Agree with Raze in that party make-up shouldn't be a huge concern on explorer or normal as the largest challenges you will face in combat will be through level 10.
The same challenge level is true for tactician/ honour, but I wouldn't want to play on honour without 2 mages with CC skills. In honour you can't save-scum so letting large groups of enemies get close enough for melee is not preferable as even the smallest hits like a truck.
