new party for BG2

[Cam_H]

The first thing I'd do is to put one point into the third 'Two Weapon Style' slot (discussed further below), and at least a couple in Short Bow.

A real personal choice from there ... as often noted, there are some very potent Axes available early in the game, including one with a 'Good' alignment requirement.

There's also a case for Short Sword ... especially if you're prepared to go into the Planar Prison early on, where you can access Kundane. It depends upon how you use Yoshimo's skills as to how quickly you can purchase the Sword of the Mask.

Many people who play with Archers tend to instead focus on two handed weapons, simply due to ease of equipping in mid-battle, without having to regularly shuffle weapons around on the inventory screen. I tend to disagree with that, as an Archer's starting two pips in Two Weapon Style is an advantage of the Ranger class that I would prefer to capitalise on. If you did go that way, I'd probably lean towards Two Handed Swords with Lilarcor in mind.

I'm not sure if it's really worth considering putting points in a blunt weapon for 'one particular creature type' or not. It depends to some extent how you see Anomen being equipped.

Yoshimo's proficiency in Katanas might make you want to re-think putting a point there, at least in the early-game.

Bear in mind that as a warrior, you'll get quite a few points during your level-ups as well so you can re-focus your proficiencies as the game progresses (for instance, if you plan to use Crom Fayer, you can adjust to that later on).

For me, I'd take a point in Scimitars, with Rashad's Talon with Belm, and at some point go after Usuno's Blade, as I tend to do Trademeet fairly early on.

[Armen]

your main decision is whether to do the inventory juggling necesary to switch from bows to dual-wielding

if dual-wielding then any of the swords including short sword or scimitar would be good for the off-hand extra attack from kundane/belm

your PC will be the only character who can use azuredge so a point in axe will go a long way

i soloed an archer through SoA as a hunter woodswoman sort of character with bow, spear, dagger & axe - by the time i got greater whirlwind (and impaler spear) i was doing a lot less archery than i did in the early days

[Armen]

Originally posted by Cam_H: The first thing I'd do . . .

[img]smile.gif[/img] two people, thousands of miles apart answering the same question at the same time in very similar ways

i love the internet . . .

[timothy trotter]

will anomen be suffcient as my main tank until TOB? i hate having to cast protections spells and buff spells all the time. i prefer hack and slash, with spells being fired over head during battle.
I think ill give anomen the FOA, and a shield.
I might go for the two handed weapon option, because as i said before the pausing before battles to buff and shuffle weapons i dont like.
Imoen might fight with two weapons, not sure what yet, possibly a short sword and a dagger, what are her best combos?

Any suggestions for the best bow in the game?

[ister]

For most of the game Tuigan's (with it's extra attack) rules. For an archer, with all the damage bonuses an extra attack is huge. Even it TOB you can couple it with crtical strike very nicely. The only problem is that it can't hit some enemies.

[timothy trotter]

where is this tuigans bow? ive played the game many times before, so dont worry about spoilers.

[Cam_H]

@ Armen,

Agreed! [img]smile.gif[/img]

@ Timothy,

Once Anomen has secured appropriate equipment, he can physically tank reasonably well with a set up like; Full Plate, Ring of Protection +2, Precious, Cloak of the Sewers, Helm of Balduran, Sentinel Shield, Gauntlets of Dexterity, etc. and then there's buffs such as Defensive Harmony that can add to that.

As for; "i hate having to cast protections spells and buff spells all the time", your party isn't really 'that' defensively strong, but if you're OK to suit up Anomen along the lines of above, you should be fine. Note that the Cloak of the Sewers' 'rat' transformation also gives very high physical damage resistance.

As for; "I think ill give anomen the FOA, and a shield", that's an excellent strategy. There are times when you might want to swap in some other weapon, but generally you'll do well with your suggested approach.

As for; "Imoen might fight with two weapons, not sure what yet, possibly a short sword and a dagger, what are her best combos?", personally I don't tend to use Imoen as a battlemage, and if you hate pre-battle buffs, you're going to hate trying to use her to melee ...

