No, not through the whole game. I'm not that masochistic.

I'm playing for the umpteenth time, going through a heavily modded game. Usually, I have Nalia or Edwin to handle primary mage duties until Spellhold. I usually shoot for a party composition of 3 fighter-types, 2 cleric/druids, 2 mages and 1 thief; everything but the thief should have a one single-classed character.

However, I'm trying something a little different. I'm planning on going with me (modded Ranger class), Mazzy, Viconia, Jaheira, Haer'dalis and Yoshimo. Until Spellhold (which I'm going to breach early on and likely underequipped from my normal style), Haery is going to have to carry my mage load.

I've used Haery before, but he was always a supplementary spell-caster/fighter. Now, he's got a starring role early in the tale, and I'm hoping he's up to it.

Have others done this? If so, any suggestions?

[ March 03, 2005, 15:09: Message edited by: Taluntain ]

I don't think that you should have too much trouble. I have used parties where I had no arcane spell casters until I got Imoen back and while it may be a little more difficult it most certainly can be done. Give your fighters both normal and magic weapons and just bash away at enemy spellcasters - sooner or later they will go down.

Still, I would recommend planning on going to Spellhold relatively early and being somewhat selective in what you do while still in chapter 2/3.

If you go for Imoen early Haer'dalis should easily be able to be the main mage in the party. The rest should be taken over by Imoen when you regain her. There really isn't a reason why Haer'dalis shouldn't be the full mage for the entire game. I'm running a fighter heavy party right now, and Jan is usually just twiddeling thumbs during most fights, and disarming traps when there is no combat.

A bard can actually be an exellent spellcaster.
They level up quickly and get acces to level 5 and level 6 spells (which are the most used spells for me untill I get level 9 spells)

Carry a charged wand of cloudkill as backup.

Yes, it may work. The main Haer'Dalis drawback is that liches and Rakshasa, for example, are immune to lower-level spells, so he'll be useless there. But early in the game it is unimportant.

Also, you'll be able to get XP from scrolls and cast high-level Skull Traps ;)

Well, the most you can get before you get imoen back (if you don't really try to do everything and have n mods installed) is a level 7 spell... so why not?

Thanks for the replies. I was getting stomped in the Planar Prison due to no mage (Haer'dalis gets kidnapped early on) and the general uselessness of Yoshimo (great traps, no skill to set them) in the early game stages. Still, once I do that and the Beholders, it is off to the Thieve's Guild to kick some butt.

I usually shoot for a party composition of 3 fighter-types, 2 cleric/druids, 2 mages and 1 thief; everything but the thief should have a one single-classed character.
Um, unless your PC is either a F/M/T or a F/C/T, does it not mean that you would need to have a party with 7 characters, if all but one are single classed to get these parameters?

Meh...it's really easy. Especially when you get to ToB and get Improved Bard Song for Haer'Dalis.

You just have him cast a Mislead or two, and have them all sing.

Imoen can do all your spell slinging then, and even if that's not enough, Haerdalis can pitch in with his Uber Remove Magic, Skull Trap, Cones of Cold, etc.

when you can solo a fighter or theif or whatever, you can also go without arcane completely, so yes it can be done

Aldeth, my most often played character was a Swashbuckler, who was a F/T for my counting purposes. My parties (and I always use 6 because I like the interaction) usually have 3 single class and 3 multi-class. Imoen is 'special' in that I count her as a single class mage and my thief, if need be.

Single-class fighters: Korgan, Minsc, Valygar, Keldorn, Mazzy

Other fighters: Jaheira, Haer'dalis (barely)

Single-class mages: Edwin, Nalia, Imoen

Other mages: Aerie, Jan, Haer'dalis

Single-class clerics: Anomen, Viconia, Cernd

Other clerics: Aerie, Jaheira

Thieves: Jan, Yoshimo, Imoen, Haer'dalis

So this time around, I have:
Fighters: Me (ranger), Mazzy, Jaheira
Mages: Imoen, Haer'dalis
Clerics: Viconia, Jaheira
Thief: Yoshimo/Imoen

In ToB, Mazzy will be dumped in favor of Sarevok, who I will likely dual to a thief. Leaves me a little light in fighters until he gets his skills back.

I've played games with *no* spellcasters and done fine. If you hack things enough, they tend to die in this game. You will be fine with Haer'dalis as your primary mage.