14 replies to this topic

[Seraphim24]

So... what do you guys tend to go with in a typical BG run?

 

I usually go with

 

Minsic

Edwin

Imoen

Kivan

Main character is Human Fighter

Viconia

 

Because well all those characters are pretty super overpowered, even if a few of them hate each other (learn to be a TEAM! )

 

I used the split up exploit to get Minsc to be in the party minus Dynaheir and all that... not sure if they patched that and all. Anyway, Edwin is just a better mage than Dynaheir IMO so that's why that happens.

 

Possibly a repeat topic didn't see anything recent though.

[ussnorway]

Minsic is the odd one out so why is he there... i.e, he does the tank roll, range dps or scouts?

I'd replace him with Shar-Teel for a better fighter with the option to dual into a thief... she does not attack me after a battle which is a nice difference as well.

 

I always take Neera over Edwin but if you don't have Minsc then its less of a stress and Viconia has better (possible) armour | spell defence but Branwen is a stronger cleric so if you want a cleric that fights in melee then she wins... also helps that she doesn't have eveyone you run into spitting on you.

[Aasim]

Coran (range fighting + backstab), Edwin (better than any mage you can create), Korgan (tank), Viconia if you need a cleric, PC whatever (ranger/cleric, blade are very powerful)

[Grond0]

In recent years I've rarely used NPCs, but in the past I've been fond of Kagain.  Give him the dexterity gauntlets and the constitution tome and he's the best NPC tank in BG1.  

[Seraphim24]

Kagain was one of those characters I definitely probably should of used more before.... just an incredibly awesome fighter.

 

Honestly it seems like if you just go straight evil parties in BG you can get some incredible results I've found... Minsc is really the biggest exception (and Branwen as well I suppose?).

 

Hm interesting idea for next possible replay

[Aasim]

Imo, Minsc is bad. In BG2, he lacks HP and AC to tank. His damage output is limited since he's a ranger. Fwiw, I change him into a barbarian, it suits him much better.

[Seraphim24]

Well doesn't his HP depend on your rolls? I think if you min/max it he ends up pretty good but like anyone else he can be screwed... I'm guessing they patched that in EE.

 

I guess Rangers used a d10 though instead of d12 or something for fighters though huh... it's been a bit of awhile

 

Rangers in general though were kind of wasted as an idea in BG1 though it's true, no grand master weapon specialization, I think he was best basically just as an archer ultimately I think that's how I used him mostly in most BGs.

[ussnorway]

a ranger can scout (light armour) and weapon master is not an issue in bg1 however the fact he may turn on you is why I don't like him for no-reload runs.

 

You do also have (Druid) Faldorn who is True Neutral even if most people mistake her for Evil ... her Summon Dread Wolf is handy for running from a ambush and she levels quick in bg1 but Druids need a better understanding of the game to really shine.

[corey_russell]

At low levels, I prefer not to have any mages (because of archers in ambushes mainly). Thus my parties are everything but mages early on (unless of course playing a MP party or am a mage myself). But eventually I find a party like this very effective:

 

Kagain

Imoen

Jaheira (mainly because of insects/call lightnings)

Branwen

Dynaheir (or Edwin)

 

One reason this group is so effective is because this group can do a web/silence/call lightning combo - very effective against enemy parties. This works well if I am a fighter type myself.

 

For 4 man parties I like this setup. 

 

Kagain (with DEX gauntlets)

Branwen

Imoen (dualed to mage - usually level 5 but sometimes 6)

 

With this group my main character can be almost anything, since Branwen can off-tank in ambushes if need be.

[Seraphim24]

At low levels, I prefer not to have any mages (because of archers in ambushes mainly). Thus my parties are everything but mages early on (unless of course playing a MP party or am a mage myself). But eventually I find a party like this very effective:

 

Kagain

Imoen

Jaheira (mainly because of insects/call lightnings)

Branwen

Dynaheir (or Edwin)

 

One reason this group is so effective is because this group can do a web/silence/call lightning combo - very effective against enemy parties. This works well if I am a fighter type myself.

 

For 4 man parties I like this setup. 

 

Kagain (with DEX gauntlets)

Branwen

Imoen (dualed to mage - usually level 5 but sometimes 6)

 

With this group my main character can be almost anything, since Branwen can off-tank in ambushes if need be.

 

Hm I see... Mages are indeed weak in the early going, and if you are doing no-reload that makes them vulnerable.

 

It's weird I'm thinking about it and the evil thing... I think I might want to try somehow with

 

Kagain

Imoen

Jaheira

Edwin

Main character offensively specced fighter

Viconia

 

I think the evil characters are kind generally more interesting in BG1 at least anyway haha!

[corey_russell]

The reason I think Kagain is good has nothing being good/evil, but rather he's the only fighter type (paladin/ranger/fighter) who is a shorty. E.g. thus has shorty saves (you know, the +5 bonus if 18 CON). Being a dwarf and his good saves vs. death is very helpful in the Cloakwood for example.

 

I suppose there's Montaron, but he isn't a pure fighter (and thus wouldn't have the HP of a single class one), and I'm not sure he has the 18 CON - I want to say he doesn't (and thus doesn't get the +5 bonus to saves if not).

[Flamedance]

If just aiming for the most powerful party:

 

Berserker, -> mage at either lvl 9 or lvl 13 (in SoA).

Imoen, -> mage at lvl 4

Kagain. Best tank by far. Get him the Bracers of Dexterity and some variant of plate asap.

Viconia (if using the Happy Patch). 18 wisdom and 50% magic resistance. No other cleric even comes close.

Coran: best archer in the game. Archery rules in BG1. Good thief too. Imoen for the traps, Coran for the rest.

Edwin: funniest character in the game. And obviously the best mage.

[corey_russell]

Just as a point of reference - since I can take a plain jane fighter kit and defeat BG 1 by himself, that implies that it really doesn't matter what your party is in BG 1 at the end of day. Which it doesn't. I've beat BG 1 with all ranger parties, all paladins, all fighters, all thieves, all mages, etc.

 

Which is why I just choose who would be the most fun in the group.

 

It should be noted in your group Coran isn't available until chapter 4 in vanilla, which doesn't help you in the early going. Also, Viconia's HP can definitely be a drawback. I've made a pathing error and she got chunked by ogres in an ambush.

 

I agree both Kagain and Edwin are the best at their respective categories. I would also agree Imoen should be the in the group - you can't get a thief/mage otherwise without her in vanilla BG 1. Because Coran isn't available until Chapter 4, I would probably dual Imoen to mage at 5 or 6 instead of 4.

[ussnorway]

Well you could give Safana the intel book to dual her into mage but I agree that Imoen covers the roll and I'd recommend Eldoth in lu of Coran as that adds another character with wands... both guys can scout for you.

[Seraphim24]

Well true I wasn't picking them because they were all evil per se, I just noticed some of the better characters were evil aligned.