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How do you justify NOT having Minsc and Jaheira around? (Spoilers!)

HeindrichHeindrich Member, Moderator Posts: 2,959
in Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition
I keep putting off starting my new BG2:EE playthrough because I am still unsure how to deal with Minsc and Jaheira. As a Good Charname, it is difficult to justify not having them around in a way that makes sense roleplay-wise.

The start of BG2 gives both of them compelling reasons to stick with you and avenge Khalid/Dynaheir and rescue Imoen. Jaheira in particular is basically a guardian figure, and it's pretty weird for her to just abandon you in your darkest hour.

Obviously I am asking this question because I want to try out different NPCs for this playthrough, but despite @semiticgod's insightful guide, I doubt I can make it out of Chateau Irenicus without at least one of the duo.


I suppose I could just "retcon" what happens in the game for the opening dungeon, since it isn't a stretch to imagine that the Shadow Thieves did more damage than they did, and made it easier for Charname and Imoen to escape by themselves... But then there's the factor that I kinda want to have Jaheira and Minsc (especially Jaheira) available for Throne of Bhaal as a backup NPC if one of my primary companions suffers perma-death. Ah I am so indecisive sometimes!

Comments

  • ZeckulZeckul Member Posts: 1,036
    They could die in battle...
  • semiticgoddesssemiticgoddess Member Posts: 14,903
    @Heindrich: I don't know how to justify going alone when allies are available, but I just completed Chateau Irenicus with a Neutral Evil Kensai dual-classed to mage, with some scrolls, wands, and innate spells left over. It should be possible to do it with a good or neutral Charname as well, if the Otyugh doesn't always get in the way when you're entering its lair, and you can run around it instead. It should also be possible to take down Ilyich as well, with some difficulty and a few extra reloads. I'll post my story in the other thread tomorrow.
  • bhudspatbhudspat Member Posts: 13
    I am Evil so Minsc got pissed off at me and I told Jahiera to take a long walk off a short pier when she got cursed lol
  • kcwisekcwise Member Posts: 2,287
    Blackraven said:

    Charname could even fear they're Doppelgangers, not illogical after all his/her dealigs with the Iron Throne in BG1. Besides there's also a Doppelganger in Irenicus's Dungeon. Meeting Frennedan could be a good moment to say goodbye to some of the NPCs.

    Very much agreed. I'd forgotten about Frennedan, and fear of dopplegangers really would make sense given the events of the first game, as you say.
  • DJKajuruDJKajuru Member Posts: 3,300
    I always keep Jaheira, but If I'm not planning on having Minsc around I'll ctrl+Y him and pretend he's a random dead guy in a cell.
  • T2avT2av Member Posts: 202
    I always play Lawful Evil or Neutral Evil. I hate minsc as he's an absolutely idiot who can barely formulate a sentence. Jahiera is kind of a bitch.

    I am minimalistic when it comes to parties and usually 1-3 max others. Solos are too lonely. Visconia, neera are my favourites. Pretty much the only characters I get along with.
  • CaptRoryCaptRory Member Posts: 1,660
    You have a lot to do and not so much time to do it in (from a story perspective). You could say you all split up to cover more ground and maybe Jaheria got pulled into Harper Business and maybe dragged Minsc along or he got distracted by swords and woodland creatures.
  • lunarlunar Member Posts: 3,460
    They may simply die to steam mephits in the first dungeon, and you drop their corpses to the ground by removing them from the party. Makes sense as you can not carry around two adult bodies (and a hamster) around while trying to escape a dungeon, especialy if you are a weakling mage with low str.
  • hisplshispls Member Posts: 166
    Jahira is a nagging overbearing old harridan. She should be easy to just ditch. She is a pretty strong NPC in BG2 but too much of a mother hen for my liking.
  • deltagodeltago Member Posts: 7,811
    Even if you didn't have Jaheria in your BG1 party, she was suppose to be your guardian after Gorion's death. Khalid and her might have been captured earlier to learn more about your where abouts.

    She can help you out of Irenicus dungeon, then sever ties with her as she goes and reports with the Harper's to see if they can offer aid or any inside information on Irenicus and his plans.

    Due to Minsc's mental state, you may find it best for your party's safety that he mourn Dyna's death in peace and the comfort of the Copper Cornet which he now helps guard after removing the slavers.

    You visit both of these areas through out the game so RPing that you away checking in on them when you visit an area to gain information or just to say hello works imo.
  • ArunsunArunsun Member Posts: 1,592
    I do not justify not having Jaheira in my team, because I really like the character.
    Minsc however, is fun for a playthrough or two but gets boring pretty fast IMO.
  • BaldursCatBaldursCat Member Posts: 432
    edited March 2015
    Minsc, I take him as far as where you find Valygar (in the Umar Hills) & make the switch there, I justify the decision by rationalising that as a good character you'd help Valygar & would never use his dead body to enter the sphere, and as a ranger I think Minsc would be happy to stay & help protect the locals. I sometimes leave Aerie with him too. Jaheira is more problematic because I've tried leaving her there too but she whinges and head back the the city, after bitching about hating the place. I guess when she gets cursed you could leave her somewhere nice to recuperate & have events overtake you.
  • magaritymagarity Member Posts: 52
    While I don't dislike Minsc his proficiencies in two weapons style and two handed weapons really cripples his potential. I intend to leave him with this near useless powderpuff of an elf girl from the circus after he attaches to her and let them go do whatever he was doing with Dynahier.
    Jahera is a bit of a nanny but the druid spells are cool and she can hold her own in a melee so she's hard to justify replacing.
  • magaritymagarity Member Posts: 52
    It occurred to me after I posted the above that some people might actually like the nearly useless powderpuff of an elf girl from the circus so please disregard any negativity.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 0
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  • SmaugSmaug Member Posts: 216
    Just RP CHARNAME as being weak from his/her suffering in the cage and make Minsc and Jaheira fight everything. They'll eventually die, problem solved; the two of them can be fondly remembered as sacrificing themselves in the desperate flight from the dungeon.
  • SilverstarSilverstar Member Posts: 2,207
    Minsc, while a friend (or so the game insists, I only really helped him rescue Dynaheir and then escorted them back to civilization before saying bye), doesn't really have much reason to be in my party. He followed me and got captured on his own, so if anything he owes me for getting him out of the dungeon. He says he wants to avenge Dynaheir but it's never really brought up again ever after getting into the sunlight. His head injury probably makes him forgetful. (or more likely he's just sadly lacking companion quests and character development due to the writers never getting around to it).

    That said, I do tend to have him in my party since he's a good-aligned 2-hander plate-wearer and señor paladin always goes off with his family. But yeah, I can find reason not to take him along too.

    Jaheira was indeed intended to be a guardian... "at least until you came of age" which she says in her very first conversation. Now, she's still a friend and all, but that doesn't give her any more reason to be in the group than Neera, Garrick or Viconia, or anyone else that adventured with me in the first game. So that leaves the revenge thing. But like Minsc, she doesn't really seem all that focused on that task either. She's a lot more vengeful for sure, but there's not a hint of this being important during conversations, her quest or if dismissed from the party. Being really long-lived she probably is hatching some really revengey revenge.

    Again, I usually keep her around too. She's a good character in all sense of the phrase. Doesn't really belong in the party any more than anyone else though.
  • BladesBlades Member Posts: 167
    Jaheira = annoying ex girlfriend who knows everything. RUNAWAY!!!

    Minsc, Neeber and Noober = the 3 stooges
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