Help me create my group!

[Sephie]

I want to make my own group of 6, but I don't know much about the game or classes. I am going to play on normal difficulty.

 

What I want is. 

 

1. Tank. 

 

It's either fighter, paladin or monk I guess. Can a druid fill this spot with his forms? I want the tank to hold easily, I don't care about dps. But if fighter is an overkill, I'd rather get a druid as something more exotic or a monk, even if they're not as good. 

 

I hear paladins suck, so I am planning to make a female paladin order in my stronghold, with the sole purpose to escort people and do adventures. I think it's a cool idea, the stronghold with the fair, helpful but also ready for battle female paladins. 

 

But if they are good tanks, I'll take a paladin and create another order, no problem. 

 

2. Thief (?)

 

This game doesn't work this way I think so any class can invest on mechanics and deal with chests and traps. Which class should get this role? Casters maybe? Rogue was the obvious choice here which would also have been melee (or ranged?) dps, but maybe there are better choices.  

 

3. Melee dps

 

Many choices here, Barbarian the obvious one, but I hear Cipher is the best class and I haven't played him so I am thinking of getting him as my main character. 

 

4. Ranged dps

 

I don't mind two of them, Rogue and Ranger. Are other classes better at it? Plus, the pet can tank a bit and also I use it to cheese encounters by pulling stuff. That's how I killed Raedric, the pet did the talking and the group waited by the door. Don't judge me! 

 

5. Caster

 

I hear wizard sucks. Are his spells a must? Do they get better after level 4? Level X spells(?) etc will become availiable in an expansion most likely, so maybe he's not worth it yet. 

 

6. Healer/buffer

 

Are druids a good alternative to Priests? Can anything else fill this spot?

 

7. What would be the best out of all these as my main class and character and which stats should I get for them? I'd like to have as many dialogue options as possible, maybe get more through resting bonuses etc, but I don't expect to have everything availiable. 

 

These are the main things I'd like to know about right now. 

 

Thanks for reading. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[petrivanzyl]

Maybe I'm just biased, but I like my main character being a paladin. They also don't suck that much. Why not instead only pick one of the rogue/ranger. Then you get a chanter instead?

[Sephie]

Maybe I'm just biased, but I like my main character being a paladin. They also don't suck that much. Why not instead only pick one of the rogue/ranger. Then you get a chanter instead?

 

I am biased against them from other games, I don't like bard types  

 

If they are good though, I can make a chanter mechanic with the ranger. I kinda need the pet, I want to be able to cheese pull stuff. Unfair you say? Not the way it's meant to be played? Well I think it's unfair for the game to force me to start a battle while I am surrounded by enemies. I like difficulty based on smart AI and power/skill, I don't like difficulty based on limited time and position. 

[petrivanzyl]

RP-wise I don't see Paladins as bard types. Paladins are the platemail wearing, sword wielding, fearless defenders of righteousness...

[Sephie]

RP-wise I don't see Paladins as bard types. Paladins are the platemail wearing, sword wielding, fearless defenders of righteousness...

 

I meant the chanter. 

[Lasci]

Tank - Fighter/Paladin

Thief - Rogue

Melee DPS - Barbarian

Ranged DPS - Ranger/Cipher

Caster - Druid/Wizard/Cipher

Healer/Buffer - Priest

 

Chanter could pretty easily fit into any of those slots and just act as an extra tank. If you're making an all custom party and you're taking a paladin, I strongly recommend making that paladin your main character.

[Sephie]

Tank - Fighter/Paladin

Thief - Rogue

Melee DPS - Barbarian

Ranged DPS - Ranger/Cipher

Caster - Druid/Wizard/Cipher

Healer/Buffer - Priest

 

Chanter could pretty easily fit into any of those slots and just act as an extra tank. If you're making an all custom party and you're taking a paladin, I strongly recommend making that paladin your main character.

 

For dialogue options? Are there many, or is it a story thing? 

 

Druid can replace a wizard in offensive spells? Cipher to? The classes in this game are nothing like I thought they were. 

