First time around I (power)played the game with my human sorceror ,viconia,imoen/nalia,keldorn,minsc and Valgyar (incredibly powerful with celestial fury backstab and cloak of non detection.played almost solo with him in this party)
Now I want to try the followong:
1) evil party
2) install all patches/fixes and improved monsters and play multplayer 6 character party(self created)
3) play 4-man party
4) try a solo campaign
anyone got more ideas?
party-composition
Heh, you'll fit in this forum well, I see. 
1) Evil Party: Korgan, Edwin, Viconia, Yoshimo (make sure to take him to the inside of Asylum. Then, replace him with Imoen). Get one NPC in neutral alignment and replace him/her with the "you-know-who" in ToB. Make your PC as fighter type (Barbarian, Monk, etc. or maybe fighter/thief multi class).
Now, the rest of your idea is very much depends on your playing style, especially solo and all self made party. Some people tried all magic users party (either single/multi class) or all non-human party.
For the self made party, I'd recommend to create 4 of them, and keep 2 slots open for NPCs for their personal quests (and interactions).
Solo is very much depends on your personal taste. Try searching this forum (Search button is on the top right of the screen), and you'll get pages of ideas to read.
Hope it helps.
1) Evil Party: Korgan, Edwin, Viconia, Yoshimo (make sure to take him to the inside of Asylum. Then, replace him with Imoen). Get one NPC in neutral alignment and replace him/her with the "you-know-who" in ToB.
Make your PC as fighter type (Barbarian, Monk, etc. or maybe fighter/thief multi class). Now, the rest of your idea is very much depends on your playing style, especially solo and all self made party. Some people tried all magic users party (either single/multi class) or all non-human party.
For the self made party, I'd recommend to create 4 of them, and keep 2 slots open for NPCs for their personal quests (and interactions).
Solo is very much depends on your personal taste. Try searching this forum (Search button is on the top right of the screen), and you'll get pages of ideas to read.
Hope it helps.
"Strength without wisdom falls by its own weight."
A word to the wise is sufficient
Minerva (Semi-retired SYMer)
A word to the wise is sufficient
Minerva (Semi-retired SYMer)
Parties
Well, I certainly agree that Valygar is a superb (and probably broadly underestimated) NPC - the best scout by a long shot in the Vanilla game, and a great add to most parties.
As to parties & classes - try playing a fighter/cleric or ranger/cleric (dual or multi) - they're both wicked combinations and a lot of fun.
For NPCs in an evil party: Valen (MOD) for cheese, or Aerie hacked to evil. Everyone loves Korgan - except me, I'm going to abandon him in the Underdark this time around and have Minsc, Valygar and Solaufein in that spot. If you take Edwin, make him a sorcerer - he's a good mage, but an insanely powerful sorcerer. Just be careful about your spell picks.
I'd never go with more than one or two self-made characters, unless you want some really odd party, all Half-orcs, all monks or some such.
The tactics mods will make some parts of the games much more challenging & fun, but it really makes some of the other fights REALLY seem lame-o - Trenor & Co. in the temple sewers are SUCH feebs.
Radically altering the balance of your party will make for a significantly different game, too. My last group (Vanilla game) was melee heavy - me as a Fighter/Cleric plus Jaheira, Minsc, Valygar, Jan and Edwin. We mostly just beat the weaker opponents into a pulp, and spike trapped the bosses to death. This time through (w/mods) it's Kensai 12/thief, Jaheira, Minsc/Valygar/Korgan/Solaufein, Yoshimo / Imoen (Probably hacked), Edwin (Sorcerer) and Jan - the party plays completely differently. Now I just have to figure out how to beat Kuroisan.
Have fun!
Well, I certainly agree that Valygar is a superb (and probably broadly underestimated) NPC - the best scout by a long shot in the Vanilla game, and a great add to most parties.
As to parties & classes - try playing a fighter/cleric or ranger/cleric (dual or multi) - they're both wicked combinations and a lot of fun.
For NPCs in an evil party: Valen (MOD) for cheese, or Aerie hacked to evil. Everyone loves Korgan - except me, I'm going to abandon him in the Underdark this time around and have Minsc, Valygar and Solaufein in that spot. If you take Edwin, make him a sorcerer - he's a good mage, but an insanely powerful sorcerer. Just be careful about your spell picks.
I'd never go with more than one or two self-made characters, unless you want some really odd party, all Half-orcs, all monks or some such.
The tactics mods will make some parts of the games much more challenging & fun, but it really makes some of the other fights REALLY seem lame-o - Trenor & Co. in the temple sewers are SUCH feebs.
Radically altering the balance of your party will make for a significantly different game, too. My last group (Vanilla game) was melee heavy - me as a Fighter/Cleric plus Jaheira, Minsc, Valygar, Jan and Edwin. We mostly just beat the weaker opponents into a pulp, and spike trapped the bosses to death. This time through (w/mods) it's Kensai 12/thief, Jaheira, Minsc/Valygar/Korgan/Solaufein, Yoshimo / Imoen (Probably hacked), Edwin (Sorcerer) and Jan - the party plays completely differently. Now I just have to figure out how to beat Kuroisan.
Have fun!
I have given up all lesser evils as inadequate to my purpose.