A little advice. (maybe spoilers)

[sonny]

I was going to put this in the post I had below, but I'm not sure if it's ok to do that (put more then one subject in a post). If you can do that, please let me know.

While exploring in the city, I picked up Jan. I just arrived at De'Arnise Hold and found Nalia. Is there any advantage to drop Jan and take her to do the Hold quest? If not I'll keep him for now.

Also, at the present time, I have 4 quest in my journal counting the one I'm on now, and I have 9,000 gold. The quest are "A Cult of the Eyeless", "What happened to Montaron" and "Investigate Deaths in Umar Hills"
I have not any quest involving The Planar Sphere, Trademeet, or Lord Jierden, must of the things I've done are small, although I did do the "The Mystery of the Copper Coronet" , "Free the Slaves" and "The Sentient Sword"

The reason I'm telling you this, is as soon as I get the money to free Imoen, then that's what I want to do.

If I don't end up with the money I need after the Hold quest, any recommendations on which of the other 3 to go for next. I want to save as many quest as I can for after I get Imoen.

Thanks again.

[kmonster]

Nalia gives you a slightly better reward when she's in your party when you finished the quest and leave the keep again, it's not worth dropping Jan temporarily for her unless you want to get rid of him forever.

If you don't have enough gold (which I doubt) once you've finished the hold, do the Montaron quest, it's very short. The "Cult of the Eyeless" is longer and hard and for the Umar Hills you'll have to leave the town and explore several areas.

[Dummy]

I would also say that you will have enough gold after the stronghold quest

If not, i would say try Waukeen's Promenade and investigate the circus or the The Den of Seven Vales.

If you take Nalia for the quest, you will get, as mentioned, a slightly bigger reward and some banters and information inside the keep.

I would say you should always stick to the guys you want to play with,
if you want to play with nalia take her, if you want to play with jan take him

both are thief/mages

as you know jan is and multi illu/thief
nalia as an thief4 / mage dualclass

beside jans advantages are better saving throws and he is the better thief

nalia will level a bit faster in her mage spells but will not become the bonus spell jan gets

if you can bare the turnip guy and if you want to play TOB after SOA, i dont know your decision about this right now ^^, take him

otherwise you could take nalia if you like

the quests you "search" are bigger once you probably dont NEED to do make but if you want to know where you could get those quests ill spoil it

Spoiler

The Planar Sphere will trigger in the Government District there is a guy you could speak too who asks you if you would like to do a job for the clowed

I always mix Umar and Trademeet up.
One will also Trigger in the Government District there should be a little boy at the fountain, the otherone should be at the Gate District there should be a guy you could talk to

Lord Jierden is at the Copper Cornet in the near of the bar

[sonny]

if you can bare the turnip guy and if you want to play TOB after SOA, i dont know your decision about this right now ^^, take him

My plan was to keep Jan until I get Imoen. What would happen if I dropped Jan long enough to do the Hold quest with Nalia. Could I get him back? Any real advantage other then a "slightly bigger reward"?

Thanks for all the help and suggestions.

[VonDondu]

Depending on the circumstances and what you say, Nalia will give you either 650 gold or 10,650 gold. Here are some guidelines:

If Nalia is not in your party when you finish clearing the Keep, you will get 650. If your main character is a Fighter (single-class, dual-class, or multi-class), Nalia will hint that she would like to say something to you, but you have to encourage her to speak if you want to hear what she has to say.

If Nalia is in your party when you finish clearing the Keep, you will get either 650 or 10,650. If your main character is a Fighter (single-class, dual-class, or multi-class), Nalia will hint that she would like to say something to you, but she says, "Never mind." If you tell her farewell, she will only give you 650 and she will leave your party. But if you ask her what she wanted to say, she will give you 10,650 and tell you what's on her mind.

[sonny]

If Nalia is in your party when you finish clearing the Keep, you will get either 650 or 10,650. If your main character is a Fighter (single-class, dual-class, or multi-class), Nalia will hint that she would like to say something to you, but she says, "Never mind." If you tell her farewell, she will only give you 650 and she will leave your party. But if you ask her what she wanted to say, she will give you 10,650 and tell you what's on her mind.

Well I think you just helped make up my mind. 10,650 gold will give me the money I need. Now if I can take this one step further.

What happens if I drop her after I get the gold (other then making me look like a heartless chump). Will it effect my reputation and will I be able to get Jan back
I'm enjoying listing to some of the little guys banter. I'm even starting to debate with my self what to do with him after I get Imoen back.

Thanks

[Crenshinibon]

Nothing will happen. Your reputation will not be impacted and Jan will indeed wait for you either where you dropped him or at his family's house in the Slums District.

[Rav]

If you drop him right outside the keep though, he might not reappear after finishing that quest. Hence, it is best to send him back to his home.

You will want to replay BG2, so you could wait for your second runthrough to pick up Jan and use him all the way through. I must admit though, he is hilarious!

[sonny]

You will want to replay BG2, so you could wait for your second runthrough to pick up Jan and use him all the way through. I must admit though, he is hilarious!

