Hey all - well I am playing this game as a newbie, know it's a little old but I just got it. Have it patched (thanks to the thread on this board for suggesting the new patch and fix pack).

I really love making my own parties, so I wanted some feedback about the one I am planning. I'll create 5 characters in a multiplayer game, save it and then move it to the regular save folder and play them as a single player game. The 6th slot will be for NPCs to do their quests.

The guys I am thinking of are like this:

Human Inquisitor - going for 2-handed swords
Half Elf Ranger/Cleric - dual wielding, flails and hammers
Halfling Fighter/Thief - dual wielding short swords, also short bow
Elf Archer - short bow and dualing long swords
Gnome Illusionist

Basically they should be pretty complete even without an NPC; I'll use different ones to do their quests as I get them, and see which I like the best (maybe none, I might just use these 5 characters alone for the most part).

Any comments/suggestions?

BTW, I just have SOA, not the expansion.

It sounds utterly sensible.

You should also make your inquisitor at least proficient in a one handed weapon so he can use a shield if need arises. Perhaps axes for the Azuredge.

Be prepared for alot of item swapping for the archer - you can't hold a bow and 2 swords at the same time.

In fact you cannot equip any kind of ranged weapón when dual wielding, evin if it's one-handed. You can with a shield though.

Yeah, noticed that from playing today - kind of sucks for the Rogue and Archer, but oh well - makes me appreciate the newer games (like NWN) where you choose weapon quick slots that can encompass dual wielding combos.

I think that the restriction is in place due to the way that BG2 handles off-hand attack.

The infamous Melf Minute Meteors Off-hand weapon combo (Allowing you to hurl Crom Fayers and Celetial Furies after people) gives a clue why the restriction is in place, this particular bug being the loophole.