Balanced parties

[Shadowlord]

OK, I'm about to start on a very ambitious plan to bet SoA and ToB with 3 single player parties- good, neutral and evil. This should be a challenge for me because I have only ever played multi parties with 6 PC's. Anyways, I was wondering how to balance out the NPC's to get 3 alignment based parties which are still pretty balanced, and these are what I came up with from my brief impressions of characters and observations from people who have used them.

Good Party
>Me (Cavalier)
>Minsc (+Boo)
>Valygar
>Mazzy
>Nalia
>Aerie

Unfortunately, no room for Lawful Good Keldorn because I am playing a Cavalier and I want that Holy Avenger! plus I heard that Mazzy and Valygar have some entertaining dialogue so I want them both in the same party.

Neutral party
>Me (Fighter dualled to Mage)
>Keldorn
>Anomen
>Cernd
>Jaheira
>Yoshimo/Imoen

Will be light in the magic department for a lot of the game, but I never really use it very well anyways...

Evil party
>Fighter
>Korgan
>Haer 'Dalis-->Sarevok
>Jan
>Viconia
>Edwin

will probably struggle somewhat in melee - should teach me to use magic properly and not rely so heavily on fighters.

So what does everyone think? Are these parties relatively balanced? Any suggestions on how to improve them? Thanks for any input.

[SecretMaster]

Well done i say. Its going to be a challenge, but after that, you'll be the true meaning of Baldurs Gate Expert. You'll know everything, find tricks, and usefull things. Plus u get to see the bonuses of being good, evil, and neatral. Good luck, and hope u have fun.

[Shadowlord]

Thanks SecretMaster, hopefully this will help me get even more value out of this great game and improve my playing skills also. Right now I'm gonna start my Good party. Butt kicking for good!!

Nice parties, I have tried the good one, but the neutral will be a true challenge.

[This message has been edited by mitsos (edited 10-20-2001).]

[Shadowlord]

Yeah, Neutral should be interesting. Keldorn is the only real fighter, all of the others are kinda half fighter, half something else. It will be interesting trying to keep the balance both with my reputation and how my party will work together in combat.

[Nifft the Nimble]

Your neutral party has no mages for half the game! You have three tanks: Jahera, Keldorn and Anomen. In my opinion Cernd is a waste if you have Jahera (and also a waste if you don't, but that's another issue). I think you ought to either replace Cernd with Jan or Haer'Dalis. You shouldn't be another tank yourself... you'd have lots of fun as an elven Sorcerer, or a human Conjurer, Necromancer or Invoker.


-- Nifft