Balor

Yeah I know but their unarmed attacks are said to be ineffective against outsiders, so I thought that spiked chain would be a fun substitute.

I'm wondering the range on the spiked chain, to compare to long spear.

I'm planning my next party and I'm looking for a balance and just 5 characters this time, of my own creation.

I gave myself a headache going over possibilities. I've considered a paladin for my face, a good warrior, secondary healer and diplomat. Also considered a rogue/bard as one. I ultimately ruled out both. The paladin can't do temple quests without falling.

I considered a pure bard as my party leader, with good stats and a sturdy warrior next to him I'm hoping he'll stand strong through the game. I'm looking to go without a rogue this time.

Bard - long sword
Barbarian - Glaive
Cleric (this one is for sure)
Wizard

Some other opinions I was considering was a fighter using the long range weapon instead of a barbarian. I considered at one point a rogue/druid with longspear, and now am I considering a druid/fighter. So many decisions that some will be left out of course. I'm not sure also if a pure Druid is a good choice, or if with a bard I would lack overall brawn. I'm thinking really of the 4 above with a druid/fighter with a long range attack like spiked chain or another glaive. This will provide extra healing, long range melee support and in the long run a possible 3rd crafter.

The bard is there to inspire courage in the balor fight, but also of course I think he'd be fun to play otherwise I'll just take a fighter with great axe(s).

 

Paladins help wit the fear issue, just keep everyone close enough to him/ her.

 

Okay, maybe I'll make a paladin instead, I'll just have to steer clear of temple quests right?

I gave my fighter Skill Focus: Diplomacy in my game and it seems a waste. He had a 0.5 increase in the skill per point and I thought the feat would give him 1.0 per click, but it didn't, still 0.5
What was the point then?

I take the paladin as my leader instead of the bard, then 1 last choice remains. A bard as the 5th character or a druid/fighter using spiked chain. Tough decisions

 

Skill focus gives a flat +3 bonus to all checks for that skill, as per the feat's description.

 

I don't remember seeing that, but thanks.

 

I'd say lvl5-lvl6 characters, without losing too much XP or bangind your head on the wall too hard.

 

Hi Kneller
I agree with you to a point. I always start with an Elf Rogue, work him up to about 5th level and then add Wizard Levels from then on. With decent Dex, he can open all the chests, makes a decent archer (as an Elf he starts off with Proficiency in the Longbow: if his Strength is high enough, I get a MW Composite Longbow and start crafting it.). One of the other nice things about a 4th - 5th level rogue is they are excellent scouts/ decoys. In my current runthrough of the Fire Temple, I kept most of the party towards the back ( by where the "firepots" start ) and sent the Rogue forward until I could "see" the "Alter". I then dropped several spells on the area ( 1 Icestorm each from Melany and my Wizard, and a Holy Smite from my Cleric ). The Salamanders both lobbed fireballs at him, which he easily dodged (taking no damage).
I find it interesting that when talking about Rangers everyone seems to opt for "Dual-wield" (yeah I confess, after reading all the Drizzt books, I'm tempted), but I haven't heard of anyone running a Ranger Archer. I am getting ready to go after Zuggtmoy, and the Ranger in my party is a very lethal archer ( the 18 Strength +3, Holy, Shocking Burst Composite Longbow does help ). She was very useful in taking out the Balor. One nice thing about an archer, is that she can stand back far enough that the Fear spell that the Demons cast on Elmo and the Fighter hacking away at close range, doesn't effect her.
TRC

 

I occasionally do a human, 1/2 elf or elf fighter/ranger(missile). Good for killing enemy wizards at range. In the Broken Tower, she and Ronald can usually hose down the mage and the witches in a fairly timely fashion. Especially after a fireball or 2. And she's still deadly up close and personal.

Thief/ranger(missile) is also a strong combo. :thumbsup:

 

What about Druid/Barbarian with spiked chain or a Druid/Fighter?

I got a paladin lined up and a barbarian with glaive, a cleric and maybe a wizard (not sure about the wizard, I only used a lot early on but only for haste and buffs late game).
Good for crafting but I may use the druid. Looking for a tight 5 person party.

Considering a great cleaver this time for the cleric, possible duel weild them!

 

Fighter levels are advisable for a spiked chain guy. Considering you'll need the exotic proficiency, and you'll probably also want combat reflexes, combat expertise->improved trip, and possibly dodge->mobility->spring attack->whirlwind attack, that's a lot of feats (whirlwind attack is probably only doable in a reasonable amount of time with a pure fighter, on top of all that other stuff; technically your monk idea wasn't too crazy, since they can get combat reflexes and improved trip with their bonus feats, but the chain not being a monk weapon keeps you from using your cool monk attacks).

The thing is, spiked chains don't retain their main advantage in ToEE, which is that they let you attack adjacent enemies, instead of just people 10 feet away. You can do that with any reach weapon in ToEE, and there's also no disarming (which spiked chains give a bonus to) so they just cost a feat and don't give you any mechanical advantage in return. The only benefit they have is that they look awesome, and you can finesse them (but mainly they look awesome).

 

Thanks. Well then, my front guy is a paladin with long sword, next is barbarian with glaive. Then cleric (duel great cleavers) is the plan, then a wizard and finally a druid/fighter.

Protecting the end. I'm not as sure on spiked chain as fun as it would be.

He's a back guy mostly, considering another glaive or a great axe. Suggestions?

 

Make sure it's a dwarven female. Ouch, ouch :evilgrin:

As for the druid/fighter, you can always take the Meleni NPC instead:chick:. Then, if you console in her being a half/orc and give her a spiked chain... :twitch:

Seriously though, looks like a decent party, except that to lockpick untill you get Knock (or a thief NPC). Beware of a Paladin, there is a number of quests you can't complete without the Paladin falling, it's quite restrictive. Redemption at Terjon's (c) costs a lot of gold too...

 

About that, how much gold does it cost?

Seems kinda corny to pay money and make it go away.

"TERJON I just killed 6 Hommlet villagers in a fit of RAGGGE!"

"Good Scot! Well that will be 54,600 gold and we'll make everything like new!"

Hommlet villager breathlessly bursts through doors "Oh No OH NOO we just lost Burne....we couldn't find all of him...so we didn't think he was gonna make it.."

Terjon "Well uh.. let's just round it off at 70,000 and anyone else who doesn't make it you should be accounted for. Just don't do it again okay?!'

----
Seriously though: I just want to be better prepared for the battle with the Balor is why she's there. That was the hardest fight for me, plus Lady Fungi uses a mild version of fear. I suppose I could just use bless or a bard or wait it out and hope for the best. Can a pure bard manage the front lines?

 

Oh Gods!! GA82's gotten to you, as well?

What IS the deal with turning Meleny into a half orc? :scratchhe

Strong women can be cool (if not a little intimidating), no doubt, but one that could EASILY rip your arms out of their sockets or gives a KILLER love bite in the bedroom? :yikes:

Are you sure you guys aren't masochists? :evilgrin:

 

EXACTLY. That's why it's hilarious :love: But hey, I never do it myself I usually just take the sword and leave hehe :evilgrin:

As for "Atonement at Terjon's": I have just booted the game up, level one paladin, entered the drinking contest. Terjon asked me for 1000 gold to atone. Now, I am not sure if the price goes up depending on the deed you commited, or the level (I think it's the second), but I remember Terjon asking me like 300,000 gold for a high-level paladin one other time.

In short, it's costly enough to clean your pockets most of the time :thumbsdow