Well...after much debate, I have what I think is the best and most fun party to create.

Samurai
Ninja
Bard
Gadgeteer
Mage
Bishop

I figure the Samurai and Ninja as my two tanks (a third one will be an NPC...prolly Miles with Bloodlust sword)

The Bard and Gadgeteer to take full advantage of the different eq in the game.

Mage...for wizardry, obviously

And a Bishop for Divinity, Psionics and Alchemy.

My only concern is that I don't have a Ranger with a scouting skill. Other than giving an opinion about this party from everybody, I need to know logistics about scouting and ranger skills. Say for example I had a ranger with 100 in scouting then changed to another class, does the ability to always searching really matter when you have such a high scouting skill. Other than the opinion that EVERYONE will disagree to changing professions at that level, do you still have to search in order to effectively use the scouting skill?

• RE: creating 2nd party...no ranger?,rbrown, 11:36 AM, Sep-11-02
• Searching ... for the best party :-),Llevram, 11:54 AM, Sep-11-02
• RE: creating 2nd party...no ranger?,Jonno (Guest), 06:54 PM, Sep-11-02
• RE: creating 2nd party...no ranger? - Bloodlust,ReLu (Guest), 02:59 AM, Sep-17-02

If you leave search turned on everyone will search constantly. One time I gave the brilliant helm to a character and he started finding everything. You might want to build intelligence on your mage or bishop to boost their spellcasting and searching. SOmetimes it helps it you walk directly over an item.

You can (as Rbrown said) leave search on all the time, but then you can get surprised much more often by monsters. But since you are on you second time through, I think the need for a Ranger's search capability is somewhat lessened. Regardless of your party makeup, you will not find everything in the game until you have layed it many times (I just found the room at the end of the firing range - where you get the rocket launcher - last night, on probably my 7th or 8th party).

If you have a mage with the Detect Secrets spell, just cast that ... I think it is just as effective as a Ranger's search capability. Also, if you build up a Psionic or Monk the right way (senses), they tend to find just about as much as a ranger.

I am not sure about the "what happens after swithing to another class with 100 in scouting" question ... I magine it would make little difference ... but it is kid of a waste to build that skill in a Ranger.

As to your "tanks", they will not be of much help early on and Ninjas advance extra slow. And since you don't have much fire power early on from the rest of the party, I would probably start out one or both as a Fighter, then switch to Samurai/Ninja after getting to Arnika.

Tools for Wizardry(r) 7

There isn't as much hidden stuff in Wiz 8 as there was in earlier versions of Wiz, a ranger whilst still useful is not as useful as in the past.

As for your "tanks", the Ninja will do between 2 and 5 damage each hit and up to perhaps 8 damage if he catches an opponent really flush and will have low hit points, rather a light tank.

The Sumarai will not be much better.

Whilst the "elites" are probably more fun than fighters, if you want to beat Wizardry 8 quick and easy then put three fighters up front with polearms and a sling or bow and watch them work.
Back them up with a Bard, Bishop, and Ranger/Ninjas and you will be unbeatable.

I would probably give Bloodlust to your Samurai. I have just started a 4 hybrid party (Lord, Sam, Monk, & Ninja) and so far (level 10 on AT Road) the samurai with bloodlst is the big killer (beserk + extra sword skill from bloodlust + 25% sword bonus as samurai + lighning strike = total devastation

Also helps in training his magic, as bloodlust is cursed

ReLu

Happy hunting