I have a paowergaming party, and a dilema (please help!)

Klorox · Post by **Klorox** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 7:54 pm

Hi everybody. I have a (IMHO) killer powergaming party, and I'd love to try it out:

Elf Sorcerer protagonist
Half-Elf Cleric/Ranger
Half-Orc Fighter/Thief
Gnome Fighter/Illusionist

Now, the problem I face is my complete lack of banter. That really bores me.

Is it possible to use that level 1 NPC mod, and change Jaheira into my C/R, Minsc into my F/T, and Jan into my F/Ill? I'd obviously change some stats around, but I think this might work for me.

There would still be some fun banter, I could have a romance with Jaheira, and I'd also have the party just about complete from the very beginning of BG2.

I think this will work, please confirm if you have experience with this mod.

Anyway, any and all help is appreciated! TIA

Klorox · Post by **Klorox** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 7:51 am

I switched things up a tiny bit. I decided to change Jan into a Wild Mage. I think it works better.

I'm considering the possibility of keeping Minsc human, and chaning his class to Barbarian. I know there's a tweak that will allow him to dual class into a Thief after that.

I may change the protagonist into an Elf or a Human Berserker that duals into a Mage. I'm not positive yet. I don't know if I want my better saves, or if I want the romance with Jah.

galraen · Post by **galraen** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 8:14 am

A slight diversion, but I've always been tempted to change Jan into a Jester, seems so appropriate for him.:laugh:

rbeverjr · Post by **rbeverjr** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 7:31 pm

The level1 NPC mod seems to work OK. I tried it once. Still, I usually make any changes myself using Shadow Keeper. I'm another one of those people who like the NPC banter but enjoy trying an assortment of class combinations (much more varied than just stock NPCs) in a team of characters.

VonDondu · Post by **VonDondu** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 2:21 am

I edit the NPCs myself nearly every time I play. But I have to admit that I can't figure out which of the existing NPCs I would select for each of the roles you have chosen.

Klorox wrote:Elf Sorcerer protagonist

What makes an Elf better than any other race? If you were willing to play a human Sorcerer, then Edwin might be a good choice for an edited NPC.

Klorox wrote:Half-Elf Cleric/Ranger

Jaheira is the obvious choice if you change her alignment. (Her banters also make a lot more sense if she is Good rather than Neutral.)

Klorox wrote:Half-Orc Fighter/Thief

Why not a Dwarf instead of a Half-Orc? Dwarves have better saving throws and better racial adjustments to their thieving abilities. Korgan might make a good Fighter/Thief, since the business of killing is mainly about the money.

For that matter, I've never understood why you couldn't cleave someone from behind with an axe, so maybe you could make a special axe for him that is suitable for backstabbing. Or you could just play it straight and let him wield a sword instead of an axe.

As an alternative, you could make Yoshimo a Kensai dualled to a Thief in Shadows of Amn (you would have to get by without a Thief and a fourth party member for part of the game) and then make Sarevok a Fighter dualled to a Thief in Throne of Bhaal. But I realize that's not the same as playing a multi-class Fighter/Thief.

Klorox wrote:Gnome Fighter/Illusionist

That's a tough one, since the only Gnome NPC in the game is Jan, and I've never thought of him as a buffed up melee warrior. But he could be a serious threat to the knees of monsters everywhere. As an alternative, you could make your main character a Gnome Fighter/Illusionist and you wouldn't have to worry about finding a suitable replacement.

Otherwise, you might consider an NPC mod for any of the above. But again, you might have to edit their classes to get exactly what you want. Xan the Elven Sorcerer? Again, I have to admit that I'd have trouble figuring it all out.

Klorox · Post by **Klorox** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 11:04 am

VD, check my second post.

VonDondu · Post by **VonDondu** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 9:26 pm

Sorry, my glasses are broken and I'm seeing double, so I always ignore the second thing I see.

Okay, let me see if I have this straight.

