Best Party

Therion_the_Dwarf · Post by **Therion_the_Dwarf** » Tue Nov 21, 2000 1:15 pm

My character is a fighter. What would be the best party to have with him?

bullions27 · Post by **bullions27** » Tue Nov 21, 2000 3:50 pm

Um, whoever likes you. This game is flexible so there isn't one great party of choice. You do know that it's what you do in the game that will determine how well your party works out.

Look at this site's NPC list for BG2 and mix and match the party of your own and see how you like it. Your party interacts with each other by the way. Few suggestions:

It doesn't take Sherlock to figure you don't want to mix good and evil characters in one party. You'll want a bit of every world in your party, e.g people who can heal, cast spells, and play tanks. My favorite party so far is Paladin, Berserker, Mage-Cleric, Illusionist-Thief, Fighter-Druid, and Stalker.

Jurosementalistile · Post by **Jurosementalistile** » Tue Nov 21, 2000 7:26 pm

Geez, bullions 27, kinda lacking in spell power aren't you? I've got three full-level mages plus Aerie. Admittedly, that's probably a bit of overkill, but you seem to have gone in the other direction. Are any of your mages capable of casting 8th level spells? (Potentially)
As for Therion the dwarf, you'll want at least one high-level mage. The illusionist/thief that bullions 27 refered to will only be able to cast 6th level spells at best. The same with Aerie. That only leaves Nalia, Imoen and Edwin. Edwin is evil, which may cause problems. Plus he's a conjurer, which should mean he's denied invocation/evocation spells (all the attack ones like magic missile, and fireball), but I don't think they've implemented that in BG2. So, I recommend you keep Nalia or Imoen or both, unless you're evil. I have both the good girls in my party. Other than that, you'll want at least two warriors (other than your PC). I found that priests become rather superfluous in the latter stages of the game, you don't need their healing. So try not to get two attached to Jaheira or Aerie (or Viconia). Unfortunately, I feel to guilty to send Aerie away. A fourth warrior really would be more useful. Finally, the thief. Imoen is enough for me (Yoshimo until then). And she's obviously helpful in other ways. She can detect/disarm traps and open locks fine, if you give her both the rings. There are only a couple of stages in the game where you want to pickpocket, and you can just use potions for that. Depends on what you want, I suppose.]
Shit! You could write all day about something like this

Therion_the_Dwarf · Post by **Therion_the_Dwarf** » Tue Nov 21, 2000 8:56 pm

This is my party at the moment:
Fighter (me)
Minsic
Jaheria
Yoshimo
Aerie
Keldorn
Thats my party I was thinking of droping Keldorn for Nalia but I value everyone opinion. This is my first run in the game so Im kinda clueless.

Laniyen · Post by **Laniyen** » Tue Nov 21, 2000 10:49 pm

My main is an enchanter, and i have:

Imoen
Jaheria
Valygar
Aerie
Anomen

I have Anomen with a -12 AC for the main damage taker. Valygar, the damage dealer, and Jaheria the main healer. Im very caster heavy, and i think that in BG2 the casters are the best. my group can take the shadow dragon with no deaths.

Hazim ibn Gorion · Post by **Hazim ibn Gorion** » Tue Nov 21, 2000 11:26 pm

Therion, if you're playing a good-aligned party, you'll regret dumping Keldorn. His stats may not look as good as Minsc's on the surface, but he ends up being quite the man. You definitely need more magery, though. You really should pick up Nalia, even though you have to make a tough decision about who.

I just started my second game, and my plans for this party are:

me (cleric dualed from berserker)
Keldorn
Mazzy
Jahiera
Nalia
Imoen

My first time through, I played evil, which made for a great party but was disappointing overall because of the game's bias toward good behavior. But, still a fabulous party was:

me (half-orc barbarian)
Korgan
Edwin
Viconia
Jan
Hier Dalis

Chade Fallstar · Post by **Chade Fallstar** » Wed Nov 22, 2000 12:58 am

I'm palying through for the first time - I didn't have much knowledge of the guys before but I think I ended up with balanced party. So here's what I got

Me (Berserker 9th => Cleric)
Minsc
Keldorn
Viconia
Edwin
Imoen

... it works great. I've got 4 spellcasters (2 mages - 2 priests). I've got 4 guys I can put in to the front line - Me & Minsc & Keldorn & Viconia (all have AC's around -12 & -14 + Minsc who has -9). I usually play it with Me & Keldorn in front, Minsc just behind. Other guys are safely behind Minsc, Viconia healing frontline if needed, otherwise whacking bad guys with Sling +5, Imoen with Tuigan bow & Edwin with FireTooth & Staff of magi.

