15 replies to this topic

[Klorox]

I'm trying to figure out what a perfect party size is for most people.

Personally, I like 4 party members, because I don't have to control too many people, and I feel like I can equip everybody a bit better, without giving them too much XP. I've also noticed that I can hit the XP cap of ToB with a 4 person party (I never reach it with a full 6). 4 is a good balance of a little extra power, without giving up on banter and romances.


What do the rest of y'all prefer? Why?

[Scipio]

The minimum of six has to do for me. If I could take all of them I would. Some people like to be the dungeonmaster, I'm the quartermaster.

For me the best parts of gameplay after the first play-through are a) new mods, b) farting around forever with equipment, armour, weapons and memorised spells, and c) trying to look at Viconia's legs. If there was a mod for Cespenar to turn normal long swords into normal short swords and back again I would probably use it.

A party of six with less than maximum XP does all the damage I need. Two clerics casting Storm of Jarno, two mages using Azkyroth's Horrible Wilting and two tanks charging in with Caersomyr and Crom Faeyr while a planetar, an elemental prince charles and three Sebastian swords pretend to be a gang of British feral teenage hoodies... even Hermione Grainger would back off from them.

[Choo Choo]

Six. If I could take more, I would. Even with a full party, I always reach the XP cap (I do all sidequests and have loads of quest mods and whatnot). And it's just funnier that way.

[Azazello]

6.

Bleeds excess, megainstall exp points to the NPCs, and lesser-useful NPCs make good pack-mules. Let's not forget NPC dialogue options.

[Nuuskamuikkunen]

I go solo or play with 5/6. I should try a party inbetween because the micromanaging is driving me nuts with that many NPCs, but when I don't solo, I kind of feel "well since I've got a couple of NPCs I might aswell go all the way and have a full party".

[Jarno Mikkola]

The perfect would be 3 Melee Fighters, 1 Ranged Fighter, Thief, Bard, Cleric, Druid and 2 Sorcerers. So that's ten.

Fighter, Fighter/Thief(or Fighter->Thief), Ranger/Cleric(or Ranger->Cleric), Cleric/Mage, Thief->Mage, Sorcerer, so that's 6.

Edited by Jarno Mikkola, 08 May 2008 - 12:59 AM.

[Icendoan]

Solo FTW. NPCs drag me down.

Icen

[SConrad]

I'd take 8 if I could.

[smeagolheart]

5 or possibly 4

1 Cleric
1 Rogue
1 Mage
+
1 or 2 Brawlers (sometimes 1 brawler and 1 ranged, also depends on whether others can melee)

6 cuts xp and level progression too much methinks

Edited by smeagolheart, 07 May 2008 - 11:57 AM.

[Eleima]

I always have a party of six. I often find myself agonizing, trying to decide who to drop and who to keep!! I would take them all if I could!!

[Sir_Carnifex]

For me, it seems a party of five works the best. Micromanagement doesn't bother me, and I do a lot of that anyway, but I usually find a sixth member to have no vital role. Plus, the slightly smaller group is better for fighting in tight areas. Despite what works the best for me, I still play with the maximum party because I think the chatter between the party members is one of the best parts of the game.

I always have a party of six. I often find myself agonizing, trying to decide who to drop and who to keep!! I would take them all if I could!!

Do what I do. Shuffle them around constantly!

Edited by Sir_Carnifex, 07 May 2008 - 07:18 PM.

[Cal Jones]

Six...eventually. I like to take more through for the banters and such. Feels a bit lonely and...dull...otherwise.

Irenicus dungeon (much as I can do this blindfolded and standing on my head nowadays, I still do it. Game doesn't feel right otherwise).
If I'm playing good/neutral I will take Imoen out (she's also useful for untrapping the, er, traps). If I'm evil, which isn't often, to be honest, I'll ask her to leave on her own). If I'm planning on playing with Jaheira and Minsc in the full game I will take them. Otherwise I'll release them and tell them to take a hike (actually I won't release Jaheira at all - I just pretend she doesn't exist, since I never take her in BG).

I usually don't take Yoshimo. I have played through his arc so I know how it goes (though I will pick him up just before Brynnlaw).

Once in Athkatla I'll clear out the Circus tent and do the slaver quest in the Copper Coronet, quite often solo, though perhaps I'll pick up an NPC or two first, depending on what my party is going to be.

