Who should be in my party? (spoilers)

[Shotgun]

I've started a new game of BGII, hoping to use some new characters I haven't in the past. My PC is a lawful neutral male fighter/thief (although I should have made him a fighter/cleric, when I think about it now). I plan to keep Minsc because I like him, but I'm up in the air about the others. Here's what I was thinking of:

Viconia
Jaheira
Valygar

Beyond that, I'm open. I would love to have Keldorn, but have heard he and Viconia don't get along at all. So, if I want a cleric, I need her (I picked Anomen last time, and don't want to listen to him again). Last time I had:

Aerie
Minsc
Mazzy
Jan
Anomen

Any other suggestions? It bugs me that Imoen's AWOL for so long, and the thing with Yoshimo (hate wasting XP on him). What does everyone else think? Other suggestions?

[wellard]

Try Korgan that guy has to be seen in action to be belived
I would dump minsc not because he is bad but because you have used him before, Korgan can be your main fighter. As you have the theif side covered (yourself) You need a cleric and Vic the sultry one is perfect. [img]graemlins/wow.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img] Try Edwin as your mage and you have a very well balanced party. A group of four is the perfect size IMO for the second or third walk throughs. They are more easy to manage than six but still cover all bases.

This party tend towards evil but you do not have to be evil youreself, just try not to be goody goody all the time [img]graemlins/heee.gif[/img]

[Shotgun]

So if I play with an evil party, I don't have to be totally evil and kill anything that walks? I'll admit that I prefer to play "good," and choose the nicer answers in dialogue. I figured Korgan and Edwin would just walk if I didn't play my party right.

[Ares]

They'll complain quite a lot if your rep gets above 12, and they'll outright leave it hits 18+ I believe..I think they give you warnings around a rep of 17...dont quote me on that though

[Pirengle]

Shotgun, if you want a party that can slice and dice everything they meet, then scoop up Edwin, Viconia, and Korgan immediately. Best mage, second-best cleric, and best fighter in the game, period, end of sentence.

[img]tongue.gif[/img]

But if you want a party that's fun, challenging, and interesting, try this:

PC
Jaheira
Keldorn
Valygar
Imoen
Cernd

Yup, that's right, Cernd. People say he's bland as vanilla pudding, but that's not his fault; Bioware never finished him up. His only hindrance is what trips up most of the other NPCs in the game: great concept, stinky stats. He'd kick ass if he had a decent STR and CON in human form, and there are easily-found items to take care of those little problems. He also doesn't have much dialogue. But if you have ToB and replace Valygar for the ToB NPC, Cernd gets a bit more lively.

Or you could try this:

PC
Kelsey
Jan
Minsc
Haer'Dalis
Nalia

There'll be lots of party banter, especially if you install the Banter Packs from Forgotten Wars.

[wellard]

Originally posted by Shotgun: So if I play with an evil party, I don't have to be totally evil and kill anything that walks? I'll admit that I prefer to play "good," and choose the nicer answers in dialogue. I figured Korgan and Edwin would just walk if I didn't play my party right.

Spoiler *small*

*

Korgan only left when i did the fallen palladin quest which bumped my rep up to twenty, just miss that quest or do it and keep the goblet the gloves stink any way

No you do not have to be evil to use them, I myself can not choose the evil options but just be less good and do things for money not from the heart. Obviously you will still release the slave children but you do not have to reunite the circus tent child with her mother ect. Korgan, Edwin and Viconia really do make a good team.

next time through maybe use Valygar Cernd Haer'dalis and Arie. They are not as obviously usefull but once you work out there strengths and weaknesses they are a great challange and fun

Enjoy [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Barry the Sprout]

Just to say that I think Cernd kicks arse when used well. Use him to pile on buffing spells before fights, then in the fights use stuff like Insect Plague before turning into a Werewolf and rending your opponents asunder. He rocks as a Greater Werewolf...

[Nerull]

Originally posted by Shotgun: I've started a new game of BGII, hoping to use some new characters I haven't in the past. My PC is a lawful neutral male fighter/thief (although I should have made him a fighter/cleric, when I think about it now). I plan to keep Minsc because I like him, but I'm up in the air about the others. Here's what I was thinking of: Viconia Jaheira Valygar Beyond that, I'm open. I would love to have Keldorn, but have heard he and Viconia don't get along at all. So, if I want a cleric, I need her (I picked Anomen last time, and don't want to listen to him again). Last time I had: Aerie Minsc Mazzy Jan Anomen Any other suggestions? It bugs me that Imoen's AWOL for so long, and the thing with Yoshimo (hate wasting XP on him). What does everyone else think? Other suggestions?

MINOR SPOILERS
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Let's see, you want to keep Minsc. That stops you from taking Edwin (Minsc and Edwin do not like each other, any more than Keldorn and Viconia do). If you are looking for a well-balanced party, then you are really lacking in mage (as in none). Here is the breakdown you have so far for a party of you (F/T), Jaheira, Viconia, Minsc, and Valygar:

Warriors: Minsc (1) + Valygar (1) + Jaheira (1/2) + you (1/2) = 3 (plenty)
Priests: Viconia (1) + Jaheira (1/2) = 1.5 (plenty)
Thief: you (1/2) (this is plenty, especially with Valygar's backstabbing)
Mage: [crickets chirping]

You'll only have one open slot, so good to get either a full mage (Edwin) or a thief dualed to mage (Nalia or Imoen). Edwin is out, so that leaves either Nalia or Imoen. If you want Imoen, I recommend getting her back as quickly as possible (that means doing as few quests as possible in Chapters 2 and 3, and rushing to get her). I like to play all-good parties, and this helps immensely (and, if you've already been through the game, you should have sufficient tactics to survive). Until you get Imoen back, add Nalia (or keep Nalia if you do not plan to add Imoen). Alternately, if you are playing with mods, you could add Kelsey (good sorcerer).

Just my opinion, of course. People have finished the game without mages before. A lot more challenging, to be sure, but knock yourself out.

[Shotgun]

Okay, after reading some of the posts, I decided to start the game over (I'd only just made it out of Irenicus's prison) and became a ranger/cleric. The nice thing is that I actually managed to roll a 100! [img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img] Talk about fantastic! Now my PC rocks in just about every area. I really like this guy (he's a chaotic good), but I'm still up in the air as to whom I should take with me. Any suggestions? I'm pretty open, but one think I want is possibly do a romance, so Aerie, Viconia, and/or Jaheira will have to be in the party. Since I'm a cleric, I'm not sure what I should do, but this is what I'm thinking:

me
Aerie
Keldorn
Imoen/Yoshimo
Jaheira
?

Do I need another mage? I think I need another fighter, right? How about Valygar? I thought about Mazzy 'cause she rocks, but I used her last time. Is Valygar good? I'll admit I don't think I want to use an evil character again for some reason or another. I'd like to try Viconia, but know she doesn't mix with Keldorn.

[ 12-09-2003, 05:49 PM: Message edited by: Shotgun ]

[Sagramore]

I'd go with Haer'Daelis or Ediwn...i love that Haer'Daelis guy and he can pickpocket (so useful...) and Edwin is just Über powerful. Or go with Cernd...never really got to know the guy very well, but the little time i've spent with him he was decent. I guess if you equipped him right, he would be stellar, but i guess that goes for every other NPC too...