who to put in my party

Koveras · Post by **Koveras** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 4:25 pm

This has never occurred to me before. For the first time, I dont know who to put into my party! Before I thought there was not enogh NPC slots... My party is

Ranger Cleric
wild mage
Korgan
Jan Jansen-Imoen

Im in chapter 3 but didnt even finish slaver quest yet, we're all lvls 9-11. I have solafein mod (getting sola), tashia mod (not getting her), and valen mod(against my alignment). I sided with Bodhi cause i thought it was more "good" than shadow thieves. Im thinking of switching Korgan for minsc or keldorn since hes evil. Im not sure who to put for the last slot. I thought about another cleric but my rangercleric seems to be able to do everything cleric thing. Can anyone recommend anything? Thanks.

JackOfClubs · Post by **JackOfClubs** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 5:20 pm

I would go with Mazzy, just because I like her...

However, since you already have five slots filled (including Solafein) you could just keep the sixth empty and swap out NPCs when you have completed their quest. You already have a pretty balanced party so there is really no need for a sixth NPC.

serjeLeBlade · Post by **serjeLeBlade** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 3:03 am

@Korevas:
Looks like I have more questions than answers for now!

1) Is you pc Ranger dualled Cleric or multi? (I'm considering to create one myself in the near future and I would value some advice)
2) You side with Bodhi and don't want Valen? How odd

Have you tried her before and didn't like her? (I mean, okay, she's evil, but Korgan is too, and you're somewhat doing "her quest" if you side with Bodhi...)
3) You don't want any romance? In your situation, I'd just add to the party the romance npc I like more ... for company and role-playing's sake...

Koveras · Post by **Koveras** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 7:06 am

@JackofClubs
I was thinking about putting Mazzy into my party, now that i have switched Korgan for Minsc.

@serjeLeBlade
I'm multi, i'm trying out new stuff this game. Its a good class. I didnt get valen because 1) there was some installation problems, 2) my party is good(this time), 3) i played her last game with me as anti paladin.

I'm getting sola for the romance, im not sure when to go though. The ranger cleric and wild mage are both really fun classes. I feel that my ranger cleric can handle all of the cleric stuff so i dont need another cleric. She also has druid spells(ironskin).

So my party would be
ranger cleric
wild mage
mazzy
sola
imoen

I would replace minsc with sola, i dont want too many front line fighters. i need someone else.

serjeLeBlade · Post by **serjeLeBlade** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 7:20 am

Why not to just keep Jan then (so that you can get Boo2 from Sola too)?

*squeak*

(And without Valen, Jan is the only way one can get a somewhat-high level thief... Spike traps are neat.... UAI too... Backstab x5 itself is not bad... )

Koveras · Post by **Koveras** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 7:37 am

hmm, i may just do that, i have had a party with 3 mages before
(kensaimage, sola, tashia). But about Jan backstabbing, is that feasible, i mean, hes pretty weak.

Well i guess i'll go to underdark quickly to get sola, but do umar hills first for stronghold and armor. Im right now going to kill aran linvale for amulet of power. Then going to dearnise castle.

Thanks sergeLeBlade

I'll take that into consideration.

serjeLeBlade · Post by **serjeLeBlade** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 8:17 am

Tricks one can try to increase Jan's chances to actually hit something when backstabbing... let me think:

1) Give him the girdle of giant strength!

(ok, too obvious)
2) If you want to save the money of the girdle or give it to another npc: have him learn "strength" and actually use it very often. Worked pretty well for me!
3) Give him Daystar when you want him to backstab evil people (you know, there's so many evil people around, and +4 to hit is good!)

4) Have him use Mislead to stay invisible while backstabbing again and again.
5) Get Queasy's robe from Unclescratcy (it doesn't really help in backstabbings.... but helps alot in other things like castin' all those Strength spells)

6) If you have ToB, buy Firetooth+4 at Watcher's keep... use it to stun people with Bruiser Mates (Jan's crossbow ammo) and then backstab them (while stunned).
(That's quite a bit complicated but very Jan-like imho)

Koveras · Post by **Koveras** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 3:14 pm

@serjeLeBlade
What is Queasy's robe? Never heard of this.never used strength before, now i see its quite useful. Although I still think it will be hard to have 3 mages in your party and give them all scrolls (who should I prioritize?). Last time i had a sorcerer so it wasnt too bad.

Good tips for the backstabbing though, never thought Jan could do anything like that. I think ill make him backstab for the 1st time.

UserUnfriendly · Post by **UserUnfriendly** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 3:56 pm

try spell trigger with mislead, tensors and str spell.....

also item upgrade gives you this killer dagger with one additional backstab multiplier, and fulcrum club gives you 5 stars in clubs, and you can backstab with clubs....

assassinate is fun with a str item, imp haste and tensors...

dual weild, tensors and imp haste with assassinate or mislead, and fulcrum club and assassins dagger, you have a pretty good combo....

valen just makes the game too easy...level drain claws kills anything in few rounds...

Obike Fixx · Post by **Obike Fixx** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 3:56 pm

Remember to take Yoshimo to The Asylum. Haer'Dalis or Aerie would be good.

