Party Composition.

[Blinkybubs]

What are some ideas on this? My main character is a cavalier.

[Syad]

The best party composition is EEkeeping the NPCs you like into the (hopefully lore appropriate) classes you want.

[Syad]

that having said if you don't want to go editing the game, there is nothing wrong with playing the default party and change as they come. I'm not sure tbh if you are asking about party members or classes to go with the cavalier.

[Peter]

Basically an ideal party should have:
- One or two fighters (cavalier is a fighter, so you can add another one, if you wish)
- One cleric or druid
- Two mages or mage + bard
- One thief

[Blinkybubs]

How much melee oriented characters would you all recommend? I'd like to include an archer if possible.

[Peter]

That's a relative question. It depends on your playing style. You can play with two melee characters + archer... but keep in mind that mages are the best characters in Baldur's Gate. If you want to do more melee damage, your mage can summon Skeletons and Mordekainen's Swords.

[Blinkybubs]

Does wisdom provide bonus spells to paladins?

[Syad]

No, and even if it did, a paladin has better things to invest stats into, like, Wisdom is his least important stat.

[Wicket W. Warrick]

A fighter, a cleric, a mage and a thief. Since the very beginning of D&D.
With some adaptation, you don't need a pure thief and you have mixed option.

If playing with custom party a good option could be.
a cavalier,
a fighter 7 dualled to cleric (Anomen style),
an archer,
a mage (or sorcerer if you have another mage),
a thief dualled to mage (Imoen style) or a thief multiclass
everyone you like (e.g. a bard, a druid, a monk,...)

If playing with game NPCs, it is influenced on who you like and who you meet. A good option for a cavalier can be:
Jaheira
Mazzy
Nalia or Yoshimo ---> Imoen
Aerie
everyone you like (e.g. Keldorn or Haer'Dalis)

Originally posted by Blinkybubs:

How much melee oriented characters would you all recommend? I'd like to include an archer if possible.

2 melee oriented character (1 for tank, 1 for damage, or 2 for damage and summoned creatures as tank)
1 archer (occasionaly melee)
another occasionaly melee character (e.g. a bard or a cleric)
2 arcane or similar characters who never go melee

[adhdedrn]

Last time I played a cavalier, I went with the following:

• Minsc, because you need a second front-liner with you and why wouldn't you
  
• Aerie, because cleric/mage and love interest
  
• Mazzy, as someone who can easily shift between melee and ranged as you need
  
• Imoen for thieving skills and more magic (substitute Nalia for when Imoen's not around)
  
• Whoever I felt like taking out of Nalia, Valygar, or Keldorn.

[wendigo211]

I know you've got a while to go, but be careful when you get to the "Tears of Bhaal" part of the game as a Cavalier, there are some choices there that can change your alignment and, IIRC, make a Paladin fall.

For a Cavalier. I'd probably go with:

• Anomen, he's a good choice for a Cleric and an okay melee companion.
  
• Nalia. Mage
  
• Either Jan Jansen or Yoshimo->Imoen. That fills your Thief role and gives you another Mage.
  
• Either Minsc, Valygar, Mazzy or Keldorn as second melee companion. Yes Keldorn is also a Paladin, but his Inquisitor dispel abilities are useful against enemy spell casters (and there are two Holy Avengers: Carsomyr and Purifier).
  
• One party spot open for doing quests with whoever you want or a romance option (Imo it's Viconia>Jaheira>Aerie>Neera, but Vicky can be tough to manage for a Cavalier).

[Zotliatlicor]

If you go with the default companions, it is my advice to make a party that is not only diverse in Classes, but also in things like weapon Choices.

You find so much different weapons and armour that you will feel gimped if you have no one to use it. If everybody uses long swords a lot of cool equipment will go to waste.

You need a Frontline, 2 or 3 characters that can use heavy armour and shields. Then you need someonen to stay in second row and fling arrows, stones and bolts.

A character can have more than one role. Like Jan Jansen, Mage, Thief and crossbow bolter. He fulfills any party.

You need (i recommend) a full time Mage, but both Nalia and Imoen are also thieves first and have a wider usable weapons choice and can do more than just cast spells. Neera can become the best mage in all the Saga (superior to Edwin in all ways).

You need a devoted Divine Caster, and i recommend having a Cleric. Druids rock but i do not like to NOT have a Cleric. Aerie can serve as Main Cleric (beeing both mage/Cleric supporter), but Anomen can take care of all the Blunt weapons and fight like a Fighter and be a full time devoted Cleric. Good Choice with Flail Mastery.

If you take Minsc with you, i advise to travel a bit with Keldorn to get Minsc' Berserk ability under control.

[6h0$t942]

Originally posted by Syad:

The best party composition is EEkeeping the NPCs you like into the (hopefully lore appropriate) classes you want.

No more spear proficiency for anomen.
------

Personally ide avoid vanilla aerie, valygar, and natalie. Haerdalis is...OK but i never cared for him.

Expanded characters...never really cared for them. The wild mage isnt terrible but she is such a massive c in BG1 i just cant do it. The monk is ok.

Party comp is pretty much up to you. Standard would be having a wizard , cleric , and thief. There are ways to compensate for not having them available, but there's no need to be sweaty.
Make sure you read what your spells do. Most are there for flavor, others are mission critical (chaotic commands), others punch well above their level (glitterdust)