new party

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I know this sounds lame and posts like this have been done googaloxyzallionomillion times before, but I need some advice on making a new party. I'm not really good at the D&D rules but here are my two canditates:

good party

my character- Cleric (not sure which deity yet) proficient with crossbows & medium armor, maybe flail and shield too

Minsc of course
Jaheira
Jan
Valygar or mazzy?
Keldorn

evil party

my character- archer, longbows, shortswords, and longswords

Viconia
Edwin?
Korgan
Haer dalis?
Yoshimo or Jaheira or that other druid?

as I mentioned above, my knowledge ov the game doesn't go beyond the 3rd edition IWD II rules, so any help is greatly appreciated



oh and if you think this post is stupid and boring and has been made a thousand times then just say so.....

[ September 17, 2003, 00:00: Message edited by: The Black Raven ]

 

Either of those parties looks fine.

IMHO, I'd take either Aerie or Imoen over Jan in your good party, but that might be because I like spell power.

Your evil party looks a bit on the weak side. Here's who I'd take with the PC archer:

Korgan
Viccy
Edwin (I wouldn't take him, but he's the best evil mage)
Jan
Probably Anomen and have him fail his test

 

The post is neither stupid or boring. Newbies are what it's all about. Anyhoo, let's get to it...

For a Good Party I would get Nalia instead of Jan and Yoshimo instead of Valygar. That way you'll be set for something that happens later (I won't tell you). As for the Diety, I'd go with Lathander since he's the Good God (Helm is neutral Tempus is evil). Also, there is no prof. in Armour and clerics can't use crossbows. Go with slings, flails and maces. There's a kickass hammer that could be found, but I highly doubt you'll get it your first time round.

For an evil party, you shouldn't be an archer since, as a Ranger, you'll have to be of good alignment. I'd recommend an fighter/mage or fighter/thief (multi-class, not dual-class). I'd say Jahiera would be a good bet because you'll have extra healing power, while with a fighter/mage you'll have Edwin and the main character, so you'll have lots of arcane power too. Jan is the best thief in the game because he can do all the good stuff a thief can do (except his backstabs suck) and he can still whip out the magic. You could use a Half-Orc Barbarian and include him.

So here's how I'd do it (in order of command)

Good Party

Keldorn
Minsc
Main Character
Jahiera
Yoshimo
Nalia

Evil Party
Viconia (Boost her Charisma any way possible)
Korgan
Main Character (it doesn't really matter whether the MC goes 2nd or 3rd in line)
Haer'Dalis
Jan or Jahiera (Jahiera if you chose a F/T, Jan for the others)
Edwin

There you go, even though many people will say I'm insane for telling you to put up with Jan and it will make you hate BG2 forever.

 

I'd have to go with Imoen over Nalia or Jan. Imoen will be able to unlock and disarm all the essential things in the game while Nalia can't do much of anything. If you really like picking pockets and laying traps you could take Jan but the extra levels Imoen gets in mage will make up for it.

As for Valygar vs Mazzy you should go for Mazzy in this case. You already have Keldorn, Minsc, and Jaheira in the front lines so you can use her archery support more than a fourth melee basher.

 

I see that many of you dislike Jan, why is that?

 

Not me. But I guess it's because, they dislike him for being so very annoying, but I and others like.

 

Elendrile, I was including Imoen in the party (notice Yoshimo).

Some people don't like Jan because of his stories about turnips and his annoying voice. I think they're kinda funny.

 

I absolutely love Jan! He is so funny! His mannerisms crack me up!

I don't have him regularly in my party though. I have Nalia as a basic full time member (until I get Imoen back) and I have her do the thief duties when I'm on major quests.

But when I want to go steal the Extra Healing Potions from the temples, and want to steal the Regeneration Ring from Ribald (as I just did today), what I do is drop Nalia off at Jan's house, pick up Jan in my party, and off we go!

IMHO, Jan is the best thief in the game! In regards to thief skills, and dialogue, I personally find him the best.

