How about this, a dwarven party with everybody 20 constitution, platemail (eventually..) en lots of HP, but no mages, bard etc:
3 Fighters
2 Clerics
1 Thief

also everybody will be armed with either hammers, axes or maces ranged throwing axes and slings.
Do you think it can work, or have i limited myself too much? Comments please.

Well, your magic resistance will be pretty high!

Let me start by saying that I'm always interested in the themed party over the min-max party. I like dwarves but I think your going to have some problems. First off you're going to have trouble buying things with a whole party full of PC with low CHA. You can limit the amount of help you'll get from NPC as well. Your only real option is the "bull in the china shop" plan. Just ram though everything. You can't detect or ID magical items, you detect invisibility, you can't use most wands and scrolls, you have almost no area effect spells, etc. The list goes on and on. And more over if your Cleric goes down or get's charmed your done for. No back up spells, no hold person, no dispel magic, and totally no magical defense. Without stoneskin life is not the same.

Be brave and go for it, but a well rounded party wins every time.

well, the vulnerability to magic is why i have two clerics (and thinking about making the thief a multiclass thief/cleric), they will all have dispel magic. Secondly, they're dwarves and should just ignore it saying "I don't believe in magic" out loud repeatedly.
I can however detect invisibility (lvl3 spell invisibility purge). Area effect comes in the form of potions of explosion etc. and is admittedly limited.
As for low CHA, we'll just use some axe-diplomacy.
I never expect it to be easy, but it will be fun!

Low Charisma? I know you can get the charisma on a dwarf up to 16. (Been that wat in the rules since 1st Edition AD&D.) All you need to do is create one dwarf to act as the "face man(dwarf)". Admittidly you'll feel the burn of a 16 instead of an 18 charisma when you buy armor, but it is better than the alternatives.

You won't have a very good thief with only a DEX of 17(if highest). Your dwarves will all have a high AC, which will make them vulnerable to attacks. And a good party definately needs at least one mage.

Don't listen to him! Mages are optional! :D

Seriously, that party would kick ass, especially after they were all suited up in plate armor!

Who needs area affect when you have three dwarven buzzsaws, all grand-mastering in their weapon of choice?! YOU DON'T! One of the clerics, though, I'd change to a fighter/cleric, just for the extra THAC0, and the thief I'd definately make a fighter/thief, because in IWD thieves aren't really useful enough to make them single-classed.

I say, GO FER IT DUDE!

Hey, you wont have to worry about the outrageous cost of ressurection seeing as there is no elves in your party :) I say go for it... i was thinkin it would be fun to do a party of 5 fighters and a cleric/thief.... jes blow your way through everything hehe.

If you have a single class Cleric you should get him high enough to cast raise dead and resurection yourself. And will all Dwarves having a great CON you will never have to worry about failing a resurection survival roll. (But I don't think that's in IWD?)

[This message has been edited by Voltric (edited July 11, 2000).]