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Balanced group?

Hello everyone,
I've just finished my first round of BG:EE and I'm planning to do a new playthrought with more of those new NPC.

Here is the group was thinking of :
Char name : Neutral Fighter ---> War hammer ( Blunt weapon user)
Cleric : Virconia ---> Sling
Melee dps : Dorn --> 2h Sword
Neera : Wmage --> Sling
Imoen : Thief ---> Short bow
Rasaad : Monk --> Katana/ sling user

So, I was wonder, could I beat the entire game? I essentially play with the core rule and increase difficulty for specific fight, like the Iron Throne.
I've heard Rasaad is kinda weak, so this is true, or he can become decent with the right gear?
To give and Idea of what I want to do if the complete the whole game and Kill Semaj, Angelo, Tazok and finish with Sarevok on the final fight.

Any commentary, suggestion?
Thx.

Comments

  • CaptRoryCaptRory Member Posts: 1,660
    You shouldn't have any real trouble.
    Rasaad is pretty weak, but you can work around it. I like the idea of a monk as the party's scout. He can sneak up and stunning fist someone.

    You'll want to dual class Imoen to a mage at some point (probably) so you don't have Neera casting too many spells on the party, hahaha.
  • zur312zur312 Member Posts: 1,366
    edited May 2013
    core rules should be no prolbem but you are kind of weak on melee with only 2 fighters thief monk low hp cleric and wizard

    dunno why people always ask if you are not playing with stupid weapons 3 3 3 3 3 stats or something baldur's gate isn't really hard game (especially another 2nd and more playthrought)
  • DonovanDonovan Member Posts: 6
    Well my last play was :
    Ajantis
    Yeslick
    Charname : Cleric
    Kivan
    Imoen
    Neera

    And I didn't had any much trouble at all, except when Neera was doing a bad surge on specific encounter. Because in fight, I tend to use more wands than spell, except for magic missile.

    So If I understand well, I might have at lot of use of invisibility potion on Rasaad?
  • CaptRoryCaptRory Member Posts: 1,660
    Or cast invisibility spells on him. But he gets thief points on leveling up, so you can keep dumping them into stealth. Slowly but surely he'll get stealthy.
  • KidCarnivalKidCarnival Member Posts: 3,747
    Hm, I see no problem. I assume charname will be tankier than Dorn, so the frontline roles are covered. I'd probably make Viconia a melee, too. She can get very low AC very easily, and while she doesn't do a lot damage (before ogre strength gloves), she also doesn't get hit much. Rasaad is annoyingly weak until (at least) midgame. I'd keep him on sling duty for a long, long time. There's only one +3 sling; something to consider if you plan with 2 sling users. And then, there's just a katana +1 vs. Viconia's prof in mace and early/easy to get Stupifier.
    Maxing Imoen's traps/locks and then dualing makes a better scout; she can cast Invisibility on herself and disarm traps she finds, which Rasaad can not.
  • IecerintIecerint Member Posts: 431
    As long as you have FTM included in the party, you're golden. Bonus points if there're Cleric spells in the mix somewhere.
  • GoodSteveGoodSteve Member Posts: 607
    edited May 2013
    Rasaad takes a lot of micromanagement to use. He will have a fairly low AC for most of the game and at the end it'll be roughly what a rogue would have with the best studded leather available, still not great considering he is only useful in melee. This coupled with his increased movement speed means that if you don't make sure to let the rest of the party catch up and initiate combat first, he will die frequently.

    Viconia isn't really a viable option in melee for a core rules game because she doesn't have the hit points to take a hit. The only way i'd suggest using her as a frontliner in a core rules game is if you keep cancelling the level up's to get her a better HP roll but then what's the point of playing on core rules? Sure, with 19 dexterity she can have a decent AC but her 10 strength means she cannot wear heavy armor until you get the Guantlets of Ogre Power or the Big Fisted Belt, both of which are found fairly late in the game. With splint mail (the heaviest armor she can wear with her natural strength) and a buckler or small shield she'll have roughly the same AC as a Khalid in Plate Mail but with roughly half the hit points. In late game encounters like Karoug, Aec'letec, and Sarevok even with high strength in order to wear heavy armor she will be hit often. These enemies can hit the tankiest people with relative ease so low hit point targets, no matter their AC, are very vulnerable to death so it's best to keep them in the back row away from harms reach.

    Your proposed party is a well balanced one, you have all the major roles covered and you shouldn't have any trouble beating the game. Truth be told, you could use the 5 weakest NPC's in the game and still beat it but obviously a well balanced powerful party will have an easier go of it.
  • SouthpawSouthpaw Member Posts: 2,026
    it is a good setup @Donovan.
    just my 2 cents :

    Buy the shield amulet at Nashkel Carnival for Rasaad - helps early with his high AC. Also, I'd rather give him darts to throw before you get to BG and do his quest (he'll get 2 very good items that will enhance his melee fighting - like @GoodSteve said) You already have 2 slingers and the sling isn't really a very good weapon. (low AttackPerRound. Bows attack at 2x, even the Light Crossbow attacks at 2x, just the slings are 1x). It's a shame his initial weapon choices are suboptimal. Also - rather give him Scimitars/Wakizashis than Katanas. There is only a +1 Katana in BGEE.

