Looking for a party

[egervari2]

Hi, I'd like to make a party that I've never done before. I'd like to use npc's, but I think I've used them all except for Cernd. I'd also like to try out some weapons I've never used before and stick to them. Things that interest me

- spears. I'd like to try out the impaler and ixle spike spears
- foeband. I never got around to making real use of this bastard sword.
- staff of the ram. Something occur to me a long time ago that I could backstab with this, and now that I've played a bit to get familiar with the game, I notice that you can buy a speed factor 1 +4 staff right in the promenade! I just have to make a backstabber that uses these.
- skald. I've never used bards in bg2, ever. During my trial run, the identify was so handy (and saved lots of gold in the beginning) and the song was so useful that I want to stick with him.
- I never used the archer kit either. I don't want to take the archer kit for many reasons, namely that I know it will never be as powerful as a melee character.
- I've never used a high-level bountry hunter

Restrictions
- I don't want to use ravager or axe of the unyeilding. I've used those to good effect.
- I'm tired of berserker/cleric or berserker/mage.
- I want to try and keep the number of characters down while maximizing the number of things I haven't done in the game

Anyone know of a good party makeup that takes all of this into account with tob in mind? I never said much about magic either, but I take it that I'll need a sorceror to come along too. I could figure it out, but I'd most likely screw it up since I've been away from the game so long. For example, I'd probably do something dumb like make a dual ranger/cleric while multi-classing might be better for example. I'd like to try and get as many npcs in as possible, but I'll confess that I think I'll have to take some multiplayer guys along. Thanks

[Mirk]

a good solution for you might be editing the proficiencies of the NPC's, thus enabling you to use all the weapons you didn't use, while keeping the NPC interactions.

[ektoplasma]

just a tip. u can modify your npc using shadowkeeper, to make them fit in more with your theme. for example, if you want a skald... change haer'dalis kit. it wont screw up his charming manners. valygar could easly fit as a archer. in my current run, he is

[egervari2]

What character makes the best use of foebane in your opinion?

I guess I can try something like a kensai, or even that wizard-slayer/thief using the staff of the ram +6 (this has to be a busted character, but I want to try it anyway ) That can be my main character. I'm sure it'll suck largely in the beginning, so I suppose that this is the tradeoff that enables such a busted character to even exist. I could even just switch to carsomyr when I'm not backstabbing.

I could then take jaheira, which can use spears and be the group's healer (don't really need one, so multiclass seems just right).

I suppose I can take valygar and switch him to an archer kit and haer'dalis as a skald then. What weapon combination should a skald use?

That leaves 2 more characters. Honestly, all I'll need at this point is a dedicated mage, which means I'll have to take edwin, nalia or imoen (jan or aerie is out of the question). Sadly, I don't like any of them anymore. I've use them all many times already. Maybe I'll just use kelsey.

Thoughts?

[moltovir]

Kelsey is indeed a very good choice. For Haer'Dalis, i would leave his blade kit unchanged, because improved bard song overwrites the old Skald song and is in fact better. If you give Haer'Dalis *** in two-weapon style and proficiency in katanas, he can dual wield Celestial Fury and his dexterity-draining blade, which is a good combo. Don't give him lots of offensive spells: a mirror imaged, stoneskinned, improved hasted, tensers transformated, protected from magical weapons Haer'Dalis is a very dangerous opponent, especially if combined with some well-placed time traps. Imho, bards are invincible in the hands of a skilled player, and blades can easily transform themselves in one-man slaughter houses or invincible frontliners (using their defensive spin ability). If you rely heavily on summons, take the skald instead. Hasted skeleton warriors influenced by the Skalds song are very, very strong summons

[Ieldra]

If you can do with just one mage... I tend to have two to three mage slots in my parties...

Anyway, I'd try one of the NPCs introduced by mods. Kelsey is indeed a good choice, as is Tashia. Both are Sorcerers. Or, for a real uber-character who will probably outfight your PC, take Solaufein (a F/M). You won't meet him until chapter 5, though.
Have a look at the modlist at http://www.pocketplane.net and look for NPCs that seem interesting. Chloe for a fighter, Tsujatha for the mage slot (he's a necromancer, so no illusions) for instance. There are quite a few good NPCs out there if you're bored with the official ones.

[Numinor]

Some suggestions for the weapons you mentioned:

Spears - most melee characters could use them, but I think the suit Jaheira best, and it's something different from the usual weapon+shield or dual wielding scimitars most people give her

Foebane - a great weapon for Keldorn IMO, he can dual wield it together with the Purifier, that would again be something different to the 'usual' equipment for him (Carsomyr). I played a Cavalier with that weapon combo and she was damn powerful

[Thrain]

jaheira dual weilding belm in the off hand and the detonation club in the main hand.

[JJComo]

This party gets along well so far.

Haplo the Mage/NE, Minsc, Korgan, Jan, Viconia, and Haer'Dallis. If you want this party, watch the reputation level or you may lose Korgan. It hasn't happened to me yet, but I suspect it may be bloody.

J

[Thrain]

if your rep goes over 18 you will lose both korgan and viconia.

it is not bloody, just crippling.