... For (later in) SoA, the Staff of the Magi would probably be the weapon of choice, but Edwin might like that one too. I would give it to Imoen if you were to try to use her to go into battle, as the instant Invisiblity can give her an escape option if her last Stoneskins and Mirror Image get dispelled or worn down, or if you want to try to lay multiple backstabs with the stab-invisible-hide-stab process (you'll need another weapon to do the backstab). The (limited charges) Staff of Striking wouldn't be a bad choice, while looking at daggers possibly the Pixie Prick for melee or better yet the Firetooth throwing dagger (a Chapter 5 weapon). As a general strategy though, I'd be going with spells such as Melf's Minute Meteors and Magic Missiles first, then a ranged weapon such as Tansheron's Bow if the PC has Tuigan, then a thrown weapon such as the Firetooth Dagger, then a reaching weapon so she can hide behind Anomen such as a quarterstaff, before considering backstabs and melee. [img]graemlins/twocents.gif[/img]

The Tuigan Bow is a +1 short bow that gives three attacks per round. It belongs to the Beast Master in the Copper Coronet (fighting pits, animal cages, Tabitha, etc.).

[timothy trotter]

ok, a backflip.
considering Kyrvias's idea of using a swashbuckler, i guess i would use him as a 1/2 tank, with Anomen, so two reasonable tanks can make one good one. Anomen would take most of the damage, and the swashbuckler would try to pump in the damage. I think i would dual wield, possible celestial fury and daystar maybe? What would be some good items for a swashbuckler? he most likely wont need to stealth, if i have yoshimo and imoen later on.

I haven't played in a little while so forgive me that i cannot remember what types of armour swashbucklers can use. I guess ill have a high dex score, reasonable strength, high constitution
av int, av wisdom, av charisma.

also would anomen be better using crom faeyr than the FOA?

Ok i ownt use imoen as a mele person, she can use bows and such from the back.

[Cam_H]

Timothy,

Swashbucklers i.m.h.o. are a little similar to Monks in that they aren't really super-duper until they're getting relatively advanced in levels. I'm not saying don't play one, but I'd say that a Fighter/Thief multiclass still gives you your backstab, you can wield every weapon and shield type given sufficient strength, probably better hit points if you are looking to maximise Constitution, more weapon proficiency points, more attacks per round, and also later allows you to access the warrior's HLA table (Greater Whirlwind Attacks and Hardiness are a couple that are very useful in ToB). With a Swashbuckler, you'll get more Thief skill points, a marginally better AC (although as noted below this can be offset by a F/T ability to wear any armor {strong armor restricts thief skill use} and carry any shield), and at high levels (around Level 20) a Swashbuckler's THAC0 will be better than a Fighter/Thief of equivalent XPs.

Until 'Use Any Item', Swashbucklers can't wear better than Studded Leather, although Shadow Dragon scale and Bracers of Defence AC3 are a couple of SoA options.

Note that for non-warrior kits (e.g. Swashbucklers), you don't get any more hit points for having a Constitution above 16 than you would for settling on 16.

Anomen has access to Righteous Magic and Draw Upon Holy Might. The need for a Cleric to use Crom Faeyr is curtailed by this. I know you hate buffs, but it's nonetheless worth considering ...

... On the other hand, the cost of forging Crom isn't that great given your relatively small party. If Crom was to be used by Anomen for its Strength boosting effect, you'd possibly miss the Girdle of Frost Giant Strength that your Swashbuckler - if you went with one - could otherwise wear, at least until your Swashie hit 'Use Any Item' - where the Swashie could then wield Crom while Anomen could buff. In other words, you'd probably be better off forging Crom, and then see how you feel about using buffs plus the Flail of Ages as compared to Crom Faeyr, or alternately dual wield both. [img]graemlins/confuse21.gif[/img] Fuzzy answer to a simple question, I know.

[krunchyfrogg]

You're not considering taking a single-classed thief, are you?

USELESS!

multiclass that mofo! if his role is to be your thief, give him extra roles. heck, make him a fmt, and you will still have all the thieving skills you NEED before chapter 1 is over, and you will be able to add the ones you WANT shortly thereafter.