A few queries: ShadowKeeper & Dark Elven Chain

[me0w]

Heya,
Decided on playing one of the best games ever made again, and I'm running through quite nicely.

I've trying a team of primarily NPC's which I've never truely invested in.

Unfortunately I've been unable to avoid playing a mage varient, resulting in a Sorcerer this time around. Its going well, with a current team of:

Korgan,
Viconia,
Mazzy,
Celebdiur (Sorc),
Edwin,
Jan.

Its so unfortunate that I've been forced into Jan due to the various traps throughout. Ran Irenicus's dungeon on Insane with just my Sorc having to Mirror image my way through traps (a fair bit of quicksaving).

Anyway, thats all not very relevant.
I was considering make Mazzy a paladin.

I've just defeated Firkaag (level 13) and plowing through the remaining zones before I end up with Imoen available.

So, a few problems, I feel the game has messed up many of the proficiencies in the characters I've aquired. Mainly speaking towards Mazzy. I'm quite tempted for her to wield the Carosmyr (Actually never had a character sticking through and using it, which is a joke considering how many times I've ran this game.

So to that, I'm wondering if it would be fine for me to SK my game midway through, not a fan of cheesing things, but I understand to temptation when something has been installed.
I would love her to be a kit paladin or some kind of more speicified archer, looking towards long bows and a nice two-hander.


Ok, so thats my first problem.

Secondly, I've just defeated a handmaiden of Lloth as part of Viconia romance. Resulting in me having a Dark Elven Chain chestpeice. Oddly enough Jan cannot use this.
Its ridiculous. Its one better AC than the usual Elven Chain, and I'm aware I'm well worth using Neautral mage robes when I get a set available. But for now its Jan's best bet, less attacks knocking off my stoneskins after I've been trying some backstabs.

Now lasting, I've never liked Imoen *heya*, but would it be worth choosing her over Jan, I love his dialogue but as a result of my dislike for Imoen and Yoshimo and my decisions of never playing a theif, would she be worth using instead?

Also, for my next run over, I'm thinking going patch crazy.
How does.

Keldorn,
Cernd,
Valygar,
Thief (some kind of kit),
Nalia,
Anomen

Possibly Haer'Dalis or Aeria for Anomen.
I'm sure its workable.

I think thats what I'd planned on saying, rather tired so sorry for the incredibly messy structure.
Much of a stream of conscience this.

Oh, if not Mazzy as a paladin, what sort of two hander would someone suggest in some kind of Fighter-kit. I'm not looking to cheese my way through, but playing on insane I want things dead fast, so I do need something thats actually worth playing with.
Had a scan through the available ToB 2 handers and looked over threads, but I'm unsure.
Also, I've never played a two-hander character for long, only ever settling on Sarevok.

Thanks!

[fable]

So to that, I'm wondering if it would be fine for me to SK my game midway through, not a fan of cheesing things, but I understand to temptation when something has been installed.

No, it's not fine! It's, it's...it's your choice. Nobody else's. You've bought the game, you have the right to decide how you play it.

On the question of whether it's cheesy to make Mazzy a paladin, though, in other people's opinions? I don't find it so. Provided you take away from her sharpshooter-like ranged abilities, so she doesn't have two fantastic combat skills going for her. But again, those are just my thoughts.

Now lasting, I've never liked Imoen *heya*, but would it be worth choosing her over Jan, I love his dialogue but as a result of my dislike for Imoen and Yoshimo and my decisions of never playing a theif, would she be worth using instead?

In the game, you're supposed to be focused on one of two things, depending upon your approach to life: 1) freeing Imoen, or 2) mastery of powers, which probably does involve getting in touch with Irenicus again, so-- back to 1). That doesn't mean you have to take your cues from Bioware's way of getting you to endlessly tell others, "I need to find Imoen!" You can play it anyway you want. Personally, I always found her character intensely irritating in BG1, and in BG2 she's either completely out of it or a cypher.

Jan, on the other hand, is a fun character to have in any party, and a good strategic challenge to use to the fullest of his abilities. I've kept him in my party through several games. Mind, once again, others will have their own opinions.

[galraen]

Whilst I find the concept of a three foot hobbit wielding a six foot long sword or bow mind boggling, as Fable said, it's your game, play it as you want to.

If you want to improve her as an archer then the obvious choice would be a Ranger-Archer Kit, but given her desire to be a Paladin I've always gone for Cavalier when I've used SK to change her. That entails giving up missile weapons of course (unless you want to take advantage of the Azure Edge throwing axe glitch, very tempting). As for bows I think the short bows are every bit as good as longbows in the game, especially Gesen's one.

