GameBanshee Forums

Hi guys,

Im currently running through BG1 (with TOSC installed) and have just started chapter 6.

Im essentially a good pc with a good party.

My current party is as follows:

Me (NG) Level 7 Bard
Minsc (NG) (ranger)
Ajantis (LG) (paladin)
Jaheira (TN) (fighter/druid)
Imoen (NG) (thief - will dual to a mage at around level 8 i think)
Quayle (CN) (cleric/mage).

Im pretty happy with my party - we seem to handle hand to hand combat well, and my bard is good in the front line, with a bow and with magic (esp wands of fire and frost).

However, quayle is annoying the hell out of me. Prior, I had Yeslick instead of quayle, and Xan before him. With yeslick we did really well, but we were without a mage and this concerned me as for some of the tougher battles there is no better strategy than to launch a couple of nasty spells with my bard and a mage prior to entering the fray.

Can anyone recommend to me a good replacement? A multiclassed mage would be fine. Dynaheir met an untimely end (and she was really mean to me anyway). Xan left and vanished (i dont think he liked our high reputation much). I know where than evil necromancer (xzar) is, but he is a poor fit.

The only other option i can think of is another bard. Any thoughts here guys? THe character needs to be able to wield mage wants at a minimum.

I guess I could dual imoen now (level 7 thief) and get another thief into the party..... Tiax wants to join us but he is an evil little guy as well.

Anyway I look forward to your replies.

Phew, quite the challenge... But I'll try my best.
First, let's take a look at the mages (single- or multi-classed) available in BG, sorted by usefulness/raw power:
1st Edwin, Human Conjurer, lawful evil
2nd Dynaheir, Human Invoker, lawful good
3rd Xzar, Human Necromancer, chaotic evil
4th Xan, Elf Enchanter, lawful neutral
5th Quayle, Gnome Cleric/Illusionist, chaotic neutral
This doesn't leaves many options, does it? Dynaheir is dead, Xan has left, Quayle is a pain in the @$$, the rest is evil, not really a valid option for a good party.
Now take a look at the available bards:
Garrick, Human bard, chaotic neutral
Eldoth, Human bard, neutral evil
Here is not much to find either. I have never used any of the two, so I can't give any comments.
IMHO your best bet is to dual Imoen to a mage and get a replacement thief. Depending on your style and the Imoen's skills, I'd recommend Safana (chaotic neutral), you can find her in the lighthouse area. You only have to loot the cave with the pirate's treasure she's looking for (in the same area, guarded outside by three sirens, inside by three flesh golems. Your reward is a book of bodily health (or somesuch), which permanently raises the CON of the reader by one point, and other things. Safana is the only NPC thief with high Find Traps and Pick Locks skills. The other options are Montaron (fighter/thief, neutral evil), the companion of Xzar and a good stealther and pickpocket, Coran (fighter/thief, chaotic good), a very good archer, stealther and lock picker but terrible trap finder, and last (and IMHO least) Tiax, our favorite demented chaotic evil gnome cleric/thief, who'll give us the honor of licking his boots once he ascends to rule the world.

That's my two (Euro)cents.
I hope I could be of service,
LoreKeeper

*spoilers*


dual Imoen and pick Coran (1st cloakwood sector) or Kivan (High Hedge) and you'll kick ass

thanks lorekeeper

Thanks for your advice.

You are right, not too many options.

As annoying as xan was he was probably the best for me to keep all along. I wonder where he goes when he leaves?

Ill have to stick with quayle for now I think, and then possibly dual imoen to a mage and find a replacement thief.

Tiax may be my best bet, as without him i dont actually have a cleric (only a fighter/druid) - which is a problem. Even though he is evil, his insanity makes him a little more tolerable.

I believe any party needs at least 2 healers, whether they be druids, clerics or multiclassed.

No... You dont need two healers, use only one, and let the other one be a spellcaster or a secondary swordsman, so you can heal your primary while he is hurt.

I think you need to ditch Jaheira...








*spoiler*








She will show up again in BG2, but with the same lame stats, and the same obnoxious personality. One game is more than enough of her. If there was a way I could drop/kill/maim/murderlize Imoen as well, I would do so.

that party is great, especially from a storyline point of view.

You are fine dualling imoen and going for safana. The only problem is that imoen will be a lvl 1 mage but that can easily be sorted with a day or two at the flesh golem cave.

If you want xan, but he walked off, try going back to where you left him (i know he walked off, but he is probably there)

keep in mind though that mages arent completely necessary. The lack of one lets for a lot more thought and consideration to go into your tactics, and creates more of a challenge, and more fulfilling game.

chimpmaster, here's my advice. If Quayle is annoying you, just dump him and don't worry about replacing. You don't need to have six characters in your party. The remaining five will do a great job.

However, if you feel like "something is missing" after dumping Quayle, then that should tell you what kind of character you would like to replace him with.

If you're going to make Imoen a dual-classed Mage, then you might consider recruiting another Thief. Safana has a nice soundset, but she will complain if your Reputation is too high because she's Chaotic Neutral. Some people like Alora, a chipper little Thief. Then there's Coran, who is basically an Archer with thieving skills. I assume that you wouldn't be interested in Xzar's companion, Montaron, a Fighter/Thief who is probably the most vicious NPC in the game.

If you want another Mage in your party (besides Imoen), the choices are rather limited if you eliminate Dynaheir, Xan, Xzar, and Quayle. That only leaves Edwin, an evil Conjurer. It's too bad that there are only five Mages in the game. There is an alternative, though. Copy your Saved Game to the Multiplayer Saved Game folder, start a multiplayer game, and create your own Mage (or any other character you like). You can download a custom sound set and make him or her sound just the way you like.