darkSpyro

Long story short, I am a parent and will be playing skylanders in secret after the kids go to bed. I already play with the kids each evening, but want to play on the harder settings. They have asked me not to unlock areas or level up characters when they're not around.
So that leaves me needing my own set of characters. I need to figure out who is best to use in both games, plus 1 giant. I plan on granite crusher as my giant, but am open to any figures for the rest.
The only requirement I have is each character needs to be usable in both games. I currently own all the available giants characters, and all but voodood of the retired characters. Most of them are in a box in my basement waiting to be given as a gift for various gift giving holidays. So availability is not an issue.

Don't need to hide the fact you want to play. Just start a new save file for your personal experience, while leaving theirs alone.

If you and your kids don't have the Adventure Packs (Empire of Ice, Dragon's Peak, Pirate Seas, and Darklight Crypt), I would go after those first. Those also get you the 8 Magical Items from the first game, and 4 Skylanders (Slam Bam, Sunburn, Terrafin, and Ghost Roaster). Two of the Skylanders in those packs (Ghost Roaster and Sunburn) didn't get a Series 2 version in this game.

These are my favorite Skylanders by element -

Magic: Pop Fizz
Earth: Terrafin, Prism Break (Series 2)
Water: Slam Bam (Series 2)
Fire: Sunburn
Tech: Sprocket, Drill Sergeant (Series 2)
Undead: Ghost Roaster, Fright Rider
Air: Jet-Vac, Lightning Rod (Series 2)
Life: Camo, Shroomboom

However, if you were to go with one of each element, this is what I would pick

Pop Fizz
Prism Break (Series 2)
Slam Bam (Series 2)
Sunburn
Drill Sergeant (Series 2)
Ghost Roaster
Jet-Vac
Camo

Granite Crusher should be fine as your Giant. Plus, because he's Earth, that means you don't need an Earth Skylander to open up all the areas.

As for whats left, it's really up to your personal preference for characters. If you've played with any of the kids versions then you may have an idea already who you like. Rather than getting a second copy of them, perhaps look for alternate versions of the characters. (ie, if the kids have Eruptor, consider getting LC Eruptor etc etc)

If you're gonna use them in both games, the best thing to do would be to stick with strictly original series characters. As such, I enjoy:

Magic: Double Trouble
Water: Gill Grunt
Tech: Trigger Happy
Life: Stealth Elf
Air: Lightning Rod
Fire: Ignitor
Undead: Hex

The beauty of the ones I listed is that they're all currently out, and have S2 poses. (Stealth Elf has a Legendary version which plays as a normal Stealth Elf on SSA, and as the Legendary version in Giants)

Lightning Rod may be hard to find, but you can get one from walmart.com right now.

I would go with the following:
Tech: Trigger Happy
Magic: Wrecking Ball, but you MUST take Ultimate Spinner on your upgrade path.
Undead: Hex
Life: LC SHROOMBOOM, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH I RECOMMEND THIS ONE!!!
Water: Zap
Fire: Hot Dog
Air: Jet-Vac
Earth: Granite Crusher is all you would need for this element.

And Hot Dog and Zap are in a battle pack, so you would also get a magic item/battle arena piece with this.

Just to clarify the situation, I am not hiding that I am playing, I'm hiding that we have a lot more characters than they know about. And they asked me not to level up their characters. That's why I need my own. I'm also trying to avoid using ones they really want, since these won't be available to them until I'm done with them. I do have the 4 adventure packs also, and have preordered the hot dog/zap pack.

I'm leaning toward the following.
Giant- granite crusher
Earth - lc prism break or Dino rang
Tech- drill sergeant s2 or boomer
Magic - double trouble s2
Air - can't decide between sonic boom s2, legendary jet vac and lightning rod s2. I also have warnado
Water - legendary slam bam
Fire - between legendary ignitor and flameslinger s2
Undead - hex s2 or ghost roaster
Life - legendary stealth Elf or camo

If I choose any of the 3 legendary figures besides stealth Elf, I'm committed to using all 3, since I don't want to open multiple packages unless I need to

Whatever you do, don't use Giants if you want to add a HINT of challenge to Hard and Nightmare Modes. I ONLY use Giants on my Nightmare saves, to open Giant areas. After that, they are gone.

I have personally been going through my Nightmare Mode with level 1 Skylanders, for added challenge (still isn't enough). I also make it so that if I die with a Skylander, I can no longer use that Skylander ingame. If I run out of Skylanders, I have to retstart a file and re-register (as a punishment) each of the Skylanders.

Again, don't go through the game with a Giant. They make it far too easy, even on Nightmare. Go through it with normal sized landers, in order to make it more fun and challenging.

I'd do Dino-Rang for your Earth. Lightcore kinda cheapens the experience. That, or get Series 2 Prism Break, as his Wow Pow does massive damage (GIANT ENEMY CRAB; sorry had to do that). I refuse to use Lightcores as well, as they kind of take away the challenge during moments when my Skylanders are in a pickle.

For Air, based on the ones you listed, I would do L-Jet-Vac (based on his jetpack upgrades), or S2 Lightning Rod, whose Wow Pow does 14 a tic for about 5-7 hits.

I'd roll with Flameslinger, based on what you listed, down the Pyromancer path.

Life should be Camo.

However, the glory of each of us, is how WE want to play. Pick what YOU like, as those ideas I threw out are just based on how much fun I had with certain characters down certain paths.

Have fun, regardless.

its okay you don't have to be ashamed of playing skylanders. it is for all ages really...

Quote: kappapopm

its okay you don't have to be ashamed of playing skylanders. it is for all ages really...

This times 100000000000.

I would suggest getting the legendary triple as it has Good skylanders (Including Ignitor!) and if you got the portal owners pack (which i did) you can have jet vac. I recommend it!

Quote: kappapopm

its okay you don't have to be ashamed of playing skylanders. it is for all ages really...

This so much. In fact we need to come up with a cool name for adults that like Skylanders, you know like AFOLs or Bronies.

Thanks guys, definitely not ashamed to be playing what has turned out to be a pretty sweet game. Tonight I'll open the big box, make a decision and post It.