I'm just curious - seeing as every NPC has dialogue if you make them party leader, this was obivously something Bioware thought people would do.

Myself, my character is always the leader, but do any of you let others take up the reins? If yes, I'd be interested to hear your reasons...

It depends. In a no reloads game my character would be somewhere in the back. In a normal game my character is the leader. He goes in the battle first.

With my current archer PC, I have him in the middle lines, with Keldorn and Valygar up front. He is too valuable as a ranged support character to waste in melee, though he is a good enough tank to protect the mages if it comes to that.

With alot of formations, I really don't see the point. This Child of Bhaal takes no guff.

Strict discipline in your party then Sir D? :D

Marty & Xen - I was meaning the party order in the bar on the right-hand side, not leader as in charging into battle. When you drag someone to the top, Jaheira would make a comment about finally selecting competent leadership, Aerie would ask if she was the best choice etc.

Is there ever a gameplay advantage to doing this, or is purely a roleplaying option?

That's what I meant, too. Since I use the default formation, the gameplay advantage is having Keldorn and Valygar tanking at the front line, Marty the archer firing at the enemies from behind a meatshield, Anomen casting support, summoning, or jumping in as a third tank, and Aerie and Jan in the back casting. Also, having Keldorn up front means 18 CHA with most dialogue.

I usually have me leading, and then going down from heavy tanks to mages. I always have a certain order I use, and it seems to work.

A gameplay advantage would be someone having a higher charisma than the PC, but there's always the ring of human influence. So can't think of any.

My PC usually at front. And he's usually a mage. And I usually use the standard 6x2 formation. Stupid, Eh?

What's the standard 6x2 formation? the one like this?

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xx or xxx
xx</pre>[/QUOTE]I personlly use the one like this:
</font><blockquote>code:</font><hr /><pre style="font-size:x-small; font-family: monospace;">x
x
x
x
x
x</pre>[/QUOTE]

I always have tanks upfornt to soak up damage and Mages and Clerics in the back.
It's like this:
Jaheira
Soulaufein
PC (Kensai/Mage)
Aerie
Kelsey


I think it's like this.