Party members for elder brain fight?

[Edmund Greyfox]

I finished up the temple of Bhaal and am going to head off to deal with the elder brain, but I'm having trouble deciding who i should take in my party. I'm playing as a paladin, and my party for most of the game has been me, shadowheart, astarion and gale.

I really want to take Karlach along so she can become a mind flayer, so my main question is whether I'm really going to need Astarions lock pick and disarm skills in this part of the game? I can't see going without shadowheart's healing and gales AOE so switching out Astarion for Karlach seems like my only choice, but I really don't want to get halfway there and find that there's a lock door i can't get past or a room full of traps i can't disarm.

Any suggestions?

[JF]

The final part is just one big battle. No locks need picking.

[♠.brT]

I think i only saw two doors that can be lock picked, but you can break through those doors if you want so.. no lock picking or even disarm skills required. So go ahead and pick Karlach if you want.

[Edmund Greyfox]

Originally posted by JF:

The final part is just one big battle. No locks need picking.

Thank you. I appreciate the response. :)

[Joeycentral]

1) Lae'zel. She is an important character and I just feel she is needed for the final battle.
2) Shadowheart: Her utility is top tier.
3) Minthara: Best girl no need to explain
4) Yourself so you can enjoy the drussy at the end.

[Edmund Greyfox]

Originally posted by Joeycentral:

1) Lae'zel. She is an important character and I just feel she is needed for the final battle.
2) Shadowheart: Her utility is top tier.
3) Minthara: Best girl no need to explain
4) Yourself so you can enjoy the drussy at the end.

No Minthara available because i didn't know i could knock her out and recruit her until after i killed her.

No room for La'zael if i want to make Karlach into a mind flayer unless i leave either shadowheart or gale behind, and somehow i think I'm going to need both healing and AOE spell casting. This is one of those times when i really wish they had made the game with 5-6 party member slots.

I do appreciate the responses from everyone though. It's nice to see there are at least a few people here that are willing to provide information and discuss things related to the game that aren't just political arguments.

[Lekker]

Anyone who can run fast. The FINAL-FINAL boss battle with a massive spoiler can be easily skipped because ain't nobody got time for dat.

[Ironwu]

Originally posted by Lekker:

Anyone who can run fast. The FINAL-FINAL boss battle with a massive spoiler can be easily skipped because ain't nobody got time for dat.

Dimension Door FTW. TWO players jumping huge distance in one go.

[seeker1]

Spoilers?

You've gotta take Karlach if you don't want to take a mindflayer, or become a mindflayer, because she's the only companion who's willing to transform. But you know that. It's also one of the only two options to save her life. That's why she agrees.

You don't have to take Gale. If you do, you have to talk him out of suicide bombing the Netherbrain. BTW, you apparently still get an epilogue if he does it - because that skips 2 final battles- where his tressym tells you how much she misses him.

There is one door on the LH ascent to the top that's locked. Easy to deal with with a knock spell. Don't need Astarion. (The other route requires you to topple a statue and climb it.)

I feel it's important to bring Lae'Zel if you are going to free Orpheus since she would want to be there. Now, BTW, she FREAKS out if the Emperor eats his brain, or if he turns into a mindflayer, but I think she's more accepting of the latter, as is Voss. But she doesn't have to be there.

Wyll and Minsc can both give inspiring speeches to the folks in the last hall, esp. if Wyll has become Grand Duke. No big deal, so can you, They don't have to be there, and as usual Minsc's speech barely makes sense.

Halsin and Jaheira are in the last hall to cheer you on, (and buff you) whether you brought them or not.

Mithara wants to be there when you confront the Absolute. Now that I have her, I take her. She definitely wants you to take control of it. I don't know this personally, but have read even your romance (if working) is fine, if you decide to just destroy it, she dislikes your choice, but accepts it.

In short, BTW, there's nothing stopping you from charging the Netherbrain with 3 hirelings, if you want to. (In my final assault I usually have at least 1 hireling, but I'm using a party of 6.)

[Ianarius]

Originally posted by seeker1:

Spoilers?

You've gotta take Karlach if you don't want to take a mindflayer, or become a mindflayer, because she's the only companion who's willing to transform. But you know that. It's also one of the only two options to save her life. That's why she agrees.

You don't have to take Gale. If you do, you have to talk him out of suicide bombing the Netherbrain. BTW, you apparently still get an epilogue if he does it - because that skips 2 final battles- where his tressym tells you how much she misses him.

There is one door on the LH ascent to the top that's locked. Easy to deal with with a knock spell. Don't need Astarion. (The other route requires you to topple a statue and climb it.)

I feel it's important to bring Lae'Zel if you are going to free Orpheus since she would want to be there. Now, BTW, she FREAKS out if the Emperor eats his brain, or if he turns into a mindflayer, but I think she's more accepting of the latter, as is Voss. But she doesn't have to be there.

Wyll and Minsc can both give inspiring speeches to the folks in the last hall, esp. if Wyll has become Grand Duke. No big deal, so can you, They don't have to be there, and as usual Minsc's speech barely makes sense.

Halsin and Jaheira are in the last hall to cheer you on, (and buff you) whether you brought them or not.

Mithara wants to be there when you confront the Absolute. Now that I have her, I take her. She definitely wants you to take control of it. I don't know this personally, but have read even your romance (if working) is fine, if you decide to just destroy it, she dislikes your choice, but accepts it.

In short, BTW, there's nothing stopping you from charging the Netherbrain with 3 hirelings, if you want to. (In my final assault I usually have at least 1 hireling, but I'm using a party of 6.)

How can I have a party of 6? With a mod?

[seeker1]

Yes, Party Limit Begone.