Good companions for a first full playthrough?

[Tealius Maximus]

Hello. I've been playing this game for a while, but I've never finished properly. However, I do want to beat this game. But I know that you can only bring 4 companions.
Who are the companions you recommend for a full first play-through? What sort of party build should I go for? Is it worth modding to allow 6 members?

[Fluff]

Lohse, since her questline and relationships are super well made, probably the best quest and character in the game.

Fane, interesting story, unique mechanics of undead, some more mistery in quest.

[Samarai]

I did my first playthrough modded with 6 characters because I thought it would be more fun to go through all the stories at once. I will say it's super entertaining to have more of a variety of classes in your playthrough, but it can be very minmax intensive, especially when it comes to managing gear and levels. Also, I'd highly recommend a mod or two to increase the difficulty, just because of the turn-based nature of the game it's going to be much easier.

If you decide you would like to go with the regular 4 companions instead, I'd say individual builds don't matter too much in the grand scheme of things. Any character can be built for any playstyle, although there are some minor considerations (such as unique character skill and starting stats). There are plenty of 'free build' mods on the workshop (I'd recommend a mod called 'Let Me Build You', but really, any of them will work) to make each character a completely blank slate stats-wise. With this in mind, when deciding what companions to take, it really comes down to the story experience.

Without spoilers, Lohse has the most solid and complete-feeling story of the bunch, and I recommend taking her or playing as her in your party (plus maddening song is a very good skill). The Red Prince is a close second, and has a very enjoyable character arc.

Sebille and Fane have compelling stories, but each have slight quirks near the end (Fane's seems quite rushed in Act 4, and Sebille's goes off in a completely different direction halfway through)

I ended up liking Ifan's story, but it's not quite up there with the other four. I was pretty unimpressed with Beast, both as a party member and story-wise.

As for party build considerations, it depends what mods you're playing with and how you like to play. There are plenty of online videos/guides for this kind of stuff. If you're playing vanilla, you generally want to have all your party members focus on magic armor or physical armor and not split between the two. I personally think Divinity Unleashed is a more interesting combat overhaul, but to each their own.

Good luck finishing the game! It's one of my personal favorite games of all time, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

[Echsrick]

the red prince, everyone else matters less but kin

[Alex_x86]

Play as Red Prince since there are bits of the story that are not really available to you when he is in your team. His story is probably the best one or on same level as Lohse one.

Companions in the order I would choose them:
Lohse -- I think here story is really interesting,
Ifran -- really like his personality as well as his quest,
Fane -- down the road he has some revelations on what the hell is going on
Beast -- nice personality, ok quest.
Sebille -- ok personality, ok quest, I would not recommend to have her in the same party as Red Prince since the point that concludes her personal quest interferes with Red Prince.

Don't take me wrong -- all characters are good and interesting but if I had to choose this would be how I would do it.

[Tealius Maximus]

Originally posted by Samarai:

I did my first playthrough modded with 6 characters because I thought it would be more fun to go through all the stories at once. I will say it's super entertaining to have more of a variety of classes in your playthrough, but it can be very minmax intensive, especially when it comes to managing gear and levels. Also, I'd highly recommend a mod or two to increase the difficulty, just because of the turn-based nature of the game it's going to be much easier.

If you decide you would like to go with the regular 4 companions instead, I'd say individual builds don't matter too much in the grand scheme of things. Any character can be built for any playstyle, although there are some minor considerations (such as unique character skill and starting stats). There are plenty of 'free build' mods on the workshop (I'd recommend a mod called 'Let Me Build You', but really, any of them will work) to make each character a completely blank slate stats-wise. With this in mind, when deciding what companions to take, it really comes down to the story experience.

Without spoilers, Lohse has the most solid and complete-feeling story of the bunch, and I recommend taking her or playing as her in your party (plus maddening song is a very good skill). The Red Prince is a close second, and has a very enjoyable character arc.

Sebille and Fane have compelling stories, but each have slight quirks near the end (Fane's seems quite rushed in Act 4, and Sebille's goes off in a completely different direction halfway through)

I ended up liking Ifan's story, but it's not quite up there with the other four. I was pretty unimpressed with Beast, both as a party member and story-wise.

As for party build considerations, it depends what mods you're playing with and how you like to play. There are plenty of online videos/guides for this kind of stuff. If you're playing vanilla, you generally want to have all your party members focus on magic armor or physical armor and not split between the two. I personally think Divinity Unleashed is a more interesting combat overhaul, but to each their own.

Good luck finishing the game! It's one of my personal favorite games of all time, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Is there a mod you recommend for balancing?

[Fluff]

Play on Tactician. Install Divinity Unleashed, all Odinblade classes overhauls. Unable random champion modifiers for mobs through gift bag in-game (mb after you got your 4-6 men party not before).

Should be hard enough. Enemies will use new skills from those classes overhauls. Random champion boons from gift bag also make some fights much harder than needed. If you find some abilities too OP, don't use them (too much vampirism can be for sure). Play for fun with 6 party.

[ensoph42]

are you still looking for players? I know very little.