Best Party

The Chosen One · Post by **The Chosen One** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 12:57 pm

[QUOTE=Ravager]What is your party's general alignment and reputation?[/QUOTE]

Well, my main characters alignment is True Neutral....and...well, I always use to play with a ''good'' party, in BGII at least

Reputation is still Averag (I am in the very begining....)
Chosen

Thrifalas · Post by **Thrifalas** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 2:20 pm

Edwin's the best (except ToB-Guy), Keldorn... what does he have? Except that me meet the requirements to wield Carso and other Paladin-eqiupment? And well, he starts of with decent equipment IIRC. Otherwise... bah.

I almost always to Chaotic Neutral. Fits myself and lets you choose whatever options through the game without second thoughts. I might help a little boy find his mother without reward one second, and then blackmail someone just for the hell of it. I like being able to do all quests, not just those who fits my alignment... Well, I do that, but you get the idea.

Otherwise, Neutral good, Neutral Evil, or True Neultral are the one most commonly played.

Melisah · Post by **Melisah** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 9:44 am

A really good mage to have is Kelsey. Of course he is a mod and doesn't come with BGII so you have to download him but he has a lot of spells and can kick some butt with them. Romance or not, he is my preferd mage.

Anyway, I always keep Jaheira and Minsc even though my PC is usually a ranger. It's kind of a silly loyalty thing since they were both with me through BG. For that same reason, I don't normally pick up Edwin or Viconia. I also usually have Anomen as he is a really good cleric and he's pretty good with a mace. Also, if you do have Kelsey in your party and your PC is female, it's pretty funny to watch him and Ano fight over you. Since I don't have Kelsey this time I decided to go with Aerie and I'm using Jan as my thief. Of course it's still pretty early in the game for me so that could change (all though it hadn't changed much in the past when I beat the game) but I'm pretty happy with them so far. Oh and I always have to have my lilacor.

I usually run a neutral good, half elven ranger as my PC. She's kind of a female Arogorn.

Lonelypilgrim · Post by **Lonelypilgrim** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 9:55 am

I think that the best mage is still Edwin.He has pretty many spell slots more than other wizards but still not as much for him to become overpowered.

This is my party usualy.
Main charecter is almost always a theif.I have played with the swashbuckler but now i am starting over as an assasin.Something more difficult i hope.

I think i have always had Minsc.Who else would wield a 2 handed sword when i despise Keldorn.
Then i got Aerie,i just like her and it is good to have many mages in the team.
I also got Edwin.Edwin is my prime spellcaster and i don`t think the game would be so enjoyable without him for me.As i recall,he is the only pure mage in SoA.
I tend to take Jaheira too.The ring of wizardry is worth it.
And fnally,last but not least,i got Anomen.Anomen is also very good at Divine spells,especially when you complete the test.
I really like my party now...don`t know who to replace.

Rhûn · Post by **Rhûn** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 10:46 am

I go for similar parties each time. An example is:

Myself - elven ranger/fighter/fighter-thief/half-elf fighter-druid
Valygar
Viconia (I much prefer the interest of playing with her over Anomen, even if Anomen is perhaps more useful later on *hint hint*)
Keldorn (I think he's good for a paladin, whom i normally cant stand)
Edwin! "bloody good spellcaster"(mae'var)
Nalia/Imoen for support mage with thieving skills.

I roleplay quite a lot now. However it isnt true roleplay as I tend to create characters that are most like how I perceive myself. I find that more enjoyable. I would like to try a swashbuckler but I always play elves and for me, it is against the nature of elves to thieve (Tolkien reader

), so multiclass is the only thief I would choose. Hmm what class to pick for a full run through?

foot · Post by **foot** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 1:00 pm

[QUOTE=Rhûn]Hmm what class to pick for a full run through?[/QUOTE]

Half-elven Blade

.

Rhûn · Post by **Rhûn** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 1:39 pm

Hmm maybe its one to think about but Bards don't generally appeal to me. Here is my planned party, what do people think?

PC - Half-Drow Elf - Barbarian
Valygar - Human - Stalker (would use Keldorn but I don't like people who choose to leave when you do ONE thing that isnt right, even if it is the only way to achieve something much more good. Meh.)
Kivan - Elf - Archer
Nalia - Human - Thief/Mage
Aerie - Avariel - Cleric/Mage
Edwin - Human - Red Wizard (Conjurer)

foot · Post by **foot** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 2:33 pm

[QUOTE=Rhûn]Hmm maybe its one to think about but Bards don't generally appeal to me.[/QUOTE]

I didn't like bards either until I played a blade. They are essentially swashbucklers that can cast spells. Think saemon havarian. Just give them a couple of long swords and the melodic chain from the astral prison and they rock the house. Plus they get the coolest stronghold in the game. The only problem is that they are TOO powerful, but if you choose your NPCs right the game should be fairly challenging (ie. no minsc or keldorn or korgan).

