Need char build help

I don't even know if this will get seen on here nowadays but i'll give it a bash.

I am playing .8.8 and while I love it I have a hell or a hard time with it, just can't get far, i need help choosing builds please.

I want one to be a warrior / tough guy build and one a magic build, preferably that can summon something that can fight next to me

Characters I don't like are the Plaguelord and Swarm

One preference I do have is the main build that gets to be allies with Elf after first quest.

I hope I gave enough info, and thanks for any help.

Pure warrior will not get you far as warrior class is limited to only melee damage and that is it. You either go support/warrior like chieftain, dragonslayer or merchant. Or go hybrid warrior/mage like tinker, ranger or master paladin. They give your hero a chance to be warrior and give support to units you produce to back him/her up or spells to backup your troops alongside.

As far as mages go you have to find your style of it. You can be a nasty thorn in your enemies by using diseased buildings and causing their diseased units/buildings to take damage by being blightlord or defiler, mostly indirect damage dealer. You can be direct damage dealer by being icemage/pyromancer/etc which deals direct damage, most spell spheres have summons.

Even healing sphere in the 0.8.9 will have a summon.

Play everything and get a feel for the class, race combinations will come along.

Thanks for that, very helpful indeed. So, I am trying Undead / Combat / Palladin lol, see how I go