I agree with Neomi, your party is pretty much set as is. But if you are wanting that sixth character, you really can't get much better than Valen. If you don't want Sola, I'd say go with her, the only downsides being that being a vampire as she is, she has the obvious weaknesses. In her higher levels, she is unbelievably powerful as a tank, just be careful as to how much damage she recieves in combat.

'
cant tank!?!?!? [img]graemlins/wow.gif[/img] with her level draining ability, she's probably the cheesiest character ever made! to prove that she can indeed tank, ill just say that she took out Imp. Torgal single handedly...and thats saying alot! </font>[/QUOTE]I was taking tank to mean an ability to soak up damage - she only has a comparatively low number of hit points (compared to a pure fighter), and her AC certainly isn't stunning. She spent a lot of time in my game in a gaseous ball, especially once reaching higher level fighters. Two good hits and she's lost half her hitpoints straightaway.

I know she's solid, hence "she can't half fight" but there's a difference between offensive ability and her ability to tank. Eg a mage could take out Imp Torgal single-handedly but would be no tank (assuming we're not going down the buffing route). Although I am very impressed by that, he's solid!

And as for cheesy, well possibly, although as far as i'm aware, the only cheesiness is in her using the dagger proficiency (and thus grandmastery IIRC) for her claws which normal vampires don't do. Re. the easy victories with level draining, I believe the problem lies more with the fact that a lot of the monsters in BG2 are at a suprisingly low level but high stat rather than any cheesiness in the level draining abilities themselves.

EDIT - wording etc

[ 02-16-2004, 09:57 PM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]

Well, Improved Kitthix can take Imp. Torgal on singlehandedly. Of course, Valen is more overpowered, IMO, than Improved Kitthix, but the theory still stands. Just because it can beat Imp. Torgal by itself doesn't mean that it's overpowered. It depends a lot on just how quickly it beats Torgal, what buffs, what equipment, etc.

Anyhow, I'd suggest using Jaheira. Depends on how much you want to roleplay.

Odd, nobody mentioned Anomen.

Make him crazy, have him fail his test.

I have been using Valen in my party, and she annihilates enemies pretty fast. Granted she gets hit easy but she regenerates hps fast and takes down my enemies. A lot of fights I can send her in without anyone else in my party, and she can do just fine.

Honestly, you don't need 2 thieves, so choose between Valen and Jan (if planning to roleplay really evil, go Valen; she forces you to play evil). And to be honest, if you give Korgan regenerating items, you don't need another tank (you can always have Viconia back him up, especially once you get a strength belt for her). YOU HAVE 3 MAGES! Use them! Boost Korgan to ridiculous levels before combat; with 2 clerics and 3 mages in the party it's not like that is a problem.

If you are insistent on adding a 6th member, then Dundee is correct on Anomen. He can wear heavy armor, put 5 stars in weapons, and buff himself with clerical spells (you just have to make him fail his test). Jaheira is good, too, and Haer'Dalis is good if you use his spells to buff right (four wizard spell casters in the same party?).

I am not impressed with the selection of neutral and evil fighters in the game. If I could program, I would create a Chaotic Neutral Half-Orc Barbarian (use that one stray half-orc picture that comes with the game).

To whoever said about a second thief i wanted a fighter. Thanks for the help though. I am going to operate a 6th character rotation. I am also going to use the arrowhead formation for a while. The other mods look interesting but i have a couple of problems with them.
The vampire f/t is useful but i would have to side with bod and that means no edwin (please reply if i am wrong) and the other one is a thief and i really wanted a fighter.
I had also considered a multi-player game with the half-orc ce barb. However, i wanted someone who would interact with the party.

IIRC, you can side with Bodhi as long as you get Edwin first, no?

Correct.

here's a thought - if you want a pure fighter a slightly involved way round it could be to shadowkeeper Anomen into a single-class berserker or something

roleplay him that he actually is an evil fighter but with delusion of nobility - he's half insane in fact - you'll get his normal interactions but knowing he's nuts you'll merely turn to Edwin and roll your eyes . . . might put a whole new spin on the the conversation with his father and when he (obviously) fails his test he'll go CN and you'll be set

[ 02-17-2004, 06:12 AM: Message edited by: Armen ]