Your First Character Playing Book III?

[Vroqren]

My first successful playthrough of each game has been just a pure paladin with one goal - beat the game.
Once I've played as a paladin I'll probably play quite a few more times with different goals in mind, once I know various secrets, etc.

[IJBall]

What sort of character do you intend to play for your first game of Book III?

I think I first played Book II with an Atheistic Fighter (Swords-focus), IIRC.

This time, I'm going to go back to my Book I idea - I'm going to play a Bow-wielding Ranger first. I may keep it simple, and go with an Agnostic Ranger with a "high" Bows focus; or I may try to have a little fun with it, and play Virtuous Ranger, with a Ranger-Healer hybrid focus. We'll see...

[Calathon]

I think I will start with a male, nor´landic, atheistic fighter. He will know about sword fighting, heavy armour, cartography, repairing and unarmed combat. Later, he will be able to use divine and/or elemental magic(s) in order to advance to paladin status and bows.

Throughout the land he will be known as Calathon, front lawn camper, gold coin stockpiler and haggler before the Lord!

And, of course, he will be known as the guy who saved the world (at least parts of it) from who- or whatever without knowing anything about it - so maybe it will just be "Calathon the atheistic amnestic".

[Painted Lady]

I generally start with a fighter (swords normally) who buffs with some magic. My big decision is going to be whether I use bows or Fire Dart for my ranged attack. I generally go as an Atheist or Agnostic.

Can hardly wait - only 11 more days! That assumes, of course, that the Mac version comes out at the same time as the Windows version does.

[Leezar]

Warlock. What else?

If you have magic, you do not need to waste 1 turn changing from ranged to melee. Also, unequiping a weapon does not take a turn in Eschalon II, so you can have 10 levels in blunt weapons, do the superattack, unequip and do unarmed superattack.

[tykinruoka]

I generally start with a fighter (swords normally) who buffs with some magic.

Me too! Years ago I used to play RPGs with pure magic users, but that was almost always quite hard and not much fun.

Can hardly wait - only 11 more days! That assumes, of course, that the Mac version comes out at the same time as the Windows version does.

I'm ready to play on all three supported platforms

[munster]

Sticking with my tried and true Mage build. A level or two in Bludgeoning Weapons, because it's handy to be able to pick up a stick and bash a barrel or chest open before you learn Lock Melt, or to knock Cave Rats on the head for a tasty, nutritious, free meal!

Will probably stick with the Virtuous axiom, as though Nefarious is great fun when doing something like massacring all the Dwarves in Hammerlorne, I tend to worry about being evil afterwards so I don't really enjoy it as much as I should

Will probably also be sticking with my strategy of (running away) tactical withdrawal until I build up enough in something like Dense Nimbus and Fire Dart for protective and offensive purposes.

[blatherbeard]

Priest, always.

Bludgeon, Healing, Lore, maps.

Thats ALL i need. ;P)

[Painted Lady]

Priest, always.

Bludgeon, Healing, Lore, maps.

Thats ALL i need. ;P)

Interesting build - and one I've never tried. Are you Virtuous as well?

[Kreador Freeaxe]

My first build will almost certainly be a ranger, as always. Bows. Maybe an axe (depending on how the feats stack up this time) for chopping things open, inanimate or animate. I've always enjoyed harassing tactics more than straight up assault.

[IJBall]

Aren't you worried about the beginning merchant not stocking enough arrows?

This issue is solved if you play my Virtuous Ranger-Healer hybrid character suggested above - Virtuous Rangers start out with the Fleshboil spell!

Also, I'm assuming that BW (and the alpha- and beta-testers) have worked out the issues seen in Book II with merchants not stocking the "right supplies" or "enough" of the right supplies...

[Randomizer]

As someone that killed the last monster in the zone with his last arrow, there are enough arrows available if you build an archer so he or she can hit.

Edit - You can get arrows somewhat easily if you don't mind prying them out of the sack that some of them drop when they die. There are two prime spots for those.

[Kreador Freeaxe]

Aren't you worried about the beginning merchant not stocking enough arrows?

Never been too much of a worry for me. I do my best not to waste arrows early and I've always managed to find enough to get through, though sometimes it's a matter of avoiding fights until I can resupply. This is why harassing tactics are best. Take one down and run away to come back for the rest.

[MyGameCompany]

My favorite builds are 1) a Ranger with bows, swords, hide in shadows, move silently, lore, and a bit of magic (predator sight), and 2) a pure mage. I'll probably do a Ranger first. I never worry about a shortage of arrows, either - that's why I have a sword to fall back on.

Though I also like playing a bare-handed brawler with most of my points in unarmed combat and strength - with the feat and combat set to power mode, he can kill almost anything with one punch. I love that feeling of power and invincibility! Of course, he's not very good against enemies that have ranged attacks, but there's usually a way to sneak up on them (either keeping out of sight or using an invisibility potion).

[Weird Heather]

My favorite build is an elemental magic specialist with additional skills in a melee weapon, foraging, alchemy, and divine magic improved mostly through books and paid training. This character seems to get through Book II without undue difficulty. It will be interesting to see how things work in Book III; my strategy will ultimately depend on which trainers are readily accessible and how hard it is to find the money to pay them. In Book II, the foraging skill can be used/abused to acquire unlimited cash.