Tweak my party?

[chaosjinni]

Keldorn

Anomen (is this an anagram of "NoName" ?)

Jaheira

Mazzy

Valygar

PC = F/T or Swashbuckler

Game Setup

Mods I might be using:

Fixpack
Rogue Rebalancing / Song & Silence (still looking at these since they both address thieves, any advice welcome on which to use)
Banter, Flirt, Romantic Encounters

Why I want this line-up

My fighting style is geared towards melee. I don't enjoy the endless exploration of spell combinations/applications as many others do--quite frankly, I'm no good at it.

I want a (mostly) good-aligned party, and interactions with anomen/keldorn, mazzy/valygar, and Jaheira/all (plus romance).

I have thieving and healing covered, with Keldorn's anti-magic abilities and Jaheira's druid spells to thwart enemy spellcasters. Mazzy and Valygar provide ranged support (also targeting spellcasters for spell interrupts).

Questions & Concerns

Can I accomplish everything in the game with virtually no arcane support?

I understand the F/T vs Swashbuckler debate has been addressed before, but looking at this line-up which should I go with? I realize it might just boil down to personal taste, and that's fine--what are your tastes?

P.S. New member, so please be gentle. I'm not a newb to the game, but I am to this forum.

Respectfully,

The Chaos Jinni

[Crenshinibon]

Jan and Aerie both have potential to be good in melee, better than any fighter you can find. I'd say go for fighter/thief (although the kensai/thief dual class would be better). The swashbuckler has no backstab, which is something I don't like about it. I think backstab is a powerful tool and you might as well become a fighter if you're not using it.

Jahiera isn't THAT good in melee, I'd use Minsc instead maybe.

You CAN beat the game without arcane support. I think thieves are great by the way. The more the merrier. I think a thief, through his wit and cunning can best anyone. (I soloed the game with an Assassin and all the way from BGI with a thief and a Kensai/Thief. I enjoyed it.)

[Sytze]

You're fine the way you are. You've got everything covered on the melee and divine department, and your current line-up makes up more than enough for your lack of arcane power. Seeing as you're not installing any battle-enhancing mods, I'd say you can beat the game easily with this party.

Take a multiclass Fighter/Thief and enjoy your backstabs. Together with Valygar, there are probably few mages that survive a double backstab or tag team attack. If something does, Jaheira and Keldorn are there for backup. Who needs Breach, really, when you got Dispel and Insect Plague?

It's Crenshinibon's opinion that Jaheira isn't that good in melee, but I'm afraid I have to disagree. At higher levels, and played well, she is stronger than Minsc, Korgan, perhaps even Keldorn combined. Her Ironskin and defensive spell repertoire make her a formidable melee fighter. She is able to soak up damage like no other NPC.

Try not to worry too much about what you can or can't do, what limitations you might or might not have. Enjoy the game in your own way, according to your own style. Any party can beat the game, just like any character. It's all in the tactics you use, the strategies you employ.

Kick some ass with your arcaneless party. Combined with all the banters you will receive, it'll prove to be a real refreshment.

Welcome to the boards and good luck!

[chaosjinni]

Good,

Two very different replies. Thanks guys. I guess I'll stick with that NPC line-up and see what happens.

I have a new question now about thieves, but I'll post a new thread.

Chaos Jinni

[Saros]

You can beat the game without relying on arcane/divine magic whatsoever. Of course, magic helps a lot and makes your life much easier.

I'd say that your main character should be a Berserker(eventually, if you want, dualled to a thief). A Berserker has a lot of useful immunities while enraged, most importantly to Imprisonment and Level Drain, which will ease your life. You can dual a Berserker at lvl 13(for maximum attacks) to Thief, and still be able to use both your classes' abilities under SoA xp cap. Moreover, reaching 1 250 000 xp(lvl 13 fighter), is quite easy, and there are plenty of items/potions to provide you with a good disarm/unlock thief on lower xp levels(ring of lock picking, ring of disarming, potion of Mind Focusing, potion of Perception). Or, the second option will be to join Yoshimo until you've progressed enough with your thieving skills in order to kick him out of the party.

