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Ultimate Team

SikorskySikorsky Member Posts: 402
I'm courious what do you have in mind in terms of building the best possible team to complete BG II and ToB. What class should the main char be and what NPC do you bring with ya. We are talking about BG without mods and self-made characters, only joinable ones. The team must be powerful through all game so we're not talking on full mage group who gets extremly powwerfull mid to end game. My proposition is:
CHARNAME: Human Kensai13/Mage
KELDORN
ANOMEN
EDWIN
YOSHIMO--->IMOEN
In TOB add Sarevok

This is what comes to my mind in terms of Power-Gaming. In BGII six slot is for temporary NPC just to finish their quests. We will level-up way faster that way and start TOB on very high level. The Canon team is also super strong:
CHARNAME: BERSERKER - Dual-wielding Katanas or something else
MINSC
JAHERIA
AERIE
YOSHIMO--->IMOEN
In TOB add Sarevok

What are your ideas? Give me an example of team that beats what I propose above^.
gorgonzola
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Comments

  • AmmarAmmar Member Posts: 1,295
    If you want to micromanage: Haer'Dalis, Jaheira, Edwin, Jan, Anomen. PC Fighter/Mage. But it is pretty boring.
  • borntodieborntodie Member Posts: 199
    Imo a berserker>mage dual is better than a kensai>mage dual, for a few reasons:

    - berserker rage is broken good; it cannot be dispelled, lasts quite long and protects you from nearly everything
    - Before dualling, a pure berserker is far stronger than a pure kensai.
    - At high level, the bonus damage from being a low level Kensai don't help that much. Berserker rage is just way more useful.

    Further, dualling any fighter / mage is best done at level 9. The down time is still a breeze at that level. Doing it later means you have far more down time, and even hurts in the long run because it takes that much longer to reach the higher mage levels. The benefit of those few extra fighter levels is absolutely minimal, especially because you get spells like Tensers Transformation anyway.

    [Deleted User]Noobaccagorgonzolalolien
  • SikorskySikorsky Member Posts: 402
    I, personally, wouldn't put Jansen in any meta-team. For traps and locks Imoen is sufficient. In my opinion if CHARNAME is thief or if you take Imoen, Jan is needless. So in both your conceps I'll put Imoen insted of Jan.
    Danacmsarevok57
  • dunbardunbar Member Posts: 1,603
    My powergaming team is:

    Charname
    Korgan
    Edwin
    Viconia
    Hexxat
    Sarevok (ToB)

    I solo charname through BG which gets about 1 million XP and means that BG2 npcs join at about 1.2 mill.

    Currently I'm running a berserker charname with this party through BG2 (bit of overkill in the meat grinding dept.)

    I've got a fighter/mage charname who has already completed BG, waiting in the wings and ready to go for my next BG2 run.

    And I've got a berserker soloing BG at the moment who I intend to dual to mage at level 12 at the start of BG2.
    sarevok57
  • DanacmDanacm Member Posts: 950
    If want powergaming only the classes and utility value matters. But no class is must be there are lots of options.
    - Anomen better than Viconia becase he has fighter side, apr etc, and can reach the same level as Viconia. The adder mr is not that important in a party. Worth to mention Cernd, because in an unmodded game the druid spells are esiest way to kill mages.
    - Korgan of course, the best fighter here.
    - Keldorn if not take Cernd or an inquisitor/druid charname, or you can take Mazzy, Anomen or Jaheira for that slot.
    - thief is only needed to find and disable traps, for that Imoen is more than enough, and she is a powerful mage. Jan's thief side is a waste, only useful if you base your tactic about using the HLA cheesy traps.
    - mage: Edwin is a beast, or a charname specialist mage, sorcerer etc.
    - specialist role: you can use haer dalise or charname bard for mage and trap supporting without being a thief.

    Charname class is almost doesnt matter, because you can use the party members to fill all roles you need. If you really want to use a full time thief, than use fighter/thief charname, because a fighter not loosing anything important as being multiclassed.

