Hello! I recently tried out Avowed recently and playing that, alongside a playthrough of Arcanum, put me in the mindset to attempt Pillars 1&2 again. I quite liked them during my initial Hard playthroughs some years ago, but I'd like to approach things differently this time now that I'm a bit more experienced with CRPGs in general. Especially considering I previously had a, relative to other CRPGs I've played, surprisingly difficult time grasping these games mechanical intricacies. I have since cut my teeth on the hardest difficulties of the Infinity Engine games, both Pathfinder games, BG3, ToEE, etc. etc. So one of my main goals is to better understand the system in these games.

To that end, I've decided that I will ditch companions (mostly) and focus on an almost entirely custom party for both games, with one slot empty for companions to drift in and out of as I do their quests, storylines, or generally experiment. Hence my goal is to have as well-rounded of a 5 (4 in Deadfire) person custom team for the hardest difficulty to better learn the ins and outs of the games.

I have kept detailed notes recently between watching videos, build guides, and vague memory of my initial playthroughs, and here is what I have so far.

Cipher - using guns/crossbows and eventually war bows

Chanter - ideally main tank, using a shield and one hander

Wizard - melee focused, backup tank

Priest - possibly mid-range, utilizing various unique weaponry others aren't

Druid - ranged until they get their spells off then shapeshift and charge in to delete priority targets, or the reverse in fights where they need to get that alpha off and then go run away to support with spells.

I'd like to use a different race for each, and I have a general idea of stat spreads across the characters but I welcome any advice or criticism on my choices thus far. I know this party is caster heavy, which means despite my reticence for relying on companions, I may need to use that 6th spot early game to get my footing. Any glaring issues that will break this party against PotD? Any minor tweaks or alterations that make sense? Who makes the most sense as main character?

I welcome the same advice on my initial Deadfire planning, which I will also post here, but if it's in poor taste and should be utilizing the Deadfire class topic for these, I will edit this post and post there.

Beguiler or Psion/Troubador,

Wizard(Blood Mage?)/one of Helwalker, Tactician, Steel Garrote, or Assassin,

Priest/nothing, or Tactician or maybe some rogue,

Some kind of tank, maybe Tactician/Trickster if neither a fighter or rogue is multi'd to the others yet.

Unless there's a strong case for a Priest frontliner, I'll probably use it and the Cipher/Chanter as ranged support and the Wizard and 4th member as the melee stopping force. I'd prefer not doubling up on classes for my main four (probably can't be helped for the 5th rotating spot.)

Lastly, I'm very flexible on all of these choices, nothing is set in stone. I now submit these thoughts to the forum's mercy.

Edit: Oh goodness, I already need to edit in something I forgot; I plan on trying out the new turn-based mode in PoE1, but probably leaning toward real-time if it doesn't work out, and definitely real-time in Deadfire.

Edited August 7Aug 7 by Valdegard

Small update, I was definitely overthinking Pillars 1; I just completed the entirety with the aforementioned party with only a few hiccups (Battery Sirens and Lagufaeth Sidewinders really, really suck.) I ended up using Sagani w/ Stormcaller as my 6th. The Cipher and especially Druid were stars of the show, the Chanter took a while to really come online and never quite felt tanky enough. Melee Wizard wasn't bad but I squandered a lot of their potential; same with the Priest, who mostly buffed, I couldn't quite get Tidefall to work with them too well except to whittle down Eyeless, which was only neat instead of necessary.

Went with Psion/Troubadour, Tactician/Blood Mage, Forbidden Fist/Trickster and Priest of Eothas for Deadfire. Will make a topic on that board if I feel further advice is necessary.