This is my first time posting here, and I really enjoy the community here. So hello to all of you.
I recently started a party comprised of the following chars and NPCs:
Blade - PC
Monk
Jaheira
Minsc
Yoshimo
Aerie
I would like to keep Jaheira, Aerie and Yoshimo until I can get to Imoen.
Should I replace Minsc with Keldorn? I created my monk cuz I wanted to experience this class. So far my Bard has the most kills he's fantastic. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I guess it depends if you want to go the "goodie-goodie" route or not. I've only had Keldorn in my party for brief periods of time, but have went all the way through the entire series with a Paladin PC, just to try one. It was fun, he kicked some serious butt.
I prefer magic heavy parties myself. My playthrough had:
PC: Bard imported from BG1
Jaheira
Minsc
Aerie
Jan
Viconia
But you can get most any party to work and yours looks good to me. If you want a paladin, sure go ahead and swap out for Keldorn, but I never felt under powered because I didn't have a pally.
In my game Minsc specialized in 2-handed swords and halberds) while my bard used longswords for the most part. What weapon proficiencies are you gonna assign your characters?
It depends on what characters your party will ultimately have. Dual wielding will allow you to use a lot of single handed weapons at once. Even if a weapon is outclassed for enchantment value (+2 vs +4) the special effects on it can make it worth using. One shortsword casts Mirror Image on the wielder and I'll tell you that is worth its weight in platinum. Your best bet is to try and make sure every group of weapons is represented so you can make sure someone can make use of whatever special abilities a given weapon has. You only need one 2h sword+halberd specialist so the rest of your characters can split up the one handed and quarterstaff specialties. Also everyone can benefit from ranged specialties, but even then you'll want to make sure some use slings, others bows, and others crossbows. If you're looking for a good rogue+mage pickup Jan Jansen, he has a special crossbow and tells the greatest stories. He was my crossbow guy.
du·al ( P ) Pronunciation Key (dl, dy-)
adj.
Composed of two usually like or complementary parts; double: dual controls for pilot and copilot; a car with dual exhaust pipes.
Having a double character or purpose: a belief in the dual nature of reality.
Grammar. Of, relating to, or being a number category that indicates two persons or things, as in Greek, Sanskrit, and Old English.
du·el ( P ) Pronunciation Key (dl, dy-)
n.
A prearranged, formal combat between two persons, usually fought to settle a point of honor.
A struggle for domination between two contending persons, groups, or ideas.
So yes, dual wielding, IE wielding two weapons at once, allows you to combined the various effects of a lot of weapons.
There are good options to dual wield for almost all the swords. Short swords are ones that often get overlooked, but a lot of them have pretty good extra abilities. In addition to the mirror image one, there are ones that each have percentages to stun, entangle and slow your enemies, one that gives the character immunity to slow and stun effects (but I think the character can't be hasted then) and one that has a speed factor of zero, giving you an extra attack per round. The only downsides are that most of them are only +2 weapons and they only do 1-6+ whatever damage, but I use Mazzy a lot, dual weilding short swords and she is pretty darn tough. There is also another Katana that gives you +1 to your AC and grants an extra 1-4th level spell. And there is a scimitar that gives you an extra attack per round. There are many good long swords as well.
I know it. At the end of every game in the BG and IWD series my inventory was full of equipment I couldn't bring myself to sell. The special effects were just too good to lose so I had a a Bag of Holding full of junk. Not to mention all the Wands, Potions, Scrolls, etc. I was "saving" and never got around to using.
But yeah, with all the great single handed weapons you only need one guy to specialize in the 2-handed stuff. And all the +str gear you'll collect over the course of BG:SoA and ToB means that everyone can be a hard hitter.
