Awesome replies (both of you!), and looks like I have a lot to answer!
[QUOTE=stramoski]Have you played through BGII before? If not, I'd recommend leaving Yoshimo in before going after Imoen. He's got some great roleplaying on the island... Everyone else looks good.
You might wait for an answer to your powergamers question first, though. That may really change the reply.
If you've played through before, you could try an NPC mod, but most (even the dialouge rich ones like Chloe) are pretty overpowered. If you're powergaming, though, she and Valen might provide you some added "firepower". I've not tried any of the non-weidu mods, so I couldn't speak for those, but Solufein in the only "fairly" balanced NPC mod I've ever played with. You just have to keep his paws off of you...
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I've played through most of the game (beginning of Chapter 7), but never finished it. Since Jan will do all that Yoshimo can (and more), Yoshi will be hanging out at the Copper Coronet until I decide to hop on a boat for Spellhold. He likes to sail.
I'm really not interested in adding any NPC mods.
[QUOTE=SP101]- PC (Fighter/Cleric)
- Jaheira (Fighter/Druid)
- Minsc (Berserker)
- Imoen (Dual Classed Thief/Mage)
- Jan Jansen (Thief/Illusionist)
- Keldorn
Will you use someone else before getting Imoen back? Yoshimo could be a great RolePlay choice.
Ok, my opinion now.
You've got a nice group for dealing hand-to-hand damages.
- Minsc Wielding "Fighters Weapons", and Long Bows (Even if Berserker can't specialise in missile weapons)
- Your PC probably using Blunt Weapons
- Jaheira Using Spears, Staves, Scimitars, Clubs and Slings (Druid Weapons)
- Jan using XBow, Short Sword and other thieves/mages weapons
- Yoshimo/Imoen using Short Bows, Katana (Yoshi), Staves (Imoen)
- Keldorn using Bastard Swords, XBow & 2-Handed Weapons.
You got almost all weapons covered, except Halberds, Long Bows (Minsc is tweaked in a berserker now), and Daggers. You miss nothing really great (Except a few nice halberds (Wave +4 and Dragon Bane +4 come to mind))
On the other hand, you will be a little weak on Magical Damage Dealing. Jan Jansen can handle the buffings/breachings, while Imoen will take care of dealing damages. The summoning part can be handled by your Fighter/Cleric (Aerial Servant are great) or by Jaheira (Fire Elementals rocks). I assume that Jaheira and your PC will only use healing, buffings, disabling spells (Insect Plague) along with a couple of undead-damaging spells (Sunray, False Dawn, etc.)
For the thievery party, Jan Jansen can handle everything in the game. Just don't bother with the Hiding in Shadow & Move Silently skill, because Jan is an illusionist after all. You could spare a few points to Detect Illusion, wich is an improved version of True Seeing. Jan can detect everything with this skill, and he's already at 70% when you recruit him. Don't bother about backstabing, Imoen and Jan are both Mage/Thieves and have a too low thac0 for this. If you need a scout, just use Imp. Invisibility or a Wizard Eye/Far Sight spell.
Lets analyse keldorn. He's a great guy, and have a Role Play reason to follow you. He's pretty strong, but you will need to gives him the Bracer of Dex the sooner you can (He has only 9 points in Dex, so he'll gain a -4AC Bonus while wearing the gauntlets of dex). He can wield Carsomyr +5 (wich is a really great weapon). He can use Dispel Magic at double level (Wich dispel anything) and use True Sight a few times per day (Saving a slot for your Priests/Mages). His profiencies aren't really well placed (He never use his crossbow with me), but he's a decent tank.
The only problem I can see in your group is for the armors : You have 4 party members that can (and need to) wear an heavy armor, and 2 who doesn't need one at all. You will need 4 nice plate mails, and 2 Elven Armor/Mage Robes. You can get the Robe of Vecna for your First Mage (Imoen) and an armor for JJ, or just let him his old one (wich is great, btw).
I think you could tweak minsc into a Stalker, so you could have a spy, and someone to use all those great (studded) leather armors, or just pick-up Valygar instead of Keldorn. You could also choose a ranged attacker like Mazzy, who don't an heavy armor.
Could you be more specific in your next reply : Who will wear what? Will Minsc Dual-Wield or use 2-handed weapons? Will Jaheira use Sword and Shield type? Single Weapon Type? Wich weapons will you use with your Fighter/Cleric?[/QUOTE]
How does that Detect Illusion thing work? Do I need to activate my thieving abilities, or is it automatic? BTW, Keldorn's True Seeing wil help a lot too!
As for armor, I don't know whether I'll give Jan or Imoen a Robe (besides the Robe of Vecna) or go for some Elven Chain (they can both wear it, right?). Jan in the Robe of Vecna and Imoen in the Robe of the Good Archmagi isn't a poor choice at all. I don't mind "wasting" the lighter armors for my party, and I'm really not into stealth too much. Minsc is staying a Berserker. I didn't change him for power reasons, I changed him because it makes more sense IMHO.
As for which (yes, there are 3 "h's" in this word
) weapon proficiencies my party will have, this is how I plan on doing it:
Keldorn:
** Two Handed Sword
** Two Handed Style
**Quarterstaff (I guess I'll go for a 2 handed blunt weapon and take advantage of that style!)
Minsc:
Dual Weild axes and Hammers. I had him use Axes in BGI, and Crom Faeyr is too cool to pass up (I never assembled it before!)
Jaheira:
Either Club/Sling or Scimitar/Sling. I might go for Dagger as my missile weapon instead of sling, not too sure. She'll definitely use a shield.
Jan:
X-Bow (maybe Short Bow too, I'm not sure). Probably just go with Dagger for melee (since he's got such a low STR)
Imoen:
Short Bow/Staff (of Magi)
Klorox (Protagonist)
Flails and Hammer proficiencies. I plan on using a shield, the Flail of the Ages in Melee, and the Dwarven throwing hammer for missile combat.
I know there's a great halberd in ToB, and some really good ones in SoA, but I think it's much more beneficial to either use 2 weapons or have a shield than use a 2 handed weapon (except for Keldorn, obviously).
