Help me choose my party!

[Klorox]

Both of the following parties fit my style of play. I'm trying to determine which will be more fun (and I'll probably play both of them one day anyway).

So, tell me what you think. Tweaks, ect., are welcome, as are all comments. TIA.

Party A:

Protagonist: Gnome Ftr/Ill
Jaheira
Minsc
Imoen
Aerie *
Keldorn

(I kinda wanted Jan orignially instead of Keldorn, but then I don't feel like I would have had enough tanks. That, and 4 arcane spellchuckers is a bit high. Heck, 3 is a bit high for me!)

Party B:

Protagonist: Half-Elf C/R
Jaheira *
Imoen
Jan
Minsc

(I can switch random NPCs in and out for sidequests here. I'm a tiny bit divine-magic heavy, but as above, too much magic really isn't a problem IMHO)

Asterisk (*) indicates romance.

[Luis Antonio]

First party: Classic goodie party. Good one, specially because Aerie/main/Jaheira/Imoen will provide you with all spells you need, and keldy has high level dispell. You may have him and Minsc for tanks, and jan could be there too, and all mages you have may be used as short time tanks, but yes, fighters are better in this job. You may have trouble keeping Aerie alive, so keep a ressurection wand close. Its a fun and easy party to go through.

Second party: The cleric ranger works wonders against anyone. Jaheira, immy, jan and Minscy only? add haerdalis or put some salt on your romance with our lady drow there. Or perhaps Sola mod may help you. Anyway, good party too, but dont play with less characters unless you'll solo or train for solo ( I trained for solo by playing with half a party first).

About the romances, I prefer Aerie or Viccy romance, but hell, thats all about how you wanna feel about your girl, so your choice.

And no, magic is not a problem... just take care not to kill your own tanks... lol

[Bruce Lee]

Fighter/Illusioninst, super-class! Good choice there Just make sure Keldorns dispel doesn't dispel your own buffs. I would also recommend adding haerdalis to your parties. Both of them could benefit from his services. Switch Keldorn for haerdalis perhaps. Haerdalis can tank with the best of them.

[SP101]

Party A

I would switch Jaheira for Mazzy in this party. You'll loose your druid, but will gain a formidable archer and/or tank. If you get Mazzy, you could also try to add Valygar (you could switch him with Minsc) coz Mazzy & Valygar have nice banters.

Party B

I would add another half-tank or support NPC in this party. You could consider Haer'Dalis, Keto, Valygar, Mazzy and Solaufein.

[Coot]

You can't go wrong with either party, they both cover your basic needs. The b-party has less npc's so you'll level up a bit more quick.

[VonDondu]

Party A is a fairly standard party. Since you're playing a gnome, it's only natural to romance Aerie, and I'd even take the gnomish theme a bit further and include Jan instead of Keldorn. (You already have three "tanks" without Keldorn, and that's plenty. Jan would allow you to use more offensive magic and let your other characters buff themselves up.) The other members of the party (Imoen, Minsc, and Jaheira) form such a strong party core, it doesn't really matter who else you include.

There's nothing wrong with Party B, but if you need our advice to pick a party, I can't see any compelling reason to choose it over Party A. You can switch random NPCs in and out of your party while Imoen is gone if you play with Party A, so Party B doesn't have much of an advantage in that respect.

[Luis Antonio]

Von Dondu, perhaps in party b he has a place for a changing character... that may be an advantage: Having first haerdalis, making his quest, then having yoshimo, then nalia... I used to play that way sometimes.