I'll complete almost all the Chapter 2 quests with a party of 4. If I'm not going to be using Keldorn or Cernd I'll take them temporarily for their mini quests. I usually do take Valygar but if I have another party in mind I'll do the Sphere with him, just because it feels nicer (though I feel guilty about dumping him after...some characters are harder to say no to than others!)
Then I pick up Yoshimo before Spellhold, to be replaced by Imoen. (Unless I'm evil, where I'll likely leave her to rot. I don't like to do that, though, it makes me feel guilty!)

This leaves me with a party of 5 to complete SoA with. The party levels a bit faster, which is fine, and also leaves me a nice spare slot of Sarevok once I hit ToB. I know there's a mod that allows you to send "spare" members home from the Pocket Plane, but nonetheless, I'd feel bad for dropping them given all they've been through with you, including Hell.

This is my tried and tested strategy and has served me well. Of course, once I try Longer Road, I'll have to go through SoA with four characters (but then I may just take Yoshi from the beginning).

God, somehow I wrote an essay about a perfectly simple topic. Sigh.

[Scipio]

If I'm planning on playing with Jaheira and Minsc in the full game I will take them. Otherwise I'll release them and tell them to take a hike (actually I won't release Jaheira at all - I just pretend she doesn't exist, since I never take her in BG).

You don't even release Jaheira! She'll die of thirst or starvation down there!

I usually don't take Yoshimo. I have played through his arc so I know how it goes (though I will pick him up just before Brynnlaw).

Why bother if you haven't needed him up to now? For the points for saving his soul? (Serious question, since you don't really need a thief at all in Brynnlaw.)

God, somehow I wrote an essay about a perfectly simple topic. Sigh.

You're also a journalist. We are brilliant at writing lots about nothing.

For example:

I didn't elaborate on my favourite groups of six. The most enjoyable group for was me as a half-orc beserker with long sword and Shield of Balduran escorting Imoen, Jaheira, Aerie, Nalia and Vicionia. This gang had magic power to spare.

The next time I want to be all macho and hog all the girls it will be me as a sorcerer accompanied by Saerileth (she will be the tank so I don't have to be), Fade (what a lovely character, a good thief and a more interesting romance than the push-over seduction of Saerileth), Yasraena (a character I love and a great tank when she reaches higher levels), Mazzy (wow, another fighter, but a sniper) and Vicci (because I am in love with her and Aerie but Vicci is the better cleric). Hah, two Drow!

When I play a four-character party I should try being an evil monk named Oral Roberts. I will take Edwin, Korgan and Vicci. I'll be a bounty hunter and we'll have a good mix of skills.

[Cal Jones]

Yes, I take Yoshi to Spellhold for the betrayal, and so I can redeem him. Otherwise the poor guy just keels over and dies in the Copper Coronet, which is sad. I really care about my pixels.
I actually like him as a character - he's amusing and has much to add - the main reason I don't usually take him is I like to try different party combos.
Next time I play through using the Angelo mod I'll take Yoshi from the start as I think those two chat quite a lot. They managed to have two chats just in Chapter 3 - the katanas conversation was amusing.

[arguskos]

Me, I like a full party of six. I'm using BGT, so my party varies immensely.

In BG1, I like Minsc, Coran, Dynaheir, Xan, and whatever cleric I can find (Yeslick is pretty decent IMO). That's if I'm good. If I'm evil, then I like Edwin, Xzar, Montaron, Virconia, and Kagain.

For BG2, I shuffle FAR more, thanks to banters being made out of win and awesome. My standard good party is Valygar, Keldorn, Anomen, Minsc, and Yoshimo (being replaced by someone else, whomever I feel like at the time, when he dies). My evil party is Edwin, Virconia, Korgan, Jan, and Yoshimo (again).

The above assumes I'm not using any added NPC's. If so, I tend to include Kiyone and Kova, Tsujatha, Xan, Goo, Solafin (sp?), Valen, Hubelpot (best NPC EVAR), and the Luxley's in my parties, just for the extra fun chats.

-Argus

[smeagolheart]

Off topic a bit but people talk about the NPCs from mods so it's kinda brought up. Is there any where they (mod npcs) are reviewed? I have many many NPCs from mods installed and I don't know the quality of work between each such as banters, voicesets etc. I would like to use my party slots on people with a bit of personality and "close to BG2 NPC" characteristics than some silent or badly voiced, poorly modded ones.

Any threads for that?