Haer dalis or ToB NPC?

[Kazilan]

My party is: PC wizard slayer dual - thief
Imoen
Viconia
Valygar
Mazzy

So its a really good balance of everything at the moment. Curious who people think will be more powerful by the end of ToB, as I've never beaten the final boss and would like to this game. I'm almost at the end of SoA and will want to pick my sixth no later than the start of ToB. I don't need another tank, so who can deal damage faster and help with taking down crazy powerful enemies, the blade with a combo of spells and offensive spin, or the ToB npc?

[Kyrvias]

ToB NPC's only real benefits are amazing stats, his "Deathbringer" skill, and the ability to dual, I believe.

I suppose Haer'Dalis could be more useful, since you seem to only have one arcane caster in your party. The bard has my vote.

[ElfBane]

A bard? Really? They are pretty useless in BG1, how are they in BG2?

[SixOfSpades]

It's my opinion that they continue to be rather useless--I would say he's worth taking along solely because none of the other NPCs can use Carsomyr, but since you've already got that covered with your WS->Thief, it looks like Haer will be dead weight.

[ocellis]

I'd go for a dedicated magic user in your case, but out of the two, the TOB NPC is the better choice.

[Kazilan]

I'd like another mage but Nalia, Jan and Aerie are too annoying and my PC killed Edwin in bg1, so it wouldn't really be right to use him. I've been trying and restarting with this same character save from bg1 for about five years and have yet to finish ToB... so maybe I should just take Edwin.

Follow up question - as all of the above NPCs are way behind my party in experience, should I wait to add them in ToB? Will adding them at that point level them automatically, or should I carry them through the final battles with Irenicus for the experience?

[ocellis]

Adding them in TOB will level them automatically, but i am not sure to which level.

[ElfBane]

Well, I 'think' Aerie will not give you the whines all the time if you add her in ToB. And a fully advanced cleric/mage is a sight to behold!!

[SixOfSpades]

The "Fate Spirit" summons NPCs that are at roughly 2.5 million EXP--unless you've had them in your party (even for just a few minutes) during your previous jaunt through SoA, in which case it summons them just as you left them.

Yes, several characters (including Aerie & Nalia) get entirely new soundsets in ToB, largely due to their being voiced by different actors.

[Kazilan]

I've never considered giving Haer Dalis carsomyr, that sounds like an interesting option.

I did use Nalia and Aerie for a very short time in my SoA game, so they may be too far behind to really be worthwhile. I did not use Edwin or Jan, though. On a side note, I just picked up the purifier, and I don't see my pc using it that much when I regain my fighter levels. 20% mr is nice, but the upgraded flail of ages seems like a much superior main hand weapon and there are better off hand weapons to use in combination with it - scarlet ninja-to, defender of easthaven... maybe I'll save it for when I face powerful spellcasters like liches. But is that MR more useful than an extra attack per round with the flail?