First playthrough BG EE(T) - party/character build

[ZYG-a]

Hi there, as i mentioned in topic i'm going to give a try EE version of BG. I'm a little expierenced in original saga, but i have a headache for few days (even after few hours of reading here and there about builds), because i can't make a build that feel right for me.

My party would be:
Ajantis (first line tank)
Branwen (healer, second first line)
Imoen (pure thief, shortbow),
Kivan (longbow),
Neera (mage).

I preffer to be a ranged CHARNAME (love bows), but with at least little bit of magic in him. Other thing is that i don't like play RPGs as a human, so... can you help me with this? :)

[Kimmaz]

I would suggest a Fighter/Illusionist with dual wielding flails and/or warhammers. You already have 3 ranged people in the party, and crushing damage is a good choice. Since you can only put 2 points into a weapon anyways (not 3 or 5), its very possible to put 2 points into longbow later on. This is my character:
https://i.imgur.com/Thv5Qka.png
If it matters, I have Dorn (blackguard), Viconia (cleric) and Shar-Teel (Fighter) in my party. Shar-Teel uses a bow, Viconia uses a mace and sometimes a sling. Dorn uses his Rancor. I use a warhammer and a flail, and sleep, armor, burning hands as touch damage since I am in melee range aleady.

[Wicket W. Warrick]

Well, bows and magic....elf fighter/mage or bard.
For the party...you can also think of rotating some characters. It seems quite good to me, maybe you don't need KIvan (if you choose a fighter mage), since you will be a good archer and you have Imoen. You can take Coran and leave Kivan and Imoen. WIth the last slot you can take Garrick, shar-teel (dual to thief) Rasaad or even Faldorn. Garrick can boost with songs or cast magic, expecially with scrolls or staffs. Shar-Teel, if you're not planning to be too good, is a wonderfull archer, but does her best as in backstab once you have dual class her. With boot of speed you can clean full areas only with her. With Faldorn you have some funny spells and summoning and you free Branwen from healing. Rassad is just for his quest and the fun of using a monk at low level.

In this party I would put both Branwen and Ajantis on first line, since the first can have better AC (expecially with the hidden armor of Nashkel), and the second does more damage. Branwen can be very good as a tank, but her damage remain low. So you could use Branwen as tan and Minsc for damage.

[ZYG-a]

Thanks for answers.

I miscalculated companions (i don't know why, but the best way to play for me is party of five), so would be work figher/ilusionist with longsword (one handed style because of RP, second hand for casting) with party:
Branwen (first line like CHARNAME),
Imoen (thief, shortbow),
Kivan (i'm not sure of him, because of his alignment),
Neera.

I want to play as (less-more) neutral.
Also I forgot in first post, that my main goal is to feel a rp, the second could be min/max. :)

Or maybe something like this:
1st line:
Branwen (cleric, warhammer)
Dorn (two-handed sword)
2nd line:
Imoen (thief, shortbow)
Neera (mage)
CHARNAME (gnome fighter/mage, shorbow/flails if needed)

[Wicket W. Warrick]

The second party is stronger in my opinion. Branwen make a good tank and Dorn does huge damage. They also have very useful combat natural skills. Imoen and charname can do huge ranged damage expecially when you can start to buy magic arrows.

IN the first option, there isn't any problem with allignment, but I would choose Shar-teel dual to thief instead of Kivan. You will have a good archer and backstabber,

[Kimmaz]

If you use mainly ranged, you dont need to put 1-3 points into weapon style at the start, since it does not affect ranged attacks. so you can put a point into a melee weapon or a second ranged weapon if you want to.

[ZYG-a]

So be it. :)
https://i.imgur.com/Qj4QZ9I.png - this fellow is next son of Bhaal (lots of clicking "reroll" for this stats).
** - shortbow and ** - flails (later * to single weapon style)

These mans will help him to deal with Sarevok:
Branwen, Dorn, Imoen, Neera.

Thanks for help and advices. :)

[Giraffasaur]

With those stats, you don't need more party members. Geez.

[Godsarm]

I'd start out by deciding whether you want to play a predominately Good or Evil party and design your protagonist accordingly. If you plan on going on to Siege of Dragonspear, some of the companions are not available at all, and this matters because they will have the equipment that you leave on them when you rejoin them. If you plan on playing into SoA and ToB, make sure the protagonist you are playing is one you want to live with for a long, long time. You will also want to ensure that you have great stats and pick your proficiency slots with care and a look toward the future.

Neera is problematic as the party's mage, really read over the limitations and potential liabilities of Wild Magic. She can use wands without having adverse effects, but I think she's a serious liability.

I have read that Kivan will drive you to complete a certain quest that you may be somewhat under powered to do early on and will disband if you don't do it fairly quickly. I've never used him.