Yes he is!!! I thought Minsc was funny in BG1, but this little dude is something else. You never no what he'll say next. I've only had him for a short while but he keeps me laughing

[anarchistica]

Jan + Anomen = comedy gold. I'm guessing Jan deriding him is even funnier when you have Yoshimo praising him at the same time. Jan continious attempts to take Boo from Minsc are hilarious as well.

[VonDondu]

sonny, who is in your party now?

[sonny]

sonny, who is in your party now?

Sorry it took so long to answer, took my wife out for dinner and a movie.

My PC Fighter
Minsc & Boo
Anomen
Yoshimo
Jaheira
Jan

Dropped Aerie after I found Jan which was before I went to the Keep.

At the present time in the game, I've just got back from doing the De'Arnise Hold quest and have been approached by a women named Valen and Brus. My party is standing outside Gaelan's house.

I'm trying decided what to do next. I really would like to go get Imoen, but not sure I have a strong enough party, and if I should do anything else here before I go. I know there's a lot left here to do and I don't want to screw up the opportunity to do them. I still have unfinished quest in my log.

Decisions ,decisions

[VonDondu]

Sorry it took so long to answer, took my wife out for dinner and a movie.

There's no need to apologize for putting better things before the internet.

Dropped Aerie after I found Jan which was before I went to the Keep...

It's too bad your party can't hold more NPCs. That's one of the reasons why people like to replay the game--you get to play with a new party.

Did any of the women ever start fighting over you?

At the present time in the game, I've just got back from doing the De'Arnise Hold quest...

Did you accept Nalia's proposal? If you did, a few interesting things will happen if you keep her in your party.

...and have been approached by a women named Valen and Brus. My party is standing outside Gaelan's house.

They were just letting you know that the price to get to Spellhold is only 15,000 (not 20,000), and there's more than one path you can take.

By the way, have you wandered the streets of Athkatla at night (between midnight and 6 a.m.)? You might witness some interesting things.

I'm trying decided what to do next. I really would like to go get Imoen, but not sure I have a strong enough party, and if I should do anything else here before I go. I know there's a lot left here to do and I don't want to screw up the opportunity to do them. I still have unfinished quest in my log...(

That's pretty typical for a game like this. In my opinion, the game would be boring if it became completely linear and if it "railroaded" me everywhere I went.

Finding out what has happened to Imoen and trying to rescue her isn't as hard as some of the sidequests. So look at it this way: if you're worried about not being strong enough to go to the Asylum, then why aren't you worried about whether you are strong enough to do the sidequests?

I like to "mop up" the small stuff in Athkatla before I start Chapter Three, and that's another good way to get some experience and familiarize yourself with the city. (For example, clearing out the Graveyard, doing some of the mini-quests such as the one involving Wellyn, and seeing what's behind the locked doors around the city, which are far less numerous--and ultimately more profitable--than the ones in BG1, which were mostly a waste of time.)

But anyway, your party will gain a lot of experience in Chapter Three when you fork over your 15,000 and go from there. So you might be more ready than you think.

[Dummy]

poor arie she really liked you

In my expirience you cant pay fast enough, usually your party is never too weak

and never apologize again for having fun with your family this is rreeaally more important than a stupid game

i would say little immy needs your help go and get her ASAP you dont know what the freaking wizards do with her.


ps. i kind of like reading your posts it remembers me of my first playthrough
keep it on

[Minerva]

In addition, sidequests are still available in Chapter 3 (after you pay up 15000gp, that is), so if you think you need more money to buy better spells etc or more XP, you can do so.

Also, don't forget to pick up parts of a really nice weapon while you are at the Keep. As far as I remember, it won't be available once you complete the quest.

[Rav]

And the side quest will becomee unavailable temporarily, but eventually they will become available once more. My opinion: find out what the storyline is all about and rescue Imoen!

[GawainBS]

Personally, I'd do every single quest possible before freeing Imoen. In later chapters, there are some pretty tough battles, in which you need all the gear and XP you can get...

[Dummy]

well i would say it is up to everybody him/herself

but even a beginner should be able to do the later chapters with his level.

for my part i like it a bit challenging, if he'd do additionall sidequests the later chapters could end in a breeze

[sonny]

and never apologize again for having fun with your family this is rreeaally more important than a stupid game


ps. i kind of like reading your posts it remembers me of my first playthrough
keep it on

Thanks that makes me feel better. I'm always afraid I'm going to get on someones nerves.

Was just trying to let VonDondu know why I didn't respond like I normally do.

Been with the same lady for 42 years. She deserves more than a night out, but I do the best I can.

What I was really concerned about the most was the unfinished quest in my log and the ones I have never started yet in Chapter 2. But the way you guys talk, they will be there when I get back and I can do them with out any problems.

Before I head off to get Imoen, is there any other NPC's in the area that I can pick up that would be better then what I have now in my party. If there are but I don't need them, then don't tell me about them now. If there is and it would be better to get them now, then just let me know the district and I'll try to find them on my own. If not I'm going to see Gaelan and give him my money.

Have a great day everyone and thanks for all the help.

[Rav]

You have a pretty wellrounded party, so I'd say: no worries, move on.