Favorite Party Size?

[Kyrvias]

I've just started up a new Tutu game, and have been switching party members like no tomorrow. Party member A kills party member B, Party member D gets chunked by sword spiders (Coran, Imoen, Alora, you name it. Every thief in the game sans Safana has been chunked.), Party member F gets petrified...

It's ooodles of fun

[CerebroDragon]

Originally posted by ZFR: Cerebro, how did you take on your first run Jaheira without Khalid?

I remember holding on to Khalid for a good while in the early exploratory part of chapter 1, but eventually his character begun to become bad for morale. He fell valiantly during the encounter with Silke, I think, as I was using him as the main tank at the time. I decided not to reload and instead roleplay by finding a suitable replacement. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Don't get me wrong though, I quite like Khalid. His unlikely heroics can be amusing and he is fun to use.

I actually had a similar situation with Minsc. The big fellah turned on me for taking too long with his quest and I was forced to kill him, which was a shame, as it has meant that I've had a somewhat of an ambivalent relationship with him ever since. [img]smile.gif[/img]
(and thus the ever familiar 'hey, I killed you' sentiment when I first played BG2)

[ 02-09-2007, 07:55 AM: Message edited by: CerebroDragon ]

[Illumina Drathiran'ar]

Originally posted by CerebroDragon: Oh...not to be pedantic as well, but its Kivan. K-I-V-A-N.

Did somebody say pedantic? The only more reliable Illumina Summoning Spell is to draw a pentagram on the floor and chant "I summon thee." Good work.

[Klorox]

IMO, 4 is best. It's easier to manage, and you're more powerful because of faster level-ups. In the end (xp cap), 6 is more powerful, but I'd still prefer 4 from both an ease of use aspect and the early power levels (where I think the game is hardest).

[Mahokenshi]

Well drat. KIVAN it is. And any rate, he's how your party lives to level 5 or 6 or so (when your mages start being useful, your tanks can actually TANK something more powerful than a xvart, etc.) Well, him and Coran. But you pick up Coran later (even if you rush to get him, and if you do you'll be low level, and if you're low level than the only thing keeping the Gnolls and Ogres off your back is Kivan's fighter's thaco, 5 shots/2 rounds, and dex + elf bonuses.)

Anyway, I'm trapling merrily along with a party of six right now (Cleric/mage, Imoen, Dynaheir, Minsc, Kivan, and Ajantis. Did I get them all right? ) I've got to say, though, that Klorox's advice is looking very tasty today. I've got three arcane casters (dualed Immy at level 6), and larger ambush parties fall pretty easily to a barrage of Hold People spells (after which they each eat a TON of magic missles. Plus Kivan kills stuff. Plus once in a blue moon Ajantis will connect with a blow. Sigh ... low level, un-grandmastered, un-exceptional strength tanks... .) But the path finding, and the xp division (my PC being multi classed, and the party's only divine caster and all.) If you pick well with a party of four, managing your inventory can be more challenging than many of the fights. But it would really depend on your PC. Both of my 4-parties were with a fighter PC. Let's face it; fighters aren't exactly a weak choice.

[Klorox]

Mahokenshi: Fighters (archery based warriors, actually) rule BG1. If you're looking for power, you've got way too much arcane help (I personally recommend 1 - 1.5 arcane casters).

Pathfinding is a whole lot easier with 4 characters as well.

[Roboghost]

Tanks...

Ajantis should be given a +2 Weapon ASAP. Either the:
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***spoil***
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Long Sword +2 or the Hammer +2 (depending on your other tank.) If going with the Hammer +2 -- his next skill point needs to be the blunt. Also, since the Hammer +2 is light damage [see note 2 though], take advantage of your mage and keep two slots filled with the Strength spell for him for each new area that you explore. THAC0 for a tank is IMPERATIVE in BG1. Do whatever it takes to get it up. I'm going to give Ajantis the Tome for strength later -- my main tanks’ 18/00 is good enough (especially since he's wielding a certain pair of gauntlets.) You can use potions also, but it's nice to try and keep all team members maintenance free as possible to concentrate on other things during battles.

Note 1: Replace Hammer +2 with Staff Mace in ToSC

Note 2: Hammer +2 [4-7 +1 elec] has a better low damage then the Sword +2 [3-10 +1 cold.] This can be somewhat beneficial for low strength tanks. It's also slightly faster = spell disruption.

Note 3: Give tomes where they're needed if not going to BG2 -- screw your main PC if he's a fighter when it comes time for a wisdom bump.

[ 02-12-2007, 04:49 PM: Message edited by: Roboghost ]