I don't know about you, but after I'd solved the tunnels the first time, I really didn't want to have to do it again. It was easy to get lost, and it took a lot of time. The getting lost is solvable by learning it, but the time is takes is not going to decrease more than marginally.

Off the top of my head, it MAY be possible to do everything you want in Nighon in one visit, then go into the Eeofol tunnel & portal back from Eeofol, and not have to visit Nighon again. But your party needs to be pretty advanced for the Maze (and *really* advanced if you want to clear everything on the map & take on the Megadragon). So you'd be leaving Nighon until quite late.

If you want TP without taking a Sorceror, Archer and Druid can both get Water Magic to Master level. Druid could also be your backup healer, although to answer your question I've played the game with a single Cleric as healer many times. Ypu just need scrolls/potions for the times your Cleric goes down. And ALWAYS keep Regeneration active!

besides the last time i played it was KTPA /i finished the game with them, it was a really nice balanced party for me/ so i really want to try something different.

I dont play for high score. I just want something different and maybe more of a challenge.

besides i always get TP and LB and fly so want to try a different angle. 4 x sorcerer in mm6, solo lich in mm8 atm.

i tried AAAC but it just was not my style. Although my friend showed my these guys late game and they r awesome but it is a matter of getting there.

so we figured out we will take different routs now. Crazy u might say. So im doing KKKC and he is going PPPP one P all body second all spirit 3rd 4th all GM mace.

I will post my progress in this thread. I know its not optimal but since it is so different i already start enjoing it which is what it should be about. Just as i love my solo lich.

When done with KKKC i will try SSSS or SSSC maybe

Scholar and gatemaster can actually be all the time as learning doesnt make much of a difference in mm7. I used to have scholar and instructor in KTPA and these guys didnt make much of a difference.

But assuming you want to visit Nighon at all, you have to visit the tunnels at least twice anyway, even if you have TP access to Nighon. In terms of the original issue - having to go back through the Connecting Tunnels to get to Nighon again if you don't have TP - it would be possible to avoid by only visiting Nighon the once.