After being frustrated with 1/5th of the party not being able to really participate in the majority of confrontations because of needing to save her spells, my latest group has a slightly more fighter-ish edge. Two fighters - longsword and axe, both with crossbows; a Paladin, bastard sword and crossbow; a Ranger, shortswords and longbow; a Cleric, warhammer and crossbow; and a Rogue with shortsword and longbow. So far, a combo of low-power benefit spells, healing, and missile fire/close combat switching is paying dividends.

But is there anything ahead that really needs a Wizard to deal with? Am I in for some rough times?

Tancred, always concerned with the future

You don't need a wizard. It is possible to complete the game without one.

<font color="yellow">Well, a wizard is not essential but it helps a great deal to have at least one in the party. Their mass offensive spells are great for thinning out large groups of enemies. You could use your tanks to block off baddies from your spellcasters(clerics/mages), and have them throw out fireballs and flamestrikes at the enemies and watch those baddies fall like flies. </font color>

<font color=skyblue>Truth is, my pure-blood wizards still end up doing more fighting than casting! I am a run in and hack them all down kinda guy. I do not like sifting through spells to decide which one will work. I know my sword works well. My wizard is usually armed with a sling and strong bullets. He throws his arm out in every battle, because I rarely let him do anything else except run away. I have been working recently on a fighter-mage...and she is not doing so bad.</font>

Well... I have a problem. If I take a wizard, I end up saving all my spells for "the next monster, in the next room". And end up fighting melee all the time.

If I don't take a wizard, I find the game too simple and get bored...

Wizard is necessary because of chromatic orb and stoneskin spell [img]smile.gif[/img] ) Improved haste too [img]smile.gif[/img] )

well forget about spells a wizard is always nice to have. for roleplaying..

I love my wizard so much. sometimes I go solo with him. I left my fighters rogues clerics in a room and I patrol around. I love my rogue/fighter too

You need a wizard... you simply can't do without one... i mean, think about it, a party of adventures without a wizard... it will, most likely, look very silly... very silly indeed...

Chromatic Orb? Really? I have never gotten that spell to do anything impressive? Is there some cheese I dont know about or are you just a big fan of light shows? ;)

Chromatic Orb, once you start hitting higher levels, stuns for 13 rounds with a failed save. If your sorc/wizard is taking GSF (trying to remember what school, I think it's evocation), it'll be hard for them to save against. Toss in high Charisma/Intel (sorc/wiz) and you can use it to stun away enemy characters for most, if not all, of a fight. I'll spoil you on some of the creatures it worked against:
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Among others, I've had it work against the white wyrms (VERY useful when they're near a White Dragon) and all varieties of Hook Horror, including the matriarch. Anything in that chapter 3 going into chapter 4 range and it's very effective. Obviously, that drops later on, especially once you get Disentegrate and finger of death.

[ 11-27-2002, 09:56 PM: Message edited by: masteraleph ]