    Example teams:
    - korgan, jaheira, nalia/imoen, anomen, edwin and charname who can be anything in this party. You will have 3 fighting capable member, 2 true mages, 1 full and 1 half divine caster and acces to insect plague against mages. You can replace jaheira with keldorn for the same role, but it has some allignement issues.
    - mazzy, keldorn, anomen, nalia/imoen,
    Aerie and charname.
    - fighter/thief charname, korgan, cernd, anomen/jahieira, edwin, haer dalise. You will have all thief skills, traps from 2 person, 2 full divine caster(or 1,5 it using jaheira), 1,5 arcane caster, 5 from 6 character can fight melee (only edwin cant). If you really have time or exp maybe try a f/m/t with this party.

  • LammasLammas Member Posts: 211
    Hunh, Nether scroll gives you a lore bonus? I never realized.

    My pick I guess would be

    Korgan (best fighter)
    Mazzy (another good fighter)
    Jan (arcane casting + thief stuffs, thief HLAs)
    Viconia (Or Anomen, guess he is better honestly I can't stand listening to him and I like the MR quite a lot).
    Edwin (best mage, bar none)

    Keldorn could make the list. He is really solid.
    sarevok57lolien
  • jsavingjsaving Member Posts: 1,083
    edited November 2018
    My picks would be:

    Korgan - A strong melee combatant with great saves and the ability to activate rage immunities when needed.

    Keldorn - A decent fighter who's also the best dispeller in the game bar none. A lot of people give up on dispel magic because it so rarely works against tough foes but that isn't an issue with Keldorn's double-strength special ability.

    Jaheira - The only character in the game who can cure wounds, cast insect spells, raise the dead, and use fighter HLAs.

    Edwin - His extra spell slots are indispensable in areas where resting is limited, which matters from the very beginning of the game all the way to Melissan.

    For CHARNAME, my preference is a half-elf fighter/mage/thief. Fighter/mages are the game's strongest tanks bar none due to the huge defensive advantages mage buffs bring to the table, and adding thief to the mix means you don't have to reserve a party slot for any of the game's thief NPCs and can instead use it for another full caster. Which brings me to my last pick:

    Imoen - For old times' sake.



    sarevok57gorgonzolalolien
  • SikorskySikorsky Member Posts: 402
    It's interesting what you said @Bronin, I would never thought of Nalia but I've got your point. In terms of your next Charname, make him Dwarven Defender, even more HP ;)
    Broninlolien
  • SikorskySikorsky Member Posts: 402
    As I'am here I want to discuss my current BGI Evil team and how would you see it changed through SoD, BGII and ToB. My team is inspired by Sarevoks final batlle team. I called them:
    "The Nightmare on Sword Coast"
    Charname: Human, Berserker, Halberd, Neutral Evil - I don't want a pure Sarevok copy so I made a better one.
    Dorn Il-Khan: The equivalent of Tazok, same alligment, big, half-blooded and fighting with a two-handed sword.
    Edwin Odesseiron: The equivalent of Semaj, same alligment, also Conjurer.
    Viconia DeVir: The equivalent of Tamoko, same alligment, our future love.
    Eldoth Kron: The equivalent of Angelo Dosan. In my opinion he is the closest one to Angelo among joinable characters - same alligment, both are spell casters and both are using bows.
    Skie Silvershield: She's Eldoth girlfriend so I had to take her with us. We also need a help of thief so she fits.

    I'm in Cloakwood now so I don't have Skie with me. Can you tell me what happens if my rep drops to 1? Will she leave or Eldoth will somehow convince her to stay? I never played with that pair before.

    I think this team is very uber-power for BG:I but I don't have plans for SoD, BG:II and ToB. How would you change this team? I wan't it to stay evil becouse RP is important in that particular playthrough.
    lolien
  • QuickbladeQuickblade Member Posts: 957
    edited November 2018
    Sikorsky said:

    I'm in Cloakwood now so I don't have Skie with me. Can you tell me what happens if my rep drops to 1? Will she leave or Eldoth will somehow convince her to stay? I never played with that pair before.

