Just like the topic says [img]smile.gif[/img] . My party consists of:


Minsc: Tank. Level 21 Ranger. Wielding Crom Faeyr.
Keldorn: Great tank. He has 95% magic resistance, so he's pratically my wizard slayers. I wouldn't every take this guy out. Level 22 Inquisitor. Wielding Carsomyr.
Lord: Sorceror. Destructive (obviously since he's a sorceror :D ). Level 21 sorceror, and wielding Staff of the Magi.
Aerie: Mage/Cleric: she's my only source of healing, can't lose her. Levels 16/15, and wielding staff of power.
Saloufein: SK him to thief (mainly because I needed one over Jan, plus I thought he would be cooler as a theif). Wielding Celestial Fury +5, and level 29 Thief.
Valygar: He seems as good as Minsc if not better for a tank. Wielding Blade of Roses +3 and is a level 23 stalker.

I really want Sarevok in my party, especially since he's one of my favorite NPCs. I'm definately not losing Keldorn, not losing Sola, and I can't lose Aerie (although she'd definately be my first to go if I could). This leaves Minsc and Valygar. I think I'd take Valy over Minsc; this is my first time through with Valy, so I want to fully experience that, plus he seems to be able to be a tank just as good as Minsc can. So I think I should take out Minsc for Sarevok. What do you guys think?

Then take Valygar and drop Minsc! No harm done [img]smile.gif[/img] If you made up your mind already, then you should just give it a go!

Personally I'd remove that Lord guy...

;)

Alternately, get rid of Minsc. Keldorn and Aerie will be fine with Crom and as you say, Valygar is an excellent tank.

Sure you would ;)
being serious:
You obviously made up your mind not to drop Keldorn or Aerie.
Solaufein: since you SKept him already and he's your only thief I guess you want to keep him too. Unless you want to dual Sarevok to a thief you'll probably keep him.

This leaves you with two options:
</font>

• Minsc: Can wear any armor and makes for a good tank.</font>
• Valygar: Can His+backstab and with the right armor makes a brilliant tank even better than Minsc.</font>

I'd drop either Solaufein (dual Sarevok to thief) or Minsc. If the latter, make Valygar (depending on profs.) dual-wield (maybe CromFaeyr+Axe of Unyielding) or give him some kickass TwoHandedWeapon (e.g. Ixil's Spike or Ravager)

Sure you would ;)
being serious:
You obviously made up your mind not to drop Keldorn or Aerie.
Solaufein: since you SKept him already and he's your only thief I guess you want to keep him too. Unless you want to dual Sarevok to a thief you'll probably keep him.

This leaves you with two options:
</font>

• Minsc: Can wear any armor and makes for a good tank.</font>
• Valygar: Can His+backstab and with the right armor makes a brilliant tank even better than Minsc.</font>

I'd drop either Solaufein (dual Sarevok to thief) or Minsc. If the latter, make Valygar (depending on profs.) dual-wield (maybe CromFaeyr+Axe of Unyielding) or give him some kickass TwoHandedWeapon (e.g. Ixil's Spike or Ravager) </font>[/QUOTE]I ended up taking out Minsc and giving Soul Reaver +4 to Sarevok. Valygar's AC is almost as good as Minsc's AC was. I had my previous characters at something like:

Minsc: -12
Keldorn: -8
Lord: -7
Aerie: -10 (wow, I've never managed to get her with AC that low before, but then again, I always used to give her robes until now).
Salaufein: -3
Valygar: -10

So my Crom Faeyr wielder is gone, and I doubt any of my characters will wield it (unless I give it to Aerie instead of her Staff of Power).

Valygar can dual wield as well. Put Crom Faeyr in the off-hand for the strength boost, then keep the main weapon he was using in his main hand. You only get one attack with the off-hand weapon, and then at a penalty (-4 with two stars in dual wielding, or -2 with three stars). It is nice to be proficient with the off-hand weapon, but not a must. The main concern is to have the two stars in Valygar's main weapon, and just have Crom in his off hand for the strength boost. That way you can still use that hammer that you sacrificed so many strength boosting items to get (and eventually, you can put stars in hammer and/or the third star in dual wielding, to make the off hand attack stronger, if you choose).

and wear a certain cloak to balance it out further ;)

Valygar has grand mastery for his main weapon already, and 3 proficiencies in dual wielding. He's currently using a long sword and a shield, but I could ditch the shield for Crom Faeyr, I suppose. But honestly, the lowest strength someone has in my group is 18/00. Even Aerie (with a girdle). Unless Sarevok has below that, which I'm sure he doesn't. I forgot to check.

Grand Mastery?
Isn't that reserved to fighters only?
Valygar is a stalker so he can only get ** or am I just plain stupid now [img]graemlins/uhoh2.gif[/img]

Grandmastery for Stalkers is not legitimate.

Am I missing something? I'm very positive he has grandmastery, let me check...

Valygar's Proficiences:

Long Sword: *
Katana: *****
Dagger: *
Spear: **
Long Bow: **
Sword And Shield Style: *
Two Weapon Style: **

And this is at Level 24 Stalker.

Dundee, perhaps it was a mod I downloaded that allowed him to get grandmastery? I remember something of this sort: isn't the True Grandmastery thing? Either way, I just realized that he doesn't have grandmastery for his main weapon, but for his old weapon. Main weapon (long sword) now has just 1 proficiency. And Dundee, I didn't cheat to give Valy extra proficiencies, I just gave more to him as he leveled up.

The Grandmastery Patch does not grant Grandmastery to all, it merely makes Grandmastery back to true 2nd Edition rules. The blatant cheating of the Universal Grandmastery from the Ease of Use Mod does grant GM to all though. Remember, some Mods are cheats.

Ease of Use Mod allowed him to get grandmastery? I have that mod installed. Funny though, because not all of my characters can get grandmastery. Only Valygar, Sarevok, and Keldorn have grandmastery in a certain type of weapon. My other characters can't get there.

I was faced with the same choice as you, who to drop. If I was you I would keep Aerie and drop Valygar.

I dunno. Drop Valygar. I like Minsc's comments the best. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Sure, but when you've gone through the game so many times with Minsc, no matter how fun he is, you needa try someone new instead of him ;) . Besides, Sarevok can take up Minsc's position as a tank, and even fill it in better than Minsc can.

Ease-of-Use allows Grand Mastery to any character who would be able to have specialization normally. In an unmodded game, only true fighters can--Keldorn, Minsc, and Valygar wouldn't be able to.