[Lasci]

 

Tank - Fighter/Paladin

Thief - Rogue

Melee DPS - Barbarian

Ranged DPS - Ranger/Cipher

Caster - Druid/Wizard/Cipher

Healer/Buffer - Priest

 

Chanter could pretty easily fit into any of those slots and just act as an extra tank. If you're making an all custom party and you're taking a paladin, I strongly recommend making that paladin your main character.

 

For dialogue options? Are there many, or is it a story thing? 

 

Druid can replace a wizard in offensive spells? Cipher to? The classes in this game are nothing like I thought they were. 

 

 

Paladin gets an ability that automatically increases their defenses as long as they keep to the dogma of their order. If you choose all of the dialogue options that are with the order you choose, your main character's defenses skyrocket. This only effects the main character because the main character is the only person who can choose dialogue options.

 

Cipher is arguably the strongest spellcasting class in the game. And the druid is much stronger than the wizard early on.

[Sephie]

 

 

Tank - Fighter/Paladin

Thief - Rogue

Melee DPS - Barbarian

Ranged DPS - Ranger/Cipher

Caster - Druid/Wizard/Cipher

Healer/Buffer - Priest

 

Chanter could pretty easily fit into any of those slots and just act as an extra tank. If you're making an all custom party and you're taking a paladin, I strongly recommend making that paladin your main character.

 

For dialogue options? Are there many, or is it a story thing? 

 

Druid can replace a wizard in offensive spells? Cipher to? The classes in this game are nothing like I thought they were. 

 

 

Paladin gets an ability that automatically increases their defenses as long as they keep to the dogma of their order. If you choose all of the dialogue options that are with the order you choose, your main character's defenses skyrocket. This only effects the main character because the main character is the only person who can choose dialogue options.

 

Cipher is arguably the strongest spellcasting class in the game. And the druid is much stronger than the wizard early on.

 

 

So Cipher and Druid have single target and AoE spells like the wizard or the wizard's spells are not that important? 

 

Because in BG2 mages were very useful and important in many occassions. 

 

I am not sure I like to be limited in dialogues though, and if I am to get bonuses for staying in a path, I'll want to stay in that path even if I'd rather say something else. 

[Exoduss]

 

 

Tank - Fighter/Paladin

Thief - Rogue

Melee DPS - Barbarian

Ranged DPS - Ranger/Cipher

Caster - Druid/Wizard/Cipher

Healer/Buffer - Priest

 

Chanter could pretty easily fit into any of those slots and just act as an extra tank. If you're making an all custom party and you're taking a paladin, I strongly recommend making that paladin your main character.

 

For dialogue options? Are there many, or is it a story thing? 

 

Druid can replace a wizard in offensive spells? Cipher to? The classes in this game are nothing like I thought they were. 

 

 

Paladin gets an ability that automatically increases their defenses as long as they keep to the dogma of their order. If you choose all of the dialogue options that are with the order you choose, your main character's defenses skyrocket. This only effects the main character because the main character is the only person who can choose dialogue options.

 

Cipher is arguably the strongest spellcasting class in the game. And the druid is much stronger than the wizard early on.

 

lol i got paladin in like 3 parties of mine on various difficulties and i was completely shocked to realize that they have to be main character to get buffs from they order , WHAT THE HELL....., to help the OP :

 

Priest's are mandatory( Max INTELECT Max MIGHT is the way to go )  , i mean not on normal you can do fine without them but they are probably the only class that cannot be replaced in this game , they justs rock so get a priest as one of your companions ,

 

As mentioned earlier if you want paladin in your party then make it your main character 10 10 3 18 18 18 build will open you dialogue options for whole game from Perception Intelect and Resolve thats more than half of them , also you pick an order with paladin and then if you follow their path you get awarded with huge buffs , and you can easily follow your doctrine by enabling game suggestions for dialogue choices in options menu ,

 

Rogue and Ranger - choose 1 both of them should be ranged anyway , melee rogue's just doesnt work well or they require more Micromanaging than other classes meanwhile not delivering the results , for typical marksman with a bow go for Rogue(ranged) and  if you want to be an epic gunslinger go with ranger and island aumaua race , for both ranged rogue and a ranger primary stats are Might and DEX and others doesnt matter much so max thease two .