You might argue that having more than 1 priest is useless - because towards the end at least healing spells become more or less obsolete. (except fot heal which you need in tough battles). But with two priest I can concentrate my mainguy in stuff like Armor of faith, Call upon holy might, Righteous magic etc. and Viconia to 'more general' stuff like Bless, Chant, Defensive harmony etc. And in the upper 5th + levels there are pretty destructive spells also. At least - when it comes to undead or demons.

Jurosementalistile · Post by **Jurosementalistile** » Wed Nov 22, 2000 3:31 am

So, Laniyen, think you're hot stuff do ya? (Just kidding

)
My main dude (Dual classed mage from pure fighter) took out all three dragons (are there more?) by himself. I only wish I'd given him warhammer proficiency so he could use Crom Faeyr. I put all my eggs in one basket, apart from proficiency with dagger and quaterstaff, he's a grand master (or whatever the top level is called) in longsword, and thats it. Grrrrr no 25 Strength.

Maurice · Post by **Maurice** » Wed Nov 22, 2000 5:03 am

Personally, I think there are four characters that are paramount for succes. Although I see your visions are different, it isn't too bad .. you'll learn

Anyway, I think you need
- A good fighter, he's primairly to be the 'steel against steel'
- A good mage, he is primarily to be the 'magic against magic'
- A good cleric, for all your healing and religious needs, plus various forms of support spells like bless and such
- A good thief, for all your pickpocketing, lockpicking, trapfinding and such.

I have played it first time with a good cleric, and now I'm going through it with a good thief.

With my thief, I have the following:
Mage: Nalia
Cleric: Viconia
Fighter: Minsc

I also have Jaheira along, plus (at the moment, but this is really a rotating slot in my party) Haer'Dalis.

To avoid conflict in your game, it is best to focus on the good-neutral-evil distinction. The difference between lawful-neutral-chaotic is not important for your party composition.

If you take good and evil characters in your party, you're bound for trouble. Although 4 of my party are good, and 1 neutral, I just wanted to romance Viconia (it finally payed off!!), despite the fact that she is evil.

But it's generally best to go for either all good & neutral, or evil & neutral.

Hazim ibn Gorion · Post by **Hazim ibn Gorion** » Wed Nov 22, 2000 7:30 am

Have to agree on the alignment mixing thing. It's something that can work if you are careful, but it's a big headache always having to worry about your rep and dealing with someone giving you shit about a decision you've made. (When I rescued Viconia in BGI and Khalid grumbled about it, I knew then and there he had to die.)

Besides, it just seems goofy from a role playing perspective. Keldorn would never tolerate being the same party with Edwin or Smurfette. He's an inquisitor for God's sake! ...a purposeful destroyer of the practicioners of evil magic. Personally, I think the scripts should have been more strict on this sort of thing.

Maurice · Post by **Maurice** » Wed Nov 22, 2000 7:44 am

If they had done the script more strictly, they would have had to introduce more evil NPC's to get with your party.

Right now, there are (as far as I know) only three evil NPC's in the game - Edwin (Lawful Evil), Viconia (Neutral Evil) and Korgan (Chaotic Evil).

Therion_the_Dwarf · Post by **Therion_the_Dwarf** » Wed Nov 22, 2000 8:28 am

Should I drop Aerie for Nalia?

Therion_the_Dwarf · Post by **Therion_the_Dwarf** » Wed Nov 22, 2000 8:37 am

What would be the best party with me main character.
Fighter Dwarf Chaotic Neutrel (spelling)
It can be anyone that would overall be the best with me, no conflicts, or leaving later in the game.

[This message has been edited by Therion_the_Dwarf (edited 11-22-2000).]

