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I'm playing the game for the first time and I'm in chapter 2. My party consists of me (ranger), Keldorn, Minsc, Nalia, Aery and Jaheira. I don't really know what to do with Jaheira. I don't like her class. Bacause she is a druid, she can't use the heavy weapons and armour. And I don't know what to do with her shapeshifting abilities. So right now she's less usefull then my other party members. I'm thinking about kicking her out, but i'm hesitating, because she has been there from the beginning on. Could I get any help?

keep her. Give her a decent armor and shield and you will be able to get her AC to the range of -10 to -20. Let her use a Scimitar(no one uses this anyway). Lastly if you are going to continue in TOB or manage to get her to higher levels she can summon some very useful elementals. Elementals + very low AC jaheira = very good wall

Absolutely keep her. Jaheria can use all heavy armor and shields in the game. You can get two excellent clubs really really in the game and there is a returning throwing knife and lots of darts to have as well. Scimitar is a good choise, too, especially the one that gives an extra attack. Jaheria has the most interesting personal quest in addition to the longest romance (if you're not going for Aerie, of course). Finally, druid spells aren't exactly the same as cleric spells. One of the great spells you'd miss out without a druid is the mage killer Insect Plague. There is no need whatsoever to use her shapeshiftning abilities until later when she gets the Elemental Transormation (and even then I guess she does better in natural form).

And don't forget Creeping Doom... the lethal version of Insect Plague... so powerful it's almost cheese!
I'm agreeing with Astafas: Jaheira has the most interesting quests.

She can definitely use the heaviest armor, as you'll discover when you run across some fo the best plate in the realm. Several of the druid spells are uniquely valuable, like Insect Plague, while she can invoke the elementals in all those elemental-based staves the game generously supplies. Finally, she's a Harper, which means she'll acquire the Resurrection spell: the only non-cleric to do so that you hire. Jaheira's a gem.

Ok you talked me into keeping her. But to keep my game interesting i want to swap caracters once in a while. Which one do you suggest i should first kick out? My party is to much a spellcasters party i think.

Originally posted by schept:
<STRONG>Ok you talked me into keeping her. But to keep my game interesting i want to swap caracters once in a while. Which one do you suggest i should first kick out? My party is to much a spellcasters party i think.</STRONG>

Aerie could go. And I think four fighters is a bit of an overkill, actually. Why not kick Minsc? - you're already a ranger yourself.

kick minsc? I'd rather kick aerie, cause she's such a whiner haha

Four fighters too much? Wich caracter should I take? The one that's ther personal guard of some wizard? I forgot his name. You see him when go into the secret entrance in the sewers

I would kick nalia, and go for Jan (better thief), and keep the rest of the party as it is, or maybe trade Minsc for Mazzy, but that depends on what weopons everyone is using!

Originally posted by schept:
<STRONG>kick minsc? I'd rather kick aerie, cause she's such a whiner haha

Four fighters too much? Wich caracter should I take? The one that's ther personal guard of some wizard? I forgot his name. You see him when go into the secret entrance in the sewers</STRONG>

You could go with *any* party and do just fine. Pick the NPCs that interest you the most. Actually, I have four fighters myself in my current party. Then again, I have lots of mage, clerical and druid spells as well:

Korgan - main melee fighter
Sir Anomen - second melee fighter and my cleric
Jaheria - mage body guard, dart thrower and my druid
Mazzy - main distance fighter
Jan - superb thief and back up mage
Wilford - PC mage (invoker)

What I like in a party is a balance between melee and distance fighters and between fighters and spellcasters. Then I like to have a backstabber, a scout and someone to take care of traps and locks. Also, I like to spread the weapon profiencies as much as possible. I consider this one of the best party compositions I've ever played (and I've played a lot).

I guess you're speaking of Haer'Dalis, right?

You could go with *any* party and do just fine. Pick the NPCs that interest you the most.

Wise words. If you're looking for power, that's one thing, but if you just want fun and variety (which I recommend), you can't lose no matter what you do.

Astafas and fable are very correct. This game is all about the mingling of the NPC's. It is definitely the strongest aspect of this game. To continue with the advice, I'd suggest a party of five **shudders at horrific memories of that awful television show** and try to use all of the NPC's and their little quests. Using five will always allow you to pick up a sixth. From there, you'll wind up with many interesting combinations as well as dialogue. True, you'll be spreading experience thin across many different NPC's, however, there's plenty of XP's to go aroudn. The possibility does exist you'll have two NPCs in the group at the same time who really don't get along. However, viewing alignments is a fair guideline of who not to mix and match.

schept, you are going to have so much fun with this game. I wish I were playing it for the first time again.

@Ned.....then play TDD, it feels like the first time all over again.

Originally posted by schept:
<STRONG>Ok you talked me into keeping her. But to keep my game interesting i want to swap caracters once in a while. Which one do you suggest i should first kick out? My party is to much a spellcasters party i think.</STRONG>

Everyone in my party can cast spells, well, except for Yoshimo, but I only have him in there temporarily while I finish up the quests Aran Linvail sent me on. Being able to detect and disarm traps his rather helpful. However, once I manage to rescue Imoen, I'll be replacing Yoshimo with her, which'll set me up with an all spell-casting party: 1 Archer, 1 Ranger, 1 Cleric, 1 Fighter/Druid, 1 Cleric/Mage, and 1 Mage/Thief. What I like about this is I can have everyone casting protection spells at once before starting a battle, which gets me prepped faster and can provide more variety of protections.

I'm surprised by the number of people talking about just one game and giving so much advice and hints; thanks guys (and girls??!!)

You've made me more anxious to see what's more to be done. The game is more then a year old and still so many people are playing it. It must be something special then

Originally posted by schept:
<STRONG>I'm surprised by the number of people talking about just one game and giving so much advice and hints; thanks guys (and girls??!!) </STRONG>

Yes "and girls." Gotta problem with that.

Originally posted by schept:
<STRONG>You've made me more anxious to see what's more to be done. The game is more then a year old and still so many people are playing it. It must be something special then</STRONG>

You'll start the game all over again, immediately after you finish your current game. So, don't sweat on choosing who to pick.

Originally posted by Minerva:
<STRONG>You'll start the game all over again, immediately after you finish your current game. So, don't sweat on choosing who to pick. </STRONG>

So true. BG2 is a lifestyle.

I think that Jaheira is one of the most valuable NPC! Good melee fighter with weapon very few others use, you can make her a tank, can be good in ranged weapon and is a spellcaster (some druid spell are great and you can't get them in other way (Cernd sucks!!)).
I have different teams, but you'll always find Jaheira in.
She is Great!!!
Have fun

Originally posted by lompo:
<STRONG>I(Cernd sucks!!))</STRONG>

He certainly doesn't. He's challengeing, though. (Man, it's me against everybody these days - I'm on fire!)

[ 01-11-2002: Message edited by: Astafas ]