The best NPC Group Lineup

[Gangrell]

Well, lemme see, i've played this game and I have 4 different datas, all ending at the end in hell with the last battle with Irenicus. From that, i've been looking over the best NPC lineup group, but i'm not too sure.

*Misc and Jaheira -Dunno why i keep them, just like 'em.
*Aerie -Royally sucks as a spellcaster
*Nalia -Not that bad a caster
*Imoen -Stuck with anyway you look at it
*Edwin -About this guy, i'm not too sure, because i've used him once, and it wasn't even a day long. I've heard he's such a good spellcaster and so forth, but, well, I really don't like him. Why you ask? Because he ditches me right before or during a fight saying "I'm finally glad to be rid of you idiots."
*Viconia -The only reason i keep her around is because she levels up quick as a cleric, and has some awesome spells that has really helped me out like -Blade Barrier- and -Symbol Death-
*Keldron -Not too bad, but I'm usually of a fighter class anyway, so I don't really need him.
*(...crap, whats his name?) -I forgot this little dude's name, he's that ail swiggin dwarf that asks you to help him out with the catacombs in the Graveyard from the Copper Cornet. Doesn't really get along with the group that well, so I never used him.

I know I left out a couple of others, just because I don't like them much either. But there's another thing, I found this one cheat, (yes I use them, it's not always fun gettin ripped one by the PC ya know [img]tongue.gif[/img] ) anyway, i found this one called Helm of Opposite Alignment, and wondered if you put it on one of the evil characters, if they ACT any different.

[rhapsody407]

i use the CLUA console once per game, and i do the same thing. Right after gaining edwin, i import the "belt of reverse gender", and make him (soon to be her) wear it. then i ditch edwin. i hate that guy. i also like jumping...dont have to walk across entire levels to get back out. jump to the exit.

[karlosovic]

yeh jumping is good

Korgan is the dwarf you're talking about. His dialogue options are very limited, but he's an awesome tank for evil parties. Worth a mention...
-Anomen is the best priest-type in the game if you get him knighted, and if you can put up with his personality.
-Jaheira sucks. All druids suck. being half fighter means she sucks a little less but she still sucks. and if that wasn't enough, she's a stuck-up @%^$@%&$%& who never fails to annoy me.
-Minsc is the BEST NPC in the game. always has been. always will be. tough. strong. carries anything (weight 320lbs is a godsend). he's funny as hell. and he has BOO !!!
-yoshi is wasted experience. every quest you do with him is experience you could have gotten for someone else.
-Jan Jansen is an idiot. but he's a funny idiot. persevere with him and you can eventually throw away his stupid equipment when he gets enough thieving skills, and give him real gear. plus he's the only thief in the game you will be able to advance with after spellhold. a good NPC combo (conversation-wise)is mazzy, jan and minsc. another good combo is jan and either Anomen or that paladin guy. he takes the piss outa them pretty good.

[Animal]

Originally posted by karlosovic: yeh jumping is good Korgan is the dwarf you're talking about. His dialogue options are very limited, but he's an awesome tank for evil parties. Worth a mention... -Anomen is the best priest-type in the game if you get him knighted, and if you can put up with his personality. -Jaheira sucks. All druids suck. being half fighter means she sucks a little less but she still sucks. and if that wasn't enough, she's a stuck-up @%^$@%&$%& who never fails to annoy me. -Minsc is the BEST NPC in the game. always has been. always will be. tough. strong. carries anything (weight 320lbs is a godsend). he's funny as hell. and he has BOO !!! -yoshi is wasted experience. every quest you do with him is experience you could have gotten for someone else. -Jan Jansen is an idiot. but he's a funny idiot. persevere with him and you can eventually throw away his stupid equipment when he gets enough thieving skills, and give him real gear. plus he's the only thief in the game you will be able to advance with after spellhold. a good NPC combo (conversation-wise)is mazzy, jan and minsc. another good combo is jan and either Anomen or that paladin guy. he takes the piss outa them pretty good.

Jaheira's insect plague rocks!
Jan's pretty much the only thief in the game, except for Yoshi but...
Anomen, pretty much bites.
Edwin, is the best spellcaster bar none, if you can put up with him.
If you've got a good aligned party, Keldorn kicks ass, as he's the only NPC who can use the Holy Avenger +5
Minsc is a good solid tank, nothing special but pulls his weight.
Imoen rocks when she gets to higher levels, ie: TOB
Korgan is bar far the best tank in SoA, but he's kinda iffy with some of the other NPC's.
Mazzy makes a decent NPC for good aligned party's and can kick some serious ass in the later chapters.
And let's not forget Viccy! With some Gauntlets of Ogre Power or a Girdle of Giant Strength she rules!
Haven't found much use for the others, but there's my two cents worth as it is.

[ 01-03-2003, 10:11 PM: Message edited by: Animal ]

[LennonCook]

I personally like Aerie alot... a Mage and a Cleric in one; The Robe of Vecna and Amullette of Power seem to affect her priest spells aswell.
Only thing with Aerie is - do not *ever* use her as a tank. But, she isn`t strictly necesary. Keep her if you want a secondary mage and Cleric.