 

Yeah, surely the best thief in the game... *growls* and he is annoying too and a gnome. You know, they really suck in Forgoten Realms. Dragonlance gnomes are lot more funnier and they really have their own charateristics. So, Black Raven, don't take Jan into your party. Please?

Is Tempus really the evil deity for your cleric in BG2? Tempus isn't evil IMO he's more like neutral god. A chaotic one I'd add.

 

ok ok I'll just go with Nalia(or Yoshi) until I can get Imoen back....

[ September 17, 2003, 13:48: Message edited by: The Black Raven ]

 

Talos is the evil deity.

Jan has his moments. I've only ever taken him along when I wanted to see his interactions with different NPC combinations. I still love his "chats" with Anomen and Haer Dalis the most.

 

From a role playing perspective, Jan rocks the house -- he's everything a gnome should be. From a powergaming perspective, Jan still rocks the house -- I've said it so many times! His Illusionist status gives him an extra spell per level, which offsets his multi-classed nature. He becomes seriously dangerous by the end of the game. His combat skills are also adequate, in my experience. I almost always take him with me.

 

This has become a debate over Jan's usefulness instead of helping out The Black Raven with his party.

*smacks himself for not catching that*
I wouldn't be a F/M or F/T as your main char, just because you'd be much weaker than a pure class char unless you remove the xp cap. I'd prolly take a fighter, they're more needed for an evil party than any other class (You've only got Korgan, after all).

I don't really see a point in taking Yoshimo in either party. Honestly, Nalia is a good enough thief for any of the quests you'll be on early on, and Imoen can handle any needed thieving in the game. Valygar would provide better fighting skills (and he's got a pretty sweet quest ).

@Mystra
I'll call you insane for telling him to take H'D. He's really not that useful. He can't wear armor while casting spells, and his fighting skills are second rate. Yoshimo, or CN Anomen would be a better fit for that slot, if you want anyone at all (I found a f/t PC + Korgan + Viccy + Edwin party to kick.)

 

ok this is what I've settled on:

PC- elven archer
Keldorn
Aerie
Jan(yes Jan and I don't want to hear a word about it)
Annoymen
Valygar or Mazzy?

what do you think about it?

[ September 18, 2003, 00:44: Message edited by: The Black Raven ]

 

Rastor, it seems you have forgotten about Elven Chainmail. (Ok, it comes in a bit late, but still)
Haer'Dalis rocks, go for him. Now.

 

You can also get the Bard armour for him on his quest (I forget what it's called. You all know what I'm talking about).

Black Raven...

I would seriously consider taking Imoen instead of Jan.

a) She has good enough Thief skills with a few items you find.
b) She advances in levels (mage) way faster than Jan

I was only recommending Jan for the evil party, since he's the only thief for the evil party (from a roleplaying perspective).

Well, whatever you decide it doesn't make a big difference. The game is great no matter what party you have, and the conflicting dialogue (Minsc & Edwin, Keldorn & Viconia, etc) is always pretty funny.

 

Actually, no I didn't, but I found that it comes too late in the game to matter at that point. I always give it to Aerie or Imoen anyway.

@Raven
Valygar and Mazzy are both excellent characters. In yours, I'd take Mazzy since she's a bit better at melee (which you need), but either is good.

 

@ Rastor

I have to say I disagree with you, not only about Elven Chain, but H'D as well. Never liked him either, until recently. There are 2 bard-friendly armors you can get really early on. One is from one of the scheming nobles in Trademeet (very easy to get, one of the easiest quests), and the other is on one of the Assasins in the Planar Prison, which you get almost immediately after picking up HaerD'alis (Melodic Chain, which is AC3 IIRC), also very early on and only slightly more difficult than Trademeet.

I used to be the King of Anit-Bards, but now I'm playing through Spellhold, about to pick up Imoen, and can't decide if I even want to because it means giving up H'D! Decisions decisions...

 

ok here's the deal. I wanna declare this topic closed, by the replies it seems I'm gonna play the game countless times more so it doesn't matter what my party is since I'm probably gonna get to try all of the combinations anyway....