Just providing balance my friend. I normally advocate trying ALL the characters, as all of them, properly equipped kick serious ARSE (bottoms not donkeys - as per my post on an earlier thread.) You could start bagging Viconia and I'd leap to her defence. If you bagged Minsc I'd.....I'D JOIN IN AND SMASH HIS REPUTATION AND HIS HAMSTER, I HATE HIS DIALOGUE, HATED IT IN BG1 IT GIVES ME THE SHHHH.................ah...... whew......I, I don't know what came over me there. Sorry fellows, must be the heat.

Armisael, if Minsc should not be using Sarvoks sword what should he be using. I found him defencibly week with two maces.

WIth regard to giving either Minsc or Anomen the Mace of Disruption...

If it's the improved +2 version, give it to Minsc!!! Minsc is a better fighter and when you're battling vampires, you're better off giving a frontline fighter that specific mace since it gives the wielder immunity to level drain. Further, Anomen should be busy turning undead, not swinging that mace!!!

Minsc with the +2 Mace of Disruption and the Shield of Harmony is a vampire (and other forms of undead) killing machine!!! He cannot be level drained, charmed, confused, held, dominated, etc, etc, etc!!! "Bodhi, Boo says that it's your time to die!!!"

Let him fall on Sarevoks sword while he can. I won't be as gentle.

You don't need Minsc to dual wield just because he's a ranger. Like Magness said, give him the mace of disruption and the shield of harmony and nobody will be able to touch him. All jokes aside, I see no reason to have Anomen in this party when Viconia's available. Viconia's got a higher wisdom than Anomen and will get extra spells in every cleric level up to four. If you're talking about Anomen's fighting ability, you've already got Keldorn with the holy avenger, Minsc with the mace of disruption, yourself with whatever you specialise in and Jaheira with a sling or spear of impaling - that's four tanks unless you're a kensai, so where's the need for Anomen?

Again good point Armisael. What is this shield of harmony and where do i get it from?. Plus, not wanting too many spoilers, is being good against the undead so vitally important?

I think you get the shield of harmony after Trademeet, as part of the reward for vanquishing the djinns, and the druid. I just finished that earlier, for about the 10th time, but I am not sure. At least not all the way sure.

Ignore the calls to get Viconia; while she's great, you will have to give up Keldorn because apparently they will fight. Amoen or Aerie. Since you are strong on fighters already, I would pick Aerie. She's very agile, and you can use more casters in your party, probably. I believe good clerics are more effective than neutral ones (they are more likely to destroy than just turn the undead), even though she is not as high level as Amoen.

Hey, everybody is talking about fighters, clerics and even mages but I cant see any thief in this party !!! As i havent played so much, i only have found Yoshimo and Jan, so if you want more magic in your party maybe the choose would be Jan (though I like the things Yoshimo says !!). I think there is enough fighter with keldorn and minsc, even more if you are a fighter, and enough druid with jaheira. My current pary is me (sorceror), minsc, keldorn, jaheira, yoshimo and edwin and its working out fine. I had nalia but shes a VERY poor thief and a poor mage so no way.

I agree. Too many tanks and a very weak thief in Nalia. Go for Jan who is also a good mage. If not Viconia, as she is a better spell-caster than Anomen and has amazing spell resistance, being a drow. You meet most of the undead early on and against the vampires use false dawn, or better sunray, so her poorer turning ability is irrelevant. Sunray is also available on the Helm of Brilliance and the sword Daystar. No vampire can survive 2 sunrays. So, undead aside Viconia is superior in every way, especially with a strength boosting item, (Mauler's arm from the Copper Coronet is ideal early on).