Your protagonist is now a Human or Elf Berserker dualled to a Mage, who replaces the Gnome Fighter/Illusionist.

The Elf Sorcerer is no longer your protagonist, and you're replacing him with Jan, who is edited to be a Wild Mage.

Jaheira will be your Cleric/Ranger, as before.

You're making Minsc a Barbarian dualled to a Thief, replacing the Half-Orc Fighter/Thief.

I don't know if that's the best powergaming party you can come up with. For example, I think you'd be better off with a multi-class Fighter/Thief instead of a Barbarian dualled to a Thief because you'd get HLAs from the warrior pool. I still say Korgan might be a good choice. Also, I don't know if I would make my sole offensive spellcaster a Wild Mage (I assume you'll play the protagonist as a buffed up melee warrior). You might be better off with Edwin (unedited).

But I guess the question is, will those characters provide the banter you want? Jaheira brings more additional adventure to the game than any of the other NPCs (the Harper subplot). But haven't you heard all of Jan and Minsc's lines by now?

Celacena · Post by **Celacena** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 10:34 am

I've been trying out multiplayer and my kick-ass party usually includes some of the following NPCs

Viconia - great fun to have her control undead - you can improve her stats either legit with the machine in WK or through SK.
Edwin -he is almost too powerful with his range of spells - the only downside is remembering to buff his AC with spirit armour from time to time.

Sir Anomen - when I want a good party - swapped in for Vici - he is a front-line fighter

Keldorn - his dispel magic and true sight are good PLUS he gets arguably the best sword in the game +5 (then +6) Carsomyr. give him Ravager +6 and you have an evil-killing machine.

TBH, I think Jaheira needs tweaking with SK, but rarely do it.

I've been trying out a Skald - great bard-song at level 20 and good lore.

also tried an Avenger druid.

fighter dualled to thief has been fun.

mage-thief too.

it is when they get to ToB that they get more interesting.

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 1:12 am

Isn't it easier to simply use Shadowkeeper to change the NPC's you want? I've done it several times, and it works great.

Deadalready · Post by **Deadalready** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 5:51 pm

Doesn't shaowkeeper mess with stats and saving throws?

Klorox · Post by **Klorox** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 6:18 pm

GawainBS wrote:Isn't it easier to simply use Shadowkeeper to change the NPC's you want? I've done it several times, and it works great.

I'm just not that good at doing it. I always screw something up, and feel like I've either over- or under-powered my NPCs.

Changing Minsc into a Barbarian isn't tough, but changing multiclasses always hurts me.

Deadalready wrote:Doesn't shaowkeeper mess with stats and saving throws?

Shadowkeeper edits your game. You can choose to edit your stats and saving throws if you wish. You can also add powers, spells, a kit, change race, sex, alignment, and sprites with it.

It's very useful, but at the same time very easy to abuse. I prefer to play a fair game.

-----------------

BTW, I've abandoned the above game.

I plan on going with the following NPCs:

Jaheria
Anomen (I would use Yeslick, but I'm not interested in "The Darkest Day")
Kelsey
and for a protagonist: Either a Wizard Slayer dualled to Thief, or a Fighter/Mage/Thief. Not sure yet.

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:35 am

But what isn't fair in using Shadowkeeper to change a class, if you could do the same with a mod? Shadowkeeper offers you more versatility and choices. The mod-writer did something very similar in writing his mod, you know?

I used it to change Jaheira to a Cleric/Ranger, and update her WIS to reflect the fact that she read the 3 Tomes of Wisdom in my BGI game. IIRC, it was as simple as changing her class, and then waiting for the next level up, and all is well.

Klorox · Post by **Klorox** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 2:14 pm

I never said there's something wrong with changing classes (and even if I did, it's your game, my opinion shouldn't matter). I was trying to illustrate that I keep screwing it up when I try to change classes.

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 2:34 pm

My apologies then, bad reading on my part.