party weapons?

[dplax]

I have a party of:
lizard fighter
drakon ranger
hobbit bard
hobbit gadgeteer
elf mage
elf bishop
RFS
Vi-Domina

I have played quite a lot with this party, but I still have`nt figured out which weapons would be the best to use with each char. RFS, Vi and the fighter are up front, the ranger and the bard are at the back, rest in the middle. I would appreciate every suggestion (always keen on new ideas).

[EEWorzelle]

Maybe you should have your Gadgeteer try to make a good bow for your Ranger or Bard.

With my Mage, I have lately given him Ranged capability with a sling. He can become quite skilled, depending upon how he is developed and there are a few situations (especially bosses) when it is really appropriate. Now the Mage doesn't get many fighting capabilities so you can really only afford to develop one or the other, ranged or melee. IMO that will be stronger than developing both a tiny bit.

Since you have a lot of ranged capability in your party already, you might consider giving your Mage an (extended, of course) melee weapon, such as one of the wonderful staffs in the game. Since, if you properly focus on developing that, your ranged capability will be bad anyway, you could give him or her a cursed weapon, like the Staff of Doom, and it would be fine (if wearing it doesn't kill you, of course).

About your formation, it sounds like you do not have anyone on your flanks. Do you realize that if you are surrounded or attacked from the side that your casters will be directly exposed? You need to cover the flanks as well as the front and back to protect those in the middle. If course if the enemy has extended weapons or appendages, they're exposed anyway, but hey, nobody said life on Dominus was safe.

With the Gadgeteer (on a flank) I have tried axes and not liked them in this game. The hits to initiative (or even the lack of bonuses to that) make them a lot weaker, IMO, relative to other types of weapons (fewer attacks and swings). I kind of like Swords, because I like shields and want to give her something one-handed If I develop the Shield Skill at level-up, it provides good AC and blocks attacks even if used only occasionally. If not on the front line she never gets to use her weapon much (that's okay, you can just use the Omnigun and fire kitchen sinks or whatever you have for ammo, at the enemy). I have been thinking about giving the Gadgeteer an extended weapon, like a Staff or Polearm, but would have to develop for that from the beginning. I haven't tried that yet. It would probably mean putting her on a flank (so the extended weapon could reach) instead of in back.

Others can speak from greater experience about the Fighter or Bishop. Maybe the Mauler and Diamond eyes for the Fighter, as a guess. The Bishop has no points to spare at creation or level-up for any fighting skills... perhaps the Mindblast Rod (polearm), a couple have suggested that for the Bishop.

With Vi I develop Swords and Bows, you never know when you might blunder across a Light Sword. I was unimpressed with Excaliber in a game I got it, but I had developed her Polearm Skill instead of Sword Skill in that game and that late start might have affected it's use quite a lot. I usually go for Martial Arts with RFS, but next time I'm going to try a Bo plus Ranged. I tried to do MA plus Bo for Ranged, but I really want some ranged capability (Throwing and Sling, of course). I think this would be good because it would build up the throwing skill for powders and thrown potions too, while they are still effective, and by using an extended weapon as the main one, it will focus and build it quicker and plus ranged will only be used when the extended Bo can't be.

[ 08-01-2003, 12:31 AM: Message edited by: EEWorzelle ]

[Variol (Farseer) Elmwood]

I have 4 Fighters in my party and I've just given them all Stun Rods. I've developing their polearm skills since Lvl 1. The rod does Paralyze 20% and drain stamina 75%. I think I'll use them for the rest of the game just to see how they go.

[gator]

Originally posted by EEWorzelle: Others can speak from greater experience about the Fighter or Bishop. Maybe the Mauler and Diamond eyes for the Fighter, as a guess. The Bishop has no points to spare at creation or level-up for any fighting skills... perhaps the Mindblast Rod (polearm), a couple have suggested that for the Bishop.

For the Fighter, I would agree that Mauler and Diamond Eyes is a good choice. Another suggestion would be a sword (eventually Fang or Ivory Blade) and either a shield or Diamond Eyes.

For the Bishop, the Mindblast Rod is good for early/mid game. Ebon Staff and Disruptor Maces are also good early/mid game. The Staff of Doom is good, because you will almost always have spells for range. Mauler is also a good choice, but you need to develop Strength if you plan to go that route (requires 50). So the Mauler tends to be a mid/late game weapon for a slow caster. A fast caster will likely not have the Strength, so developing Staves would be better for them.