl, so its trap-o-rific and that is were the thieves shine.

Also you might want a Paladin for the holy avenger sword.

 

[spectre]

My memory is kinda failing atm, so I might mix IWD1 and 2 together, but wasn't the avenger only in 2?

 

[Black_Willow]

My memory is kinda failing atm, so I might mix IWD1 and 2 together, but wasn't the avenger only in 2?

No. It was also in the first part, although...

Spoiler

...it looked like a plain longsword in the inventory. You can find it in the underground town with hordes of umber hulks.

 

[JrK]

I'm looking for something more "exotic".

Here's my exotic plan:

Paladin
Bard
Druid
Fighter/Thief (dual or multi?) with bows

Wizardry missing? Not at all! Druids have a plethora of offensive spells in IWD, and Bards might have fewer spells, but they counter with having more levels and thus more spellpower for most spells throughout the game. Paladin primary healer supported by some Druid healing. So the only traditional character is a Fighter/Thief since in IWD you need a thief and a vanilla thief sucks.

 

[spectre]

You could opt for a Wizard/Thief - some added firepower.

 

[Murk]

two characters - one a theif/mage the other a cleric.

have at it (i solo'd IWD 2 with a full on fighter, i took a level of ranger and barbarian too so i could read some scrolls and for the rage ability)

hard as fuck but was kinda fun

 

[Murk]

I'm looking for something more "exotic".

Here's my exotic plan:

Paladin
Bard
Druid
Fighter/Thief (dual or multi?) with bows

Wizardry missing? Not at all! Druids have a plethora of offensive spells in IWD, and Bards might have fewer spells, but they counter with having more levels and thus more spellpower for most spells throughout the game. Paladin primary healer supported by some Druid healing. So the only traditional character is a Fighter/Thief since in IWD you need a thief and a vanilla thief sucks.

paladin... as a primary healer? wha?

 

[Vaarna_Aarne]

Atheist ninja team.

 

[Crichton]

I like abusing the AD&D multiclassing system and I like dwarves, so my favorite playthrough so far has been:

2x Dwarven Fighter
2x Dwarven Fighter/Cleric
1x Dwarven Fighter/Thief
1x Gnome Fighter/Illusionist

I've also tried:
3x Dwarven Fighter/Thief
2x Gnome Cleric/Thief
1x Gnome Thief/Illusionist

(That didn't go so well, stealth isn't all it's cracked up to be, this lot couldn't beat the final battle, adding insult to injury the traps weren't even disarmable)

The only thing I always have is a wizard, even though I don't care for them because I need them to avoid all those sirfneblin getting gassed (use anti-magic shell on the golems, kill the decoy and then use invisibility to get close and kill the wizard before he can cast his poison cloud spell).

A party of all clerics might be cute too, maybe

3x Fighter/Cleric
2x Wizard/Cleric
1x Thief/Cleric

 

[Squeek]

Paladins are fun in IWD and become surprisingly powerful at the higher levels. For instance, they turn undead about as well as a cleric (95% iirc) and level a whole lot faster than a cleric/fighter combo. And the "Protection From Evil" spell they cast lasts a long time -- all day eventually.

There's some special dialogue for them too, and that's fun. Try running a paladin solo in Heart of Fury mode (import an experienced one into a new game). The only place where you ever really need a thief is in the Trials dungeon (and you can always import one for that part of the game).

Druids are entertaining and fun in IWD too.

 

[Melcar]

Okay, this is what my unimaginative mind has come up with so far:

- Fighter
- Fighter
- Fighter/Mage
- Bard
- Cleric/Thief
- Druid


Multiclass only, since I hate dual classing. Maybe change one of the Fighters for a F/T, but I don't think I will ever need a Thief aside from traps and locks; never really bothered with backstabs and sneak attacks. Oh, it's going to be an evil party. It doesn't matter, but that means no Paladins and Rangers.

 

[Drakron]

The only place where you ever really need a thief is in the Trials dungeon (and you can always import one for that part of the game).

The Severed Hand is full of traps, only the "fingers" are safe and considering the high concentration of enemies its easy to spring a trap during combat and since the enemies there are either shadows or undead the only ones that will suffer the effects are the party members.

Thieves are just there to make life easier since traps rarely do damage, they add status effects.

 

[JrK]

I been doing a two people party runthrough with my wife. She's a ranger/cleric and I took a thief/wizace. I'm pretty much only useful for the spells, she does all the killing.

As for Paladins being primary healer: lay on hands + the few cleric spells they get go a long way. I don't use (or need) much healing, relying on enemy disabling spells in stead.

 

[butthurt]

DUMBFUCKING GAY ASSHOLE LIVES! ZARATHUSTRA IS MASTURBATING INSIDE ME PENIS! ALLELUJA!

 

[Murk]

As for Paladins being primary healer: lay on hands + the few cleric spells they get go a long way. I don't use (or need) much healing, relying on enemy disabling spells in stead.

hmm yes, i was mostly curious about early on but i guess you'd have enough money to buy extra healing potions and the likes if you only used a few characters.

i do agree on small-party romps though, more fun and more tactical

 

[JrK]

Well in the early parts your druid wouldn't be too much of a force due to per level dx damage, so he could be doing the healing until the pally is about lvl 4 or 6 for first spells?

Also, just for IWD, I like to throw a fighter level or two in there just for kicks. Something like a fighter3->druid wouldn't play very different from a straight druid, but the option to go melee with more than one attack per round makes all the difference between a useless and a handy secondary fighter.

 

[flabbyjack]

Ninjas p0wn in Icewind. Infamous Let's Play, best non-humorous Let's Play evah!

He runs them around Hasted, everywhere.

Teenage Athiest Ninja Elves

 

[DemonKing]

A bard is worth having - they can do all your social interactions for you, get good discounts at shops with their high Charima, be a backup mage or archer and use great bard-only magic items (Horn of Valhalla - I'm looking at you).

There is absolutely no need for a single class thief in IWD - make sure your thief is multied - I find either a fighter/thief specialising in archery or a thief/mage work best.

You need 2 front row fighters at a minimum. If you're running a good party a paladin can work well, especially as there is a kick ass Paladin long sword later in the game. A single class fighter is also a good option as they can get up to 5 proficiency slots in weapons (dwarves work well here with high con).

You probably need a cleric - this can be multied too - fighter/cleric or ranger/cleric working ok (although the ranger is really not needed).

Finally, a single class mage who will access high level spells can also be worthwhile, although you might want to skip it if you already have a bard *and* a thief/mage in the party.