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WANTED: Party Forming Opinions!

This forum is to be used for all discussions pertaining to BioWare's Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn.
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D-Man
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WANTED: Party Forming Opinions!

Post by D-Man »

OPEN to suggestions/opinions from those experts & warriors who walked the path before me! WHO I should keep/kick out of my party? I'm relatively early in the game. But I don't want to waste too many XP now on my current party members if the other NPC's are better choices.
MY party (all about level 9-11): Minsc, Jaheira, Yoshimo, Aerie, Nalia. I have MET the following NPC's: Korgan (used him for his quest ONLY), Edwin, Anomen (used him for a bit), Viconia, Jan, Haer'Dalis & Keldorn. (Jaheira STAYS! Romance wanted, LOL!)
Current status: Just paid the 15K to meet Aran but have NOT visited him yet, nor chosen between guilds. Haven't done any quests outside Athlatka EXCEPT for "Nalia's" Hold. Just finished the "Unseeing Eye" Quest. (Reputation at 18, being a "goodie" Paladin!)
QUESTIONS: Aerie vs. Nalia vs. Edwin?; Minsc vs. Keldorn vs. Korgan vs. Anomen?; Yoshimo vs. Jan? Which are the best mage(s)to have?(want 2). Best thief? Keep Yoshimo or take Jan? Keep Minsc or take Keldorn?
PLEASE LIMIT SPOILERS, already done enough peeking, LOL!
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Weasel
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Post by Weasel »

: Aerie vs. Nalia vs. Edwin? Edwin is the best...Possible trouble with a good group


Minsc vs. Keldorn vs. Korgan vs. Anomen?; Korgan is the best...Possible trouble with a good group

Yoshimo vs. Jan? Yoshimo if you haven't played the game yet.


Minsc, Jaheira, Yoshimo, Aerie, Nalia. With you being a Paladin I would keep Minsc and maybe drop Aerie for Edwin...(Possible conflict later)

[This message has been edited by Weasel (edited 02-12-2001).]
"Vile and evil, yes. But, That's Weasel" From BS's book, MD 20/20: Fine Wines of Rocky Flop.
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D-Man
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Post by D-Man »

THANKS Weasel!
How about Keldorn isn't he good?
I know about the Aerie/Haer'Dalis possible romance.
Your thoughts on Mazzy, Haer'Dalis, Keldorn, Cernd, Valygar & Jan?
I already was REAL close to dumping Aerie for Edwin BUT my "paladin" side has trouble with it! Should I hold out for a reunion with Imoen then?
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Kieran_Frost
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Post by Kieran_Frost »

Aerie vs Nalia vs Edwin.
Aerie is very useful since she's a mage and a cleric, but Edwin does have a large ability for spell space.

Minsc vs Keldorn vs Korgan vs Anomen
Firstly no to Anomen, uphimself F***er. Minsc and Keldorn, probably Minsc since he has more experience.

Yoshimo vs Jan, one word JAN. With his armour and later on ring of lockpicking I still haven't found a lock or trap he can't disable.

Kieran_Frost
"Men who crave power, and recieve it, look back over the mistakes of their lives, pile it all together and call it destiny."
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Hex92
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Post by Hex92 »

Your current party is perfect. My suggestion is to stop reading this board and go to see Aran immediately. There are some spoilers out there that will ruin some of the suprises in store for you. I changed how I played since I knew what would happen and missed out. I tried to avoid the spoilers and was unable to. Its damn hard not to stumble across them since people on this board will spout them off without warning (many of us have played through at least once already)

You will have to do some quests for Aran that will give you some more experience, before you go off to rescue Imoen. You can do all the other quests when you get back to Athkatla.


Hex92
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Sparrowhawk
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Post by Sparrowhawk »

While there is little questioning the assertions that the evil characters are "best in class" across the board, for roleplaying purposes, especially playing a paladin, there are more logical choices for your party:

Mazzy or Keldorn as a second fighter class
(or Minsc, if you'd miss him too much)

Aerie - incredibly versatile spellcaster (and possibly a better romantic match for ya)

Anomen - a blunt-weapon tank, and extremely serviceable Cleric later on

Jan or Yoshimo as yr thief - I agree that Yoshimo is the better choice first time through

Jaheira - Can double as a tank, and her summoning spells are invaluable... you could even use her as a fighter in place of Mazzy/Keldorn/Minsc, or a cleric in Place of Anomen and add Nalia to boost your offensive spellpower.

