Party advice for "noob"

the_limey · Post by **the_limey** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 1:01 pm

While I'm waiting for Fade ToB to be released, I thought I'd give Tutu a bash so I can take a character all the way through the Child of Bhaal saga (for the first time ever). Hopwever, I cannot remeber the last time I played BG or anything about it. As such, I was hoping some freindly forumites could give me some advice on my planned party:

PC: CG Archer
Imoen
Minsc
Dynaheir
Shar-Teel (for the "adult" romance from the BG1NPC mod)
Branwen/Yeslick (to be swapped in Nashkel[?] Mines)

Really, what I'm asking is, is this party workable? Will I encounter any problems swapping a party member part way through the game? Have I covered evertyhing?

Also, my archer only has 12 CHA, wll this be enough?

the_limey · Post by **the_limey** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 1:28 pm

UPDATE: Shar-Teel romance is out. According to the authors of the mod she's only interested in evil men and I'm not changing my PC for one character.

Does this mean my party line up will change? Well, yes. It would have been as lot of effort to get Shar-Teel, get Branwen, swap her for Yeslick. It would seem alot simpler to just get Khalid and Jaheira and play the "official" party.

Further advice is still welcome...

DaemonJ · Post by **DaemonJ** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 1:36 pm

Ranged weapons are awesome in BG1 but are pretty useless in BG2. As such, I advise not making your character an archer.

The rest of your party is pretty much standard so you shouldn't have any problems.

SpitfireV · Post by **SpitfireV** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 11:32 pm

the_limey wrote:UPDATE: Shar-Teel romance is out. According to the authors of the mod she's only interested in evil men and I'm not changing my PC for one character.

Does this mean my party line up will change? Well, yes. It would have been as lot of effort to get Shar-Teel, get Branwen, swap her for Yeslick. It would seem alot simpler to just get Khalid and Jaheira and play the "official" party.

Further advice is still welcome...

Any evil NPC character will have issues with your party if your reputation gets too high, at rep 20, even neutral characters will be complaining. I have Branwen at present, but am seriously thinking about leaving her at the FAI when it comes time to enter the Cloakwood mine (to make room for Yeslick) Since my character is CG, I really don't think I can just abandon Branwen in the mine when Yeslick is found, especially since the mine will be flooded.

CFM · Post by **CFM** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 8:15 am

the_limey wrote:It would seem alot simpler to just get Khalid and Jaheira and play the "official" party.

Further advice is still welcome...

In my game, I used a PC Cleric, Khalid & Jaheira, Minsc & Dynaheir, and Imoen dualled to a wizard at level 7. This was a very solid crew: a couple tanks, a couple divine casters (covering both cleric & druid spells), a couple arcane casters (covering all schools), and thieving.

With having an Archer instead of a Cleric PC, you may not get a chance to see every cleric spell, and you'll be a little shorter on healing, but an Archer hits harder than a Cleric, so you might not miss it, plus you got potions. The "official" party allows your main PC to be any class, imo.

sweevil · Post by **sweevil** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 7:03 pm

Hmm..

Everyone has an opinon, and you know what they say about those....

I have never had good gaming with Khalid. He's too high maintenance when the <blank> hits the fan. Too untrustworthy. Too fearful when hit points are low. I always wondered how he got to specialize in 3 swords when he's such a wuss.

I've had better luck with letting Khalid die off and keeping Jaheira (strong spell casting and healing despite being annoying), and acquiring Adjantis as early as possible. Wouldn't work for an evil party probably, but there it is.

Then I beef up healing spells in Jaheira and replace Branwen/Yeslick with Coran for the later stages of the game. Coran is key for all of those traps/thief elements that are required later. (19 Dex!).

And since Coran is doing thief/fighter stuff, Imoen can either be multi-classed early to mage, or removed since the thief role is taken by Coran.

Put Boots of Speed on Coran....watch out!

the_limey · Post by **the_limey** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 4:45 pm

DaemonJ wrote:Ranged weapons are awesome in BG1 but are pretty useless in BG2. As such, I advise not making your character an archer.

To the contrary, in my (admittedly limited) experimentations, an archer works exceedingly well in BG2. Provided, of course, he has plenty of magical arrows.

Hmm. For the most part comments are fairly positive about this party, and so far they are living up to expectations. Even Khalid, sweevil, seems to be pulling his weight, though whether this is more due to the BG2 ruleset I cannot say.

Coot · Post by **Coot** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 2:17 am

the_limey wrote: Even Khalid, sweevil, seems to be pulling his weight, though whether this is more due to the BG2 ruleset I cannot say.

Khalid is a fine npc, both in character and power. He's a fine fighter and the fact that he sometimes panics when he gets low on HP is a refreshing rolepaying touch IMO.

DaemonJ · Post by **DaemonJ** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 3:28 am

I personally have never had a problem with Khalid and he has always been the best fighter in my party. The key is learning to properly equip him and how to use him best.

Give him a magical long bow or better a composite long bow along with Grey Wolf's long sword and you have a formidable fighter.

Klorox · Post by **Klorox** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 7:30 pm

The archer is easily the most powerful class in BG1 -- good choice.

BTW, I'm not a big fan of the "BG2 party." It's pretty good, but I think you'll find Dynaheir to be a drag. Personally, I'd dual-class Imoen after reaching level 4 or 5 with her, and add Garrick as a backup mage. This way you get to experience another class, and have a character who can do something when not casting a spell.

CFM · Post by **CFM** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 11:20 am

Coot wrote:Khalid is a fine npc, both in character and power. He's a fine fighter and the fact that he sometimes panics when he gets low on HP is a refreshing rolepaying touch IMO.

Couldn't agree more.

Klorox wrote:It's pretty good, but I think you'll find Dynaheir to be a drag. Personally, I'd dual-class Imoen after reaching level 4 or 5 with her, and add Garrick as a backup mage. This way you get to experience another class, and have a character who can do something when not casting a spell.

I liked Dynaheir the Invoker just fine, but experiencing another class or NPC you haven't used before is cool too.