The infamous six-characters limit (spoilers)

serjeLeBlade · Post by **serjeLeBlade** » Tue Aug 27, 2002 8:38 am

I'm about to take the long Brynnlaw-Spellhold-Underwater-Underdark tour. I think many already know the problem... where to put Imoen after you rescue her?

Times before, I just went to Brynnlaw with a 5 char party... (or bring Yoshimo for what it's worth...) but this time I'd like to find some other solution.
(I'm going to face another problem yet... I'd like to pick up Sola in the Underdark!)

At present, my party is:
Aunrae (Totemic Druid)
Kelsey (romance, impossible to leave him anywhere)
Jan (which very presence happens to make Immy existence nearly useless... but I cannot just leave her there!)

Korgan (wouldn't like to have to pay him to come back!)
Anomen (Can't think of doing the underdark without a priest)
Mazzy (Could leave her behind if hard pressed... but I fear it would spoil her "realtionship" with Korgy...)

First, I need someone to refresh my memory... in case I manage to choose who to send away, is it possible to send some of them "home" (Copper Coronet, Trademeet, whatever) from Spellhold? And from the Underdark?
Or are characters kicked out at these location lost forever?

Also, any trick short of plain CLUAing characters around would be welcome.

Any other kind of suggestions, including rpg issues, will be welcome too.

garazdawi · Post by **garazdawi** » Tue Aug 27, 2002 9:08 am

If I remember correctly so you can tell the char to go to an inn. this does always seem to be th ecopper coronet. I don't think that it matters from were you are fiering the char

Littiz · Post by **Littiz** » Tue Aug 27, 2002 2:23 pm

Actually, I think only Imoen is able to backtrack to Amn from the Asylum.
But this means nothing...
I'm sure Aunrae would NEVER leave her little sister there!

The fallen one · Post by **The fallen one** » Tue Aug 27, 2002 3:12 pm

Leave her

Well seems like you are attached to the Charcters that you are playing with.
I am not to sure what level you are at, the reason I ask is that you spend all this time building up your charcters exp. then you have to pick up your weak sister. Just leave her some money and she can catch a ride back with the other people you saved back in town the two that you paid passage for all ready. The captain is still there. This is fair if you feel guilty about not taken her.

serjeLeBlade · Post by **serjeLeBlade** » Wed Aug 28, 2002 3:52 am

Hey! My last post in this thread has disappeared!!!

Originally posted by UncleScratchy
Jaheira will go back to Athkatla but only if you haven't ever forced her from the party before.

Uhm... thanks... that would be great if I was planning to bring her

If they say they'll meet you at the Copper Coronet then you're fine, if not - reload and go with plan 2.

I'd love to have a "plan 2" available...

So far, looks like I'm out of luck...
I'd have to send Immy home alone.
(If we only had a "home"

)

PDF · Post by **PDF** » Wed Aug 28, 2002 7:06 am

If you ever plan to have Immy or Sola in your group you just have to make room..

What's Korgan doing in your do-gooders group? You have enough punch without this evil bastard !

Anomen is not required too... Ok, Turn ability get handy when he reaches 14th+ level, but your PC is a druid and has lotta divine spells already...
You won't have to keep Immy anyway : take Sola, leave a spot available for your bro' later

Obike Fixx · Post by **Obike Fixx** » Wed Aug 28, 2002 7:42 am

Originally posted by UncleScratchy
Beside Immy, Jaheira will go back to Athkatla but only if you haven't ever forced her from the party before. If you force her out twice she leaves the game for good. I remembered this from an old trick on a way to take drow equipment back without having it turn to dust. Load up Jaheira and tell her to leave and walla, the gear is still on her back in the docks area. Just don't take the gear back to the underdark entrance because its this area that triggers the disintegration of the gear. I don't think any other party members can make there way back to Athkatla. To test this, just save game, kick someone out and see their response. If they say they'll meet you at the Copper Coronet then you're fine, if not - reload and go with plan 2.

Obviously Immy doesn't have a place in every party. The last time thru I made her go back by herself (see the recent "Is Yoshi Worth It" thread). I pained me but I never regreted it. (Seems I'm always abandoning her - but she is a Bhaalspawn and a potential challenger to your supremacy afterall). Personally, if I wanted Immy in my party I would curtail most of the Chpt 3 quests, rescue her ASAP and then do the quests when I got back. However, this makes for a pretty weak party in the Underdark, but it can be done.

Thank's for the Underdark Weapon\Armor trick!

serjeLeBlade · Post by **serjeLeBlade** » Wed Aug 28, 2002 9:10 am

@PDF: Korgan is there for one reason: I never played with him before. Same for all the other characters in the party (and for Sola, too).
With this game, I wanted to try all the characters I never picked up before... That's why Immy doesn't fit this time. I always had her with me all the times before!

I guess I could bring her with us again just to see her dialogues with these guys... Still I don't know who to drop...
Am I going to go 'round with four mages? (Immy, Jan, Kelsey and Sola?)

Kind of crazy idea...

