A simple MDP setup will allow you to get a taste of each "flavor" of magic: Instruments, Gadgets, and the individual spellbooks of: Divinity, Alchemy, Psionics, and Wizardry. Note that each of them level more quickly than hybrids or eiites.

This comes with the trade-off that they will be weak in the early game, having to run for cover after every battle or two.

But in the early-middle game to the middle game, they will be unstoppable.

That's a great first MDP setup, even a first playrhrough MDP setup.

After playing through the game many times, however, perhaps it's time to try some different MDP ideas.

Hanging out in the Monastery "too late" produces much the same effect as venturing out into the Arnika Road: After level 6 or 7, the enemies start to get nasty.

For those of the W8 gamers that are not RChu1982, you may not encounter, in the Monastery:

Level 7 Slithering Slimes

Level 8 Metallic Slimes

Level 9 Spewing Slimes

Level 9 Pestilent Rats

Level 10 Emerald Slimes

Level 10 Vampire Bats

Level 12 Greater Seekers

Level 14 Flesheater Slimes

The "joy" of fighting these enemies in the Monastery, compares with the "joy" of the Arnika Road first try.

If you leave the Monastery after level 6:

Higardi Highwaymen

Higardi Brigand

Ant Queen with her Soldier Ants

Nasty plant enemies

You're probably better off in the Monastery, playing cat and mouse, until your MDP is DOMINANT

I haven't been able to find a better MDP setup than my current party of: Bard, Gadgeteer, Priest, Alchemist, Psionic, and Mage.

This is because I don't like to have more than 1 of the same profession (as that gets boring), except for Bishops (the most versatile class).

With this setup, everybody levels quickly. You have all 4 spellbooks covered, without the worry of the Bishop having to save spell picks. All casters can pick whatever spells they want (all non-Bishop casters are guaranteed to have their spellbooks filled out by level 35, assuming they found or bought no spellbooks).

The Bard, as the toughest class, is up front (I farmed Ariel's Slippers, Prospero's Cloak, and Mercucio's Blade from Higardi Thieves). She handles Communication, as she gets a bonus to it. She is maxing Strength and Dexterity first, then Vitality, Speed, and Senses, maxing out around level 40. She will farm a *Light Sword* and *Light Shield*, as well as having a Tripleshot Crossbow made by the Gadgeteer.

The Gadgeteer, as the second toughest class, will hold one of the flanks. She handles Locks and Traps. She will max the same stats as the Bard. *Light Sword*, *Light Shield*, Tripleshot Crossbow.

The Priest, as the third toughest class, will hold the other flank. He will be built as a Battle-Priest (something different this time), maxing Dexterity and Speed first, then Strength, Vitality, and Senses. Mauler OR Diamond Eyes, *Light Shield*, Wrist Rocket.

The Alchemist, Psionic, and Mage are physically the weakest classes, and will be protected in the center. The Psionic handles Mythology, and the Mage handles Artifacts. They will be built as typical "glass cannons", maxing Intelligence and Speed first, then Piety, Vitality (HPs sorely needed), and Senses. 3X Staves of Doom (1 guaranteed, 2 farmed), 3X Wrist Rockets.

Edit: My party just reached a milestone: Level 8, when the Mage picked X-Ray. Now I can actually see where the enemies are, making my "cat and mouse" game much easier.

Double Edit: MDPs, more than any other party, must be stealthy in the early game. Fight a battle or two (against enemies that you can handle), run out of mana, retreat (especially against tougher enemies that you can't handle), rest to restore mana, rinse and repeat. This is because there is no way to restore mana, other than resting (for some reason, Burz doesn't sell Magic Nectars). Hence, the "cat and mouse" game.

Just for the record, there is a way to restore mana without resting.

Initiate combat and let the turn pass, i.e. not hit esc but hit enter.
About every 14 turns the casters should get 1 mana point back.
btw Autohotkey allows to perform all inputs with a script, it also covers the mouse.
(allows to get info on actual cursor position and place it at any coords)


Regarding x-ray, there is the poor mans xray workaround:
Trigger combat and check whether you can cast Terror etc, i.e. if targets are in range at all,
sleep also available will indicate they are in thrown range.

I know that having a high spellbook skill, realm skill, Piety, and high level factor into SP regeneration. Having a Bard grants extra SP regeneration as well. It seems that your mana will always fully regenerate after a full rest, having a Bard.

This will allow you to fight a battle, and rest, almost endlessly, until your MDP isn't so weak anymore.