    Skie is neutral, I don't think neutrals ever leave the party due to alignment.
  • SikorskySikorsky Member Posts: 402

    Sikorsky said:

    I'm in Cloakwood now so I don't have Skie with me. Can you tell me what happens if my rep drops to 1? Will she leave or Eldoth will somehow convince her to stay? I never played with that pair before.

    Skie is neutral, I don't think neutrals ever leave the party due to alignment.
    They are at 1 according to Baldur's Gate wiki.
  • QuickbladeQuickblade Member Posts: 957
    Sikorsky said:

    Sikorsky said:

    I'm in Cloakwood now so I don't have Skie with me. Can you tell me what happens if my rep drops to 1? Will she leave or Eldoth will somehow convince her to stay? I never played with that pair before.

    Skie is neutral, I don't think neutrals ever leave the party due to alignment.
    They are at 1 according to Baldur's Gate wiki.
    I stand corrected then. I just never play evil.
  • BroninBronin Member Posts: 29
    @Sikorsky I have the original IE version so no Dwarven Defender kit (and no kits in bg1 either). I had 3 pips for darts in bg1. If I let this carry over into bg2 I think the Berserker or Dwarven Defender kits are prohibited to me. They are both good kits but 3 pips in darts were good especially in bg1.
  • VasculioVasculio Member Posts: 469
    edited November 2018
    These are my combinations

    My Legit Party - SoA

    PC - Blackguard
    Jaheira - Druid
    Anomen - Fighter/Cleric
    Yoshimo - Thief > Imoen - Thief/Mage
    Edwin - Mage
    Viconia - Cleric

    My Legit Party - ToB

    PC - Blackguard
    Jaheira - Druid
    Sarevok - Fighter
    Imoen - Thief/Mage
    Edwin - Mage
    Viconia - Cleric

    My Dream Party - SoA

    PC - Blackguard
    Caelar Argent - Paladin
    Anomen - Fighter/Cleric
    Yoshimo - Thief > Imoen - Thief/Mage
    Baeloth - Mage
    Viconia - Cleric

    My Dream Party - ToB

    PC - Blackguard
    Caelar Argent - Paladin
    Sarevok - Fighter
    Imoen - Thief/Mage
    Baeloth - Mage
    Viconia - Cleric

    My Mod Party - SoA

    PC - Blackguard
    Viconia - Cleric
    Anomen - Fighter/Cleric
    Edwin - Mage
    Montaron - Fighter/Thief
    Xzar - Mage "Necromancer"

    My Mod Party - ToB

    PC - Blackguard
    Viconia - Cleric
    Sarevok - Fighter
    Edwin - Mage
    Montaron - Fighter/Thief
    Xzar - Mage "Necromancer"
  • BrightL1ghtsBrightL1ghts Member Posts: 53
    Pretty much this, except for i would go for a Fighter/Mage charname and Jan instead of imoen (he can get Thief Hlas, spike traps OP).
    sarevok57 said:


    main char dwarf fighter/thief
    korgan
    mazzy
    anomen
    yoshimo -> imoen
    edwin

  • VitorVitor Member Posts: 288
    edited December 2018
    These 2 teams would be incredible powerfull:

    TEAM 1
    Physical Power, with Haer'Dalis buffing the capabilities of all these absurdely strong warriors. Keldorn is there to debuff protections with Carsomyr.

    Korgan
    Sarevok
    Keldorn (with Carsomyr)
    Haer'Dalis
    Viconia
    Charname (Kensai/Thief)


    TEAM 2
    Maybe this party would be more powerfull, because of its arcane resources. You certainly would need more time to finish your fights than Team 1 would need it, but I guess you'd be more prepared for any possible circumstance.

    Korgan
    Sarevok
    Viconia
    Edwin
    Imoen
    Charname (Fighter/Mage)


    @Vasculio
    How do you have Caelar Argent in ToB? Is this possible now?
    Post edited by Vitor on
  • LammasLammas Member Posts: 211
    For the spoiler: he doesn't. He said those parties with her would be her dream parties while the other ones are legit parties.
    VitorVasculio
  • VitorVitor Member Posts: 288
    Lammas said:

    For the spoiler: he doesn't. He said those parties with her would be her dream parties while the other ones are legit parties.