Ultimately, however, I think the best way to build your party is to try the various NPCs out. Let 'em run with you for a while, see who you like, who fits, they all have different personalities that may be more significant to your choice than their class capabilities.

mh
(third time through, playing my "Greenpeace" Party: Totemic Druid, Jaheira, Minsc, Valygar, Cernd, and Jan...)
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Anatres
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Post by Anatres »

A mixed party (Good & Evil aligned characters) usually lead to conflict. Or at least bit*hing and whining.

If you need six members (and your alignment is Neutral or Good) then I would go with Minsc (great lines/humor), Keldorn (good fighter - if you can keep him), Anomen (I know most don't like him but if you tell him to shut up and get back in line he's a damn good Cleric), Yoshimo (until you get Imoen back) and Aerie (for lack of another good aligned mage). If on the otherhand you are Neutral/Evil aligned then it's Korgan, Edwin, Viconia, Yoshimo and Jaheira (tho I've heard some rumors about Viconia and Jaheira Image )!
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xufuhou
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Post by xufuhou »

I had the same question in a month ago and now i know what is the best for a good alignment party in my opinion:
-Minsc is a must funny,good fighter
-Anomen really good cleric and also a reasonable fighter but Minsc is much better
-Jaheira dont have much to say but she is my romance
-Nalia is a good spellcaster and is really powerfull in 15th 16th level
-Mazzy exelent fighter but she can only use short bow and short sword cause there is were her profeciences are spent

The only problem in this party is that you need a thief and Nalia is not able to carry the task so i sugest Jen or get Imoen.

About the other characters, Keldorn, Valygar they suck and Viconia,Edmin,Korgan they are great NPCs but they have evil alignment in some way to be good really pisses me off but you have Minsc to cheer you up.

"Butt kicking for goodness"
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mikeg
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Post by mikeg »

Me (Paladin)
Minsc (how could you give up Boo?)
Jaheira (romance...love the attitude!)
Anomen (Need a cleric, and hp's)
Iomen (she's part of this epic tale!)
Jan (he a great thief AND specialist mage)

------------------
mike with the not so common opinion
mike with the not so common opinion
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Slyweasel
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Post by Slyweasel »

Originally posted by mikeg:
Me (Paladin)
Minsc (how could you give up Boo?)
Jaheira (romance...love the attitude!)
Anomen (Need a cleric, and hp's)
Iomen (she's part of this epic tale!)
Jan (he a great thief AND specialist mage)

That's a well rounded group.
Happy Spam!!!!!
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Sir Percy
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Post by Sir Percy »

I totally agree with you Mike:

Minsc is your friend;
Jaheira has *awesome* spells (nobody ever seems to acknowledge this), is a good fighter + the romance & best NPC quests;
Jan is the best thief plus mage as well;
Anomen kicks butt and is a decent Cleric;

I would only add that until you get Imoen back, take Yoshimo along with you when you start Chapter 3.

On the other hand, I understand that others might want to replace Minsc with some other fighter seeing as he has no plot.
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The Outsider
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Post by The Outsider »

The first time I ran through the game, I had the following:

Myself (a monk- way too much fun)
Jaheira (roleplaying + insect plague)
Viconia (problematic, but a hot date)
Nalia | Imoen (handy thief|mage)
Valygar (wanted Minsc, but...)
Edwin (napalm factory)

Anything you do will be fine. Unless, of course, you decide to use Jan in close combat, or want a party free from quasi-Marxist whinings.
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Sir Percy
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Post by Sir Percy »

Originally posted by The Outsider:
Anything you do will be fine. Unless, of course, you decide to use Jan in close combat, or want a party free from quasi-Marxist whinings.

Just as Anomen eventually stops trying to cut your grass with Jaheira with all sorts of improbable boasts, Jan too at some point seems to exhaust his favourite topic of conversation. Even better, he eventually seems to run out of pointless,rambling tales about nothing, too.

Whatever you do, don't take him anywhere near a WTO meeting, eh?
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