Party composition: too many mages?

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I am starting a new game of BG1 and the expansion in a few days. I'm aiming on playing through to ToB. So, with that in mind, I am planning on Jaheira, Khalid, Minsc, Dynaheir, and Imoen as my party. I'm considering dual-classing Imoen to mage to be in line with the start of BG2. My character will be a mage as well.

So, as you can see, this is a heavily RP-based party. I've never played BG1 before. I have two worries. First, that with so many low-level mages I may have a hard time putting out the hurt and preventing it on my side. My second concern is that with only poor multi-classed Jaheira as the sole party healer I may not have enough in this department. I welcome any thoughts or suggestions.

 

I've only played through BG1 one (and a half) times, but I think this party is do-able. At least for the first half of the game, although you might need to spend a bit on healing potions.

When i played through the game and actually finished it, I followed this same plan but I swapped Jahiera and Khalid for Branwen and Kivan and did OK (except for returning to Candlekeep. That was pretty rough.)

 

What's the money situation like in BG1? In BG2 and ToB there's no real problem with it. Other than spell scrolls and potions what else will I need to spend gold on?

 

You shouldn't have too many problems - just make sure you gear up Minsc with the best gear possible (example: full plate armor and a ring +2AC, spiders bane, boots of haste and a composite bow +1).

He will be able to take care of most things, use Khalid as a tank when needed and have your mages spam spells from behind. I see no real reason why such a party should not work.

As for money - not really a big problem, especially not with the add-on. There are not many items you actually have to buy (I would recommend a few wands of summoning, a robe of the good archmage for either the main char or dynaheir, and a few other items). The first thing I'd get is 4000 gold to make an Ankhegg plate armor from a shell.

In the beginning, Minsc will probably do most of the actual fighting, but near the end you'll destroy everything with three mages. Mages tend to start out weak, and become very powerful.

 

Jaheira is OK as the only healer, I've always used her for that role since I don't like Branwen much and it worked fine.

However since you'll be playing with SCS you might have problems at the beginning, as you haven't played the game yet I won't put any spoilers here... Have you thought about starting as a fighter and then dual-classing into a mage later?

Money is also no problem, there aren't that many things to buy, there's a nice item you'll be able to get for your mage but that's about it.

 

Mages can be powerful even in low levels. A group of low level fighters stand little chance against a group of ogre berserkers, but add a few mages who can cast sleep and the battle becomes very easy. A successful charm person on a tough enemy really turns the tide of the battle.

Sleep is the king in BG1. It neutralises hordes of kobolds and even more tougher enemies (like ogres) they do not wake up upon getting damage so you can kill them at your leisure then.

Unfourtunately Dynaheir can not learn enchantment, the most powerful and useful school in BG1 so her effectiveness is reduced in low levels.

However, once your mages start throwing fireballs left and right, battles will become easier.

Tip:Rescue Dynaheir at higher lvl so she will have fireball in her spell book.

3 fireballs in a round will instantly destroy nearly any opponent in BG1. You can also use wands of fire for quicker attacks and no interruption risk.

If you have SCS (which means we should discuss this at ToB forum by the way) things are a little harder but still doable. You will need a good tank as soon as possible though. Mages in low lvls need good tanks to survive.

Also, be sure to pick find familiar spell in the beginning screen and cast it in Candlekeep Inn. You can not find a scroll for that one otherwise. Familiar still gives HP bonus which is very useful in lvl 1 and you can talk with them like in BG2.

Jaheira is OK as a healer but I needed a second one. In my first run I had Viconia. She is special as she has MR. Last time I had Yeslick. He is very very special as he can use axes (SCS) get specialised in them, has dwarf saving throw bonuses and a dispel magic ability which always succeeds.

Branwen's special ability sucks, you hardly need spiritual hammer. You can easily find a good +2 warhammer with electrical damage as well. But you can romance her with NPC mod so...

Never played with Faldorn but pure druids can not wear good armor and thus are less durable than clerics. Summon dreadwolf can be useful though.

Tiax is not powerful or useful stat-wise but his summon ghast ability is sure powerful. But he is evil and annoying.

 

Tiax isn't annoying, Tiax rules all!

I've never understood why people want Dynaheir to start at a higher level. Her hitpoints will be lower and you can buy a scroll of fireball anyway, so what's the use?

Not that I use Dynaheir, Xan is a much cooler mage and I dislike not being able to cast Enchantment.

On the party, the only trouble you'll run into is your way from Candlekeep to the Friendly Arm Inn. After you get Khalid and Jaheira, you'll be in the clear.

If this is your first run through though, why play Tutu and SCS? Just play it vanilla and learn to love it!

