hey i was wondering what the best overall party combo would be.. like who should i accept into my party and who should i dump/refuse?

You should find out for yourself but a mixed party is good.
3 spellcasters and 3 tanks works well.
(some spellcasters can be used as tank too (Jaheira, Anomen)

<font color="gold">There arent one party-combe that is 'the best', there are many good. One of these would be:

Protagonist (good-aligned Barbarian)
Mazzy Fentan
Keldorn Firecam
Anomen Delryn
Aerie
Nalia/Imoen

A very good fighting-party, both melee and ranged, plus good spellcasters, and a thief. [img]smile.gif[/img] </font>

Another good one:

Orkel(good-aligned orc fighter)
Minsc
Jaheira
Yoshimo/Imoen
Aerie
Edwin

This is what im playing now [img]smile.gif[/img] . It's good because you have 3 tanks, 1 thief and 3-4 spellcasters...

Whatever you do, dont you ever forget Minsc and boo, i love them and Minsc competes for the best or 2nd best tank in the game. The rest :-
A character of your choice
Nalia
Anomen(if you get his quests right)
Keldorn(cause of the holy avenger)
Cernd ?
No specific last character but Valgayar seems good

Minsc is a very good tank but he hasn't been doing well in my group lately...Of course that's because i've been comparing him to my main character [img]smile.gif[/img] .

[ 07-17-2002, 04:02 PM: Message edited by: Dragonbreath ]

I just started playing (Chapter 2) but I think I have a great combination....

Kensai Fighter (level 9)/Mage Level 10
Korgan
Minsc
Keldorn
Yoshimo
Viconia

So far, I am kicking ass. What do you guys think of this party?

IMO opinion you probably have too many tanks. If I was you I'd drop either Minsc or Keldorn.
SPOILER
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Keldorn will try and kill Viconia if there both in your group for too long so I'd drop Keldorn. You could probably do with another mage or maybe a druid. So you should pick up either Jaheria or Cernd or Nalia.
Spoiler
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Aerie isn't an option because she will leave the group if Korgans in it.

Again, there is NO SUCH THING as a "best" party. Best for your style, I don't know, you tell me.

One example, in my Neutral game, it was
Me (CN Elven Fighter/Mage)
Jaheira
Anomen
Haer'Dalis
Jan
Aerie

Note that we're all full-time spellcasters.

That would be 7 characters with Minsc [img]tongue.gif[/img] ...

<font color="lightblue">It depends on your character.
I usually try to have two mages, a cleric/druid or two, a Paladin (for the Holy Avenger), and a thief.
At the moment, i`m playing a Jester; so my party is
Me (Jester)
Jaheira
Yoshimo
Edwin
Keldorn

But as I said, it depends on your PC, and your playing style. </font>

Eight with boo [img]tongue.gif[/img]

At the present time, my party consists of the following:
Me,(Monk),
Yoshimo,
Minsc,
Aerie,
Jaheira,
Nalia.

This gives me three tanks, (Monk, Minsc and Jaheira), two mages, a cleric, a druid, a thief and a neo-thief.

With the parties current levels, (500,000XP), we are rocking.

DeepWalker

Eight with boo [img]tongue.gif[/img] </font>[/QUOTE]How could I forget Boo? :D

I kept 4 of the characters I used in BG1, just because I was used to them. And I wasn't disappointed.

Azuran (Chaotic Good Half-Elf Ranger)
Minsc
Jaheira
Imoen
Aerie
Nalia

3 good tanks, 2 thieves, and 4 spellcasters. Excellent combo IMO.

Here's my party at the moment:
Zarr-thief
Keldorn-inquisitor
Mazzy-fighter
jaheria-fighter/druid
Haer'Dalis-blade
Nalia-thief/mage

I know I could probably do with another healer but Jaheria's been okay so far so I'll stick with this but maybe replace Nalia with Imoen haven't decided yet.

I wonder what imoen was doing in the asylum while nalia was busy getting XP.

me (level 12, fighter)
Valygar
Jaheira
Minsc
Aerie
Yoshimo

Iam not the spellcaster type
on bg1 I only used magic on Sarevok
But I use Aerie now

My party.. .

Kirrik DragonSlayer-fighter
Nalia-Mage/Thief
Jaheria-Fighter/Druid
Minsc-Ranger
Keldorn-Inquisitor
Yoshimo-Thief

it has worked good so far. . .but nalia just has crap
spells. . .i miss IMOEN! jk

Being tortured. But that's OK, she got EXP from it, too.