Do I need to pick between the Shadow Thieves and Bodhi only? (NO SPOILERS PLEASE)

[Herodotus]

So, I am playing a pretty lawful character, and as far as RP, I sort of feel that he wouldn't ally with the Shadow Thieves and especially not with Bodhi. My question is, do I have any other ways of moving the story along and finding Imoen? Or do I NEED to pick Shadow Thieves versus Bodhi?

Again, this is my first time playing BG2, so please no spoilers. I would have posted this on the new player channel, but I worried that this question in and of itself is a spoiler to some.

[Wicket W. Warrick]

It's either Shadow Thieves or Bodhi, otherwise you won't advance in story. Shadow thieves quests will request nothing against your allignment.

[Herodotus]

Originally posted by stef.corsi:

It's either Shadow Thieves or Bodhi, otherwise you won't advance in story. Shadow thieves quests will request nothing against your allignment.

Awesome. Thanks!

[✪ Wuhan Warrior 🍉🍉]

Bodhi is basically more aligned towards evil characters whilst Shadow Thieves are more towards neutralish-good, imo. I mean the Shadow Thieves have their top chief sit in the Council of Amn so yeah, it is tolerable as far as the Order of the Most Radiant Heart is concerned or any good aligned character for that matter.

[Zotliatlicor]

I will try not to spoil.

And i wrote a bunch of stuff and realized i spoiled everything so no. Delete.

Read carefully the Main story Quests, they are good reading, and they force on you a difficult choice (If you are Lawful Good at least)

[wendigo211]

It's a lesser of two evils situation, granted for a 2e Paladin or Ranger that should be an impossible choice, since siding with either should make them fall. But it's a videogame, there isn't a GM who can adjust a story for the classes that can't knowingly work with an evil organization, even if it is against another evil organization. I think there's a mod that offers a third option. I suppose for a good character it comes down to undead monsters are worse than human monsters. At least in 2e lore, there's no such thing as a non-evil vampire.

For the Shadow Thieves, Bhaal used to be one of the Deities they worshipped, so helping a Bhaalspawn would make sense for them.

[Wicket W. Warrick]

Originally posted by wendigo211:

It's a lesser of two evils situation, granted for a 2e Paladin or Ranger that should be an impossible choice, since siding with either should make them fall.

That's a little of an exhaggeration, usually it's what the annoying paladin player tells you at the table to ruin your adventure. :D :D :D
In fact, in the very forgotten realms world, for example Drizzt do Urden, being a ranger, sided with thief guildes (Jarlaxle, Bregan D'Aerthe), assassin (Artemis Entreri), and many more, never losing his ranger status. That is because codes, like allignments, are based on actions, not factions. It is how you behave that counts, not who surrounds you.
It can be something disturbing from roleplaying point of view, but in 2e you fall intentionally committing evil acts. Nothing of this happens pairing with shadow thieves, unlike many other parts of the story....

[Centurion]

There is an alternatives mod for those who really don't like either side, but you lose a lot.