    Oh... I hoped there was a way... :/
  • CalemyrCalemyr Member Posts: 238
    I'd put this question on a slightly different angle: what is the best party from a narrative perspective? What combination of characters brings the best banters, interjections, and deeper meanings to a run? I gotta admit I've spent a lot of time over the years poring over lists of characters trying to figure out what tells the best story and I still haven't found an answer I'm fully satisfied with.

    For example, is it better from a narrative perspective to have different parties in each game? You'd want to include cameos and connective tissue, of course, such as saving Dynaheir in BG1 and using Khalid and Jaheira in the Bereghost mines, but not have them really stick around until Imoen recruits them for her rescue mission at the end of SoD. Have the only constant (as much as she is able) be Imoen herself, serving as Charname's rock when everything else is falling apart. Beyond her, however, make the rest of the party a revolving cavalcade of people that use and abandon Charname the second they get what they wanted.

    Or is it a better story to tell of a warped family of tainted blood? A small collection of broken souls bound together by shared tragedy and reforged by ceaseless conflict, favoring a party you can (more or less) field in all three games?

    Or is Charname not the center of the game? Is it as important or more that Valygar good-naturedly accept the role of Squire to Mazzy? Bird-centric poet Haer'dalis and his affair with the wingless Aerie? Minsc taking Aerie or Nalia as a witch and replacement for Dynaheir? Crude and lewd Korgan and his oddly cute fascination with Mazzy and retconned desire to toughen up Aerie?

    So? Anyone got any opinions on how to tell the best story possible through party makeup.
    Danacm
  • Stupid_PunsStupid_Puns Member Posts: 66
    To answer that question on narrative parties:
    I feel like the "canon" party is pretty much the best (narrative-wise) you're going to get.
    Minsc
    Jahiera
    Yourself (Fighter/Mage)
    Aerie
    Haer'Dalis
    Yoshimo
    Having Minsc get over Dyanheir and having Aerie become is witch, romancing Jaheira as well as her getting over Khalid, Yoshimo and his eventual twist, and Aerie and Haer'Dalis' romance, saving your sister, plus your Fighter/Mage being the antithesis of both Sarevok and Irenicus.
    That, in my mind, in the best narrative experience you're going to get out of Baldur's Gate 2 in a single playthrough. Simply because I think that's the game developers made it, seeing how 75% of that party you get in the the first hour of the game, and Quayle just tells you to save Haer'Dalis after travelling with Aerie for an hour.
    Or just have Jan in your party, things will surely... turn up.
    BelgarathMTHAerakarloliensemiticgoddess
  • jsavingjsaving Member Posts: 1,083
    I agree, provided you replace Yoshimo with Imoen at the appropriate time.
  • GreenWarlockGreenWarlock Member Posts: 1,354
    My late take - what matters to make the most powerful end-game party (as all NPCs will be powerful in their way) is making the most of all the end-game kit, so I would plan a party around that.

    That said, Edwin is insanely over-the-top as a mage, and mages are king of the end-game, so Edwin is in regardless.

    Next, I think about an overpowered party as being one that cruises through most fights with minimal effort - I find mages, clerics, and other casters too heavy on the micro-management, so let's focus on a strong melee team.

    If we are playing BG1 as well, let's start with the PC. For best autopilot, a half-orc fighter/cleric hits some pretty inane stats with sufficient re-rolls and tomes. Expect to be regenerating, with 20 STR/CON, 19 DEX, and 21 WIS for bonus spells. This essentially frees up STR kit for the rest of the party in SoA/ToB, and that can affect the mix.

