Evil Party

[Pellinore]

I just finished the game in record time with an all evil (aside from Garrick) party. I was not impressed. The game with the evil npcs is much easier than with the good npcs. Easier means less fun and boring. Has anyone else noticed this?

[Jordoo]

Kaigen is the best tank, Edwin is the best mage, Viconia is the best cleric and you've still got Montran who is powerfull by class alone and if you dual class Shar Tiel to a theif she'll chunk everyone.

I agree completely that its easier with the evil NPC's both because they are very powerfull and because you can easily justify any decisions you make.

[roller1234]

Totally not seeing it. Top3 NPC in the game are all good aligned.
1. Coran (illegal in so many areas its not funny), best archer and archery rules
2. Imoen
3. Yeslik


Coran > Montaron

Imoen > Edwin, more life, more AC, more Thac0, more attacks, can use a bow(archery rules), can choose mage specializations(like illusionist), can be used for shopping, can disable traps, can open locks. Ok, Edwin has one more spell per level, which isnt that great of advantage if you dont use all of the spells in one battle(otherwise rest will refill all spells), or even have, say, multiple mages, which isnt too hard to manage either. (Bioware probably realized that and in BG2 Edwin's amulet has his effect doubled and he can cast two more spells/level than other mage specialists)

Yeslik is probably the best possible multiclass combination in the game.

Shar-tell > Minsc true, as long as she duals to thief. Her drawback is that she doesnt have bow/missile proficiencies. Did i mention that archery rules.

Branwen > Viconia, more or less equal in abilities, but Branwen doesnt resist own buffs and heals, which is very very annoying. (AFAIK this includes temple healing too)

Kagain=Khalid, both lack DEX and STR, with items they are equal obviously.

Jaheira>Faldorn, perceived "Good" versus perceived "evil"
==

What is probably the case is that the more or less suggested good-aligned NPC by the game do indeed suck. Dynaheir, Minsc, Jaheira, Khalid... one of the weakest combinations in the game. Dyna is the worst mage in the game, Minsc lacks stats.. But as a whole, Good is more powerful in BG i feel.

[galraen]

I'm with Pellinore and Jordoo on this, there isn't a mage in the game in Edwin's class. Coran is the best thief in the game undoubtredly, but you get him too late in the game. Imoen isn't worth wasting time or XP on IMHO, especially if you're evil, dump her and pick up Montaron and Xzar and you're off to a flying start to becoming Death, Destroyer of Worlds.

[roller1234]

Yeah that line is pretty cool. NPCs rating can ofc vary. My point is mostly that the canonical, default party is rather weak and it is possible to build a much better party if using other NPCs. Regardless of alignment.