 

Caster - Wizard or Druid both are good both are fun choose the one you like more , druid can do some healing as a backup healer but tbh with a priest you wont need anymore  healing , and mage is more of CC kinda guy , but both of them Mage and Druid has epic AOE nukes that combined with priests aoe heals and buffs is the key of this game tbh , get Might and Intelect maxed for thease 2 for max Damage and AoE radius . and btw Wizards dont suck people playing them do , look at the guy who finished PoTD+Ironman on his first full playtrough and his PC was a wizard . I played with both Wizard and Druid as sole Spell damage char on PoTD and both worked very well druid is more flashy imo but mage is more reliable .

 

this leaves you with two spots to fill : 2nd tank and melee dps 

 

for a tank you can choose either fighter or chanter and for melee dps barbarian or fighter also if you dont like barbarians and chanters you can go fighter tank and just get another ranged like cipher or another caster , fighter main tanks are easy mode tho and helps your playtrough alot , so are DPS cipher's as i heard here on forums tho i never played cipher or fighter so i cant comment on thease , i ussualy run with Chanter+Paladin as my tanks , well if characters role is as useless as being damage sponge they could atleast buff the party thats my aproach and Chanter + Paladin is extreme aoe utility that you dont even need to cast it just happens from their auras and chants 

Edited April 7, 2015 by Exoduss

[Killyox]

2 Fighters with Lore 6 (8 if going for moon well scrolls), Cipher, Druid, Priest, X

Edited April 7, 2015 by Killyox

[Dastion]

My picks for PC main class are:

 

-Chanter is my top pick.

--They get a bonus to mechanics and lore and don't otherwise have many actions to perform in combat except for the occasional invocation. This means they can make good use of the extra watcher abilities, scrolls, and summoning figures since other options aren't taking precedence.

--Their mostly passive nature also means they aren't hurt too much if you don't have high Might, Dex, or wear heavy armor. This also means you can handily Max Perception, Intellect, and Resolve making them passable off-tanks.

--Because you can afford to keep resolve, intellect, and perc high this makes them an ideal for bonus dialogue options.

--Kana is kind of annoying to me. Steal his +1 Int Turban.

 

 

Other considerations:

 

-Rogue/Monk/Barb: There are no companion versions, assuming you want companions for dialogue if you want any of these classes it's best if you play it (or make a custom npc)

 

-Ciphers have a couple of really good level 1&2 skills that Grieving Mother didn't choose. Also, her attributes are rather lame. If you want a decent Cipher and don't want to use mods/console commands to respec Grieving Mother then Cipher PC is a good option (which is sad because she's one of the most interesting companions story-wise).

[Killyox]

 

 

 

Tank - Fighter/Paladin

Thief - Rogue

Melee DPS - Barbarian

Ranged DPS - Ranger/Cipher

Caster - Druid/Wizard/Cipher

Healer/Buffer - Priest

 

Chanter could pretty easily fit into any of those slots and just act as an extra tank. If you're making an all custom party and you're taking a paladin, I strongly recommend making that paladin your main character.

 

For dialogue options? Are there many, or is it a story thing? 

 

Druid can replace a wizard in offensive spells? Cipher to? The classes in this game are nothing like I thought they were. 

 

 

Paladin gets an ability that automatically increases their defenses as long as they keep to the dogma of their order. If you choose all of the dialogue options that are with the order you choose, your main character's defenses skyrocket. This only effects the main character because the main character is the only person who can choose dialogue options.

 

Cipher is arguably the strongest spellcasting class in the game. And the druid is much stronger than the wizard early on.

 

lol i got paladin in like 3 parties of mine on various difficulties and i was completely shocked to realize that they have to be main character to get buffs from they order , WHAT THE HELL....., to help the OP :

 

Priest's are mandatory( Max INTELECT Max MIGHT is the way to go )  , i mean not on normal you can do fine without them but they are probably the only class that cannot be replaced in this game , they justs rock so get a priest as one of your companions ,

 

As mentioned earlier if you want paladin in your party then make it your main character 10 10 3 18 18 18 build will open you dialogue options for whole game from Perception Intelect and Resolve thats more than half of them , also you pick an order with paladin and then if you follow their path you get awarded with huge buffs , and you can easily follow your doctrine by enabling game suggestions for dialogue choices in options menu ,

 

Rogue and Ranger - choose 1 both of them should be ranged anyway , melee rogue's just doesnt work well or they require more Micromanaging than other classes meanwhile not delivering the results , for typical marksman with a bow go for Rogue(ranged) and  if you want to be an epic gunslinger go with ranger and island aumaua race , for both ranged rogue and a ranger primary stats are Might and DEX and others doesnt matter much so max thease two .

