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I'm planning a run-through of the whole saga, and am going to play either a fighter/mage multiclass or a human dualed fighter/thief. So looking ahead to BG2, i want my party to be something like this:

PC
Korgan
Jahiera
Yoshi/Immy
Viconia
Anomen

Now I probably lack arcane power, but if the PC is a fighter/mage I'm set until I get imoen. i've read a lot of debate over viconia vs. anomen, but I like them both...in fact, every cleric in the game, i'm a fan of. So is this party too cleric-heavy? should I replace one of them with an arcane caster like Nalia or some such? thanks much.

Actually, this looks like a pretty well balanced party, and you can't really go wrong with clerics. Besides, Anomen makes a great tank too, and if you give her the right items Jaheira can also hold her own in battle.

Plus, you have Korgan who is a melee force to be recloned with.

You can beat the game with practically any party combination, but if you are worried about arcane, I'd suggest picking up Immy as soon as feasible. I really think you'll be fine though.

I'm not too crazy about clerics myself. Any one is enough to cover my divine needs. Even Aerie or Jaheira is plenty for me.

And I like to have lots of arcane power. Preferably most if not all should be able to cast mage spells in my parties. You could just do a sorcerer as your main character. Jaheira is, for my purposes, an almost better tank than Korgan. So between her, Anomen and Korgan you should have plenty of brute strength. Viconia too. Given the right kind of equipment she still won't deal much damage in a fight but she'll be able to withstand a lot.

Anyway my way of playing is probably a lot different from yours. I take out most things with area damaging spells...

beckettss wrote: PC
Korgan
Jahiera
Yoshi/Immy
Viconia
Anomen

In my game, I had:
PC (Priest of Lathander)
Minsc
Jaheira
Yoshi/Immy
Aerie
Keldorn

If you do a Fighter/Mage PC, then my party is very similar to yours, at least in respect to having one multi-classed wizard (Aerie) as your sole source of arcane magic until Imoen is rescued.

Except for Lich and Dragon encounters, I completed all quests in Chapter 2, and then rescued Imoen. My experience with playing a huge portion of the game (i.e. 95% of the side quests) with only one multi-classed wizard as the party's sole source of arcane magic: I struggled (i.e. had to reload a few times) at various portions of the Unseeing Eye Lower Reaches, Astral Prison, and Planar Sphere areas. In retrospect, I think I would have had an easier time with those areas if I had Nalia or Edwin in the group.

But, I would have also had an easier time if I didn't do the Unseeing Eye quest right out of the gate in Chapter 2. And I would have had an easier time if it wasn't my first and only run through the game. If I played the same way again, I might be just fine with Aerie as my only arcane spellcaster until Imoen. And I'm probably only an average player, who probably doesn't make enough use of enough of the party's available abilities. So make of this what you will.

You could rescue Imoen sooner than I, but I liked the momentum that the Irenicus storyline had coming out of the Underdark, and at that point, I was itchin' to get to the end.

Anyways, I sure love Priests (figuratively speaking of course).

I'd say 2 clerics are overkill. 1 multi classed cleric is enough to get by (though only barely). A full cleric quickly becomes redundant. I'd say the best bet is make your PC a Berserker 9/13 > Cleric. you'll get have a good tank and an a great cleric all in one. Since you have Jaheira on board I would go with the 13 variety here since she is capable of healing while your still low level.

Jedi_Sauraus wrote:I'd say 2 clerics are overkill. 1 multi classed cleric is enough to get by (though only barely). A full cleric quickly becomes redundant

Maybe, but much also depends on the reasons for recruiting said NPCs. If it is for the sake of their personalities, for example, whatever class they may have is a bit redundant

yeah, i really like anomen, jahiera and viconia...three well done characters with great attitudes. it's gonna be hard, but i'll probably dump one for a NPC mage.

it's gonna come down to which class i choose for the PC...so far both fighter/thief and fighter/mage are really appealing; is there anyone who can offer a take on the two?

Don't. The game will certanly become more challangeing without a mage, but still doable. you lose alot more dumping the NPC's you like.

Edit: why not make your PC a Sorceror or perhaps a Conjurer ?? with all those clerics true sight, which is the only usefull divination spell, shouldn't be a problem. With Korgan and Anomen you have tanking settled so no worries there.

Other options for your PC include a Mage/Thief, which is enough arcane power untill you get Immy. (though the both of them together are still not enough arcane power to my taste ) this is the one if you want to have a decent thief. Or you can get a Swashbuckler 10 > Mage for some AC and anti trapping abilities, but that in essence is another Imoen but slightly stronger and with better stats.

I think I'll be sticking with a fighter/mage should I decide against the fighter/thief. I'm still learning all the ins and outs of the arcane system, and keep in mind Imoen will be the primary caster, with the F/M the support. Of course I'm still debating the F/M or F/T question.

beckettss wrote:Of course I'm still debating the F/M or F/T question.

You will already have a thief throughout the game if you keep Yoshi/Immy, and you only really need one thief. Unless you really want to play a thief with backstabs and the whole nine yards, I'd suggest going for a fighter/mage. It never hurts to have extra fire and muscle power.

beckettss wrote:I'm planning a run-through of the whole saga, and am going to play either a fighter/mage multiclass or a human dualed fighter/thief. So looking ahead to BG2, i want my party to be something like this:

PC
Korgan
Jahiera
Yoshi/Immy
Viconia
Anomen

Now I probably lack arcane power, but if the PC is a fighter/mage I'm set until I get imoen. i've read a lot of debate over viconia vs. anomen, but I like them both...in fact, every cleric in the game, i'm a fan of. So is this party too cleric-heavy? should I replace one of them with an arcane caster like Nalia or some such? thanks much.

Well, time and time before, I've heard something like this about the Baldur's Gate series: "With enough effort, anything can work."

Overall, I'd say this partly would likely work. Looks like you picked the right people to at least avoid infighting. I was curious, though: What's your PC's alignment?

As far as Imoen goes, though, make sure she gets the Ring of Lockpicks and the Ring of Danger Sense. Her thief abilities aren't terrible, but I think you might experience some minor difficulties here and there, notably in the expansion (if you plan to go that far). Can't say I'm the most certain on that, though.

As far as other comments before me, allow me to show you my usual BG2 party, from the ideal party to the expansion. No disparaging comments, please!

Pre-ToB:
PC (Cavalier)
Minsc
Anomen
Jaheira
Imoen
Aerie

ToB
PC
Minsc
Anomen
(A certain NPC from the expansion )
Imoen
Aerie


In this case, I had 2 tanks, 3 healers, 1 thief and 2 mages (though some of these are multi-/dual-classed) in SoA, and in the expansion I had 2 healers, 2 mages, 1 thief, and 3 tanks/DPSes*. It might sound a hint unbalanced, but it worked for me.

In the end, becketts, it's what works for you that counts.

*Note: DPS = Damage Per Second, aka: A high-damage dealer. In many cases, this may be a 2-handed weapon-wielding warrior.

haha, i think i'll be just fine with who i have; i expect to make it to the end. my PC will be chaotic good, that much i'm sure of.

what i've been considering is with the wide range of divine spells i'll have, i could assign "roles" to each cleric. Viconia will be the offensive divine force; useful for casting spells in the midst of a fight while everyone else is preoccupied. Anomen can be the main buffer, and Jahiera will take care of summons and healing. I like this party concept better than any alternative i've though of - and the NPC's are some of my favorites. every cleric has cajones.