Jan or Haer'Dalis (help with party)

[mrdeluxe]

My party right now consists of:

PC - Fighter/Thief MC
Minsc
Jaheira
Aerie
Haer'Dalis
and (eventually): Imoen.

I'm romancing Jaheira and Aerie's in love with Haer'Dalis, although the pair are quite annoying, and I must say that their magic (with the exception of haste) hasn't been that useful.
Aerie doesn't have that many spells to make that much of a difference and Haer'Dalis isn't that strong for combat. I think that Haer'Dalis biggest contribution has been on identifying stuff and pickpocket!

Do you think they'll get better with time? Should I just ditch one (Haer'Dalis) and pick up Jan? Also, who should I ditch in ToB for Big S?

Are there any other changes you would make in the party? I'm also thinking about ToB, since I've never played it and I want to get the best party interactions possible there.

Thanks!

[RPGguy]

You're in a tough spot because you're at risk of spoiling BG2 if you do too much research on the characters and how to build them optimally.

Rest assured that Aerie is a deadly character once she levels up. And I have read much on these boards about how badass you can make a bard. Never developed one seriously myself though.

So you have to decide...do you WANT to know? Because the resources are here to tell you how to do it. Just be careful while you are searching or listening to others as it is easy to spoil your experience.

And personally, my next BG2 run through will have nothing to do with Jaheira. She is wretched in my mind after her royal pissyness in BG1. When you click on her she says this thing...it's like nails down a chalkboard for me....

"yeeeesss oh omnipitent glorious one?" ...or something like that. I hated it the first time and after the 50th time, I knew that woman had to go. I wouldn't keep her if Bioware embedded hidden porn in the game for successfully romancing her in the game. I wouldn't keep her if she got 15 bonus spells with uber-bark armor and the Amulet of Sexy Druid.

No way.

[Crenshinibon]

I'd rate Jan as the strongest NPC in the game and Aerie as as the second strongest.

Just to give you some perspective, I'll rate your party members and Jan in terms of power when acting as a front-line fighter.

Strongest.
1- Jan
2- Aerie
3- Imoen
4- Haer' Dalis
5- Jahiera
6- Minsc
Weakest.

Honestly, I don't think that the ToB NPC compares to any other that can cast spells in terms of raw power and flexibility. As for interactions, you want Jan the most. A lot of people here will agree that he has the best banter.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

My party right now consists of:

PC - Fighter/Thief MC
Minsc
Jaheira
Aerie
Haer'Dalis
and (eventually): Imoen.

I'm romancing Jaheira and Aerie's in love with Haer'Dalis, although the pair are quite annoying, and I must say that their magic (with the exception of haste) hasn't been that useful.
Aerie doesn't have that many spells to make that much of a difference and Haer'Dalis isn't that strong for combat. I think that Haer'Dalis biggest contribution has been on identifying stuff and pickpocket!

Do you think they'll get better with time? Should I just ditch one (Haer'Dalis) and pick up Jan? Also, who should I ditch in ToB for Big S?

Are there any other changes you would make in the party? I'm also thinking about ToB, since I've never played it and I want to get the best party interactions possible there.

Thanks!

On the one hand, Jan is a valuable asset to any party for his insights alone, especially parties with Anomen and Minsc. On the other, your main is a thief multi, even Immy is thief enough for the game, and with Aerie and Immy you've got more than enough mage power - besides the copious banter Jan won't bring much to the party. If you're reluctant to break up the lovebirds there are a few things to consider.
Firstly, Defensive Spin works much better when crossed with the Ring of Free Action, and with Use Any Item Haer'Dalis can equip both Kundane and the Scarlet Ninja-To, which should up his attacks to 4 per round (5 with Offensive Spin, to 10 with OS and Improved Haste). Add to that a cast of Tenser's Transformation and Stoneskin and he can be pretty devastating.
Secondly, Aerie and HD will often break up if left long enough ("Irreconcilable Differences"), after which you can drop his freeloading tiefling behind guilt-free. If their romance lasts into ToB they also break up there, so chances are if you keep HD on for a while Aerie (who as a Mage/Cleric multi is well worth hanging on to despite being unbearably whiny during SoA - just try her on a few spell triggers and contingency spells) will ditch him sooner or later anyway - just take Mr ToB then.