Rhûn · Post by **Rhûn** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 2:41 pm

But they take up space

Perhaps they are like swashbucklers, but they cannot disarm traps or lock picks. Pickpocketing is rarely useful. They do not hit that well for damage and have very few hitpoints so they are like clerics in that respect (but even fewer hp). Although I do see a good side in that they can pre-buff with stoneskin, haste, offensive spin etc.
I'll probably play one through some time its, just that they arent NECESSARY, you can have a party without a bard but it is much harder to play without a mage or a fighter, cleric or thief.

foot · Post by **foot** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 3:21 pm

Ahh, but you're forgetting tenser's transformation

. And offensive spin, which is very very strong (all hits = max damage). But really, in the end it's all about the character concept, not the power. You said you wanted to roleplay, so if you don't like the blade then you don't like the blade

. But he's far more useful than you think. He can easily replace a fighter, and can double as a support mage as well (though you'll mostly want to memorize defensive spells). He'd fit right in with keldorn and co.

I guess I just like PCs that require a bit more than clicking on the enemy and watching them chop everything to bits.

If you really can't relate to a blade, then how about an elven stalker? Backstab with warrior thac0 is great fun. Plus they get a few spells for more interactive fun.

Rhûn · Post by **Rhûn** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 3:25 pm

Yes I think I would actually try that. That might be my next character after the half-drow barbarian.

VonDondu · Post by **VonDondu** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 8:01 pm

[QUOTE=Rhûn]Pickpocketing is rarely useful.[/QUOTE]
On the contrary, if you want to get items from a store without paying for them, Pickpocketing is very useful, and it's the only way to get items like Ribald's Ring of Regeneration.

fable · Post by **fable** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 8:20 pm

A decent pickpocketing skill, plus a few potions of master thievery, and you have some of the finest items and spells money can buy, too.

krunchyfrogg · Post by **krunchyfrogg** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 8:29 pm

a high pickpocket can really give you a good head start on your game, out of the first dungeon.

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Sun Aug 28, 2005 2:53 am

[QUOTE=fable]A decent pickpocketing skill, plus a few potions of master thievery, and you have some of the finest items and spells money can buy, too.[/QUOTE]

There are gloves of pickpocketing too available in the Copper Coronet. But I wouldn't focus on the pickpocketing skill, just enough so you can enhance it to near 100%. So maybe 50%

Rhûn · Post by **Rhûn** » Sun Aug 28, 2005 5:22 am

But thats exactly my point...in almost all quests you have to disarm traps, unlock chests etc., and whilst pickpocketing can indeed get you a lot of money or weapons, what is the point in focusing it on a character when you can just give them pots of master thievery? There arent that many instances where pickpocketing is essential.

fable · Post by **fable** » Sun Aug 28, 2005 6:42 am

[QUOTE=Rhûn]But thats exactly my point...in almost all quests you have to disarm traps, unlock chests etc., and whilst pickpocketing can indeed get you a lot of money or weapons, what is the point in focusing it on a character when you can just give them pots of master thievery? There arent that many instances where pickpocketing is essential.[/QUOTE]

Because there are only a few potions of mastery thievery in the game, and because, unlike the other skills, 100 is just a number--not 100%. You need something in the 160-180 range to succeed against the host at the Copper Coronet, for instance (though he's at the high end).

At the same time, I wouldn't argue with you. The game has so many items that appear in the normal course of play that it's perfectly sensible never to bother with the cheese of pickpocketing. Blame the developers, who placed so many great-seeming items in the hands of shop proprietors, with legendary backgrounds, but didn't give you the means to purchase most of it.

Rhûn · Post by **Rhûn** » Sun Aug 28, 2005 8:59 am

I'm a chronic restarter....four characters up to spellhold in the last week and a bit? lol

foot · Post by **foot** » Sun Aug 28, 2005 10:30 am

[QUOTE=Rhûn]I'm a chronic restarter....four characters up to spellhold in the last week and a bit? lol[/QUOTE]

Been there done that. I discovered that the best way to cure the syndrome is to make the game really hard. If along the way the game gets too easy, I get bored and start over. If I pick NPCs for their stats instead of their personality, I get bored and start over. This is why I'm thinking of making an all-mage naked party (thread still on this page).

My other party, a no-magic items party just got to ToB, although I almost quit in the underdark due to the fact that they are only 4 and started getting their HLAs way too soon, making the game too easy.

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Sun Aug 28, 2005 10:53 am

Because there are only a few potions of mastery thievery in the game, and because, unlike the other skills, 100 is just a number--not 100%. You need something in the 160-180 range to succeed against the host at the Copper Coronet, for instance (though he's at the high end).

Really? I thought that it was a situation where there was always a chance to fail regardless of however many points you put in there.