Character Builds, Ways to Play This Diverse Detailed Game

One of the best things about Arcanum is the truly immense detail from the developers about every aspect of the character options, npc interactions, and the world of Arcanum. Because of this there are so many ways to do things and paths to take your character down that it leads to the replay value we all have enjoyed.

I took some time to write a list of ways to play this game, centered around character development and party themes. I would welcome everyone's addition to this list, particularly the ingenious ideas I haven't thought of (which the depth of this game blessedly allows).

Ideally, I think it should be stickied so that all players have an easy reference for different ideas to enjoy the game by. But that is the moderator decision, not mine.

barbarian rampage - barbarian fighter character wearing barbarian clothes/dread armor who never talks to people and just kills everyone on sight

mind control takeover - evil genius who takes over the world by using the mind control device to control everyone

evil doer - evil necromancer who uses others as he must but betrays everyone. kill important npcs and raise them using conjure spirit necromancy, to enable quest dialogue.

politician - intelligent charismatic beatuiful persuasive, uses diplomacy to get through the game

priest/healer/buffer - magic user who buffs party members and heals only, never fights the enemy himself. Ressurrect spell to revive fallen comrades!

charming lass - charismatic beautiful persuasive girl who uses looks to get through the game and avoids all conflict. possibly low intelligence. charm spell!

lone wolf theif - backstabbing high dex average strength neutral/evil character. steals whatever you can, cheat whoever you can

gang leader - intelligent, charismatic, persuasive, technical backstabber/theif who uses tech instead of magic. guns at range, daggers in melee. lot of followers.

little people - only gnomes, dwarves, etc.

ranger/druid - summoning and elemental using character who is all about nature and animals and possibly no use of metal items. dog companion, bodokan lizardman companion

merchant adventurer - weak gnome uses guns, intelligent, persuasive, high haggle! ogre party member bodyguards, possibly other body guards.

archaeologist/safari english style adventure explorer - human using guns and swords, medium armor and below, with similar companions exploring for archaeology and exploration.

vampire - necromantic evil elf or human. Only dark armors (studded leather or dark robes). Possibly only hand to hand, maybe backstabbing with swords. Possibly active only at night.

powerful wizard - robe and staff/dagger only. intelligent, willpower, magic proficient, bad combat skills.

soldier - average tanky fighter wandering the world with a sense of duty but allegiance to few

knight/crusader - noble tank fighter with a personal code of honor. only good party members.

elven archer - noble/dark elf archer (possibly female) using only bows.

arsonist - explosives expert using only bombs in combat

machinist - intelligent tech user who creates his mechanical companions to fight for him

trapper - tech user fights using only traps.


Good travels, my friends.

 

I preferred my enemies to be at a respectable distance.
Intelligent and persuasive technologist who acts as a war machine with encumbering armour and blade launcher? Yep, that's the one.

 

Gunslinger parties are satisfying as hell, I'll agree to that. When your firing line just mows down the enemy before they even get to you it just makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside.