Hey guys,

I've got a hard decission to make:

I almost completet Maevar's quests and now Edwin offers to join my party which consists of:

My character a Nekromant level 11
Minsc
Jaheira
Keldorn
Yoshimo
Anomen

What do you think is the best configuration. I always thought about a second mage and now there is the chance to get him.

Which characters do I need most in the upcoming future ?

Looking forward to answers.

Levithikus

I always take edwin early in the game because he is the best npc mage in the game.Personaly I would switch him out with one of yor tank characters.Keep keldorn,Anomen has cleric spells,Minsc has his one liners.Your call there.keep in mind edwin is evil and will leave your party if your reputation climbs above 18, or I,m pretty sure 20.

Just a little warning though, Minsc and Edwin may end up fighting to the death. They do not like each other and if your CHA is not high enough, be prepared to say goodbye to one of them.

I would get rid of Yoshimo and get Jan Jansen.

Alernativley you could get shot of Anomen and Yoshimo and Get Nalia and Viconnia.

I thought about dismissing Jaheira, but as she is a starting character I don’t know if I need her for something in the future.

Minsc and Keldorn are my spearhead, they have the best armoury and so I need them bitterly, most of all b/c I have no warrior in my party. Anomen and Jaheira have similar spells and her is a much better fighter than her. And Yoshimo is my only thief and therefore out of the discussion.

Any idea ?

Levithikus

For dismissing Jah, spoiler ahead...
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-You can dismiss her. She is as important or unimportant as other NPCs. You can have a romance with her and she also has some quests, if you have a romance. But she isn´t necessary for finishing the game. In my next run through the BG series I plan to play without her, even in BG1.

BTW is it possible to not do the shadow thief quests and yet keep Yoshimo without getting attacked at every turn? (I'm playing a paladin in I and when I get to II I find it something of an alignement violation to use him to steal and murder.

Jan is a great theif. He has some items that boost his stats and he's a good mage!

Jan is very cool... nothing like selling full plate mail+1 .. stealing it.. selling it.. stealing it... selling it lol

Whats so good about edwin?

Edwin has got a necklace which gives him one extraspell per level.
He is also a specialized mage which gives him another extra [img]smile.gif[/img]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Levithikus:
I've got a hard decission to make:

My character a Nekromant level 11
Minsc
Jaheira
Keldorn
Yoshimo
Anomen

What do you think is the best configuration. I always thought about a second mage and now there is the chance to get him.

Which characters do I need most in the upcoming future ?
<hr></blockquote>

I would keep Jaheira and ditch Anomen. They both have clerical abilities, but Jaheira has the more useful spells. The damage that Edwin dishes out, more than makes up for losing a healer. But as Dundee stated, be careful with the two of them together.

As far as who you need in the upcoming future, anyone you chose will suffice. There isn't one person that is needed, just who would you like to have.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Dundee Slaytern:
Just a little warning though, Minsc and Edwin may end up fighting to the death. They do not like each other and if your CHA is not high enough, be prepared to say goodbye to one of them.<hr></blockquote>
Keep them a few slots away from each other they won't fight. Recruit edwin at 20 rep and he will only leave if it drops and goes back to 20. Pretty sure about both of those.

Now for Jan he should only be in parties with Minsc and Keldorn they say the darnedest things! Like Jan busts of Keldorn because he is old and always tries to steal Boo! There are MULTIPLE of these interactions unlike the oneline interactions between say aerie and jan or jan and imeon. Some charecters just get on one anothers nerves better I LOVE IT!

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Sir ReGiN:
Edwin has got a necklace which gives him one extraspell per level.
He is also a specialized mage which gives him another extra [img]smile.gif[/img] <hr></blockquote>

The amulet grants 2 spell slots per spell level, add this to the fact that Edwin is a specialist Mage, and this means that he can have a maximum of 8 spell slots per spell level.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>
Originally posted by Mitro Jellywadder:

I would keep Jaheira and ditch Anomen. They both have clerical abilities, but Jaheira has the more useful spells.
<hr></blockquote>

I like them both. True they have similar , but not exactly the same, spells. Anomen with the gauntlets of DEX is an excellent tank. And he because he's a dualled fighter/cleric, Anomen can become a grandmaster in warhammer!!! Also, his higher level cleric only spells are extremely useful. Also, given that he's a cleric, he can Turn Undead, something that Jahiera as a druid cannot do.

No I am not downplaying Jaheira. I'd keep her as well. The druid Insect Plague is one of the very best spells in the entire game, the ultimate spellcasting disruptor!!! Also, she gets Fire Elemental summoning spell rather early, also very useful. Give her the Girdle of Hill Giant STR and good armor and shield and she's also a darned good tank.

Mind you, I am not saying either are on the level of a pure fighter, but a good party does not really "need" three near god-like melee warriors. I think that you can get along with only one "melee god" supported by 2 other solid supporting tanks. Jahiera and Anomen make good supporting tanks. And the fact that they can both cast priest spells makes them all the more valuable.

Were Anomen a pure cleric, like Viconia, I would probably find him far less useful. Indeed, this is why I am not fond of Viconia. She's a weak fighter.

I myself personally wouldn't take Edwin as he would cause problems to your good party... And having Minsc and Edwin in the same party is never a good idea.

What I would do is drop Yoshimo for Jan Jansen... Jan has skills enough to support you in thievery, plus he makes a good backup mage.

This way you keep your mostly melee based goodish party all working properly... But hey, whatever you want to do is fine. Part of the game is working out interactions and seeing what happens when you do this or that...

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Magness:
I like them both. True they have similar , but not exactly the same, spells. Also, given that he's a cleric, he can Turn Undead, something that Jahiera as a druid cannot do.
<hr></blockquote>

I agree with you there. When you reach the higher levels, turning undead is handy, but not necessary. I never had that much of a problem with undead. Other than my first few times through Mr. K.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Magness:
The druid Insect Plague is one of the very best spells in the entire game, the ultimate spellcasting disruptor!!! Also, she gets Fire Elemental summoning spell rather early, also very useful. Give her the Girdle of Hill Giant STR and good armor and shield and she's also a darned good tank.<hr></blockquote>

Insect Plague alone is worth taking her, but throw in the Elementals..

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Magness:
I think that you can get along with only one "melee god" supported by 2 other solid supporting tanks. Jahiera and Anomen make good supporting tanks. And the fact that they can both cast priest spells makes them all the more valuable.

Were Anomen a pure cleric, like Viconia, I would probably find him far less useful. Indeed, this is why I am not fond of Viconia. She's a weak fighter.<hr></blockquote>

I agree 100% here. Viconia is fun for the dialogue, but other than that, she makes a terrible addition. She's helpful if you need a cleric, but I'd rather have either Jaheira or Anomen.

Edwin good with Evil party. I have an Evil Sorc with Korgan as my tank and Yoshi as back up melee. Jan and Edwin and Vicona. All the elementals monsters i cast provide plenty of back up tanks for Korgan and Yoshi and with 3 mages, I can throw tons of spells. But Im Lawful Evil and wear the 18 Cha ring to keep things in order.

I suggest you to split up woth Jaheira. Sometimes she is really annoying, and in my opinion she is the one who would not fit. Frankly you should only have one priest; maybe because I seed them better.
Yoshimo is the only thief you have so you should keep him. Minsc is a tremendous ranger and contributes a lot of experiance hopefully. Keldorn acts as backupfighter. Anomen is the only priest then so use him as an alternative healer. Edwin will be the finally complement included with your own character.

My dreamteam:
Sorcerer (my own character)
Minsc
Jan Jansen
Valygar Corthala
Edwin Odesseiron
Imoen

this is my party:
Me-13th level Conjurer
Minsc
Valygar
Jahiera
Keldorn/Anomen ( switch between two)
Yoshimo

Look, you don't need a good party ... you just need a damn funny one! Sure some battles will be hella hard but the jokes between will be worth it! When Jan talks to Keldorn about adult diapers. When Jan hides Boo in his pants. When jaheria mocks amonen toward edwin. Look my gnomish cleric bet the game with a fun party just don't be a damn wuss and throw together the funniest party.

My party is hilarious, Korgan is a casual killer and Jan is an absolute lunatic. Edwin is a snide bastard and Yoshi is the only sensible person in the whole group, would say Vicona is level headed, to her face at least, but she nearly as casual to slaughter as Korgan. I have to say tho, Jan provides ample comic relief without Minsc, as my party is evil, I would not be able to keep him. My worst problem is my lack of tanks, i have to make up for it with summons, and right now im taking the shadow theive without a magic liscense. You can only push poor Korgan so far, but the barrage of spells I can unleash with 3 major spell casters leads to farely short battles. Cant wait to *SPOILER*...............


trade Yoshi for Imoen, 4 Mages, that will be quite intesting.

I have played the whole first part of the game with Nalia as my thief. True, you're gonna need Knock. But you don't need that creep, Yoshimo, if you don't want him. P.S. Just let Minsc kill Edwin, and take his amulet and give it to Nalia. ;) Mitro, I don't often disagree with you, but Viconia with a strength belt, is better than Jah likewise, due to her better DEX

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Galadria:
;) Mitro, I don't often disagree with you, but Viconia with a strength belt, is better than Jah likewise, due to her better DEX<hr></blockquote>


[img]graemlins/laugh2.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/laugh3.gif[/img]

But what about her insect plagues, ironskins, creeping doom and Nature's Beauty save or die.. :D I like Jaheira's spells better.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>
Originally posted by Galadria:

Viconia with a strength belt, is better than Jah likewise, due to her better DEX
<hr></blockquote>

Hey, Mitro you beat me to the reply-punch!!! Something else that Galadria is forgetting is that while Vicky may have a DEX that 2 better than Jah's, Jahiera is a multiclass fighter-druid. Jahiera will always be a better fighter than Vicky. She can get 2* in her available weapons, while Vicky can only get one since she's a pure class evil cleric.

Oh, yeah. Vicky's an EVIL cleric. I like my clerics turning or chunking the undead, not charming them, thank you very much!!! ;)

Furthermore... Vicky's has a STR of 10 and a CON of 9. Yes, the STR stat can be enhanced, but that pesky 8 CON... that you're stuck with! Fewer hit points for you, Vicky!!!

I must admit to a certain animus towards pure class priests. I tend to believe that if you're gonna wear armor, then you'd better be able to hold your own in melee (within reason, of course). Jahiera and Anomen, being multi-class and dual-class fighter/priests respectively, are capable in melee and even more so when their personal deficiencies (Jahiera STR, Anomen DEX) are item enhanced. I tend to think that pure class clerics just don't have the fighting skills to place them in melee on a regular basis. (I cannot speak about druids since I've never played a pure class druid or taken Cernd into my party.)

Always always always have 2 healers... That way, if level drained, you can undrain them selves... or raise eachother to keep party from having to run back to temple all the time. lol get aerie... Use her for a 2nd cleric and a 2nd mage. I've always liked her teamed up with Viconia. Aerie ain't a great mage though, so if you are one, you should be okay on that front.

lol I never use jah, she stinks up the room! Khalid I keep, jah never. I was ticked off when the killed him off and kept her. Sheesh! I'd rather have a so-so fighter over a bad fighter and a poor druid.... Maybe I'm just crazy though. ;)

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>
Originally posted by toriuxik:

Always always always have 2 healers... That way, if level drained, you can undrain them selves... or raise eachother to keep party from having to run back to temple all the time. lol get aerie... Use her for a 2nd cleric and a 2nd mage. I've always liked her teamed up with Viconia. Aerie ain't a great mage though, so if you are one, you should be okay on that front.

lol I never use jah, she stinks up the room! Khalid I keep, jah never. I was ticked off when the killed him off and kept her. Sheesh! I'd rather have a so-so fighter over a bad fighter and a poor druid.... Maybe I'm just crazy though.
<hr></blockquote>

Hmmm.... Let me see if I've got this right. You'll take a sucky multi-class mage/cleric with rather weak char stats that'll never be able to cast high level spells in either class over a multi-class fighter/druid that is able to be a fairly decent fighter, is able to act as a good healer (you say above that like having multiple healers), and can cast some rather potent druid spells rather early in the game (i.e. Insect Plague, Iron Skin, Summon Fire Elemental). Hmmmm......

I think that you must actually dislike Jahiera's prickly personality, since I think that she's a wonderfully flexible character who can fill two roles in a party without being vulnerablely weak in either.

Aerie drives me nuts lol. I kept Jah in my party my first go and now this go. Jah is much better imho

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Galadria:
P.S. Just let Minsc kill Edwin, and take his amulet and give it to Nalia. ;) <hr></blockquote>

*whispers*

Psssst, that cannot be done. If it could be done, every single person who plays a Mage will gut Edwin the first chance they get. ;)

PS: Aerie surpasses Jaheira, in terms of power, in ToB.

Jaheria is far better than Aerie. Aerie just annoys me.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Radiant_Memphit:
Jaheria is far better than Aerie. Aerie just annoys me.<hr></blockquote>

You may sing a different tune when you see what multiclassed Mage/Clerics can do. ;)

I still find it absurd that some people take Jaheira just because of one spell. For crying out loud, Insect Plague is not essential to your survival.

I would get rid of Anomen cos hes pretty rubbish

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Darkscar:
I would get rid of Anomen cos hes pretty rubbish<hr></blockquote>

*raises an eyebrow*

He can vapourise Vampires and Liches later on in the game without so much as lifting a finger. He can put ***** in Warhammers and create chaos with you know what. He does not lose any spell slots since he only dualled from a level 7 Fighter.

Rubbish? I hardly think so.

Back when my Sorcerer had a party, Anomen was the only party character to have more kills than my Sorcerer.

You haven't asked for spoilers, but I think that you're in pretty good shape, and probably don't need him at all as a second mage.

Now, regarding Edwin's gear, since somebody spoiled us about said amulet, do it all the way: I supposed said wonderful amulet is only usable by Edwin himself?