Edwin is *the* best NPC Mage in the game (despite his lack of Divination spells - True Sight and Identify), but give the spell casting time improvement items to your secondary mage (if you have one). Edwin is also a *decent* tank; if you must send a Mage into melee (not recomended), use Edwin + Staff of the Magi + Fireshield: Red. Then use another mage to fireball the distracted enemies... do *not* send Edwin into melee if he is your only mage.

In a party game, Druids are essential verse spell casters. Insect Plague is a must have. 100% spell casting failure = bye bye mages... if you launch it soon enough, IP seems to disrupt spell triggers aswell.
The only problem with this spell is that it is suceptable to Magic Resistance. Use your mages to cast Lower Resistance first against highly resistant boss-monsters. Dragons are spell casters, too .
If you have the Shapeshifter rebalancing mod (part of the Ease-of-Use package), get Cernd. If not, Jaheira is better.
Only problem is, neither of them have a very well-developed character...

To make up for Edwin`s lack of True Sight, you need only one thing: Keldorn. Insta-casting true sight, insta-casting dispel magic at twice the power of the mage spell, and can wield Carsomyr.

What`s missing ?? A thief, and a cleric.
Jan is the best NPC thief in the game, bar maybe Yoshimo. He also makes a good backup Mage. If you don`t want Edwin because he`s Evil, use Jan as your Primary and Aerie as your secondary. If you do want Edwin, keep Jan as a thief, and Aerie isn`t realy necesary. (Improved) Invisible is good for Jan, because of backstabing. His only real problem is that he misses out on Necromancy spells - Death Spell, Albi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting, etc. He is still a good primary mage, but be wary of this loss of spells - if you use them alot, he shouldn`t be your only mage.

All that`s missing is a good Cleric. If you *realy* want one (the healing isn`t strictly necesary), then let`s look at the options:
Viconia - Evil, 2 rep loss for having her, and she fights with Keldorn. She`s the best NPC Cleric in the game, but not suited to this party.
Leaving, Anomen - badly made Character, bad quests... if you realy want a Cleric, just stick with Aerie.

So,
Protagonist, Edwin or Aerie, Jaheira or Cernd, Keldorn, Jan.

Mage, Druid, Tank (good tank once you get the gauntlets of dex), Thief, Backup mage, Cleric if you want one; and a bit of room for movement. Works with any class protagonist, and there`s an optional spot for a favourite NPC.

Want me to go into the weapons et al they`d use ??

[ 01-04-2003, 01:14 AM: Message edited by: LennonCook ]

[Animal]

But from a roleplaying perspective (maybe gameplay as well, I've never tried) how could Edwin and Keldorn co-exist in the same party?
I tend to disagree with Jan as the primary mage. Aerie rocks at the later stages of the game, where Jan misses some great Necromancy spells, ie: Abi Dalzims (sp?) Horrid Whilting. Agreed, Jan is the only thief NPC, bar Yoshi, but as a primary mage? Give your head a shake.

[Gangrell]

Ok, two questions, first. who is Jan? (never ran into 'em)
Second, why is it that after everytime i kill Bodhi, when I go into the Copper Corunet, Yoshimo croakes?

Thanks

[Angelouss]

Jan is a gnome mage/thief(multi not dual, so he actually gains levels as a thief) in the government district. go right in the center of the government map and lie to the inspector. He's hard to miss he's like purple.

Yoshi dying would be one of the biggest spoilers in the game. take him and find out(obviously before the boat ride) or ask again and somebody will tell you.

[Gangrell]

No, I know about the whole thing about him turning his back and his soul is trapped or some kind of screwed up thing, just sayin why does he do it if you don't even have him in your party for it to happen?

PS- Ohhh, the uncle SCRATCHY gnome, yea I remember him, just couldn't place a name on him, thanks.

[Imrahil]

Best party does depend on if you want to stay true to alignment restrictions...

If you play the good side, I'd have to say that Jaheira, Aerie, Keldorn, Minsc, Imoen, + [a PC with some Thief skills - I prefer a Mage/Thief] is the best bet. Imoen is the only one who can't survive on her own if she gets separated, but she's the prime candidate to hold the Staff of the Magi. Keldorn + Minsc can tank, with Jaheira as a semi-tank, & you have an absolute ton of magic & healing (which is crucial in the late game & once you hit ToB).

If you go evil, I'd go with Korgan, Viconia, Edwin, Jan, Imoen (hey, she won't hate you no matter what your alignment is [img]smile.gif[/img] ) with a Fighter-type PC. You & Korgan tank, with Viccy as a semi-tank when necessary (great with CF or FoA + a girdle). Again, plenty of magic for late game, though a bit light on healing.

Then again, I'm into heavy magic, so if you want to go hack & slash, you might want to replace Imoen in either party with another tank.

- Imrahil