Party Composition and Party Size

[golfan88]

I know that D&D is normally balanced for a party size of 4 and that is how BG3 will be designed for as well but that kinda sucks. Does anyone know of a good mod that will allow increased party size that doesn't freeze up or have bugs?

Secondly, looking at the Origin characters I am trying to figure out how to have a balanced party but some tend to directly oppose each other when it comes to making decisions (I am looking at you Shadowheart and Lae'zel) or others want to straight up murder each other (Wyll - Karlach is a nice Tiefling)... So does anyone have suggestions on party composition on launch or have already decided what they are planning on doing?

I am not super interested in either Astarion's or Gale's backstory unfortunately (especially Astarion since his personality is funny) and with Wyll's update, he will most likely be my spellcaster of choice. The party needs some kind of healer so unless I create one, Shadowheart is your go to even though she is Trickery Domain. This leaves Lae'zel, Karlach, and the Dark Urge. So does this mean you as a player have to babysit everyone to make them all happy or does anyone see a better way to make their party besides just ignoring Origin Characters altogether?

[Kyutaru]

Going with Astarion, Shadowheart, Minthara, and a Dark Urge and just become the Warriors of Darkness.

[Time Traveler]

Any party without Astarian is a win.

[Agent Chieftain]

Karlach, Shadowheart and I'm currently thinking of going with Minsc for my final companion.

[Agent Chieftain]

I can't find it right now, but I saw a video that said you could also respec and multiclass companions as you want. Though they said it would remove some unique dialogue regarding their background and whatnot. If it's a character you don't really care much about, you could do that.

I mentioned Minsc, and there are other non-origin companions. Possibly more than we know of for now. Jeheira is a druid who's primary stat is wisdom. So you could also possibly reclass her as your cleric if you don't want Shadowheart.

And if you don't care about their stories either way, and just need a slot filled, just do a hireling.

[Grimjaw]

Yea one video i watched about the realse version is like in Divinity originsin 2 you can respeec your NPCs. Racial are loosing their benefits too so that you can be any class with any race you want, the benefits are now tied to the classes instead.

[golfan88]

Originally posted by Agent Chieftain:

I can't find it right now, but I saw a video that said you could also respec and multiclass companions as you want. Though they said it would remove some unique dialogue regarding their background and whatnot. If it's a character you don't really care much about, you could do that.

I mentioned Minsc, and there are other non-origin companions. Possibly more than we know of for now. Jeheira is a druid who's primary stat is wisdom. So you could also possibly reclass her as your cleric if you don't want Shadowheart.

And if you don't care about their stories either way, and just need a slot filled, just do a hireling.

The biggest reason I am curious is I am going back and forth on playstyles now that multiclassing is a thing and the backstories that I am most interested in. Normally I don't care about vampires but I want to try Astarion out as either some kind of Arcane Trickster using the Headband of Intellect or a combo of Assassin and Gloom Stalker or Assassin and Way of Shadow. On the same note, it would be fun to multiclass Wyll into a Bard College of Swords or make Lae'zel partially Paladin.

Backstory-wise I am most interested in Lae'zel due to the videos showing her interactions with Queen Vlaakith, Shadowheart and Shar/the mystery box, Wyll and his cambion patron, and Karlach with the Blood War (if anything about Descent into Avernus, Elturel or Baldur's Gate in general pops up... but I am guessing the soul coins power her infernal engine heart).

I play and DM my fair share of 5E games but after participating in EA and seeing that Wizards could learn any spell using scrolls... from that point forward, I knew this was going to be based on 5E kinda but wouldn't be a direct 1-to-1 adaptation.

Also I didn't play BG or BG2 so I unfortunately don't know much about Baldur's Gate the city or Minsc, Boo, or Jaheira.

[katzenkrimis]

Originally posted by golfan88:

-How to have a balanced party

-Some tend to directly oppose each other.

-Others want to straight up murder each other

-Does anyone have suggestions on party composition?

All good points.

You are observant enough to know that trouble is brewing. And it won't arrive in a mug.

This game will test your party management skills. Especially when things go sideways.

I just accept what I can get at the start. Whatever is closest to resembling what I want from a party, long-term. And then prepare for the worst.

They will start dropping like flies. Dying, going their own way. Whatever happens is unpredictable, but as soon as I lose an important party member, if I can't replace them at camp with an equal, then it's hireling time.

For example, if I lose my Rogue, which is possible because Astarion is a problem, I will replace him with another Rogue. I won't just throw in anybody.

It's all about keeping your party strong with the right balance and classes. Not who has a crush on who, or which character you are trying to appease.

[Solaris]

In EA I play with Laezel, Shadowheart and Gale. Entertaining the thought of substituting Laezel with Karlach and Shadowheart with Jaheira for a party of non-evil characters. Having doubts about Shadowheart though since I suspect that her and her artifact is key to the story. I really don't trust her though.

[golfan88]

Also, I was thinking of multiclassing most of my party to simply try multiple builds - especially since Larian has reworked it so there aren’t level req’s…

How would you multiclass Shadowheart? Normally I wouldn’t suggest cleric Paladin but it might be interesting since I don’t need to spend ASIs to build up strength… thoughts?

[golfan88]

Originally posted by Solaris:

In EA I play with Laezel, Shadowheart and Gale. Entertaining the thought of substituting Laezel with Karlach and Shadowheart with Jaheira for a party of non-evil characters. Having doubts about Shadowheart though since I suspect that her and her artifact is key to the story. I really don't trust her though.

I recently tried another party composition (single custom character - Wild Magic Sorcerer) and my friend tempted me to do an evil playthrough. The only thing I have done was take out the Druid Grove and it had a lot of fallout but that is about it - so more chaotic neutral than true evil. I mainly wanted to see if I could unlock the Minthara Romance scene, which I did.

Long story short - I have been running around with both Shadowheart and Lae'zel in my party at most times... swapping between Astarion and Gale. I have had a lot of REALLY INTERESTING (No Spoilers) backstory come out from all of these Origin characters... specifically when I was escorting the Goblin Sazza back to the Goblin Camp. A few eye opening cinematics that I hadn't seen before. You will lose a few companions and origin characters but the story revealed this way was fascinating. There was even a tid bit revealed by talking with and exploring near the Ogres in the Blighted Village.