 

Caster - Wizard or Druid both are good both are fun choose the one you like more , druid can do some healing as a backup healer but tbh with a priest you wont need anymore  healing , and mage is more of CC kinda guy , but both of them Mage and Druid has epic AOE nukes that combined with priests aoe heals and buffs is the key of this game tbh , get Might and Intelect maxed for thease 2 for max Damage and AoE radius . and btw Wizards dont suck people playing them do , look at the guy who finished PoTD+Ironman on his first full playtrough and his PC was a wizard . I played with both Wizard and Druid as sole Spell damage char on PoTD and both worked very well druid is more flashy imo but mage is more reliable .

 

this leaves you with two spots to fill : 2nd tank and melee dps 

 

for a tank you can choose either fighter or chanter and for melee dps barbarian or fighter also if you dont like barbarians and chanters you can go fighter tank and just get another ranged like cipher or another caster , fighter main tanks are easy mode tho and helps your playtrough alot , so are DPS cipher's as i heard here on forums tho i never played cipher or fighter so i cant comment on thease , i ussualy run with Chanter+Paladin as my tanks , well if characters role is as useless as being damage sponge they could atleast buff the party thats my aproach and Chanter + Paladin is extreme aoe utility that you dont even need to cast it just happens from their auras and chants 

 

I did whole hard without priest xD In POTD he is more useful due to prolonged battles but not indispensible.

[Infares]

I've been pretty partial to dual tanks. If you load your dps up with ranged/aoe classes and put them all in clothing you pretty well shred things.

[MadDemiurg]

Tbh you can play without tanks at all. But it all depends on playstyle and preference.

[Exoduss]

I dunno maybe... i only played normal as solo ranger . BUT : going with 1 tank(and no offtank) or without a priest is just gimping yourself and being happy about that , also i ussualy play Hard with Ironman or PoTD and i cant imagine skipping 1 tank or priest

Edited April 7, 2015 by Exoduss

[MadDemiurg]

Not really, if you have enough aoe you can demolish stuff very fast. 1 tank still might be useful to help with clumping up enemies, but not mandatory. It's much more micro intensive than a setup with a tank though.

Edited April 7, 2015 by MadDemiurg

[Exoduss]

Tell me more about how you PoTD without tanks because i am not convinced at ALL 

 

Edit : Anyway OP wanted advice about making party he got a detailed one from me , you could also help him instead of generating useless discussion with phrases from my post , and writing like X+X + Fighter+cipher+X + X is great party .

Edited April 7, 2015 by Exoduss

[Sephie]

My picks for PC main class are:

 

-Chanter is my top pick.

--They get a bonus to mechanics and lore and don't otherwise have many actions to perform in combat except for the occasional invocation. This means they can make good use of the extra watcher abilities, scrolls, and summoning figures since other options aren't taking precedence.

--Their mostly passive nature also means they aren't hurt too much if you don't have high Might, Dex, or wear heavy armor. This also means you can handily Max Perception, Intellect, and Resolve making them passable off-tanks.

--Because you can afford to keep resolve, intellect, and perc high this makes them an ideal for bonus dialogue options.

--Kana is kind of annoying to me. Steal his +1 Int Turban.

 

 

Other considerations:

 

-Rogue/Monk/Barb: There are no companion versions, assuming you want companions for dialogue if you want any of these classes it's best if you play it (or make a custom npc)

 

-Ciphers have a couple of really good level 1&2 skills that Grieving Mother didn't choose. Also, her attributes are rather lame. If you want a decent Cipher and don't want to use mods/console commands to respec Grieving Mother then Cipher PC is a good option (which is sad because she's one of the most interesting companions story-wise).

 

Interesting. 

 

Of course my main character will be useless in combat besides buffs, but I'll benefit on everything else. 

