Party comp, noob Qs etc.

[Stilltarget]

I've owned BG2 for a long time but never gotten too far into it as I was kind of young when I first got it and usually ended up neglecting it after chapter 3-4 so I don't actually know all that much about the specifics in game but have since read up a lot so spoilers don't bother me too much.

To take a break from my usual RPG style I have gone with a non-caster main this time and I'm loving it, rocking a thief(bounty hunter) and it's working out pretty well, I understand that traps can get pretty cheesey in the long run but I'm not going to overdo it, I like to "roleplay" to an extent so I tend to use a couple traps as a set-up to my fight but still actually enjoy the combat with my whole party so self-restraint will handle any imbalance I may have in my favour in the long run. Now I have a string of probably noobish questions that I have tried to search for info on but it's hard to find some specifics and of course opinions are subjective anywho.

Firstly a good group comp, I know any class can solo the game but I want a relatively logical group that works well together in combat, I have a few "definites" and want some ideas for the last couple slots to compliment my party.
Myself(thief)
Korgan
Vic
Edwin

So I have a solid caster, great thief, amazing front line fighter and a relatively solid healer right? For my last two slots I'm thinking another fighter of sorts and possibly a paladin/cleric type who can heal/buff/cast but also "throwdown" (I can deal with alignment bickering and am not that strict on RP) so who should I look into, at first glance I'm thinking the paladin in the sewers (about to do those quest lines and grab him) and Val? also soon doing the planar sphere, any ideas about those two or other options would be welcomed.

With that rough party guide what sort of weapons/items should I be keeping an eye out for, I hear mention of Carso-something for paladins and some fighters? Again I can and will be googling such things but first hand advice/experience is <3
And I've read a lot of thief faqs/guides so I have a rough idea of what I want to do with that chars gearing. And one embarassing noob question, this comes from never really favouring melee ever. Backstabbing, is this a "player activated" ability or does it simply occur when stealthed and attacking from behind an enemy with a weapon that allows it?
That said with my bounty hunter can he push out respectable ranged damage? I think in the long run my playstyle with him if it works will be trapping, "backstabbing" as many times as possible (invis items etc) on weak targets then running out to range and interupting any remaining casters/DPSing with the bow that allows 3 shots per round? Is that a feasable strategy that the character can fill?

And finally, does fraps/any other screen recording software work with BG2, and if so are there any player made play-videos or fiction works involving BG2 characters/games etc, personally I love the epic feel of a lot of BG2 areas and interactions so for my own entertainment once I get the party rolling if I can I will be editing some mediocre footage together in a kind of "promo" type way because I'm sad like that

[Grombag]

For future reference spoilers ahead!



Well first off you say you can stand the bickering of different allignment characters, but the question would be, can your characters? For example, Keldorn (the paladin in the sewer) will put an ultimatum on Viconia, if she stays in the group they will fight. A solution could be in a mod I think is called the happy npc mod. I don't know where to get it but with a litle luck somebody here can tell you, or you'll have to find it (use the search function or google).

Next on the line party line up I'm not to sure who to advise to take with you as your 2nd tank. Mazzy could be an interesting choise I heard also playing Korgan. Although any of the other tanks (Keldorn, Valygar, Minsc) are solid choises as well (It is possible to beat the game with any composition). Later in ToB you will meet another tank, but I wont go int that at this point.
For your 2nd addition I suggest you take a secondary mage. I think both Jan and hear'dalis would do well in your party.

As for weapons I'm not sure what to say about that. Except that you can find a dwarf in the docks that can make weapons/make them more powerfull. You should listen to him. If you have a few pieces you hear what they can be used for.

[Stilltarget]

Yeah I think if I'm going with Keldorn I will have to install the mod/fix to stop that happening, I'm not that much of a purist so I have no qualms tweaking a few things, besides there should be some evil-only type equivelants of paladins, losing a class that I want just because of some of my other characters allignments sucks.
I think I'm leaning towards taking Keldorn (+happyparty) and then Valygar as I've read he can dish out some nice damage and backstab too so depending on the fights with three tanks/melee (Korgan/Keldorn/Valygar) I have a lot of options for soaking up damage put also dealing it out. Although having said that you make a good point about my lack of casting power, the more I think about it Valygar is probably the one I'd drop for another caster but so far I haven't run into any I like aside from Edwin, I'll definately look into Haer'Dalis asap but I don't think I'd like Jan (thief/mage right?) although it sounds stupid I don't care much for dual/multi classing that much and feel another thief is a waste even if they are a perfectly capable mage.

Also I've read, and experienced (breezing through first few chapters years back with caster mains) that more casters basically means easier gameplay, enough summon-fodder to mix up the enemy, throw a ton of spells down and bam, job done, really trying to keep "in the fight" this run so having just Edwin (the best mage out there) as my only mage is something I want to try and stick to, any other casters I want to be defensive/debuffing hybrid types/healers who mostly get stuck in and just cast to buff the group/themselves and debuff enemies mostly (breach/dispel/remove magic etc )

[Kulyok]

If you want to have a logical "non-good" party, Jan and Haer'Dalis may be your only options among Bioware NPcs.

So, I'd turn to mod NPCs: modlist has plenty. Neutral fighter/mages, like Angelo and Xan(alternate class), may work for you. Evil or neutral rogues, too, like Alassa or Hessa or the evil Kido. Really, there're plenty of options, all in good fun. Finally, you can customize classes for every Bio NPC via Level 1 NPCs mod.

[fable]

Valen is also an excellent choice for an evil/neutral party, a vampiric fighter/thief. That means she'll step in and make choices for you in some situations, however, much as Korgan and Minsc do--only Valen will resolutely lead you down an "evil" path.

[Celacena]

I sometimes play non good parties usually ToB but Valen?
she's not on the npc list is she?

also she wouldn't be able to come out in daytime

[Klorox]

What's she put on sunscreen?

If you're looking for an evil party, play a F/T or a F/M/T (halfling or half-elf if you want to romance Viccy, Dwarf for power). 4 characters are the way to go anyway.