    Do we have a spare STR belt now for Rasaad, as a high level monk is quite frightening in full flow.
    Does the extra belt mean we can build Crom Faeyr with less regard for the sacrifice? If so, who will wield it? I tend towards Anomen dual wielding Crom Faeyr and the Mace of Disruption, but the mace is great for any PC getting many attacks per round, which may lean towards a true fighter getting whirlwind attacks (it is embarrassing how quickly Kangaxx vanishes, never mind lesser undead.

    The most important weapon may be Carsomyr, the Paladin's trusty blade. This is a key melee weapon due to its dispel effects, and appears to make Keldorn an essential party member, but there are other options. PC may choose instead to take the Paladin role, and should be significantly better stetted foe the role. Alternatively, thieves get use-any-item, although that does not grant proficiency. Given the poor state of combat thieves in the game, this comes back to another PC option - a fighter/thief dual. Why dual and not multi? Not much in it, and multi will be stronger for much of the game (notably down time regaining the class abilities) but will end up with full grandmastery too. The important thing id that fighters unlock extra APR, and that will matter most come end-game, and that is true for both dual and multi. So plan A is take a thief kit (they are better!) until just over 3 million xp, grab use any item, and immediately dual to fighter. This will give top THAC0 but is a super-long term investment, probably not paying off until at the throne of Bhaal itself. Plan B is Beserker to 9th, for grand mastery and max hit points, then dual to thief for best play-time.

    Generally, I just go with Keldorn as it is easiest, but he does not always get on so well with Edwin...

    Rounding out, Korgan and Anomen will give low maintenance fighter types, using variety of weapons and other kit.

    This gives 4 or 5 strong picks, and fill the rotating slot (after claiming everyone's xp) with whoever fills the hole the best. Sarevok may seem an appealing choice for this strategy (full frontal melee!) but is usually too far behind on xp when you finally reach him, the same problem for Imoen.

    So, my suggested party, dropping Keldorn for party unity:

    PC: half-orc fighter/cleric with insane stats
    Korgan
    Anomen
    Rasaad
    Edwin
    Jan or Hexxat (to cover thievery)

    Jan is more versatile, but micromanages as a caster.
    Hexxat has some pretty insane stats of her own, but at the end of the day is 'just' a thief.

    Many will complain that this party lacks enough mage firepower, and that Rasaad needs too much baby sitting early on, but it should play easily and well without having to think too hard and micromanage.
    (And yes, despite my own advice, I give up on Carsomyr ;))
    Grond0SkatangorgonzolaAerakar
  • marilithmarilith Member Posts: 25
    evil party
    charname blackguard
    dorn
    korgan
    haer dalis
    viconia
    edwin (hexxat and jan jansen are viable too)later on you can pick sarevok

    good party
    charname cavalier
    keldorn
    valygar
    mazzy
    wilson
    aerie
  • GreenWarlockGreenWarlock Member Posts: 1,354
    @marilith interesting that neither party has a thief to cope with locks and traps. What is your strategy to work around that? Lots of knock spells? Bashing chests? Genuinely curious if omitting a thief is the path to enlightenment and overpowered parties that I have been missing :)
  • SirBatinceSirBatince Member Posts: 882
    edited January 2019

    @marilith interesting that neither party has a thief to cope with locks and traps. What is your strategy to work around that? Lots of knock spells? Bashing chests? Genuinely curious if omitting a thief is the path to enlightenment and overpowered parties that I have been missing :)

    traps can be tanked no probs in BG2 and IWD

    and the chest issue is mostly only BG1. (which is also not really an issue if you know your STR potions well)

    to this day the only really nasty chest is still in Kiel's tomb.
    GreenWarlockgorgonzola
  • marilithmarilith Member Posts: 25
    yes you can avoid or easily absorb damage from traps and then you have free slot for actually useful npc.

    in my first playthrough i used hexxat she was interesting all that vampire stuff
    GreenWarlock
  • JLeeJLee Member Posts: 650
    I've never played this party, but it would make for a pretty easy ride:

    Keldorn: Cars
    Korgan: Crom
    Mazzy: FoA
    Anomen: MoD/Rune
    Swashbuckler>Mage
    Edwin
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