party make ups

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ive just been wondering what people consider is needed for a good party to be made. i know that everyone has different views but i would like to hear peoples examples of parties they like the most no ones that they used for a change but ones they beleave to be most effective class wise. i also wonder peoples opionions on mages vs sorcerers personaly i like sorcerers but im open to other views

 

There are those that don't agree, but I found the most effective combo to include,

2-3 tanks (Minsc, Korgan, Keldorn)
1-2 tank/cleric (Anomen, Jaheira, Viconia w/ items)
1 mage-thief (I like Imoen w/ a couple rings, but Jan will do in a pinch)
1 full mage (preferably Edwin as I can't stand Nalia's whining)

I just finished w/ a Ranger/Cleric dual class
Minsc
Keldorn
Jaheira
Arie
Imoen

That is my favorite so far, but the dicussions between Jan and Minsc are not to be missed.

As for sorcerers vs. mages, I played a sorcerer my first time through. Awesome as far as spell versatility, but it requires foresight IMHO. I found my problem was I would choose, say, Secret Word, then Pierce Magic, then Ruby Ray. Eventually all the Secret Words in the world were useless unless put in a Sequencer. Overall I think I would have rather played a straight mage.
Hope that helps.

 

I have just the same characters except for Imoen, I have Nalia.
But I am only at chapter 3, so I have to free Imoen, maybe after that I will change Nalia for her.
My own character is a half-orc Barbarian, a great tank!

 

2 tanks minimun
2 mages
2 clerics/druids
1-2 thieves

ie: Jan= mage + thief (quality thief)

clerics & druids can tank, but not for long in most cases (fighter/clerics like Anomen and Jaheria can go longer into a fight with their high HP)

mix and match, as there is no one "perfect team".

 

It really is down to personal preference as most parties can survive with a bit of luck (some people complete the game solo). You'll also need to change tactics depending on the mix. To make the game easier (possibly) it does help to have:

A thief for detecting/disarming traps, a couple of tanks, a healer, a decent mage

Many of the NPCs in BG2 are dual class so you do get some added flexability (although Nalia is a bit rubbish as a thief).

Personally I try to pick party members based on the role playing elements of seeing their character traits, dialogue and sub-quests. I then stick to them throughout an individual game (to maximise experience). I have also used Anomen and Korgan to help me until I find the others.

On my first run through I went for: Minsc, Jaheira, Aerie, Jan, Valygar and me as a Priest of Lathander.
Second time through I'm using women + me only (see my post) so that's: Jaheira, Viconia, Aerie, Mazzy, Imoen/Nalia and me as a Sourceror. To my surprise this combination seems easier than the first group (though is was a bit tough at the beginning before I got some magical items to boost strenght). I miss Minsc & Boo too.

As to mage v sorceror. I do love the flexability of the sorceror though you do need to think long term about which spells will really be useful. I prefer this though, to having to think carefully before resting EVERY TIME (I played a mage in BG1). With a mage, there is always the temptation to reload and rest just to change spells before a tough fight. I think this dirupts the flow and feel of the game too much. Anyway, I think there was quite a detailed discussion about this on an older post (talking about the effects at higher levels, which ties-in with the add-on pack). Use the search facility to track it down for more enlighted words than mine.

 

I personally like to have the tanks. My party consists of:

Whoz-Ur-Daddy (cavalier)
Minsc
Anomen
Jaheira
Yoshimo
Aerie

My mian character has an AC of -6 & Carsomyr. Minsc has an AC of -6 with a Battle Axe +3. Anomen is AC -2 with Mace of Disruption (I screwed up and never forged the Flail of Ages). Jaheira is AC -5. I consider this more along the line of 4 tanks. But it also gives me Jaheira, Anomen & Aerie for priest spells. Aerie for Mage spells and Yoshimo for theiving.

I am sure there are lots of people with parties that could destroy mine in about 10 seconds, but so far they have been pretty effective. (Dragons are a bit tough). And all of these characters are starting Chapter 4 today, so if they seem low compared to others, either that is why or my party just sucks!

 

I have restarted the game about 5 times before I found the combo that I think is the most effective (read powergaming) one:
Modjahed (dc Ranger/Cleric) - Flail of Ages + Crom
Minsc (Warblade)
Keldorn (Doh...) + Girdle od STR + G. of DEX
Nalia (Gesen or Celestial Fury) + Robes of Vecna
and no flames pls - a great fifth character for my party - a backup mage, fighter, singer, ID.
Haer'Dalis (Dual Longswords depends whom to fight) + Bard's Elven Chain + Mask of Strohm (sp?)

