*hums* We are the champions, my friends...

[BioHazzard]

Finally keeled that soul-steeling bastard Irenicus for the first time today. The final fight was a bit disappointing, though. It seemed to me like Firkraag was the hardest thing in the game for me to kill, heh. Then again, I was probably too low for him at the time. Anyway, onto my question. This game was done with a multiplayer party by me (14 Inquisitor, 10/14 Ranger/Cleric, 19 Swashbuckler, 19 Blade, 14 Sorceror, and my prot a 14 Great (totemic) Druid). What do you guys think of NPCs? I mean Minsc's profs are stupid, Nalia is annoying, Imoen's voice is annoying, etc. And the evil ones, although awesome, won't stay in a party with good people. It is really worth it to play through with a party of em, or should I just stick with multi? Thanks for the input.

[Arch_Angel]

A m.player party you create will always be more powerful than any NPC's you pick up becuase you get to totally customize them they way that you like it. However many of the NPC's have some very interesting dialogues and quests that play out during the game. I have played through the game many times now and I find myself just skipping through a lot of the dialogues that people have to say, but the first few times through I loved to see all the interaction between everyone. The game wouldn't have been anywhere near as good if the character interaction wasn't in there. I think that it pretty much boils down to wether you want to powergame or roleplay. The game can be completed with any mix of NPC's, so it doesn't matter if they are useful or not. From a roleplaying perspective I would say that the NPC's are the way to go.

[THE JAKER]

I always use the NPCs. I've never played multiplayer. I can see the advantages of setting up all or some of the characters yourself, because some types of characters are not available in the game (regular bard, barbarian sorceror come to mind), or the NPC that is the right class/kit might be unbearably weak. I think it is neat to see all the interactions that you can get from the NPCs though. Some of the best interactions happen when you have evil and good people in the same party. Jan Jansen is always fun. Imoen will stay in your party no matter what, too. I have to recommend an evil/neutral party: korgan, edwin and viconia, and then haer dalis or jan, maybe imoen. It's stable (noone will leave) and the evil characters are funny as He**.

[Bruce Lee]

Some of the npc's are really good and very well worth having. In your party you could have gone with Haer'Daelis instead of your blade and Keldorn instead of your Inquisitor.
I have to say that Nalia is an NPC that I will never even consider using. But other than her I recommend using them.
I have a party consisting of me(Skald), Jan Jansen, Anomen, Keldorn, Valygar and Mazzy. Anomen can be a little bit of a nuisance but he is a good enough cleric.
I really recommend that you go through the game again with npc's.

[Xyx]

A custom party is waaay better than one with NPCs. However, the game is easy enough. You don't need a custom party. Now that you know the game, I'd definitely recommend using the NPCs next time. Their flaws and shortcomings add an extra dimension to the game, and their dialog and personal quests are interesting.

[BioHazzard]

What do you guys think of this party?

PC - some kind of melee
Korgan
Haer'Dalis
Edwin
Vicona
Yoshimo/Imoen

I tend to go toward Neut/Evil for NPCs. All of the Good ones seem to be whiney and annoying. The thing I'm concerned about is anyone leaving due to NPC conflicts. Will that happen to anyone in this party? On a side note, Blades rock! Well, at least in the later game. Def Spin + Stoneskin = best tank =)

[Coot]

Your NPC's won't have any problems with each other.
If you plan to make your PC a Blade though, you might want to consider replacing Haer'Dalis with Jan.

[THE JAKER]

Biohazzard: i have been running pretty much the same party you posted, except the 6th slot which you have for yoshimo/imoen I just left empty (then added in the new NPC in TOB), and my PC i made a half-orc fighter/thief. I have had such a good time running this party, i think they are the toughest I've worked with. The NPC comments are very funny. I especially like Korgan. He has some very funny but perceptive comments.

Haer'dalis is a great compliment for Edwin because Edwin can't cast "identify", but Haer dalis can identify everything with his high lore. Haer dalis and Viconia can supply the invisibility purges and true sights as well.

[Loredweller]

Originally posted by Bruce Lee:
<STRONG>
...
I have to say that Nalia is an NPC that I will never even consider using. ...
</STRONG>

Let me say, Nalia besides Edwin and PC is only mage capable for level 17 (and more with cap removed). There is still Imoen, quite right, but you get her back with level 13 at most, and even that if your level is about 16. That's from power-gaming point of view.
From the other side Nalia is nice enough, i really miss romance with her Could never get why are some people so upset with her
Minsc is far more annoying, though seems to have favor of developers forever.

[Mini Me]

I know a funny interaction that Korgan makes---SPOILER


If you create an evil gnome/dwarf/halfling female(mine was a cleric gnome, don't know if that affects). At some point in ToB, Korgan will start a 'romantic' conversation, but will say that he can't love you because he's not very comfortable dating the lord of murder...

[Nightmare]

A good m.player evil party:

Korgan
The new ToB guy
Viconia
Edwin
Sorceror
Thief

The only problem you might have is melee power in SoA.