What's your preferred party size in IWD?

Quartz

Being as guilty of restart-itis as many of the forum-goers here, I've noticed a trend: I get bored and restart when I'm running a full party.

Four, on the other hand, seems to be about optimal for me. This can be a little awkward because inevitably there are a lot of items I can't put to good use, but when I run six, a couple of my characters end up being unimpressive. Plus, divine casters get ... less enticing when a party's Bard acquires War Chant of Sith, at least for me.

With four, all of them can shine in their own way. For example, right now I'm running a Barbarian, Swashbuckler, Fighter/Mage/Cleric and Sorcerer. Sort of wishing I hadn't made the FMC a fighter at times due to slow level progression, but it's a pretty fun and effective combo as these things go.

What about y'all?

Raduziel

I wish I could have 8.

Rik_Kirtaniya

I like soloing, in spite of the fact that I haven't yet completed the game with a full party.

Currently running a solo Dragon Disciple, and it's super fun! It was a little tough until I got level 3 spells (Skull Trap) and then, it's just fantastic! Killed Yxunomei in a single attempt, without taking a single point of damage and without using any healing potions. It's not just the XP boost, but soloing also helps me utilize some crucial micromanagement tactics and use the terrain (that is, long passages, corners, choke-points, etc.) effectively, and that just makes it so much more interesting. It's enjoyable, it's highly challenging, and it feels splendid.

The moment my solo Dragon Disciple kills Yxunomei

Danacm

I tried solo, duo and almost all combination, but enjoy the six or five the most. Mainly five because its enough characters to controll, and i play thematic parties and hard to find what to fill to the sixth slot

Kamigoroshi

Bite-sized. Which somehow always ends up with my character becoming solo.

dok0zhivago

5 + bard.
Same goes for Icewind dale 2

SomeSort

I've been really big on duo/trio runs in IWD/BG2 recently. (In the case of an 18-year-old game, "recently" means "for the past two or three years".) Almost as easy to manage as a solo character, but you don't need one character to be everything at once, and there's a little bit of space for more tactical play, (splitting your party, etc.)

If I play on my phone, though, I always play solo. Not enough real estate to handle more than one character at a time.

Quartz

SomeSort said:

I've been really big on duo/trio runs in IWD/BG2 recently. (In the case of an 18-year-old game, "recently" means "for the past two or three years".) Almost as easy to manage as a solo character, but you don't need one character to be everything at once, and there's a little bit of space for more tactical play, (splitting your party, etc.)

I feel you. The level cap in BG1 was the bane of my existence for many years, plus I was ... four years old when it came out (my parents got into D&D when it first came into existence in the late 70's, so my mom bought BG1), so I was also just bad.

After a period of not being able to play the game for three years or so due to technical limitations (no computer of ours' would run it properly–on Mac, the OS 9 to OS X gap was taking place during the release of the BG series, resulting in some prominent incompatibilities), my solution at last was to run a four-character party through BG1. My PC Cleric, Kagain, Imoen, and Edwin. So basically the best of the best of each single-class. It worked!

Then I went for a PC Fighter/Cleric, Imoen, and Edwin. Then a PC Fighter/Cleric and PC Mage/Thief. It's fun to get more and more minimal, but I've never had a lot of fun playing solo to be honest.

Cuv

Three just because that was my latest playthrough F/M, Assassin and Priest of Helm.

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mashedtaters

I always use six and haven’t played any other way. It just never occurred to me that I would want fewer players to brave he vast untamed wilds of the north.

SomeSort

Quartz said:

SomeSort said:

I've been really big on duo/trio runs in IWD/BG2 recently. (In the case of an 18-year-old game, "recently" means "for the past two or three years".) Almost as easy to manage as a solo character, but you don't need one character to be everything at once, and there's a little bit of space for more tactical play, (splitting your party, etc.)

I feel you. The level cap in BG1 was the bane of my existence for many years, plus I was ... four years old when it came out (my parents got into D&D when it first came into existence in the late 70's, so my mom bought BG1), so I was also just bad.

After a period of not being able to play the game for three years or so due to technical limitations (no computer of ours' would run it properly–on Mac, the OS 9 to OS X gap was taking place during the release of the BG series, resulting in some prominent incompatibilities), my solution at last was to run a four-character party through BG1. My PC Cleric, Kagain, Imoen, and Edwin. So basically the best of the best of each single-class. It worked!

