Party with lots of bards.

Onkel Bob · Post by **Onkel Bob** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 7:41 am

I want to do a party with three bards. My own blade, Haer'Dalis and Keto from a mod. I'll be changing her to a Skald though.

Now I prefer my parties small. Preferably 4 members. So who should I add? A cleric or druid? Or a character with thief skills? If there was a Cleric/Thief NPC I'd probably use him/her.

I might just go against my norm and add a fifth member. Lord knows the bards will level fairly quickly anyway...

This party is for a bit of a challenge by the way, but also some interesting possibilities.

Dedigan · Post by **Dedigan** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 9:07 am

I'm just about to finish a game with the same three bards (me-blade, Keto, H'd) plus Imoen, Jaheira and Yasraena (mod-fighter). For my first hint, if you're looking for a challenge, Yas is not the character to add for your fourth. She has over 70% of the kills in my party (SoA only, in ToB, I dropped her).

I personally would go with Imoen, but that's because I like her and she's useful.

My second choice would be Aerie because when you have her, H'd and Keto, there are some really great dialogues. As well, later in the game with the staff of the magi, she is an almost invulnerable killing machine. Getting her to later in the game can be a challenge. I lose patience with her quickly. But on her plus side, she can cast detect traps, which in a non-thief party is a nearly vital spell.

And Yoshimo+Keto adds even more role playing joy. (which is spoilery-plus for another option).

Onkel Bob · Post by **Onkel Bob** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 9:46 am

Actually Aerie might be the thing. I've never really gotten far with a party without a thief though. So I thought about Imoen as well of course but I don't want her to dominate the party with her better mage spells. So Aerie being multiclassed might be just the right character to add... I'll probably add Yoshimoe as well for the early game then.

I have Yasraena installed as well and my first thought other than that her speech sounded a bit off was that she was made too powerful. And why did they give her 18/97 strength? I'd have been happier if she'd had 16 or something like that. I don't think she looks like she's stronger than Minsc. It annoys me.

Ian Kognitow · Post by **Ian Kognitow** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 10:19 am

Aerie's a good choice but I would probably go with Jan--not out of power concerns but because I have never liked playing without thieving skills. The advantage of Jan over Imoen is that as a multi-class he will continue to improve his thief skills (including getting their HLAs). I'm a big fan of the detect illusions ability, which he can max out. Plus he just seems like he would get along better with a bunch of bards than most.

kmonster · Post by **kmonster** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 12:17 pm

A gnome cleric/thief would fit perfectly into this setting, a selfgenerated or a modded one. (Isn't there a Tiax mod ?)
If you don't want a character who gets the same HLAs as your bards you could try a dualclassed version.

Dedigan · Post by **Dedigan** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 1:38 am

Yes, there is a Tiax mod. I haven't tried it yet, so I can't support or condemn it... but for that party, he may be worth a shot.