What's your optimal party size?

[Klorox]

I've noticed that many people play this game with a full 6 member party, or alternately choose to play solo. Personally, I think a 3 or 4 person party is optimal.

You have a little less micromanaging than a full party, but you're still getting some good dialogue. You can easily have all "the bases" covered with a party of 3 or 4. And you'll advance in level faster than you would as a full 6 member party.

It's also a fun option to play with 3 or 4, and have a rotating spot for another character to do all of the sidequests associated with certain NPCs.

The first time I completed the whole series (from BG1 to the end of ToB) was with a character who played SoA with a 5 person party, and had a 6th rotating spot for all of the other NPCs and their sidequests. When I got to ToB, Sarevok completed the full 6 person party.

The most smooth party I ever had was with a dwarf F/T PC, Kelsey (a 3rd party sorcerer), and Anomen. The game got too easy though.

The last time I picked the game up I had a Gnome F/M, Jaheira, Anomen, and Imoen.

I think I'm going to go with a party from BG1 next, using the "assumed party" from the beginning of BG2. When I get to BG2, I'll just use the people you meet in Chateau Irenicus. I'll probably play a Half-Elf Fighter/Cleric/Mage. It seems to fit that party very well, and a smaller (4 person) party supports a triple classed character very well.

Anyway, I've rambled quite a bit. What is your optimal party size?

[IronDragon]

Originally posted by Klorox: I've noticed that many people play this game with a full 6 member party, or alternately choose to play solo. Personally, I think a 3 or 4 person party is optimal. You have a little less micromanaging than a full party, but you're still getting some good dialogue. You can easily have all "the bases" covered with a party of 3 or 4. And you'll advance in level faster than you would as a full 6 member party. It's also a fun option to play with 3 or 4, and have a rotating spot for another character to do all of the sidequests associated with certain NPCs. The first time I completed the whole series (from BG1 to the end of ToB) was with a character who played SoA with a 5 person party, and had a 6th rotating spot for all of the other NPCs and their sidequests. When I got to ToB, Sarevok completed the full 6 person party. The most smooth party I ever had was with a dwarf F/T PC, Kelsey (a 3rd party sorcerer), and Anomen. The game got too easy though. The last time I picked the game up I had a Gnome F/M, Jaheira, Anomen, and Imoen.

Personally I like the full party of six.. maybe because I don’t mind micro-managing that much…but I think it has to do with using all the great weapons out available.

As for experience…well I never felt slighted having six members…they all level up plenty fast for me.

I think I'm going to go with a party from BG1 next, using the "assumed party" from the beginning of BG2. When I get to BG2, I'll just use the people you meet in Chateau Irenicus. I'll probably play a Half-Elf Fighter/Cleric/Mage. It seems to fit that party very well, and a smaller (4 person) party supports a triple classed character very well. Anyway, I've rambled quite a bit. What is your optimal party size?

I’ve played the “assumed party” and it is good fun, flexible, well rounded and powerful.

My SoA “assumed” part was the gang from Château Irenicus plus Nalia and Anomen. I found that this party works well no matter what class the PC is.

[Sever]

Defensively, i find a party of one to be the optimum. This does get a little lonely though, and by the time you reach chapter six, you're "wasting" xp by the truckload. Twice i've gone with a three person party (including my most recent) and it has worked well. Not too much inventory management going on and there's enough premium items going around to have them all decked out as semi-specialised all-rounders. There's never usually an obsolete member in a three person crew. With a six person party however, i find myself constantly resurrecting/reloading due to Aerie or whoever getting themselves killed/chunked. I don't like the little pre-battle buffing sessions that are required to make most battles headache free for the whole party. Six is great for conversation, but not as good as it sounds for everything else.

[Lord Michael]

I prefer 4 or 5. I will, however pick up a sixth if I'm going somewhere that there may be loads of treasure, a very difficult battle, or NPC specific quest. Valygar, for example, spent very little time with my party....
I STILL have to get over this good/evil party mix. I can't seem to bring myself to invite an evil NPC into my party...just seems wrong. Maybe I'll try Edwin next time from an early-on saved game.

[Mahokenshi]

I had a similar thread in the bg1 forum a while back.

I also find myself fonder of a 3 - 4 person party as time goes on. I was trying out my very first solo (elf mage-thief) when my computer crashed (in shop ) I find that with a party of 6, I run out of decent items to give people. Also, I'll invariably have a person or two I never use.

I find smaller parties are good for multi class characters. Cleric/mages come into their own at 6 000 000 xp, which isn't easy to come by with any game time left in a larger party (my first time beating BG2 I only had about 6 500 000; and I did pretty much everything, including some mod quests.)

And with really small parties, things get easier. If you have only as many people as you do negative plane protection items or boots of speed; then you're that much better off.

I find as long as I have a thief, two arcane casters, and a warrior with lots of fun side-abilities; I'm happy. Ie a party of Imoen, PC Inquisitor, Aerie.

[ 05-24-2007, 02:17 AM: Message edited by: Mahokenshi ]