Next time it will be Berserker/Thief (Evil), Korgan, Viconia and Edwin. And the third one I plan to have Jaheira, Valygar, Aerie and a Swashbuckler/Thief as a main char.

[This message has been edited by Modjahed (edited March 10, 2001).]

 

True Dwarven Fighter
Paladin or a Ranger
Fighter/Cleric multi-classed
True Cleric or a Druid
Mage/Thief once again multi-classed
Specialist Mage Conjurer or Illusionist

works for me. i change my groups from game to game though. maybe switch the Paladin or Ranger for a Fighter/Thief and swap the Mage/Thief for a Bard. all depends on my mood.

 

I found a combination of single and multi class characters with a total of 2 fighters, 2-3 cleric/druid, 3 mages, 1 thief works very well for me.
Korgan (fighter)
Jaheira (fighter/druid - had her learn spear and uses a +3 one)
My character (dual- cleric/mage)
Viconia (cleric)
Edwin (mage)
Jan (mage/thief)

Only problem I had was that greater wolfwere in the windspear hills and a fluke when the lead party member got turned to stone in the doorway, otherwise it has actually gotten so easy its boring and I havn't had anyone in the party die.

 

Naila???


NALIA???


you've got to be kidding.

"most effective"???

she's absolutely the worst mage.


worst. bad.

awful.


whiny.


bad.

 

bad.

 

I held onto her my first time through, adn now after using the other mages, I wonder how I did it.
(actually I know how. I was a monk, and they can go solo easy as pie.)

 

i have found Nalia to be an excellent mage... but it was a waste of time giving her any levels in Thief

she is shite at that

but as a mage only Edwin is better... but seems as i have never played Edwin... or never want to... i'll never find out!

 

If you give Nalia the ring of lockpick or something (+25% lockpicking) she is a reasonable thief. She's got 105% lockpick I believe, so that's pretty good. As for stealth, just give her an improved invisebility!

 

I think the party has to center around the charater you play - I am a mage, so as 'kick butt' as Edwin's powers are, he's not for me! Aerie is much better as she duels as a cleric with back up spell power.

I like Korgan - but he is evil - so I have acraficed him. Mazzy is working out really well - and her (serious) expertise with short bow is proving good. I like minsc - but he seems like such a lumbering hulk . . so Valager is along for the ride at the moment, dual wielding katanas to fairly deadly effect.

I like Jan Jansen more than Yoshimo, his spells are another plus, and he spots and disarms traps and picks locks ~ which is all I do with theives . . . I will be trying out the Haer'dar (what's his name . . . you know who I mean) for the first time - from what I have heard he might count towards half a fighter which will work out well, since Valagar and Anomen are both really only 1/2 fighters . . .

So - In answer, I think my 'perfect party' =

Mage = BLUE = me
Aerie = 2/3 mage + 2/3 cleric.
Anomen = 2/3 cleric + 1/2 fighter
Valager = 1/2 fighter
Mazzy = 4/5 fighter but greaaaat with a bow
Haar'da = thief with some extras.

Go on . . . now tell me how stoopid I is !

 

He means Haer'Dalis

 

On (vaguely) the same topic, does anyone know a good dysfunctional party, which argues all the time - I have
Mad gabelbart - protagonist (skald)
Minsc
Edwin
Viconia
Jan
Mazzy
I had Anomen for a while but dropped him for Mazzy as he's stuck at lvl 8 fighting abilities. I thought Minsc & Edwin and Viconia & Anomen would be amusing combinations but I haven't heard a peep out of any of them.

 

There's nothing like a good, dysfunctional party...

I once thought Keldorn and Viconia should be a good combo for some ...er... interesting conversations. (until Keldorn decided to skip the smalltalk, and just hack her to pieces Inquisitor-style instead... )

Anyway, keeping Corgan and Edwin in my party (along with a certain angel-faced do-gooder and a nagging druid) seemed to do the trick...
(I'm sure there are other, more dysfunctional parties around...)

"Protagonist" (Jester, CN)
Jaheira
Aerie
Edwin
Korgan
?

[This message has been edited by Seric Exz (edited March 11, 2001).]

 

who and where is this Jan? ive never heard of him?

 

Jan Jansen, gnome, Illus./thief, and turnip-freak. You find him in the government district in Athkathla.