Party makeup?

[Hooter]

so I recently started a new run at BG, first time on the enhanced edition, and I'm loving all the new party characters they added. so far I've gone with Imoen, Minsc, Neera, Branwen and Dynaheir. I really liked the monk character but I wanted Dynaheir so I could keep Minsc happy. I also liked Dorn, but I didn't think he'd fit very well since I'm playing as an OP Cavalier. Actually starting to think I might restart as a blackgaurd so I can bring Viconia (who I love) with me.

Anyway, what do you guys think about the new character's? Do you use them or tend to stick with the classic ones?

[Talana 💃]

Well, my party is Imoen, Jaheira, Ajantis, Branwen and Coran. No one new.

[Dufflebags]

I want to do a playthrough with all the new characters. Working with Imoen, Jaheria, Khalid, Minsc and Neera myself. I'm sure you know this but you can easily get rid of Dynaheir or Khalid/Jaheria without upsetting their partners. I simply took Dynaheir in my party and promptly marched her off by herself to die, after she was a corpse you can dump her body by the road side and Minsc will handle it quite well. (:

[Talana 💃]

Originally posted by Dufflebags:

I want to do a playthrough with all the new characters. Working with Imoen, Jaheria, Khalid, Minsc and Neera myself. I'm sure you know this but you can easily get rid of Dynaheir or Khalid/Jaheria without upsetting their partners. I simply took Dynaheir in my party and promptly marched her off by herself to die, after she was a corpse you can dump her body by the road side and Minsc will handle it quite well. (:

Where`s your heart, you meanie! ? To get rid of Khalid , I plan to send him on vacation ;) .
I simply go to a map with a nice little hut, send him into the hut by himself , leave the map and never return. When I finish the game, he and Jaheira can reunite and live happily ever after ;) !

[Talana 💃]

Originally posted by Tal:

Party Makeup ? ...... let me see ... the women ( apart from the amazon ) usually wear makeup. And i know the Paladin likes to have a laugh .. apart from them, my hard core adventures tend not to wear it :)

:D .... If you have Minsc in your party, I am quiet sure he uses discrete makeup ....

[GKL206]

If you google 'Baldur's Gate - Party Creation' there's a very exhaustive guide written by Chris Lee which tells you everything you could possibly want to know. I like two melee fighters: one primarily defensive - Ajantis or Kagain depending on your morals - and one to deal damage - Minsc or Dorn. Then a thief for lock-picking and trap disarming: the later stages get very tricky without good trap skills. (The game I just finished got very tricky: I'd dualled Imoen but until her theif skills came back was using Coran and he's rubbish with traps.) Two magic users, preferably one agressive mage and a priest/druid for defense and healing and a specialist archer, Coran or Kivan to kill opponents at a distance. And that's your six. Or you could sub in a bard to take the ranged attack specilaist role as they can use wands and have other skills to boot. I've never got on with bards personally but I'm sure other folks love them.
Of the new characters I love Dorn but on my last playthrough had to drop him as my rep was getting too high and there was the danger he'd go off in a huff. I kept Neera with my party to the end as Wild mages are fun, if frustrating sometimes. I'll have another go as evil soon to finish Dorn and try the evil mage.

[Dufflebags]

I really like the bard in IwD. Never tried one in BG.

[Talana 💃]

Originally posted by Dufflebags:

I really like the bard in IwD. Never tried one in BG.

I tried Bard in BG, even tried to make my main character as one. But I find them to be almost useless in this game - that is compared to the other classes.
The Bard songs are good, - but when they sing, they can`t fight. This changes in later D&D games (I believe the first is IWD2) , with newer rules.

[Hooter]

Yeah, I also find Bards like Garrith to be pretty much useless. I really like the idea behind bardsong, and being able to cast spells, but it's just not enough to make up for not having a dedicated mage or thief.

And, as far a getting rid of Dynaheir goes, I know it can be done. The gods know I've sent Khalid down into a dungeon alone more then once. But I find as I'm getting closer to old age (30), I'm getting a bit soft and can't quite bring myself to kill off characters I don't like the way I used to. Too many years of rolling Lawful Good I suppose.

[Talana 💃]

Originally posted by Owly:

Yeah, I also find Bards like Garrith to be pretty much useless. I really like the idea behind bardsong, and being able to cast spells, but it's just not enough to make up for not having a dedicated mage or thief.

And, as far a getting rid of Dynaheir goes, I know it can be done. The gods know I've sent Khalid down into a dungeon alone more then once. But I find as I'm getting closer to old age (30), I'm getting a bit soft and can't quite bring myself to kill off characters I don't like the way I used to. Too many years of rolling Lawful Good I suppose.

That`s why you should have him take a vacation in a hut at a remote map . I am a true softie - always playing neutral good . So when I leave Khalid, I imagine Jaheira and him reunite when the adventure is over. He is too afraid of fighting anyway, so it is really a nice thing to do. Imagine him fishing and enjoying nature ;) You should of course clear the map of enemies before you leave him :)

[GKL206]

I recently lost the Joseph's wedding ring quest by being nice to cast-offs from a pair. I put Xzar safely out of the way in a house in Nashkell to pick up Edwin then realised it was Jospeh's widow's house. So Xzar is perfectly happy there unless I return when he'll realise he can't live without the love of his life and I lose my thief.
Karmic retribution for that time I sent Dynaheir into a warehouse to be ripped apart by savage dogs, I suppose.