NPC party for an Archer

[Chris P Lettuce]

With COVID-19 forcing a stay at home order...I recently resumed my BG saved game. Been working on this game for 4 years, starting all the way from BG1. Ended up finishing SoD, (I loved fighting Caelar Argent's Commander in a 1 vs 1 duel during the actual siege of Dragonspear).

Moving into BG 2.... I am running a non-reload BG2 game, unless my main character dies...currently..

1. Neera got chunked by a fire trap
2. Yoshimo chunked by Vampires during Windspear Hills Quest (Curse you Firekragg).
3. Minsc has been chunked along side Yoshimo during the Vamp battle.
4. Tried to get the Ammo Belt and Bag of Holding from Watcher's Keep, but the Vampire spectres ganked my party except for my Archer (Who made it out alive). During that battle I lost tons of items including Sewer Cloak, Ring of Earth, Tuigan Bow, Golem Book, and more....
5. I told Keldorn to return home to his wife and kids. (Not sure if I can regain him).

Right now I am running a Viconia romance (Due to fanfiction reasons and she is the most fun IMO). Aerie is similar to many women I dated and Jaheria doesn't interest me.

Current Party.
1. Archer
2. Anomen
3. Viconia
4. Jaheri
5. Jan
6/ Utility slot - Rassad/Edwin/Valgyr/Cernd, etc (Depending on side quests and who I need).

I was running Korgan, however for RP reasons I struggle with forming a Evil party to adventure alongside my archer (Can only be good ailgnment).

The lack of having a tank concerns me. Korgan is evil. Keldorn does not get along with Viconia, almost forcing a Aerie romance). For those who have played through as an archer...what is your usual NPC party to adventure alongside?

Thanks1

Question: When running

[red255]

you have too many clerics. Jahiera is a tank and backup heal but you got Amonen and viconica and Jahiera. too many clerics.

no full time mage which is useful for the improved haste, you can tank with animate dead.

Non-evil Korgan is Mazzy.She tanks fine. you could also consider Keldorn as non-evil dorn. Minsc...exists. Valgar is a bit light for a tank. but you got options besides Korgan.

[Chris P Lettuce]

I guess the question is more, what typical parties have people formed during an archer playthrough. I am considering reloading and going with..

1. Archer.
2. Keldorn
3. Aerie (Romance)
4. Jan/Imoen
5. Neera
5. Anomen

However with my current situation @red255

What weapon proficiencies are suggested with Mazzy? Last time I played and remember (Kensage) she was very proficient in a short bow and had some proficencies with short swords?

I'm considering..

1. Archer (Long bow mastery, (Strongarm)
2. Viconia (romance)
3. Jahiera.
4. Anomen
5. Jan
6. Utility and then Anomen

Another question: Which bow is recommended between Heartseeker vs Strongarm (Str 19 after getting Tome from BG1. Managed to roll very well at CC and have current stats of 19, 19, 19, 10 intelligence, 18 Wisdom, 19 Charisma). That means I rolled an 18/18/18/9/15/18. Wow it has been so long.

[Chris P Lettuce]

Sorry I meant..

1. Archer
2. Viconia
3. Anomen
4. Jaheira
5. Jan/Inomen
6. Utility

[red255]

I used the Tulgan bow +1 attack per round shortbow for most of the game, using a thief to steal me arrows. had tons of +2 arrows before I stopped using my bow in favor of something that could use my Strength Modifier.

Dagger throwing Kensai is going to trump an archer. but hey thats a different story.

how many APR are you getting with strongarm? if its not 5 I'd use something else. strongarm's probably fine. improved haste fixes everything.

Hell I'm using an army scythe on Dorn with Kou Tou Bolts, the thing is disgusting on things that it can hit.

as an archer you should probably be getting a large amount of Thac0 archer's eyes should give you +2 DEX.

I think you get +1 STR from the deck of many things as a ranger. so looking at 22 DEX, less one from the good path on the trials. unless you want to fall.

---

What I am I recommeneding for Mazzy? I mean she could use the short sword of the mask and Kundane. she could use Foebane, I dont think she can use purifier even though she can pull it out of the rock. Imod+5 is a useful thing to have for immunity to level drain but she doesn't need to 5 point it.

I dunno. I think I usually bastard sword her, Foebane and Kundane.

[Zotliatlicor]

With many Clerics in the Party, take advantage of their Animated Dead Spells. On each Rest you can summon max nr several times, and Aerie Hastes them. They can be your tanks in many many Battles, until Aerie becomes a Goddess.

But Haerdalis is also a Tank. Mazzy has High HP, and if you get her to Dual Wield (she has many ** in Short Sword already), You can find a lot of Potent Powerful Short Sword. You can get Mask + 4 right early, there are several others. Pick Longsword and/or Katanas too as you level up.

Belm in Off-Hand, with Improved Haste, Thats a Tank. Joluv has a Flail that has 25% resist to all Physical damage. Splendid off-hand weapon too.

But Haerdalis with his Spins, and his Spells, can be the best tank in the game.

