Party Recommendations

Mightypickle · Post by **Mightypickle** » Fri May 06, 2011 5:10 pm

Hi there,

I'm new to the forum and a long time BG fan, they call me Mightypickle. I hope to learn much of Baldur's Gate here.

Anyway, I'm having some trouble deciding on what party should I play right now (I just finished the game yet again). After some thought I decided to finally install that one mod where you can get Irenicus on your party in ToB. I also heard that he has some interesting banter with Edwin if both are in the party, so in goes Edwin. I'll also take Imoen because, believe it or not, this is my first time playing with Ascension, and cool things happen to her there apparently.

So, here's where the problem starts, I really have no idea who else to pick. I'd like Vally because I enjoy backstabbing, but I'm afraid he might conflict with Edwin. I won't pick Viconia (I romanced her in the last playthrough) nor Anomen (bores me), so Charname will probably be a Cleric or a multi/dual with divine magic. If I don't take vally I'll most likely make a kensai -> thief or similar backstabber.

Mostly I want characters that can have cool banters with Irenicus. Party balance is not as important as banters, besides, I doubt I will have any trouble with two arcane juggernauts such as Edwin and Irenicus (heck, just give me Ed, I soloed with a normal mage once).

Oh yeah, I also plan on going Bohdi's route in chapter 3. I played the game about ten times and never did I side with her =P. I am willing to recruit characters after her quests are over, so no reason to worry about that I suppose.

So:
1 - PC
2 -
3 -
4 - Imoen
5 - Edwin
6 - Irenicus

Obs: I intend to shadowkeep Immy into a mage/thief multi. Don't know if that will cause trouble though, hope not.

Sorry for the long post, and thanks in advance for any advice.

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Sat May 07, 2011 3:30 am

First time Ascension?

From vanilla characters consider (translates to : TAKE)
- Sarevok
- Korgan

However i strongly recommend not taking Imoen, exactly due to cool things happening to her there. Also having 3 mages is wasteful.

If you don't care about party banter, then aside from Irenicus you can make a custom, multiplayer party and import the save to single.

Mr.Waesel · Post by **Mr.Waesel** » Sat May 07, 2011 4:33 am

Stworca wrote:import the save to single.

Dammit, you can do that? So I've been suffering through longer mplayer load times for nothing?!

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Sat May 07, 2011 7:54 am

Mr.Waesel wrote:Dammit, you can do that? So I've been suffering through longer mplayer load times for nothing?!

Yes and yes

Mightypickle · Post by **Mightypickle** » Sun May 08, 2011 5:19 pm

Thanks for the input.

I had considered taking Sarevok before, and it will be quite interesting having two main antagonists in my team. I don't really like Korgan, so I don't thinks I'll take him. I'd much rather have Valigar.

About Immy... Well, I guess I can just leave her in Spellhold, but I have a question before I make a choice:

Before I play this game with Irenicus, I decided to finish an old save file. I have Imoen there, but I started SoA before installing Ascension. I have no entered ToB. My question: can I still enjoy Ascension without a brand new SoA party?

Anyway:
1 - Main (decided on Ranger/Cleric)
2 - Sarevok
3 - Kensai -> Thief (or Valigar, or Valigar as a Kensai -> Thief =P)
4 -
5 - Edwin
6 - Irenicus

For the fourth slot, I'm thinking either Jaheira or Keldorn. I'd rather have Keldorn, but I imagine Jaheira would be a better choice considering my team. Unsure. Might just create a Fighter -> Cleric.

Thoughts?

Sykar · Post by **Sykar** » Tue May 10, 2011 12:30 pm

Depends on what you want:

Jaheira: One of the best tanks in the game. Some higher level druid spells are awesome like Iron Skins , Nature's Beauty, Insect Swarm, Creeping Doom, Fire Storm, Summon Fire Elementals, Call Woodland Being, Call Lightning.
Main problem with he is her multiclassing which cuts her daily slots of high level druid spells noticably.

Keldorn: With Carsomyr probably one of the strongest mage killers thanks to his Inquisitor Kit. Okish Tank with Gauntlets of Dexterity, Armor of Faith and Hardiness but cannot compare to Jaheira in tanking capabilities and support.
From a role playing standpoint a difficult task to justify to bring him along.
Good parties should generally send him with his wife while evil parties should not even take him in.

Neutral parties are a bit of s sketch but somewhat justifiable.

Aliyappo · Post by **Aliyappo** » Wed May 11, 2011 7:45 am

Having played with Irenicus couple of times, I must say that he and Jaheira have a major conflict (Jaheira still fumes about Khalid, and Irenicus shoots acidly in return) and eventually Jae will make you choose between her and him.

Imoen will leave the party, too,

Spoiler

if you let Irenicus have a Bhaalspawn soul.

Minsc and Keldorn (and supposedly Valygar, too) will turn on you. The only way to keep them through ToB is to redeem Reni and this can be TOUGH (not to screw it up)

It's true, Edwin and Reni have cool banters - a literally lol'ed. Like this: :laugh:

Haery, Viccy and Korgy go along with him just fine. Just in case. If vanilla NPC won't suffice, try installing NPC mods, there are a bunch of 'em on [url="http://www.pocketplane.net/mambo/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1"]PPG.[/url]

Ranger/Clerics ROCK.

You can create a new ToB game and go through Ascension with no difficulties.