[RPGguy]

LOL, see what I mean? Careful what you ask for cause Ode has already given away a boatload that would have surprised you or caught you off guard during your virgin run.

The game is special because of the way everyone experiences it for the first time.

The cost of power-gaming the first time through is great indeed.

[kmonster]

If Haer'Dalis annoys you just kick him out, you don't need a replacement, no need to waste XP on a temporary party member.
With your PC, Jaheira and Aerie you've covered everything you need (fighting,thieving,druid/cleric/mage spells).

[QuenGalad]

It really all depends on how you want to play. With sufficient micromanaging Haer'Dalis, Jan and Aerie are very powerfull indeed, but that does not neccessarily mean you will enjoy playing them that way.

From what I see of your party you don't need either Haer'Dalis or Jan that much - as kmonster says, you're got everything pretty much covered - so go with whoever makes the game more fun.

I wouldn't keep her if Bioware embedded hidden porn in the game for successfully romancing her in the game.

Well, of course. Why would something like that be an argument for?

[mrdeluxe]

Thank you for the overwhelming response in just a few hours! Glad to see that the forum is alive and kicking!

Yeah, I think Haer'Dalis won't survive on my party for long, if this keeps up. I have played as a blade myself and they're badass, but they do require much micro-managing, and while I don't mind doing it for the PC, I'm not so found of doing it for NPCs. If he says "At last, Oblivion!" one more time when dying, it might well be!

And, as sad as I am to realize it, Jan will be very very redundant in my party, especially as a Multiclass! I think I'll reserve him for my next play through, when I'm not playing as a thief myself.

[Fljotsdale]

Mind you, speaking soley as a female and without regard to anything else whatsoever - I always found Haer'Dalis fiendishly attractive!

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

I'm always a little amazed that Bioware canned the HD romance and ran with Anomen, rather than vice versa.

[QuenGalad]

A very talented user up on Spellholg Studios has come up with this really funny short comic, some time ago. The first three panels say it all, really.

@mrdeluxe, i think you've reached a good conclusion. One of the great things in BG2 is it's replay value, and that's partly due to different npc's combinations. No sense in using them up too soon

[Fljotsdale]

A very talented user up on Spellholg Studios has come up with this really funny short comic, some time ago. The first three panels say it all, really.

Great link! Loved every one of 'em.

[Fljotsdale]

I'm always a little amazed that Bioware canned the HD romance and ran with Anomen, rather than vice versa.

Yeah... Anomen :speech:

[Edar Macilrille]

You're in a tough spot because you're at risk of spoiling BG2 if you do too much research on the characters and how to build them optimally.

Rest assured that Aerie is a deadly character once she levels up. And I have read much on these boards about how badass you can make a bard. Never developed one seriously myself though.

So you have to decide...do you WANT to know? Because the resources are here to tell you how to do it. Just be careful while you are searching or listening to others as it is easy to spoil your experience.

And personally, my next BG2 run through will have nothing to do with Jaheira. She is wretched in my mind after her royal pissyness in BG1. When you click on her she says this thing...it's like nails down a chalkboard for me....

"yeeeesss oh omnipitent glorious one?" ...or something like that. I hated it the first time and after the 50th time, I knew that woman had to go. I wouldn't keep her if Bioware embedded hidden porn in the game for successfully romancing her in the game. I wouldn't keep her if she got 15 bonus spells with uber-bark armor and the Amulet of Sexy Druid.

No way.

:laugh: Well, you know how I feel about her.

I have never used Jan much (but will soon for the banter), nor Haer'Daelis. But I have read here that Haer'Daelis can potentially kick behind, so you are in a tough spot, I would kick Jaheira, my opinion of her is much worse than RPGGuy's and can be read in detail elsewhere ;-) Kick her and make room for both Jan and Haer'Dalis.

I dunno, I really cannot advice you much apart from that, except that for sheer power, if you do not mind an NPC mod, try Kelsey, sorcerers are the most powerful magic-users in the game.