I've been doing some of the optional quests before starting Chap. 4 and have a question. I'm planning to do the Umar Hills quest right now, just for the hell of it. Right now, I have me (mage), Minsc, Anomen, Jaheira, Jan, and Aerie. I've beefed them up with armor and all that stuff, but if I were to go with Mazzy, whom would I get rid of? I'll admit that I kinda like Aerie, despite her whining. Jaheira bothers me more, but she's a good fighter. Does Mazzy have good spells?

Mazzy is a fighter, she has no spells. She has some special abilities, though (haste, strength...).

Probably Minsc, or Jaheira. If you weren't missing a thief, I'd say Jan. Minsc is the one closest to her role, and Jaheira is kind of divine spellcasting overkill. You have a lot of magic power in there, you may want to get another tank. [img]smile.gif[/img]

<font color="gold">I'd dump Aerie for Mazzy. Aerie is a Mage/Cleric, and you already have two other Wizards and two other Priests. Aerie is quite unnecessary, and your party would benefit alot better from Mazzy. ;) </font>

I'd say get rid of Minsc and replace him with Mazzy. Your party doesn't have spell casting or divine casting overkill written on them considering they're all nearly multi-classed, so most of them are considered good tanks and spellcasters.
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• Anomen can have grand mastery in Cleric weapons and has more attacks per round.</font>
• Aerie has a great spell book and makes out to be the best spell caster in the game (to say the least) so blocking out the whining is worth the effort.</font>
• Mazzy and Minsc are basicly hand in hand, though with grand mastery in the short bow, she's even deadlier with... well, you'll find out.</font>
• Jaheira has good druid and cleric spells in her spell book, but despite her weapon restrictions, she makes for a good tank.</font>
• Nothing needs to be said about Jan, best thief period.</font>

All in all, I think you'll have a good party on your hands.

Have fun [img]graemlins/drinkup.gif[/img]

I agree with Sir Exxon. You have your basic divine spells/healing with jaheira and Anny, and you and Jan are already Mages. Definately drop aerie. Maybe you could get her number if you really like her...

look at your current party (and you're ready for ch. 4), I think you might just drop Minsc and take Mazzy = it seems that you get along pretty well with just one "pure" tank. Mazzy is similar to Minsc (IMO, better) and if you like the way your current party is going, I think you can let Minsc go.

Why does people mislike Aerie ? She is quite good mage/cleric...and I have had her in my squad quite many times through the game, thou I do hate all the whining. :D

NPC personalities sometimes rate higher in party choice than actual ability. Take Viconia for example. She's the only cleric class in the game without any sort of extra perk. However, she's a nymphomaniac when romanced, which cause many to think of her with more than just one head, if you get my drift. ;)

I personally don't like Aerie, because she whines too much, and she's the Bioware-created romance that needs the most therapy. She's had a traumatic life, but hey, look at the PC! [img]tongue.gif[/img]

It's hard to look at NPCs without taking their personalities into account. Do you drop so-and-so because you don't need their abilities, or because if you hear that smug and self-righteous "this party has 20 reputation and I'm amazed about it" comment ONE MORE TIME, you're going to jam that mace so far up his--

--I'm an Anophile, and I hate that comment!

Actually, I like Aerie, but in his party it might be better to drop her. 3 mage and 3 priest is a tad strong (especially on the priest side). You need Jan for the thieving skills, and with his illusionist skills and your mage skills that is plenty of wizard. The only way I would go with 3 priests in a party is if I were going with no mages whatsoever in the party. However, if you like the "heavy magic" approach of 3 mages, then probably get rid of Jaheira for Mazzy. Yes, you lose Fire Elementals and Insect Plague, but I've found by playing "all-good" parties that you really can get by just fine without them. If you really like Jaheira in the party, and want to keep Aerie, that pretty much means replacing Minsc with Mazzy. Anomen is a solid tank (especially after getting his dexterity raised), and Jaheira is pretty solid in her own right as well. And with 3 priests, that is plenty of healing to go around, so Mazzy would fit in either as an archer or as a tank.

In other words, it is your choice; I would just base it on playing style and how much you like the NPC, since ultimately it is your party to play.