Not if you (to quote six) 'haul ass for Imoen'. It may have been due to one of the mods I was running, but I've even managed to pick her up with more XPs than anyone else.

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and if you take her through to TOB, don't forget that Imoen starts to get a boost from daddy's powers.

I don't think it requires any mods. I just checked a save of my all sorcs game. I found that it's possible to have 20,000 by the time you leave the Promenade and meet Galean the first time. It just requires that you sell off almost all the items you get in the Dungeon and from Mencar/Circus. I didn't have a high rep either (true neutral main char).

If you talk to Galaen with 20K in hand, there is an option to say: "Very well, here it is." Then you get the standard referral to Aran, followed by the --deal is struck narration...send deviants to Spellhold vid...immediately followed by the end of Ch 2 narration and the Irenicus gets loose vid. Rather amusing to have them squashed together.

Of course, you could also put Gaelan off at first, walk around until you trigger the counter-offer and the discount speeches, and save 5000.

If you pick up Nalia ASAP, and "haul ass" for Imoen, Nalia will still have more XP as a mage.

I've tried it. I'm an expert ass-hauler. I've even gotten the money to go to spellhold with that cheesey steal/sell tactic right out of the dungeon, completed Aran's quests, and left immediately. And Imoen was a lower level than Nalia. Hey, try it yourself, maybe you'll get a different result. I don't play with any mods that would change Imoen's experience levels though.

Wow, didn't realize my question would illicit this many responses! In the end, I did decide to go with Aerie, although I could still go back and redo (just started Spellhold). I like the idea of possibly dumping Jan, but I don't think I'll take Imoen because her whining annoys me, too. Why is it that so many of these characters are frickin' annoying? I'm only a level 9 mage right now, so still have a ways to go. Do you think it's worth it getting rid of Jan just before Spellhold and only going with 5? I've always played with 6 characters.

Tip for players not used to Aerie's low CON. Get the Belt of Constitution for her.

Or just get used to casting stoneskin, mirror image and spirit armor as soon as you wake up.

In my last game I was a fighter / mage (like I usually am) and I had about nine fighter levels and eleven mage levels by the time I got to Imoen. She had 15 mage levels.

Edit: Yoshimo was around level 14, so it might have brought my group's average level up.

[ 07-24-2005, 08:40 AM: Message edited by: Western Paladin ]

You mean the Girdle of Fortitute?
But too bad the effect is not permenant.. cos I always forgot to re-cast it once it expire, although the duration is quite long (8 hours game time)... [img]tongue.gif[/img]

In my last game I was a fighter / mage (like I usually am) and I had about nine fighter levels and eleven mage levels by the time I got to Imoen. She had 15 mage levels.

Edit: Yoshimo was around level 14, so it might have brought my group's average level up. </font>[/QUOTE]I don't think it's the levels that determine Imoen's level, I think it's the XP of the party.

Nobody knows for sure, though.

it seems to me that you're preferring Anomen -- Aerie is no less annoying, she isn't working for you as of now, you want a better cleric, and you like that wicked hammer...whence the doubt which one you want?

with or without either of them, your party is powerful enough to go through the original game with ease, the tactics one with some labor, and so it's really up to your feeling towards characters and playing style.

I myself a magic addict and for me the choice is obvious, the more mages, the merrier...especially when with Jaheira on my side, the priest spells are more than enough for MY playing style.