[Laume]

Don't see why you couldn't win the game with this party. I'm not big on the arcane either, though I usually drag a wizard along for shortcuts ( I like to feeblemind dragons, saves on the healing spells and potions), but there are plenty ways to get around using wizarding spells. And if you ever find yourself in a situation where you absolutely positively without doubt need a spell, your higher level rogues can always get 'use any item'

Anomen does mean 'no name'. It's latin I think - A as in no, and Nomen, name. I usually mispronounce Minsc as 'minx'...

[chaosjinni]

Thanks for the replies, gang.

I've started a new thread [url="http://www.gamebanshee.com/forums/baldurs-gate-ii-shadows-of-amn-9/turning-over-a-new-thief-94266.html"]here[/url] to discuss my options for the PC. Feel free to join in and add your opinions!

Saros--I hadn't considered the beserker. Would you hop over to my other thread and compare the beserker dualled to a thief vs a F/T?

Laume--looks like I was closer to the mark than I thought. Any insights on the other names in the game?

Thanks again...

[VonDondu]

Along with your advice, I've been reading a few FAQs on Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn and Throne of Bhaal.

In all three, the author recommended a party of four over a party of six. I've never finished this game, but I've gotten about halfway through on two occasions. Parties of six.

I'm willing to give a party of four a try, especially since it leaves spots open for quest NPC's to join.

My new ideal party

PC - Still ruminating on class/race, but will be part thief
Keldorn
Anomen
Jaheira

One advantage is I'll have them all in Chapter [2]. I'm going to have to learn new tactics (of which I've been investigating) because of the shift in combat dynamics, but I'm ready to grow. I consider it the first step in eventually going solo.

All right, with that in mind, what are your revised suggestions?

I think you made the right choice regarding whom to keep (Keldorn, Anomen, and Jaheira) and whom to remove.

I don't think you need a Mage in your party. You can win the game with a melee-heavy party. A Mage could cast spells that counter enemy protection spells (after which, your melee warriors could cut them down quickly--that's what melee warriors are good at), but your party has the ability to do that already. Keldorn's Dispel Magic spell is the ultimate Abjuration spell, and Carsomyr can also cut through enemy defenses. He can also cast True Sight. Keldorn can kill a dragon single-handedly at 12th level (I didn't say it was easy). Anomen and Jaheira also have the ability to cast Dispel Magic, as well as Miscast Magic, Magic Resistance (which effectively lowers an opponent's magic resistance if it is high to begin with), True Seeing, and offensive spells that cut through enemy defenses, including Energy Blades. Anomen can also cast Holy Word (I can't remember if Jaheira has that one), and Jaheira can cast Insect Plague, which cuts through Stoneskin and disables your opponents' spellcasting ability.

Your party can also cast a few noteworthy offensive spells (for example, Call Lightning, Holy Smite, and Glyph of Warding are available early in the game), summoning spells (including Animate Dead and the High Level Ability Summon Deva), and many helpful protection spells and buffing spells. Armor of Faith, Draw Upon Holy Might, and Righteous Magic turn Anomen into a juggernaut, and Ironskins, Armor of Faith, and Hardiness make Jaheira one tough cookie. Anomen can turn or destroy undead creatures (he can even make a demi-lich explode when he's 34th level), which gives you one less thing to worry about.

Mazzy and Valygar are good characters, but I don't think you'll miss them much. The only thing that worries me is that you might wish that your main character could be more like Anomen and Jaheira. In that case, perhaps a Fighter/Mage/Thief would suit you (despite what I said earlier). It's a great solo character, and if you learn how to play it in a game with a party, you'll have a lot of fun in a solo game. I figured we might end up there.

[chaosjinni]

Thanks Von, I'll see you in the other thread.