  • KidCarnivalKidCarnival Member Posts: 3,747
    Viconia can wear Ankheg Armor, which is non-magical, so her AC can further be lowered with Ring/Cloak/Necklace of Protection. With mace and sling, she can also wear a shield (though a small one only ar first - you get a +1 Small Shield from Dorn's cutscene early).

    Something to consider: This will be a mute party. The 3 new NPCs don't have any banter, neither does Imoen. Viconia will have no-one to banter with. Once the EE NPCs have exhausted their dialogues, you won't hear a thing except Viconia and Imoen commenting on reputation changes.
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  • KidCarnivalKidCarnival Member Posts: 3,747
    @Samus: In this group, Viconia won't speak. None of the other NPCs has the normal banter lines. NPCs without the ability to react to compliment/insult are not targeted by NPCs that have the lines.
  • CaptRoryCaptRory Member Posts: 1,660
    Viconia would make a good backup tank. Clerics lack most of the health and combat power of a fighter, but have all of the AC. If you need her to step up and beat someone down, after she levels up a bit she can buff herself to bring herself up to a fighter's level for short periods.
  • SouthpawSouthpaw Member Posts: 2,026
    Viconia has banter with Rasaad. During his quest.
  • EudaemoniumEudaemonium Member Posts: 3,199
    They all have conversations during their quests, but they lack the very basic-style banter that the original NPCs had. Like when Viconia compliments Shar-Teel and Shar responds that flattery will get her nowhere.

    Dorn, for example, has dialogue with Edwin, Viconia, and Kagain at various points, not including his typical 'X cannot be trusted' dialogue. Apparently Tiax as well. Rasaad just seems to talk to Vicky. Neera probably has some, but I don't know what or with whom.
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  • SouthpawSouthpaw Member Posts: 2,026

    Neera probably has some, but I don't know what or with whom.

    Neera has a tiny bit of dialogue with Edwin when you first encounter her and already have Edwin in your party - he suggests to leave her to the Red Wizards of Thay. I haven't got to end her quest yet in that run, they might talk a bit more. (Like Viconia, trying to corrupt convince which side is stronger! Rasaad)
  • EudaemoniumEudaemonium Member Posts: 3,199
    I'm pretty sure I finished Neera's quest with Edwin and he didn't have any dialogue. I suppose it's similar to Dorn not having 'Do not trust them' speeches about Ajantis and Yeslick, because you technically aren't supposed to have them in the same team (they will leave if you recruit the other, but only if Edwin/Ajantis/Yeslick are on your team when you recruit the other, not vice-versa).
  • KidCarnivalKidCarnival Member Posts: 3,747
    I did Neera's quest with Edwin in the party, after recruiting him before her. No more dialogue between them, which was quite disappointing. It wasn't easy to endure Neera this long.
  • Nic_MercyNic_Mercy Member Posts: 420
    Ideally I like to have 3 people capable of melee, 2 divine casters, 2 arcane casters and one thief. Obviously that necessitates some creativity in a 6 person party.

    My last playthrough was a mostly precreated party with:

    CHARNAME (Dragon Disciple serving as primary arcane offense),

    Imoen (Thief dualed to mage at level 7, provides arcane and thief support along with ranged physical attacks),

    Created (Fighter dualed to Thief at 7. This one picks up for Imoen while she learned magery and continues advancing in bg2. Primarily melee. I altered him with shadow keeper to have the swashbuckler kit with the intention of dual wielding Angurvadal +5 and Axe of the Unyielding +5),

    Created (Fighter dualed to Cleric at 7, Primarily melee dps with divine support. I altered him with shadowkeeper to have the Priest of Lathander kit and he uses warhammers with the intention of dual wielding Crom Faeyr and the upgraded mace of disruption in bg2)

    Created (Cleric/Ranger multiclass, Primarily divine support and healing with ranged dps. Bears the brunt of healing and buffing throughout the bulk of BG1 till the dualclassed fighter>cleric catches up.)

    Created (Inquistor, Primarily melee and dispelling. Intended to use Carsomyr +6 in bg2. Besides the nice super dispels and true seeing, since Inquistors dont get spells, energy drain on him in melee wont be annoying in bg2.)

    In an all npc group I've done something not too disimilar:

    CHARNAME - Dragon Disciple
    Imoen - Thief dualed to Mage at 7 temporarily replaced by Yoshimo in bg2
    Jaheira - Fighter/Druid multi
    Khalid - Fighter replaced by Keldorn in bg2
    Minsc - Ranger replaced by Sarevok in ToB
    Viconia or Branwen - Cleric replaced by Anomen in bg2

    Dynaheir accidentally reads a cursed scroll of some sort and is tragically lost from the party :P Though I have taken her in some play throughs to do a canon run instead of Viconia but I am not happy with what little divine support Jaheira has to offer. I actually prefer Viconia to Branwen for her personality but managing her happiness>rep is annoying. I am conflicted with using Viconia in bg2 because I like the idea of redeeming her but not how she sniffs after me like a dog in heat due to her romance and I'm soooo not interested. Likewise Jaheira does the creepy uncomfortable "my husband is dead let me get it on with what amounts to my stepchild" but I take her and shut her down right quick because I like her personal stories and interactions outside of the romance. I like redemptions and I prefer my male character actually romancing another male so I fiddle with the game to romance Anomen as a male. I redeem him and it makes for a more fulfilling game experience for me. Class balance wise Anomen is perfect. He's a great meleer and divine supporter. The fact that he serves my romance needs is just a bonus.
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