Then I went for a PC Fighter/Cleric, Imoen, and Edwin. Then a PC Fighter/Cleric and PC Mage/Thief. It's fun to get more and more minimal, but I've never had a lot of fun playing solo to be honest.

Duo / Trio runs are also fantastic for really getting a good feel for an NPC. Anyone who hates Cernd or thinks he's useless should pick him up in a small party playthrough. It's easy for him to get neglected when there are 5 other characters to pick up the slack, but when he's forced to pull his weight you really start to appreciate what he brings to the table.

One of my most fun recent games was a Dwarven Defender, Jan, and Cernd. The smaller party "fixes" Jan's big flaw, (the sloooooooooow arcane progression-- same reason I never bring Aerie along), and Cernd kind of slots in as both a secondary offensive tank *and* a secondary offensive caster.

Also, provided you have a mod that gives you early access to him, Tiax is another phenomenal choice for a small-party run. Quirky, neglected, and versatile. You really learn to love the Ghast, too, (probably the best "bonus ability" of any NPC in BG1).

SomeSort

mashedtaters said:

I always use six and haven’t played any other way. It just never occurred to me that I would want fewer players to brave he vast untamed wilds of the north.

It could be argued that taking a less-than-full party actually violates the #1 rule of Baldur's Gate: you *must* gather your party before venturing forth.

SharGuidesMyHand

Seven - I take along the Afaaq djinni companion as well.

oakheart

I usually aim for a party of 3 or 4, typically with a fighter/druid up front and cleric/mage (or mage/thief) at the back. I have a weakness for sorcerers though...I find them so much fun to play that I often include one, throwing the balance of the party off.

Balrog99

Actually 13 - six players, full complement of six summons and a familiar in my pocket!

ineth

Balrog99 said:

Actually 13 - six players, full complement of six summons and a familiar in my pocket!

You should take a look at argent77's mods:

Afaaq, the Djinni Companion effectively adds a 7th party member.

Golem Construction for Spellcasters allows your mages to construct golems that will follow your party across maps, and (I think) don't count towards the summoning limit (but have their own limit).

(On a related note, has anyone checked whether the 2.5 patch has fixed the bug that messes up your party formation when more than 6 characters are selected?)

Aron

I choose to have a 6 man party, because I feel like I can make a good balanced party this way.
In Icewind Dale 1 and 2 I try to keep similar setups.

Human Paladin (2H sword)
Half elf Ranger (2 weapon)
Dwarf Cleric/Fighter (Weapon + Shield)
Human Cleric (female)
Human Thief (female)
Human Mage

Always choose good alignment for all characters. The classic heroes in Dungeons and Dragons type of setup.


I've recently created a new group for Icewind Dale now that the achievements are there.
Really looking forward to get started.

Iamdorf

I tried using three characters but really didn't like it. I did like soloing a Ranger but never finished with him because I am the worst at restartitus! I find that I love having Druids and Bards but they do make the party weaker at first so it's harder for me to progress to where the game gets better (expansion & chapter 3). I also recently discovered how nice it is to have someone who can use a composite bow. Add that to liking combining a mage with a cleric to have a spell powerhouse and I need to add two to the party to keep it alive. Sigh

CrazyUberKiller

Once I have some bishop chess peaces I like just using 2 characters. A dual classed fighter/mage and fighter/theif. It cuts down on the multitasking and micromanagement quote a bit. Bishops are really easy to clone. Its not hard or all that time consuming to clone 30+ which should be enough for anyone to complete the game.
Clone any game items simply by exporting 1 char with the item then move the item/s to the next char and repeat. Its the best way to equip the entire party with the best boots, belts and armors along with uber items like the chess peaces.

Fyl

4-5

Sixth person still regularly trips up pathfinding

ANOF

I’ve always had six party members, but, after watching a video of someone playing with five, I thought I’d give five a try. I didn’t even make it out of the tavern before being unhappy in my party make-up and restarting, this time with four.

I’ve gone with;

Fighter
Undead Hunter
Cleric (Priest of Lathander)
Mage/Thief

I figure that that covers enough bases that I’ll be OK, although, having never played with such a small party, at least in IWD, I do expect a few teething problems.