As for the Handmaiden's armour, you have to be evil to wear it, but in fact if you could equip Jan with it, you'd soon take it off again. It penalises thieving abilities, and whilst it's better against slashing weapons, it's actually worse against blunt, and his original armour with its 25% resistance to physical damage and +5 A/C against missiles is much better.

I also am not too fond of Imowimp (as I call her) and rather like Jan so I'm with you on tht one, and I think he's a much stronger character anyway, especially if you've done a lot of side quests before picking up Imoen.

[fable]

Whilst I find the concept of a three foot hobbit wielding a six foot long sword or bow mind boggling,

Might put in a check to weight and size, with a fumble, trip, and fall-on-her-face if Mazzy doesn't succeed.

On the other hand, perhaps she'd just lie there, then, when an enemy came in close, thrust upwards. That could hurt, big time.

On a slightly more serious note, I recall that the Gibberlings Three Tweak Pack has as one option making Mazzy a paladin, or the equivalent, with full paladin abilities.

[me0w]

This is horrific, I was desperately hoping to come home, refreshing banshee and hearing contrary views and complaints at my ideas.
Alas it all sounds very very reasonable.

Well, a few more questions since its been so long since my last trip through the gates.

Would my party be slightly silly, currently I'm looking into my party holding Korgan with Crom Fraeyr and [insert hefty +3!!!!!!11! axe] and Viconia with the Flail of ages and [insert mediocre mace/hammer].

Would another essentially non ranged character be worthwhile.
I feel as if the only times I use ranged weps on Vic or Korgan is when I'm fighting Iron Golems, and I think I've dispatched them all into ToB. As I'm unsure if they even put any in that, a frustrating mob.

A small question, are Greater Werewolves supposed to be defeated normally?
During the windspear hills dungeon I fought two, and I recall being pushed into similar tactics on previous runs, of putting the game down to easy and spamming herendous magic with the ring of the ram to kill them due to an almost instantaneous regeneration.
I feel as if theres little point of me playing when I experience this, but as I seem to manage fine through Firkaag himself, it does seem ridiculous (even if I did trick my way through dialogue for a peaceful resolve untill my party surrounded him firepotted and hasted with him surrounded by 3 of Jans best (mediocre) traps, a good 30 damage helps at any point.


Would installing Gibberlings Three Tweak Pack be a problem with my progression into the game?
(I only have the most updated patch and Ascension (full) installed.)

Oh and yes, ofcourse in regard to Mazzy I wouldn't cheese herinto a pally with her still having ranged skills, I do like hte idea of a two handed wepeon player, but beyond Icewind Dale I haven't run one. (what an incredible game!!)

Also, I feel as I re-read this board that I've missed out on alot of play.

the regard of Kensia-mages or thief-warriors worries me, are these merely herendous powerplays? I recall myself feeling significantly overpowered merely playing a gnome Illusionist-Cleric. Good fun, but not like others seem to be.

I'm sure there is mediocre details which I will feel needs the social support that my current issues have had, and I thank you deeply, for an eight year old (?) game this is really incredible. I was playing this at 11, its ridiculous. 10 years on I still am, all be it the second in the series, but incredible, my dreams haven't been as excitign since I was watching heroes (a massive waste of time) or perhaps Soprano's (an incredible use of time!!!), well thanks to all anyway!

Sorry again if this is messy, I'm far too liquored!
Oh lastly, using SK is perfectly reasonable mid game, cheating or not yadayadayada, it doesn't influence anything?

A little worried over what I've read of failed Viconia romances!

[me0w]

Oh and thank you Galraen, but the item doesn't appear to say anything about being good or evil, it merely says that you must not be a druid or mage, just like the normal elven chain, which is what I find vastly confusing.

Again I find the mace from the encounter vastly confusing, it directly states that no evil person or elf/half-elf may use it, yet I have Viconia currently wielding it. Rather bizzare set of events.

[fable]

Would installing Gibberlings Three Tweak Pack be a problem with my progression into the game? (I only have the most updated patch and Ascension (full) installed.)

Google it, and check out the readme for it. See what it does, and decide for yourself. Remember, you can include or exclude any of the elements.

For the rest, whatever you want to do is correct. Nobody can tell you how you want to play the game. Any combination of party NPCs can be (and has been) used to win the game, so make your choices based on your own playing style and personal preferences.