GameBanshee Forums

Hi
Started a new game. I like to play mages, but the way this group is coming together I may only end up with one. I wanted to pick up Edwin, but on the way there ended up with Viconia in his place. So now I have:
PC fighter
Minsc fighter
Anomen cleric fighter
Xan mod mage (friendship path)
Kivan mod archer (romance)
Viconia cleric

That's a lot of cleric and not a lot of mage. However, I am looking for interesting interactions, not power play. I haven't played a game through with Viconia. Will she make things interesting in this combination? I only have Anomen because I like his Turn Undead. Not sure it's worth it, though, if I can use someone more interesting in his place (I've had him along several times before). Taking him out, in favor of Edwin maybe, will leave me with only two fighters and an archer but will give me two mages. Enough?
Aerie and Kelsey mod are out of the question, but then there is Jan. I won't be using Imoen.

Also, would throwing Korgan into this (replace Minsc) add to the fun, in terms of NPC interaction? The only ones I really want to keep here are Xan and Kivan.
Obviously, I don't mind mixing up alignments.

Viconia and Korgan both have some excellent banter, and of course there's the romance element (if you go for such things) with Viconia. There's also a banter pack that creates more banters for the characters, and is well written. As for being a bit light on mages: I wouldn't worry. Remember, you could win the game without having any magic, mage or clerical, in a party. If anything, having two clerics means that much more boost to fighting the undead. And Anomen can make an effective fighter, too, though the personality created for him makes my teeth itch.

The fact you don't have a thief in your party makes Jan a pretty logical choice, unless you're using the 'no traps and locks' cheat.

You can manage the game easily enough with only 2 fighters - my favourite combo is nothing but spell casters of various types and a thief. If you are using Viconia, do you really need Anomen? (especially if your main PC is a fighter). Saying all that, you really should be ok with one mage, as Fable has said, so I would be inclined to replace Anomen for a thief (if you like magic users and want a thief then there is always Nalia or Imoen, or there is Jan who I've never used but plan to in my next play through the game as people say he is fun to play)

Just pick either Anomen or Viconia to be replaced with either Jan or Imoen. Personally, I'd choose to replace Viconia with Imoen.

I'd recommend switching Anomen for Jan. Not only does Jan have a much better personality and more interesting dialogs with other party members, He is an excellent thief and not bad as a mage

Yep, I'm using the no-traps cheat. Been through the game a few times and, knowing where they are, they are now just tedious things that slow the game. I'll just pretend I disarmed them. I am finding locked doors, though, so I don't know about a no-locks cheat. However, most doors seem to give in with a good bashing or two, and the Knock spell seems to take care of the rest.

This cheat means I don't need to rely on a thief, giving me a better choice of traveling companions. I think I did pick Imoen back up at least once, but I can't recall her being all that interesting to play, compared to, say, Edwin (and who's more fun than Edwin in the Underdark? )

Thanks for your replies. I think I'll leave Anomen behind, keep Viconia and pick up Jan, anyway, because he's fun.

Mages own this game IMO. They are very powerful at the higher levels in BGII and will make your life easier. They are the most fun to play IMO and in my first run through (which reminds of this time waaaaaay back ) I had four (main char, Imoen, Nalia, Aerie) for awhile.

For fun, Jan and Minsc are the most amusing. I found Anomen annoying so I would dump him and keep Viconia.