You need Non Npc Tanks until you are set up in Exp so your own tanks work as intended. I would have a pure Mage, and that leaves Nalia or Imoen. The Planetar is also a Tank. 3 mill exp changes the game a lot with the HLA's. So survive until then

[Zotliatlicor]

And in a pinch, or just for fun, take Wilson. A Ranger and his "Animal Companion" .Great RP wise. But i fear Wilson will be chunked eventually.

[Chris P Lettuce]

Who is Wilson? The Dog figurine from the Ranger Stronghold quest?

I'm at 7/2 with Five proficiency slots in Longbow and 3 in Shortbow (Planning to max Short Bow and use Gesen for the +4 and up foes). I'm currently using Strong Arm and a mixture of arrows. Level 12 or 13 (I just got my proficiency - lvl 5 in LB).


I already lost the tuigan bow during my attempt to conquer the 1st lvl of Watcher's keep. What happened is the Vampire Spectres ganked my party except for my archer. I left the map and completed Umar Hills. When I went back with a few more lvls I tried to regain my dropped items, but was unable to find them. I only regained my scroll case, Flail of Ages, potion case, gem bag, and some quest items. I'm upset I lost a lot of good items including tuigan and the firetooth, but I am determined to complete a non-reload.

Quests completed: Umar Hills, Windspear Hills, 1st Harper Quest, Tanner in Bridge District, Trademeet, D'arnise Keep, and some of the character quests (Baron Poker, Anomen knight, Keldorn going back to his family).

From an RP perspective: I am planning to write a fanfiction story post this playthrough centered around Artemis Entreri having a contract to get Gorian's Ward (Systematically killing/wounding characters from BG1 and 2 to draw Gorian's Ward into a trap). The story will center around Kivan and a party of characters from BG1 helping Gorian's Ward (Possible romance between Jaihera and Kivan).

I forgot about Nalia. I'm thinking about.

1. Archer
2. Viconia
3. Jan
4. Nailia
5. Anomen/Korgan. - I have to kill someone in Ahkatla to keep my reputation from getting to 18. So ill switch Korgan into the party for that.
6. The Bard - Haerdalis/Utility quest related characters.

[red255]

Originally posted by Chris P Lettuce:

Who is Wilson? The Dog figurine from the Ranger Stronghold quest?

No.

Wilson is a bear.

https://baldursgate.fandom.com/wiki/Wilson

gets 5 APR and 23 Str eventually.

something of a secret character, you have to start Neeras questline, get to the Hidden refuge talk to Zaviak (you may remember him from siege of dragonspear. get his quest.

before completing Neeras questline (getting the blue elf) you go get Rassad and do his questline, at the end of his quest line you need to speak to the bear in the cage. after speaking to the bear you buy the bear or kill his captor, killing his captor without speaking to the bear first does not get you the bear.

after leaving the area, the bear offers to join your party, which you can take back to Zaviak for a few red potions (25 STR 3, CON and INT I think) just showing him the bear, you get to keep the bear.


Its a bear. if you have ranger spells cast barkskin on him cuz he can;t wear armor or use potions.

[Chris P Lettuce]

Oh okay. I'll try and get him.

I managed to unlock the hidden refuge, but Neera got chunked by one of the fire traps. Will that be a problem in unlocking the quest?

[Chris P Lettuce]

Or furthering the quest.

[red255]

pretty sure the hidden refuge won't open its doors without neera.

did you open its doors or she died first?

[AlexMBrennan]

Another question: Which bow is recommended between Heartseeker vs Strongarm

Neither. Longbows sucks, and no longbow can hurt BG2 bosses. You need to get a crossbow.

As far as tanking goes, Rasaad might be able to hit sufficiently high levels to become a decent tank.

You might also want to consider delaying Watcher's Keep until you can pick up an extra tank in ToB. Attempting to do ToB DLC content early in SoA is obviously a somewhat risky strategy.

[Zotliatlicor]

Wilson can drink Healing Potions.....

And Tuigan Bow sets the Attacks to 3, so if you have more you will loose attacks. And 1d6 x 3 isnt that much lategame. Good early, as many Short bow users have only 1 base attack. and the ammo is plentiful.

If you are strong even a sling will be a far better Ranged Weapon than any Bow. Sling gains STR bonus to damage, same as throwing weapons like dagger and thrown Axe. So with a 19 STR you get + 7 to damage on each hit. This really adds up.

[Zotliatlicor]

Korgan: After you do his mini Quest, he will always be loyal. His evil Alignment is Neutral, which is sort of Selfish, and he follows Strength. He has never met anyone as strong as you, a BhaalSpawn, and will follow you always. !00 % Loyal forever. But he bickers if your rep goes up, but he will never leave.

[red255]

Originally posted by Zotliatlicor:

And Tuigan Bow sets the Attacks to 3,

not according to the ingame number of attacks listed on your character.

a level 13 warrior with no points in shortbow would get 4 attacks with it, and 9/2 with two points in short bow.