Jaesha · Post by **Jaesha** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 3:23 am

Take Minsc. Just do it, if not for Boo´s sake.
He has some of the funniest banters, and is clearly the most interesting NPC IMO.
Sola is really cool too, and I like to tag Viccy and Haer too, since I like bards. If you bring Aerie, just let Haer have her, the Viccy romance is so much more fun.
Don´t think you should bring Yoshi. Bring Jan instead, he´s just as good a thief, and pretty good illousionist too.

I´d consider siding with Bodhi evillest (?), since she´s chaotic evil and I think the shadow thieves are neutral evil.
Bodhi is just too wicked!

serjeLeBlade · Post by **serjeLeBlade** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 3:23 am

Originally posted by Koveras
I still think it will be hard to have 3 mages in your party and give them all scrolls (who should I prioritize?). Last time i had a sorcerer so it wasnt too bad.

I see... but it shouldn't be that hard. You have plenty of time to fill Jan's spellbook shopping (or, better, stealing) around all chapter 2 and 3, just remember to fill a scroll container too, and bring it to Immy

Sola comes with his own scrolls on top of an already nearly-full spellbook IIRC... and the Underdark has good scroll sellers...

Queasy's Robe (hope I'm spelling it correctly) is a gnomish item created by Unclescratchy specifically for Jan, and you can find it here *edit*(Sabre's homepage)*end edit*

It makes the robe of the archmagi obsolete...
But of course, only Jan can use it.
Which makes an excellent reason for us to want Jan in our party

Jaesha · Post by **Jaesha** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 3:39 am

Wow, cool side, serje. Thought I had seen it all...
Thanks, lot´s of good stuff there!

serjeLeBlade · Post by **serjeLeBlade** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 3:42 am

Originally posted by Jaesha
I´d consider siding with Bodhi evillest (?), since she´s chaotic evil and I think the shadow thieves are neutral evil.
Bodhi is just too wicked!

The rpg logic for a good pc to side with Bodhi, is that we don't want to ally with criminals, we like more to put an end to the thieves' guild infamous activities.
And since we're smart

we already suspect thet Bodhi is Irenicus' ally and will betray us sooner or later, so that we will get rid of her too in the end.

The real reason for which I will try to actually do it (sooner of later, still haven't) is just that I want to try all things in the game at least once!

Maharlika · Post by **Maharlika** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 4:00 am

Is it possible...

Originally posted by Koveras
I sided with Bodhi cause i thought it was more "good" than shadow thieves. Im thinking of switching Korgan for minsc or keldorn since hes evil.

...to have Keldorn in your party yet side with Bodhi?

I don't know if you can do that but what I do know is that Keldorn will leave the party if you finally decide on siding with Bodhi.

JackOfClubs · Post by **JackOfClubs** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 1:18 pm

Re: Is it possible...

Originally posted by Maharlika
...to have Keldorn in your party yet side with Bodhi?

I don't know if you can do that but what I do know is that Keldorn will leave the party if you finally decide on siding with Bodhi.

I was under the impression that he had already sided with Bodhi, in which case it should be no problem: At least I know it works with Mazzy. She only leaves when you take Bodhi's commission. If you kick her out of the party, then go get her afterward, it works out fine. I presume she is just more willing to listen to reason when she doesn't have to make a snap decision...

Koveras · Post by **Koveras** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 3:33 pm

serje, thats a great site.

My party would be

ranger cleric
wildmage
Jan
Minsc
Sola
imoen

Can't wait to see Sola's banters. Another question,

Should I do the unseeing eye quest for the gauntlets of dexterity? Right now, Minsc's armor class is pretty poor. Or should I just use potions? Right now I'm doing the last task for Bodhi, then off to De'arnise hold. Thanks for the help guys.

UserUnfriendly · Post by **UserUnfriendly** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 11:24 pm

jack, only one way to have keldy, and side with bodhi, as well as accepting viccy into party....you must not have him in party when accepting viccy or siding with bodhi, or he will leave....scripted, sorry....

so if you really want to keep him, i think you must drop him, side with bodhi, and pick him up again...

serjeLeBlade · Post by **serjeLeBlade** » Thu Oct 17, 2002 4:23 am

Originally posted by Koveras
Can't wait to see Sola's banters. Another question,
Should I do the unseeing eye quest for the gauntlets of dexterity?

I'm assuming you are playing the Sola mod for the first time

The unseeing eye used to be a not-so-hard quest with good rewards and thus makes sense doing it in chapter 3.
I have to admit I didn't try it yet with improved beholders.
But I tried the beholder lair in the underdark with Weimer's imp beholders in it and believe me, it was... ahem... much more fun than it used to be

To say so.
So, to answer your question with strategical insight, I have to ask you some questions...

Did you install all the improved fights from the Sola mod?
What level is your party by now?
Would you say that you are quite good at killing beholders, no matter what?

Littiz · Post by **Littiz** » Thu Oct 17, 2002 6:35 am

Originally posted by serjeLeBlade

But I tried the beholder lair in the underdark with Weimer's imp beholders in it and believe me, it was... ahem... much more fun than it used to be To say so.

Actually the new beholders and their lair were made by Xyx