GameBanshee Forums

in the strategy section of this site in perfect party #7, Azhure says this

"5th Slot (Mage): Nalia. She's the best NPC mage, truly. Imoen would be better, but by the time you get up to her, she's far too low in level and never really catches up. Nalia is good simply because she can get higher in level than any other NPC, and that's important for a Mage to give her the powerful 7th and 8th level spells. Give her the Staff of the Magi and she'll be kickin' ass and takin' names.

I would like to point out that people who think that Nalia is the best NPC mage should not be allowed to post in the strategy section. If Azhure is reading this, please tell me one thing, HAVE YOU EVER PLAYED BALDUR'S GATE 2?

Edwin kicks the crap out of every other npc mage. Anyone disagree with that?

Yes, Edwin is the best mage (2 extra slots, one from being a especialist mage, the other from being a Red Wizard of Tray) in the game.
Better that even a PC mage...
Second comes Imoen (that of being too far behind is bull, just get her around level 11 and she is at the same level) since her thief skills are better that Nalia.
Next comes Nalia since she is a worst thief that Imoen.

Jan and Aerie are multiclass and diferent from each other, Aerie can be a nighmare spellcaster for your enemys and Jan is a Thief/Illusionist, he have his uses and can cast spells levels higher that Aerie but Aerie Cleric class makes her more powerful that Jan.
Then again Jan becames the only NPC thief in the game.

Yeh, me, but I disagree with both you and Azhure. Jan Jansen is the best mage, and not only that, he solves all your thief problems. Aerie makes a good mage AND cleric too. Edwin is too bloody arrogant and plus, he's evil. Nalia REALLY gets on my nerves. She's a bloody noble do-gooder wannabe, and not only that she's damned ugly. Her voice sucks too.

Well, Jan maybe isn't the best 'mage' exactly, but y'know what I mean...

Originally posted by Callimar:
<STRONG>Well, Jan maybe isn't the best 'mage' exactly, but y'know what I mean...</STRONG>

With 16 int he'll never be more than a backup spell caster for me. In TOB he won't be able to memorize level 9 spells. (Neither will Imoen or Nalia for that matter both with int 17.) But Jan makes a great theif and a good backup mage.

having 17 Int will mean little in ToB, I know TWO ways to increase Int in ToB.

Good and good: I want to cast Power Word: Kill and stuff like that.

Edwin is the best mage.

Callimar, Edwin is far better than Jan, but I think you mean from a role playing perspective. If so, than that's fine; whatever you want is up to you.

I was just pointing out that maybe someone from GameBanshee should censor the strategy posts, so that some poor newbie doesn't toss Edwin for Nalia. Wouldn't that be a shame!

I would maintain that Aerie is the best mage - as a mage/cleric she has more than twice as many spells *and* slots as Edwin, and with the Robe of Vecna and the Amulet of Power she can more or less insta-cast clerical spells as well as mage spells.
Of course, personally I can't stand her
I use Jan until I leave for Brynnlaw, then Imoen.
Not only are there two different potions that increase Int, but in ToB there are items to increase stats.
Mages are just utility characters in my games anyway - real men like to get up close and personal. One of the cheesiest aspects of D&D is the silly 'save or die' scenario (or 'save or reload in this case). It's stupid and annoying. I tend to agree with Desslock that D&D is at it's best up to level 10, when it just gets really stupid and unbalanced, with winning an encounter commonly involving several reloads. It's lazy design. Anyone wonder why the most popular rpg system in history doesn't have a mmog? Because it *sucks*. They never even heard of class balance. In D&D fighters always rock, but taper off at ridiculous levels (like IWD or ToB). Priests and Rogues are always feeble (but useful), whereas mages are pathetic at low levels and powerful beyond reason at high levels.
I hope 3e levels things out a bit.

Originally posted by Callimar:
[QB]Edwin is too bloody arrogant and plus, he's evil. QB]

What's wrong with being evil?

I have to agree that Edwin is the best mage.
Got extra spells plus he gets bonuses to his saving throws and high lore after doing the Nether scroll quest. Can identify almost anything. Fits perfectly in my evil party.

Being evil means you can't keep him (w/o tricks of course) at high rep., and there're so few ways to lower your rep. reasonably.

Whenever I don't solo I always have Edwin in my party, he and Korgan kick ass. They are soooo cooooool.

Originally posted by Callimar:
<STRONG>Nalia REALLY gets on my nerves. She's a bloody noble do-gooder wannabe, and not only that she's damned ugly. Her voice sucks too. </STRONG>

No! I think Nalia is the best woman in the game. I would romance her if it was possible. Her small portrait may be ugly but in the large portrait she is good looking. And the voice is OK too. Maybe Viconia has a sexier voice but still I think Nalia has the most pleasant voice. If you want to talk irritating, try Imoen. Her voice is enough to keep her out of my party.

Oh, and Edwin indeed is de best mage but Nalia can dual wield short swords and wear an amulet.

There.


MM

Originally posted by MordorMan:
<STRONG>No! I think Nalia is the best woman in the game. I would romance her if it was possible. Her small portrait may be ugly but in the large portrait she is good looking. And the voice is OK too. Maybe Viconia has a sexier voice but still I think Nalia has the most pleasant voice. If you want to talk irritating, try Imoen. Her voice is enough to keep her out of my party.

Oh, and Edwin indeed is de best mage but Nalia can dual wield short swords and wear an amulet.

There.


MM</STRONG>

I agree on most things. In Nalia's favor you should also add that she comes with a very good ring (-2 AC and 50 % Fire Res). However, I would never let Nalia dualwield anything since she can't get more than one prof in dual wield and the penalties are then to great.

But then gain Nalia can only wear one ring the other cant be removed. Just imagine giving Edwin 2 ring of wizardrys....

Originally posted by ColeFrost:
<STRONG>But then gain Nalia can only wear one ring the other cant be removed. Just imagine giving Edwin 2 ring of wizardrys....
</STRONG>

If I'm not mistaken, the only way to get two of these bad boys is to be a mage/sorceror yourself. One you can get if you have Jaheira in your party (Harper quest) and one you can let your apprentices create in the Sphere. I don't think there is many people out there who:

1) Have Jaheira in party, and
2) Play a mage/sorceror, and
3) Also have Edwin in party
4) Choose to give both rings to Edwin

[ 06-20-2001: Message edited by: Astafas ]

U can do it by having dual class mage/fighter. Dualclassing after u done the mage stronghold quest.

The main character (fighter at lvl 18)can still use amulet of power + staff of magi

Well you can played as a kensai mage with Jaheira and edwin in your party. Take the sphere as your stronghold. Get 2 rings of wizardry or 1 ring of wizardry and 1 ring of acuity and give them to edwin. Then kensai mage can have ring of protection +2 and ring of Gaxx.

Edwin may get loads of spells, but Nalia has a -6 AC advantage over him, has more Hit Points, can use bows, and has some Thief skills.

Edwin is cool if you don't need the Gauntlets of Dexterity for Anomen or Keldorn.