I have used Branwen multiple times and she's okay as a spell caster and has access to Remove Fear, which you will need early on. But even in heavy armor, she isn't going to have a really low AC or really high HP or any real ability to deal much damage in melee or ranged combat. So...she's a tough pick but a safe one. Once you get enough gold and reputation, you won't have problems using potions of healing as your main source of healing.

In the first game Minsc is very good as is Jaheira, problem is you have to bring along their partner or arrange an "accident" for them. I have no problems using Dynaheir as the main party mage even though she can't cast Enchantment spells (Wands of Sleep and Fear are good stand ins) and I turn Khalid into an Archer by taking Longbow at 3/6 level giving him a Mastery level and again at 9 in Siege to High Mastery. He can wear heavy armor and has a decent DEX bonus that will give him a pretty low AC.

[Wicket W. Warrick]

Originally posted by Godsarm:

Neera is problematic as the party's mage, really read over the limitations and potential liabilities of Wild Magic. She can use wands without having adverse effects, but I think she's a serious liability.

Yes, but someone that already played Bg can choose her for roleplaying (who would abandon her to her fate?). Her talgings are very nice .
But, I agree, I don't like wild mages for playing, too many reloads.

Originally posted by Godsarm:

I have used Branwen multiple times and she's okay as a spell caster and has access to Remove Fear, which you will need early on. But even in heavy armor, she isn't going to have a really low AC or really high HP or any real ability to deal much damage in melee or ranged combat. So...she's a tough pick but a safe one. Once you get enough gold and reputation, you won't have problems using potions of healing as your main source of healing.

The problem is her strength , that doesn't allow a full plate, but you can take her the hidden armor in Nashkel. And after a while Gauntlets of ogre power on Baldur's Gate. I think that more than half of the enemies just hit you with 20.
For the other half, if you cast draw upon holy might, you have quite a lot, you really reach the best stats in game for a tank (20,19, 17), including a great strength because it stacks with the gauntlets (if you have it).
Sanctuary give always a way to flee or to reach enemies invisible. I would not waste her as a healer.
Since she uses hammers, you can equipe asheedena or until you find use Spiritual hammer.

[Godsarm]

Originally posted by stef.corsi:

Originally posted by Godsarm:

Neera is problematic as the party's mage, really read over the limitations and potential liabilities of Wild Magic. She can use wands without having adverse effects, but I think she's a serious liability.

Yes, but someone that already played Bg can choose her for roleplaying (who would abandon her to her fate?). Her talgings are very nice .
But, I agree, I don't like wild mages for playing, too many reloads.

Originally posted by Godsarm:

I have used Branwen multiple times and she's okay as a spell caster and has access to Remove Fear, which you will need early on. But even in heavy armor, she isn't going to have a really low AC or really high HP or any real ability to deal much damage in melee or ranged combat. So...she's a tough pick but a safe one. Once you get enough gold and reputation, you won't have problems using potions of healing as your main source of healing.

The problem is her strength , that doesn't allow a full plate, but you can take her the hidden armor in Nashkel. And after a while Gauntlets of ogre power on Baldur's Gate. I think that more than half of the enemies just hit you with 20.
For the other half, if you cast draw upon holy might, you have quite a lot, you really reach the best stats in game for a tank (20,19, 17), including a great strength because it stacks with the gauntlets (if you have it).
Sanctuary give always a way to flee or to reach enemies invisible. I would not waste her as a healer.
Since she uses hammers, you can equipe asheedena or until you find use Spiritual hammer.

I've used her multiple times simply because my good party didn't have a good early game option where we really needed Remove Fear. By the time we get to BG, I need the Gauntlets of Ogre Power on a Fighter that gets multiple attacks per round.

[Kimmaz]

Viconia DeVir can use a potion of 18 strength in combat, and that is a good solution. Perhaps Branwen is able to use it as well. Both are good melee tanks with shields and blunt weapons and spells.

[Godsarm]

My point is that if you are picking a Good party and it's your first time, Branwen has some limitations especially if you are not taking Minsc or Khalid/Jaheira since a first timer is going to be experimenting with potions, scrolls etc and most likely relying heavily on ranged and melee combat.

The easy party to pick if you are inexperienced and Good aligned is Minsc/Dynaheir, Khalid/Jaheira, Imoen and build your Protagonist as you see fit. The lack of a full time Cleric will be felt in not having access to Remove Fear and some of the Cleric Buffs.

As you get better, you have a better idea what combination of Buffs/Potions you will use on each Character.

I'm not downing Branwen, have played her most times but I don't rely on her to do much other than pack a sling and buff the party. Don't forget to have her keep a Remove Paralysis or two ready for those times you get Held or Paralyzed by a Ghoul.

Good hunting.