Downloaded and started playing the game a couple days ago. Still on the first map while I get use to gameplay. I have a company that is typical: Soldier Arcane Soldier Hero up front and Mage Cleric and Thief in back.

Question is: how useful is an Arcane Soldier? How necessary is a thief? Does Mage become big time. And finally I am guessing Cleric and Soldier are the typical corner stones of any Party.

Arcane Soldier: Leave the two element slashes at level 1, and they become very powerful skills that require very little pp cost. Flame Slash's burning scales with the weapon's base damage, allowing you to do tons of damage for only 4 pp, Don't bother with actual spells.

Mages tend to be more useful early than late. Early game, Earth Arrow does good damage and always hits. A bit later, you get spells that can cause burn/freeze and/or hit multiple targets, but cost more pp so you need to rest more. Late game, PP costs become more of an issue.

Thieves, I believe, are optional; however, shurikens can do a lot of damage/bleeding if you level up the skill.

Thanks for the response.

Obviously can't play all that often. But I like the game. But I read where people argue whether you should put points into "learning." Where is "learning?" Perhaps it's obvious, but I don't see it on any level-up tab.

Thanks

The skill "learning" isn't available until level 8.

There you go. A strange thing to start at that level. I thank you again.
Edit for clarity.

Well, I like to have the "summoner" (don`t know the correct name of the class) in my party. She can summon fighting and healing spirits, which can help you much in battle.

Personally, I think that:
1. Having that skill in the first place is rather strange.
2. Having that skill in the game is actually bad game design when combined with the finite number of enemies. (Knowledge of Herbs has the same issue from a game design perspective.)

I was reading about the Level 30 Herb gimmick. Rather late in the game to begin building stats since the game seems to end with players taking about being L50 or so. Games that I remember best are the games that the end was as difficult as the beginning: eg, Baldurs Gate or IWD. Hoping for the best.

I tried several party mixes yesterday, but not the summoner. Who is the best healer? Paladin in the middle does okay, Cleric for one at a time. But no time yet to test drive a Summoner yet. Is it like the Paladin or Cleric?

Finally started taking out the Guards on the third map. But this game doesn't give a lot of room for mistakes.

But the Creature I'm suppose to clear from the road. He still can mess with front line in a couple swipes. I've read people clearing the road at L8 or so. Better players than I'll ever be.

It's not an easy game on normal difficulty, no question about that. Definitely let's you know when you're doing things in the "wrong" order. The Ogre blocking the road drove me crazy for weeks because I thought I should be able to kill him since I was given the mission...

As with all advice, this is worth what you're paying for it:
Ignore the folks building "perfect characters", but use the suggestions as much or as little as you want.
Definitely use F5 / F8 when finding traps and such.
Google the crap out of the Steam Forums when you get stuck.
Have a ton of fun. :-)

Thanks. I'm saving games. No way do I have the time or patience to try an Iron Man on this game at "Veterans" level. Even when you should win-- a couple lucky punches by the opposition and you are gone. But it is a fun game. And I still done have the bleeding v wound set. I keep trying to heal the wrong one. LOL.

Mushrooms
I've gotten the first bad guy and got up to L12. I went to clear out the Mushrooms. The game says it should be balanced fight. But their Poison Breath still wipes out my players. Do I wait until Immune is higher or am I doing something wrong.
Thanks

Mushrooms-- never mind