Tactics Mod - Custom Party?

Arch_Angel · Post by **Arch_Angel** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 6:05 pm

Hello all.

I'm thinking of installing the tactics mod as I haven't tried it yet. I've been going through previous threads on it and want to prepare myself for the difficulties ahead. My question is, if I create my own custom party via multiplayer, will I miss out on any important/worthwhile dialogue or extras by not taking NPC's already in the game? I'd like to get the most out of the mod but from what I've read it seems very difficult especially the first time you play it, so I was thinking of creating my own strong party to help get my way through it. I'd like it to be difficult but not to the point where it's so frustrating that I start to lose enjoyment and just find the mod a chore to get through.

Apreciate any input people can give me

Sytze · Post by **Sytze** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 1:44 am

Basically, all the NPC's, which are at your disposal throughout the game, are good enough to help you beat the game, combined with the Mod.

If you want powerful characters, you take these along:
Keldorn
Aerie
Edwin
Korgan
Jaheira

Other choices are:
Anomen, Jan and Dalis. If you have the Shapeshifter Rebalancing component from Ease-of-Use installed, you can certainly count Cernd among the most powerful. In his wolf-form, anyway.

At any rate, there's no need to make yourself a customized party when there are such great NPC's available. In the dungeon, Jaheira, Minsc, Imoen and Yoshimo are enough to beat Illyich and co. When you're out of the dungeon, you could always pick two of the other powerful characters, or dump Minsc and Yoshi and take them all with you. There's really no need to miss out on all that great character interaction.

Thrifalas · Post by **Thrifalas** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 2:53 am

Still, apart from Edwin (and the ToB character), every custom-made character is better than one found in-game?

What he asked was if he'd loose out on any good dialogues. My question is if he means that he'll loose out on dialogues and such overall (to which the answer is yes, but you can always play it another time without the mod for that) or if he'll loose out on any new one (in case I have no idea, but the mod doesn't say anything about new ones in the information found on the website.)

Arch_Angel · Post by **Arch_Angel** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 3:06 am

Yes my quesiton was meant would I lose out on any new dialogue. I've played through the game so many times with so many combinations of npc's, solo, small parties etc that most of the time I just end up skipping through all the dialogue becaues I've read it so many times.

The custom party is just something to add a little more spice to my playing through. Each of the characters I'll create is pretty much based on existing NPC's, just minus the talking

lompo · Post by **lompo** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 3:50 am

Considering that for lot of abilities (and specially for STR.) there are lot of items that can improve to optimal (and beyond) level your stats, the NPC are preferable to custom made char (unless you want completly different builts): Edwin (for his amulet) and ToB NPC are better, but also Viconia is better than a custom cleric (Magic resistance), Haer dalis (has specialization in short swords), Minsc (has rage), a lot of the NPC have some good items only them can use (Nalia has a nice undroppable ring) and most of them have "Quests" that give you exp. and sometimes gold or items (never miss harper quest!).
You can also use some NPC from mods, which are even more powerfull (sometimes they are cheesy): Solaufein, Tashia, Valen, Cloe are all much more powerful than similar custom char..
Finaly you can modify to your liking the original NPC: swashi Imoen, I made Nalia an archer->mage, Jaheira C/R etc.

Thrifalas · Post by **Thrifalas** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 5:46 am

Remembered a while after I had posted that Vic actually have a really awesome magical resistance, but I still don't give much for Haer. His stats are weak and easily replaced by a custom-made char. As long as he havn't any hidden abilities (like ToB-guys deathbringer) that I'm unaware of, of cource. Havn't used him an awful lot.

the BG NPCs have stats that's easily beaten by a custom-made character (except ToB-guy. He's insane on that point.) and the class range is very small. That can be modded, thought -_-;

fable · Post by **fable** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 6:29 am

Arch Angel, I don't believe any of the Bioware characters or mod-generated ones receive new dialog thanks to the Tactics mod.

However, it's been some time since I played some of it, so perhaps someone more familiar with it recently can advise us both.

Arch_Angel · Post by **Arch_Angel** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 2:37 am

[QUOTE=fable]Arch Angel, I don't believe any of the Bioware characters or mod-generated ones receive new dialog thanks to the Tactics mod.

However, it's been some time since I played some of it, so perhaps someone more familiar with it recently can advise us both.[/QUOTE]

lol thank you fable for being the only one who answered the question in my original post!

I have been playing the entire series since they were first released. I've got all manner of mods and custom NPC's installed that I've played. I've been through the game countless times with various custom parties, bioware NPC's and fan created characters. All I asked was whether there was any dialogue specific to the bioware NPC's that I'd miss out on should I take my custom party.

I apreciate the input from everyone lol. Just seems my question got a little lost with people adding their opinions on the bits I had already made my mind up about