Maurice · Post by **Maurice** » Wed Nov 22, 2000 8:58 am

Well, you lack a bit in the magical department, as it seems. You have three fighter types (yourself, Minsc and Keldorn), along with a Thief and a Fighter/Druid. You don't have any 'real' cleric.

Your only option for a cleric would be Viconia, but that might give problems. If you want to keep a cleric, but don't want Viconia (Neutral Evil), you should stick with Aerie. Together with Jaheira she should be able to provide you with whatever cleric spells you need. Personally, I would recommend removing either Keldorn or Minsc from your party in favor of Nalia (although dual-class thief/mage, she's really a mage with a few thief abilities).

As for a choice between Keldorn and Minsc: I go for Minsc, but that's because I know him (and had him in my party a long time) from BG I. Keldorn does spawn a few quests though, and when you get the Carsomyr +5 sword, you really might want to have him.

Regarding Yoshimo, here's a spoiler ...
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Somewhere in Spellhold, where Imoen is being held, Yoshimo betrays you and your party, and goes hostile on you. This does empty a slot in your party for Imoen, however, who (as you might know) is a dual classed thief/mage.

Siike · Post by **Siike** » Wed Nov 22, 2000 9:28 am

I got bored to NPCs and created a party of mine, I balanced my powerful characters by playing at Insane-difficulty. The party I am currently using:

Human, Cavalier, wields Carsomyr +5
Human, Fighter dual-classed into a cleric at lvl 9, wields Crom Fayer
Human, Kensai dual-classed into a thief at lvl 9, wields Celestial fury and Kachiko's wakizashi
Elf, Archer, uses Heartseeker +3 and Impaler
Human, Invoker, uses Staff of Magi

Works great.

Oh, and I am planning to add a bard also, a skald would be nice for a fighting party like mine.

[This message has been edited by Siike (edited 11-22-2000).]

Therion_the_Dwarf · Post by **Therion_the_Dwarf** » Wed Nov 22, 2000 9:54 am

How does this sound as a party?
Fighter(me)
Minsic
Nalia
Aerie
Jaheria
Yoshimo (eventully traded for Imoen)

Hazim ibn Gorion · Post by **Hazim ibn Gorion** » Wed Nov 22, 2000 2:26 pm

Therion, yeah, that last combo looks prime. You don't have a straight cleric, but between Aerie and Jahiera, you should be good. Aerie also supplements Nalia's more powerful mage skills as well. I think it's cool you're keeping Yoshi even though you know the spoiler. If it were me, I'd dump Minsc for Keldorn, but that's a minor point. (Besides, Minsc is great for comic relief, especially if he's carrying the talking 2-handed sword).

Crovax · Post by **Crovax** » Wed Nov 22, 2000 2:37 pm

hmm...best group

this is my no bs kickass group

Me (CAvelier, double wield katana)
Valygar (double wield katana)
Keldorn (eventually corsomyr )
Minsce (double wield long swords)
Imoen (she is tha thief and tha mage)
Aerie (for mage spells and priest spells)

This group does great against ambushes. The big monsters however require some skillz. Just memorize some dispell, break and heal spells and you will have no problems. Eventually i only reloaded at 1!!! point in tha game.

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beer-for-love

Bill · Post by **Bill** » Wed Nov 22, 2000 2:40 pm

Therion: I beat the game with exactly the same composition,only my main PC was a cavalier (that's why i didn't have Keldorn with me).It worked well.
Tip(?):Use Jaheira as a secondary fighter and as a protector to your mages.With Ironskins (and the amulet which prevents level drain),she can be thrown into almost any battle.

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"ÃçñÜóêù áåß äéäáóêüìåíïò"

[This message has been edited by Bill (edited 11-22-2000).]

Thistle · Post by **Thistle** » Wed Nov 22, 2000 9:35 pm

Therion, after completing the Cult of the sightless Eye I wanted to dump someone because i needed a certain spell that Nalia had read earlier on (cloudkill-kinda handy

I had the exact same party members you listed as well as myself (Ranger-Beastmaster)

I decided to ixnay Yoshimo and chose Nalia. I went straight to the Government District with Nalia just settling in to the group ... and there was Jan (I dont want to ruin any fun with discovering new folk so ill leave that for you)

In any case I am happy with Jan and dont miss Yoshi or Nalia for that matter, at all

Hope this may have helped you out.