 

Also the guy that suggested Paladins has a good point about them. All other classes will be better in combat, but they won't buff and/or won't have dialogue options. 

 

Funny how things change

 

I am thinking now :

 

Main->Chanter/Paladin, buff machines, off tanks, summoners and dialogues. 

 

Ranged dps -> Ranger + pet to cheese. 

 

Ranged or melee dps + caster -> Cipher. 

 

Caster -> Druid

 

Healer -> Priest

 

Tank -> Fighter or Paladin if I pick Chanter as my main. 

 

How does this look? 

[Exoduss]

Dont pick Paladin in a group if its not your main IMO , because of the paladin order buffs that are available only if they are your main , thats kinda fckd up but it is how it is 

Also chanter tank and main is great idea if you pick a fighter for offtank , as a chanter tank you want max Int Resolve and Perception too for the tanking stats ( in POE you get more tanky from stacking tanking stats than from stacking Constitution ) , those 3 maxed will enable all the good dialogue choices for your character trough the whole game the only ones you will miss will be Might ones that usually sounds like phrases from chuck noriss movies 

Edited April 7, 2015 by Exoduss

[MadDemiurg]

Tell me more about how you PoTD without tanks because i am not convinced at ALL 

 

Edit : Anyway OP wanted advice about making party he got a detailed one from me , you could also help him instead of generating useless discussion with phrases from my post , and writing like X+X + Fighter+cipher+X + X is great party .

Quite easily. And you stated this discussion yourself, I wan't even replying to your post initially.

 

As for OP's question I would go with a safer option,  smth like Chanter + Fighter + Cipher + Druid + Wizard + Priest if you don't mind learning and using a lot of spells. Rangers/rogues do not contribute anything that vital in my experience for big parties. Priest can still shoot trash mobs just fine, but his spells are much more effective in big fights etc. Train the chanter or the cipher pick locks to be the "thief", both get mechanics 1 at start.

Edited April 7, 2015 by MadDemiurg

[Exoduss]

Ranged rogue contributes by doing 3x damage of other 5 people in the party trough whole game. 

Also Ranger can deliver highest burst possible with 4 Heavy Guns and Quick Switch if  used right highest enemy threat will die before fight starts if its not a boss for a boss Ranged Rogue is better with steady ultra high damage 

Edited April 7, 2015 by Exoduss

[MadDemiurg]

Ranged rogue is a gimped ranged cipher when it comes to party play. I won't even compare it to wizard and druid in important fights.

[Exoduss]

With 2 tanks and a Priest you get 3 dpser spots its not like i am saying that rogue is better than wizard or druid or cipher for party play BUT there is no reason to have CIPHER WIZARD AND DRUID in 1 party no at all . Also for first playtroughs its advisable not to get 6 chars that require micromanaging some Auto Atackers are very good so you can give your full attention to classes that requires micromanaging constantly 

[Sephie]

Right, forgot about the main character bonuses. 

 

Also might checks from the little I played are sometimes together with reputation loss, I don't like it. I don't think I'll miss much from dexterity and endurance either. 

Can chanters be tanks though? They don't seem like a tank class, they're basically bards. 

 

 

 

Tell me more about how you PoTD without tanks because i am not convinced at ALL 

 

Edit : Anyway OP wanted advice about making party he got a detailed one from me , you could also help him instead of generating useless discussion with phrases from my post , and writing like X+X + Fighter+cipher+X + X is great party .

Quite easily. And you stated this discussion yourself, I wan't even replying to your post initially.

 

As for OP's question I would go with a safer option,  smth like Chanter + Fighter + Cipher + Druid + Wizard + Priest if you don't mind learning and using a lot of spells. Rangers/rogues do not contribute anything that vital in my experience for big parties. Priest can still shoot trash mobs just fine, but his spells are much more effective in big fights etc. Train the chanter or the cipher pick locks to be the "thief", both get mechanics 1 at start.

 

 

I am not giving up the Ranger's pet! That thing makes fights so much easier, I just pull things where I want them and trigger fights on my own terms without risking characters dying.  

 

In Raedric's hold I used a pet to talk to him, the pet died, then pulled them few at a time where I wanted them.