I'm fairly new to IWD, and I've tried different combinations of characters for different parties. The only one that seemed to work was my 2ranger, 4 fighter group. However, as I go farther into the game i realized that mages and/or clerics are needed in order to defeat harder monsters. However, they are extremely weak in the beginning of the game, what is the right combination of characters?

I can't say for certain which group would be the best for you but the group that i currently have is a fighter, paladin, cleric, bard, specilist mage(transmuter), and a ranger. this group has worked great for me so far but the only thing that i realized i was missing is a much needed thief. so exchanging the paladin or ranger for the thief would probably be the best bet.

I believe you need to start with a core group consisting of:
1-Fighter
1-Fighter/Ranger/Paladin
1-Thief(very important for finding traps and scouting)
1-Cleric(healing, poison neutralization,etc.)
1-Speciality Mage(for area effects,i.e. fireball,etc.)I like Summoning speciality, you get the best chose of spells
The 6th character is hardest :(either of these)
1-Bard(for extra spells and bard song)
1-Mage combination-Figher/Mage
1-Fighter/Druid
1-Druid
1-Fighter/Thief
Just remember you need diversity, because fighing isn't always the best way. You need as much magic and stealth as you do swordplay.

There some good advice in these replies already, but just remember and warriors are stronger at lower levels and mages/clerics at higher. The key is to have enough warrior types to keep your mages alive long enough to become powerful. This transition happens around 6th to 8th level. I suggest 2 warrior type, one fighter and one Paladin or Ranger. 1 cleric, one theif and one mage. The last spot could be used for a bard or druid or second mage. Or if you want a little stronger party earlier on a 3rd warrior. Also remember to use different races, weapons and alignments.

The best advice is to pick a group you'll have fun with...It's not necessarily about maxing out in all the attributes, but enjoying the game & the story...

Personally, I've always liked having a Paladin in my party, but that's because that was the first character I played when I was introduced to tabletop D&D. I've always liked to have a well rounded party, but I've never gone the dual classed route like starting with a fighter to gain hit points, then switching over to a mage or something else.

Since I've been reading these boards, I've been thinking about playing a bard character (I never have before)...They've gotten good reviews, so I think I'm going to try one out in the next IWD game I play. Right now my party consists of:

Human Paladin
Dwarf Fighter
1/2 Elf Cleric
Elf Fighter/Mage
Halfling Fighter/Thief
Human Illusionist

I've had some pretty tough fights, but so far my group has been doing well.

well, I based my starting group on a party my friends and I played in a dice game for over a year, and they seem to work well... I have a dwarven fighter, an elven thief (stealth only), a human cleric, a human mage, an elven fighter/theif (find traps/open locks), and an elven ranger. When you get access to the upper level spells, make sure you arm everyone with magical weapons, then cast prayer, recitation, bless, and strength of one with the cleric, and have the mage cast haste... I've taken out entire rooms of wights and armored skeletons without so much as a scratch.

I personnally love to charge into battle and don't use spells much and have thus created a party that works well for me which consists of:
1-Human Ranger
1-Human Fighter (Barbarian)
1-Elven Fighter/Thief
1-Dwarven Fighter/Cleric
1-Half-Elf Fighter/Druid
1-Gnome Fighter/Illusionist

This gives quite the variety of melee weapon, ranged weapon, special skills and spell choices. Although the multi-class PC's don't advance quite as fast as the single class, they are usually only 1 level behind.

The everything/fighter party sounds like it would work pretty will. My only concern is that it smacks a little of the CRPG max-out practice. Don't get me wrong there is nothing _wrong_ with it. Call me old fashion but would you ever play such a party in a table top game. I think that is the big question for me. Is this party a 'realistic' talbe top party? Would it work in real AD&D. I understand that CRPGs are not the same, but their getting closer. I hope some day soon CRPG will be focused on role-playing and not on clicking the mouse. The day has not come yet. But I still try to play in the spirit of it.

OK that's enough RP rant from me for now!

My first party consisted of the "well-rounded" paladin (face guy), dwarven fighter(tank), cleric, halfling fighter/thief (great initial racial bonuses on thieving skills), conjurer (extra spell per level and the only spell they can't learn is detect evil) and a druid (quick level progression). I went through the game pretty fast though and learned all the twists and turns.

For my 2nd game though I have a Ranger, Elven Fighter, Elven Fighter/Thief, Human Fighter ( with high intelligence that I can dual-class to a mage),a Druid and a Fighter/Druid. So far they're killing all the competition!

the way I did it was have a one character party, just one fighter, and once he got strong enough, I added a cleric

at around the clerics fourth level, I have added a thief, and have so far had no problems

There really is no "right party" as everyone's style of game play is different. I feel that you must at least have a thief as there are many, many traps in this game. So far I have only reached the last level of Dragon's Eye and other than turning undead, which is extremely helpful, I really have not used my cleric that much and have been wondering if she is needed at all in my party. Here is what I have for a party
1. Human Paladin- she is the leader, uses her 18 Charisma well
2. Half-Elf Cleric
3. Elven Ranger- with a Defender Battle axe in hand and a Flaming Long Sword in the other he cleaves through enemies up close and is very deadly with a bow as well.
4. Elven Fighter Theif- Deadly with a bow and long sword, I have defeated many enemies with his backstab, in fact I did 86 pts of damage to Presio, killing her in one hit.
5. Half-Elf Bard- I like the bonuses that a bard gives when playing the battle tunes, plus she can wield a bow and cast magic missle
6. Elven Fighter Mage- High hit points for a mage and he is a wrecking ball deadly with the long sword and bow after his magic arsenal is gone.
I like elves , they get bonuses to bow and long sword plus they can have a 19 dex which is very important in my opinion. All of my fighters have at least 16 CON and 18/76 STR and no one has a dex under 17. I have pretty much cruised through the game so far. I think I have a pretty well balanced party and you should try it out you probably will like it.

[This message has been edited by Gandalf (edited July 12, 2000).]

You know what I just realized? I didn't see a robe of the neutral (or good) archmagi in the whole game. I did however come across TWO robes of the evil archmagi. This is discrimination against good and neutral. It would be good to maybe have one kind of evil mage.

My favorite party design is a single fighter.
Sure, it makes the game almost impossibly challenging, but I just won Icewind Dale that way without cheating so it can't be impossible.

Try it for a challenge. :)

I'm Using a Good Mix of Party Members and have cruised through the game so far as well, although I'm only on chapter 3. Here's what I have that works for me.


Ranger - (Male) Elf
cleric - (Female) Human
Thief - (Male) Elf
Fighter/Mage - (Female) Half-Elf
Mage - (Female) Elf
Ranger - 9Male) Elf

As Long as you have a lot of healing Potions the Cleric is just another Fighter to me. Teh two mages helps a lot for me. and the thief is a must, since he is Level 8 his theiving abilities are all up in the 88% range. the two Rangers are my Tanks, both have around 77 Hit Points, but I think the Key to this Game so far is all my Charecters have Missle Weapons! When I see that they are doing no Damage with them (I.E. Only magical Weapons to do Damage) I have enough +1 and +2 Arrows to compsensate or I switch to their magic swords and hack away.