i've started to think that parties of four or less are the way to go

my BG1 party has grown to 6 and i think i'm starting to get bored (ish ;) ) by dragging them all around (hence being distracted by a F/M/T solo) - i don't want to artificially seperate Minsc & Dynahier so they're going to have to go i'm afraid which leaves me:

Kivan - repositioned as tank
Coran - archer and scout
Imoen - traps detector and mage
Darroch - (me) druid

i say its best to have 2 wizards 1 cleric 1 thief and 1 fighter and maybe a ranger or another fighter--- i find it better to always have 2 mages

Vohl - I like your style, get some small dudes in your party that's what I say.

Dobian - me too, I like to mess around with unbalanced groups, it makes for more inventive tactics and more variety.

Armen - I think you have a good point, it's quite nice to play with 3 or 4 strong characters, so that nobody is standing around waiting to have a task to do. For example in IWD aparty of 4 is all that's needed and the same can be said of BG1. I also like to play multi-class characters like Fighter/Mage and Cleric/Mage so the smaller party helps with the level-up's.

I prefer this classic combo
Me as a Paladin
Minsc (Ranger)
either Branwen or Yeslick as a cleric
Garrick (Bard)
Imoen (thief)
Drynaheir (Invoker)
However I'm thinking of this
Me as a Paladin
Minsc (Ranger)
Khalid (fighter)
Jaheira (Druid)
Imoen (thief)
Drynaheir (Invoker)
These two parties look good and I have played all the way with my first and am going to try the other one next I might even try this
Me as a Bard
Minsc
Adjantis
Yeslick
Imoen
Drynaheir

I'll have a go once I've finished my exams.

If you're new to the game then the initial characters are fine for your party. Nothing really wrong with them, but I too think an imperfect party is perfect. Having gone through it a few times, I get rather resentful of the feeling of having to take Imoen or Minsc et al.

As Midget Gems says, a smaller party is better in some ways - in number if not in stature! ;)

my personal favorite party would have to be as follows

Coran
Garth One Eye- main char i made he's a fighter/thief
Xan (moonblade all the way baby)
Yeslick
the gnome mage guy outside of baldurs gate, cant remember name
and the ultimate duo juggurnauts of destruction, Minsc and boo

WELCOME DUDE!
I think: a tank, a mage, a cleric, a theif, and two others of youre chose, pref. part spellcaster/strong dudes.

Quayle [img]smile.gif[/img]

So is it better to recruit people into your party or just design a load of characters yourself in multi-player? I'm still on my first run through the game and have:

- Me (paladin)
- Imoen (dulled over to mage just recently)
- Jaheria
- Khalid
- The dwarven cleric guy from the cloakwood mines
- Kirvan (I think that's his name) the ranger chap

Until I duelled Imoen I had no mage at all - can't remember what I did when I arrived in Nashkel but I seemed to miss out on Minsc all together. I'm about to reach Baldur's gate and I know that there is a mage waiting just outside apparently - who should I get rid of to get him into the party? The dwarf cleric is proving to be a very useful fighter and I believe Khalid / Jaheira come as a package, so is it Imoen or Kirvan (a great archer to be sure) that should go? And if they go where can I find them again if I want them back?

The Ranger's name is Kivan and the dwarf is Yeslick. Quayle isn't that good though for a first party. It's a decent party though and using the right equipment and tactics you should be able to complete the game.