Maybe I should just plan to romance Sola with another character/party...

gnomethingy · Post by **gnomethingy** » Wed Aug 28, 2002 10:58 am

Theres absolutly nothing wrong with four mages...

Lol.. A well played Korgan can tank anything on his own, with Stonskined sola backing him up you wont have any troubles

I dont know about you, but when im using multiple mages I can never get my head around what to cast, if you give them all a predestined role it gets allot easier,

your druid could summon a meat wall and cast buffs / healings

Kelsey could concrentrate on big ticket dmg spells
Jan could cast Def bufs like mallison, glitterdust, breach, lower resists
Imoen could cast save or else spells (Given that Jan is debuffing everyone) Like spook, Symbol stun, Hold monster, Finger of death...

When I do this recipie (Though, with Edwin, Pc sorc, Jan and Imoen)

I find that most monsters are stunned, held, insta killed, blinded, slowed, webbed, and half dead before the fighters can lift there swords

And thinks about when your higher lvl... Triple Abi dhalzims from three mages! Wa-hay.. Nine Abhidhalzims.. And Jan can spit a power word blind / Incendary cloud / Symbol Stun

Four mages is good, four mages is vere good

Littiz · Post by **Littiz** » Wed Aug 28, 2002 11:17 am

Well, I played with FIVE mages.... lol

So, Serje, you have this nice True Neutral Good girl who gets there to save her sister and then leaves her on the spot to keep
KORGAN?!?!?!?!?

Aqua-chan · Post by **Aqua-chan** » Wed Aug 28, 2002 3:39 pm

You really don't absolutely HAVE to have six charactors, as well...

Right now I'm playing with a maximum party limit of Four on the basic AD&D rules, monsters doing classic damage. It may sound like suicide, but believe me, it CAN be done.

I have along with my Swashbuckler, Simbul...

Minsc - Main fighter, does excellent damage, but his personality gets old after a while.

Anomen - Those of you who know me also know that I would NEVER leave Anomen behind. I don't care what anyone says, Anomen is the top Priest avaliable, and his fighter abilities are also quite handy.

Nalia - Hate her, but will dump her as soon as we get Immie back.

As for your situation, I'd say dump Korgan... Unless you want the Anomen/Imoen/Korgan dialog in ToB, he's really not worth taking along with a Good-Nuetral aligned group.

Mazzy is a great fighter, and don't get me wrong, I like her a lot. However, I'd have to say that she is one of your lessers if you *really* want to take Immie and Sola with you...

Don't worry about NPCs in ToB quite yet... You have some time yet, believe me.

I played through with a Totemic Druid in my last round, so I know how that aspect works... Since you don't have Jaheira, you should probably keep Anomen for his Healing abilities and Summon Undead, not to mention Turn Undead which is also a plus. Obviously, if you take Anomen, you HAVE to keep Jan, though he's not really worth ressurecting if he dies... But still,.

That's my opinion, sorry for the long post.

Bloodstalker · Post by **Bloodstalker** » Wed Aug 28, 2002 3:44 pm

Anomen - Those of you who know me also know that I would NEVER leave Anomen behind. I don't care what anyone says, Anomen is the top Priest avaliable, and his fighter abilities are also quite handy.

viccy's better

Aqua-chan · Post by **Aqua-chan** » Wed Aug 28, 2002 3:46 pm

Originally posted by Bloodstalker

viccy's better

Who asked you?!

Bloodstalker · Post by **Bloodstalker** » Wed Aug 28, 2002 3:48 pm

No one, I just wanted to make sure you were still breathing is all

Now, before I get reprimanded, I will go back to SYM

If you got time, drop by

I agree on Nalia though, she is irritating at best

Ode to a Grasshopper · Thu Aug 29, 2002 2:29 am

Originally posted by Aqua-chan

Who asked you?!

The truth will out.

SK in (you'd probably have got it in BG1 after all) the Cloak of Balduran and give it to Viccy, along with the Amulet of 10% MR.
She'll be totally immune to magic.

serjeLeBlade · Post by **serjeLeBlade** » Thu Aug 29, 2002 2:47 am

Originally posted by UncleScratchy
Serjy: Its time to admit that you're just trying to accomplish to much in one game. I think you need to pare down the number of interactions. I think it would take two if not three games to do everything you want in this one game.

Unfortunately, you're absolutely correct, Uncle...
The fact that is possible to romance Kelsey and Sola at once does not mean that doing it makes any sense.
I need some other character to do that.
I just hope to find the time to play another game!
(Uhm, I guess I'll end up doing tricky things with multi-player saves... as usual... when we get to the Underdark...)

@Littiz: you can say that I leave Imoen to keep Korgan if you like... Or you can say that I leave her to keep Kelsey who happens to be my main arcane spellcaster!
Or you could think that Aunrae is a little jealous (hey, I know that Kelsey likes Imoen, too!)

You know, two sisters, one guy...

Anyway, this party is going to pick her up. I'll send Mazzy home after her quest is done (she does have a home, after all).
Can't drop Korgan, I'm not sending dangerous super-battleragers rampaging uncontrolled around the Realms

... his skills are far better aimed at *really* evil people like our enemy...