 

I wouldn't dual class Imoen in your above party. Personally, I aim for 1-1.5 mages in BG1. 3 is way too many, but that's just my style.

 

Wow! Thanks for so many replies! I won't quote since I've generated so many posts. I'll try to just respond generally.

First, glad to hear that money is an asset and not a liability. I'll be sure to try and get that Ankheg armor right away.

I am going to be playing a Tutu game but I didn't mention it since then it would be the ToB forum and my question seemed to fit better here. For that matter, I'm playing as a Wild Mage and I didn't mention that for the same reason.

I'll keep in mind that SCS may make the game unresonably hard for my poor level one mage. I'll also be sure to grab Find Familiar (gotta love that CG fairy dragon). I'd love to add Viconia to my party but I just don't have room for her with the canonized party of Imoen, Minsc, Dynaheir, Jaheira and Khalid. Ah well, at least there's room at the inn when I start BG2, lol.

Do you get Xan early in the game? I've read a lot of hype about Xan and it seems he's spawned himself a module or two. I'd like to give him a try early on while I'm still filling out my party on the way to the canon party.

From a power gaming perspective I'd prefer to leave Imoen a thief. But since I intend to continue on to BG2 after I finish BG1 I'd have the continuity gap of Imoen suddenly being a thief/mage.

 

Remember to get Xans new voice at PPG, and there's more to get concerning Xan in easytutu. Thank you Kulyok!

 

I managed to get through BG1 with the same party but it wasn't easy. Clerics are good for more than just healing and druids, frankly, suck in BG1. Druids can wear that green bug armor (+2 plate), so AC isn't a problem for Faldorn.

Branwen's special ability is better than the standard cleric spell Spiritual Hammer. Try her out and see for yourself: it's a +4 (!) hammer and the duration is about 10x longer than the spell's.

 

Since you're playing with NPC project I'd dual Imoen into a mage, she has some funny lines if you do that and you only need a lv6 thief anyway for 100% open locks/find traps.

And yes, you (can) get Xan early in the game however he's an Enchanter so that means no magic missiles or fireballs...

 

I don't think I'll use Xan's new voice set. This run through the series I'm going with the canonized notion of the final party and my character is going to be a mage so there's no room for Xan.

I'll be sure to get the Ankheg (I think that's what you mean) armor right away. Aside: does anybody know if Jaheira can wear it in BG2? I agree that I like a cleric more than a druid for party support. If I wasn't 100% dedicated to the Khalid, Jaheira, Minsc, Dynaheir, Imoen party that BG2 assumes you play with I'd be sure to add Viconia.

I like the idea of seeing new Imoen dialogue. She's always been a favorite NPC of mine in the BG series. Will it be difficult to get her thief abilities back after I dual class her? I'm a bit worried about not having a thief the entire time she's learning her new class.

 

If you've got the TotSC installed, you can get the Ankheg Plate Mail FOR FREE in Nashkel. The location is x 187 y 2742. I know Jaheira can wear it in Baldur's Gate but I've never used it Baldur's Gate 2 so I don't know if she can use it then or not.

 

How do I get the coordinates within the game?

 

You hold "Ctrl" and push the "L" button. That will show the area number and x,y wherever your mouse is currently pointing.

The Ankheg Armor in Nashkel is about halfway down the right side of the map on the edge of a farm field.

EDIT: But if you are using Tutu (I think this was mentioned), you can just "Tab" to find it.

 

It all depends when you dual Imoen. I usually do it at thief lv.6 to get 100% open locks/find traps and it does take a looong time for her to regain it back (I sub in Safana during that time). But you can dual her at lv.5 and go for 100% find traps, 75% open locks and use knock spell to open chests that she can't. Don't worry about not having a thief during that time, it's perfectly doable.

 

That's the same problem I've always had in dualing Immy.

You're using Khalid/Jaheira and Minsc/Dynaheir, so you won't have a slot for Safana while Imoen is progressing as a mage. So you'll effectively be without a thief for the middle part of the game. It's not a critical problem, but it can get pretty annoying.

 

To starfox64: thanks for the heads-up on the ankheg armor. I'll be sure to get it A.S.A.P.

To Aegor & Beetle: Now I'm starting to wonder about what to do with Imoen. In BG2 she's (amazingly) a level 7 thief and a level 8 mage. She did some serious levelling between games! Maybe what I'll do is just keep her a thief and imagine she did some solo adventuring between BG1 and BG2 to pass(?!) my character in levels. Not really happy about it but that's what BG2 starts her as. With the xp cap removal due to Tutu is it even possible to get her to 7/8 thief/mage?

 

Where can you find a Find Familiar scroll in BG1 Tutu?