I've just started a new SoA game, with ToB installed a few days ago. Iv'e been thinking about the party I want, and iv'e decided it will be made of:

Artemis, an elven fighter/mage (multi), profs in dual wield, long bows+swords, later in katana.
Minsc, will SK him to a swashbuckler, then dual him to a cleric at level 10 (no flaming plzz). Profs in dual wield, flails, maces, slings.
Korgan, well, you know. Dual some axes (I've downloaded a HUGE pack of items from IWD - some really cool axes there!!!!). no ranged ability.
Jaheira, changed her profs to 2H weapon style, and use spears and QS, sling for ranged. Also a romance.
Edwin. Too cool to leave behind. Will not fight with minsc because TOB installed.
HearDalis, I just love this guy. Will change his profs to 2H weapon style, 2 handed sword (probably Carsomyr after use any item), and halbreds, Xbow for ranged.

I really like this party, all funny chars (well, except jaheira, but she is my girl [img]tongue.gif[/img] , pretty strong party, but my question is:

How would you USE this party in combat? What tactics, strategies, and the like??
For example, my tactic is:
Artemis and Hear are always loaded with (minor) sequencers with defensive spells (blur, mirror image..) and contigencies (sp?), and ALWAYS stoneskined. They both cast a quick spell from behind, then rush into combat (tensered if it is a boss fight).
If korgan is far, hear is going into defensive spin and he is a REAL tank that way.
If korgan is close, than hear activates offensive spin and starts beating up. Meanwhile, minsc is spliting heads with his two flails (he is also buffed up), and jah is summoning and fights from the second line. Of course, edwin casts spells all this time.

So what are your tactics?? Is mine looks fine?? It is a fun one for me...

PS:
How do I use the Cast&Attack tactic for my 'magical' fighters???

The fact that thou hath changed all of the characters and added so much to thine game.. it's not baldurs gate anymore, thine party is neigh supposed to be perfect. They have proficientcies and classes based on their background, what thou have done is make up thine own multiplayer group and hacked them up like nothing else, and sure... that's all fine, but it's not BG2 anymore, I shall not comment on what strategies thou should use, because thou doth not apparently understand the essence of Baldurs Gate, if there is something I missed, and am therefore wrong, I apoligise, and please correct me. If I am right, I want nothing more of this and I shall take mine leave of thee.

i think that you are the one the doesn't get the concept: the main and objective is to HAVE FUN.

anyway, back to the topic.
any comment?

I beesech thee not to listen to this naive oaf. He knows not the fun that can come out of being perfect...As for thee, mine tactic was all out melee...i hath found it works quite well... :D

he :*(
It's hard enough for me to understand english, not being one myself....
So stop messing around with my head, using weird words as "Thou". Or atleast translate it !!

As for the tactics ...yours are just fine,
though my humble opinion is that changing tactics once in a while is a lot more fun.
Just let your fantasy run wild, and as long as you're not sending in jaheira to bare-knuckle fight Fiirkraag you'll do just fine [img]smile.gif[/img]

Have you tried, erm, I mean hast thou tried a more archer-based tactic? This is not so outright offensive as melee-rushing, but still worketh well in thin corridors or doorways (this is how I took down Bodhi & co. the first time around). Have one member of thine party (in yer case, git Korgan or Haer'D wi' th' defensive stance) stand in the doorway or in the center of the corridor. Enemies can't get around your 'block' to attack the archers or spellcasters. This worked particularly well against the vampires, as they're melee fighters (and can't attack the archers back from range), and my block had the Amulet of Power, protecting her from level drain. With melee-rushing, some of my tanks got busted down to negative levels (i.e. permanantly dead). The spell to protect from vampire drain didn't last long enough (only 5 rounds!) to cover my party for the entire fight. This tactic also works well against a well-protected mage. I haven't tried ToB yet, so I'm not sure how many times this'd come in useful there.

Oh, and I think the 'cast-and-attack' method refers to how you can cast a quick spell (robe of vecna + amulet of power = ALL spells are quick!) and get an attack or two in, all in the same round. Warrior/mages can put this to good use, casting a quick protection (Stoneskin, Mirror Image, Absolut Immunity whatever) in the heat of battle, and not interrupt your whirlwind of double-katana death. Might be a bug, might not, but very useful to anyone who uses a mix of magic and physical attacks :D

Greetings <font color="white">Alson</font>

I just have a couple of comments to add.

First, you're right...the purpose of the game is to have FUN...but I also agree with <font color="cyan">Stile</font>, that buffing all your characters up at the start of the game takes away a LOT of the fun.

If you buff all the NPC's up high enough to just steamroll over anything in your way, then the only "challenge" you're going to really face is how quickly you can finish the game. Any accomplishment is more satisfying if there is a real risk involved.

Still, as you say, to each his own.

AFA your tactics go...they sound very reasonable to me. I just completed the Beholder dungeon in the Underdark. At first, I would send Imoen (with the Cloak of Mirrors) and Nalia ahead of the group and try to beat the beasts with spells...that wasn't working too good.

Finally, I just loaded Minsc and my PC fighter with reflective items and had them do straight hack-n-slash....I went through ALL the Beholders like a knife through butter. BUT...THAT strategy would NOT work against the Mind-flayers.

Since you've completed the game once, you have a good idea of what to expect.

I see no problems with the strategies you've chosen.

BTW......

<marquee><h1><font color="orange">WELCOME TO IRONWORKS,</font> <font color="white">ALSON!!!</font></h1></marquee>

[ 03-31-2002, 12:40 AM: Message edited by: Cerek the Barbaric ]

thnx for the replies guys!!
this forum is great!!
a special thnx to semis for explaining the cast&attack tactic, and for cerek for the warmly welcome :D :D :D

just a few more questions:

1. any recommednations for some good fights for a low level party?? i've just got out of the first dungoen, and i've did the circus tent (lame!!!) and the pebblecrusher fight (AMAZING!!).

2. can anyone send me a custom robe for my f/m??
something of your own - but not really overpowered. my method is to sell custom items to ribald, and when i have enough money i buy it back. my Email is:
haber_adam@hotmail.com

Why do you need a custome robe? Just buy the Robe of Vecna from Deirdre at the Adventurers Mart, it's all an f/m could ask for!!

well you need am archer and two fighter , a thief\Fighter , and mage .... can chose other class

first before fight you "hide in shadows" with thief , than you cast spells on your guys summons monster than open door and rush thro it with the thief thats hiddin in shadows

he attack from behind and attacks from behind mean while you need to attack with other fighter
and the archer need to be shooting at an target that no one is focusing on , than you take mage .

the mage needs to be on background and no emenies in sight of it no one moving torward mage

than you start casting what spell that mage got
most of the time it works if not .....

it always worked with me

(saving before big fights help )