You really don't absolutely HAVE to have six charactors, as well...

@Aqua: Yeah! I'd have to have eight!

(And if I could have ten, I'd add Valygar and Keldorn as well)

Aqua-chan · Post by **Aqua-chan** » Thu Aug 29, 2002 2:50 pm

Originally posted by UncleScratchy

You've convinced me Aqua. Took Ano all the way thru SoA and into ToB and he's been great. Not all that irritating and the unwitting butt of most of Korgy and Jan's jokes. He and Misnc make up my good characters, while Jan, Jaheira an my kensai/mage are neutrals and Korgy is the only loveable evil guy in the party. I keep the rep at 15 (even in ToB) and everyone is happy. Now maxed out at level 30 his turn undead ability is absolutely breath taking. Probably would never have kept him in the party except for your and Astafas' staunch defense of him.

Most people just dump him after listening to a few rounds from his little soundset, and that's the main reason why he gets booted, I believe. But, I've played SoA four complete times (and this is my fifth time going through with Simbul)and I've done the romance four out of a total of five times.

But, I have taken Viccy along twice and Aerie once. Viccy was *descent* at best because she charms undead rather than destroys them (at high levels) which is useless if you already have five creatures under your control... I really don't care about Magic Resistance either... It kinda takes the fun out, dontcha think?

@Aqua: Yeah! I'd have to have eight!

THAT is a sure-fire sign that you're trying to fit too much in one game.

Everytime you run through, plan on what party members you're going to take with you and try a completely new class for your PC. That's a good way to go about things, I thinks.

Aqua-chan · Post by **Aqua-chan** » Thu Aug 29, 2002 4:54 pm

Originally posted by UncleScratchy

Absolutely! Your main character determines what the rest of your party will be. In Serjy's case by playing a female druid romancing Kelsey and these two essentially eliminate Edwin, Immy, Nalia, Jaheira and Cernd. So you go from there. You don't want to romance Ano at the same time as Kelsey, so you go with Aerie or Viccy as your cleric (I'd probably go with Viccy). Now you need a tank and a decent thief. Yoshi is out so that leaves Jan (did I mention that he's like a nephew to me) for your thief plus you get another mage to boot. Choices for tanks are Minsc, Korgy or Keldorn. Personally I don't like fanatics so I'd go with Korgy and Minsc. There's your party. Druid protagonist, Kelsey the Mage, Jan the thief, Viccy the Cleric, Korgy and Minsc (or Keldorn). Simple. If you want to make the game hard you substitute a bard for a tank.

Exactly the point I was trying to make.

By taking one NPC, you can knock out necessity for several others. Helm knows there are PLENTY of Thief/Mages in the game, so hypothetically speaking, if you take up Jan, you dump the necessity for Imoen, Nalia, MAYBE Edwin and possibly even Yoshimo just by taking up one midget man.

Powergamers who want the ultimate party need to keep this in mind, while those of us who enjoy dialogues/Role Playing aspects of the game usually have to play more than once to experience everything we want to.

serjeLeBlade · Post by **serjeLeBlade** » Fri Aug 30, 2002 7:21 am

@Uncle, Aqua: looks like you're really telling me that I should leave Immy alone this time... !

But I just had a most interesting idea. I'd like to have her around to say the truth, it's just party composition that bothers me.
Three mages, naahhh...
What I miss is someone good with swords.
I was thinking, if it was possible to import the party from BG1, I'd never tought to dual her. But maybe if I had the opportunity to select a kit for her....
I'll solve it all with a little editing:
Enter my sister Immy the swashbuckler, feared in all the Realms!

Taa-daaa!
Fine, my loved little one goin' back to black leather at last.
('twas 'bout time! Should had think of it before... !)
Let's celebrate!

Ok, I'm happy now. Thanks everyone for helping!

serjeLeBlade · Post by **serjeLeBlade** » Fri Aug 30, 2002 8:27 am

Originally posted by UncleScratchy
You could use SK to hack her stats to simulate as though she got all the tomes in BG1

Why "all" the tomes, maybe one, I don't want to cheat

I just want to exercise my right to play with the same characters I used to have in BG1 (pretty hard since they killed half of my party and Kivan is nowhere to be found, but Imoen can still be saved at least!)

Now you have option of dropping Jan out of the party to make room for someone else like a good tank (Anomen or Korgy would be good choices).

I never wanted to drop Jan! Everything's fine now, I can keep both Korgan and Anomen.
(I'd already gave up the idea of adding Sola)

Imoen will take Mazzy's place, she should be good with swords and ranged weapon (Well not SO good maybe, but with the Swashy bonuses, who knows? If everything else fails, I'll hand her my gauntlets of ogre might)

Cannot drop Jan, I'm enjoying the experiments with traps and still trying to have him backstab some undead with Daystar

(Hoping undead aren't immune...)

And NOW, I could also, finally, have Imoen's trap ability really work!

Edit: uhm, maybe the gauntlets won't work for a thief... there's the Girdle of Giant Strength then... oh my, Immy will become my next tank...