Advice & Opinions

[Neomi]

I need advice & opinions on two things from all you experts out there:

1) I want to install Tactics and Ascension. I've never tried either and I figure it's about time to see what the fuss is about.
- What order do I need to install in?
- And, should I install Unfinished Business and/or Baldurdash as well?

2) For the above game I will start a multiplayer game with a PC and 1 or 2 other NPC's of my creation. I will most often have a party of 4 or 5 total characters with rotating NPC's to be able to finish most of the quests. Since it's Tactics and Ascension, I won't hesitate to powergame if needed.
- Which classes would be "ideal" for the 2-3 core members of the group?
- And, which NPC's should I keep for the duration of the game and which should just be used for quests?

Thanks in advance.

[T-D-C]

For your core PC characters maybe the following.

Fighter
Theif
Sorcerer

That way you have pure classes to cover most of the bases in the game. you can then pick up a cleric,some more magical firepower and and other fighter along the way.

[Hank Parsons]

Edit: I should say first, your install order should be:

SOA
TOB
TOB official patch v. 98 (Unless you have The Collection edition)
Baldurdash fix-pack TOB compatible version
Tactics (choose your componants; can uninstall or reinstall any componant at any time later)
Ascension (choose your componants; can uninstall or reinstall any componant at any time later)

--

I like your set-up. That's how I've been playing through Tactics --> Ascension, myself. Usually 4 characters, sometimes taking additional NPC and doing all their quests. I had 4 created-characters, later 5, and now I actually have 6 (all my own, no Bioware NPC's now that I'm in Ascension and I didn't want SPOILER::::whose name starts with S.) But I want to lose one, or at least tell one to wait for us til later, and switch them out, trying to keep everybody getting xp's somewhat together. Anyway, my recommended classes for your first-time Tactics, 3 created-chars, are:

Sorcerer
Fighter/Thief
Monk

...If you want to powergame (not necessarily to use cheese... but to start with classes which will undoubtedly become powerhouses quickly.)

Not sure if you'd want to go Dual Wield or Bow+Sword on that F/T. You'll want to backstab and maybe set traps. Problem with dual wielding is you don't have a ranged attack for that character.

Monk is so valuable. My monk had the killing-blow using his hands (with Whirlwind attacks, or crushing blows) against more Tactics enemies than any other single character in my party killed.

Sorcerer is simply your do-it-all magic solution. He has Breach, Remove Magic, Oracle, and other utility spells available on a when-you-need-it basis, and has a nearly endless supply of Invisibles, Stoneskins, and Chromatic Orb's to toss out like candy to a crowd of kids... err, scary monsters and stuff.

With enough healing potions, you don't really need any other characters. So grab whatever NPC you want to do their quests.

[ 09-22-2004, 12:16 AM: Message edited by: Hank Parsons ]

[SpongeBobTheDestoyer]

I would say ditto to what they said. But I would add - don't select a class that you're unfamiliar with. You might get frustrated making your way through those mods while trying to learn the in's and out's of a class that's new to you. So the "ideal" class for some may not be ideal for you.

Balance is definately mooee importante. You will need magic, melee and lots of buffing. Multi and dual classes will provide plenty of balance and power.

And if all else fails...just make it a walk in the park by including a sorceror.

[Armen]

Originally posted by Hank Parsons: Sorcerer Fighter/Thief Monk

i take your point about healing potions but i still reckon ranger/cleric would be a useful addition to that for tanking and buffing purposes

[Neomi]

Thanks for the advice so far. I should have pointed out that I've played Vanilla SOA/TOB through many times and soloed a Sorcerer and a F/M/T, so I feel pretty good about using the spell system and different types of tactics (not an expert, mind you). Just wanted to know from the point of view of Tactics and Ascension what would make it most do-able on the first go around.

Originally posted by Hank Parsons: ...If you want to powergame (not necessarily to use cheese... but to start with classes which will undoubtedly become powerhouses quickly.)

YES!

Originally posted by SpongeBobTheDestoyer: Balance is definately mooee importante. You will need magic, melee and lots of buffing. Multi and dual classes will provide plenty of balance and power.

This point is well taken. Although it has been proven that any single class is sufficient to finish most of the game, from what I've read about the mods balance is vital.

This is what I'm thinking about right now:
Sorcerer - definitely
Monk - I hadn't thought about this, but maybe I should consider it more carefully
Fighter/Thief or Kensai --> Thief?
Ranger/Cleric - certainly is powerful and could tank

Still haven't decided, though... Any other great ideas?

[Corvinus]

instead of the monk, if you are not comfortable, you might choose a Inquisitor. This would give you Carsomyr but maybe you prefer to get Keldorn...
Personally the most powerful party I have ever played was
F/M/T
F/D (Jaheira) or R/C
M/C
sorceror
In this way you have two tanks, one scout, four spellcasters, two healers, one backstabber...
It was pure fun... and when you give Vecna's robe to the M/C oioiioioioioioioi... that hurts!

[Armen]

Originally posted by Neomi: Fighter/Thief or Kensai --> Thief?

when i saw your party i gave your fighter/thief the 'archery' job - tricky with a kensai i reckon you need an archer for long distance mage hitting in ambushes and towards the end of the game i think i'd rather have fighter HLAs than the kensai bonuses - whatever you fancy though

[Neomi]

Ok, thanks for the advice on characters... Balance will be the key.

How about installation of Unfinished Business? Anyone have experience with that mod, is it compatible with tactics & ascension, and in what order should I install it?