Baldur's Gate 1 - NPC's

[Nova]

Which NPC's should I take in my party in BG1? While I know enough about those in BG2, I can't say the same for the ones in the original. Currently, I only have Imoen and of course, my PC who is a fighter (I considered making a mage, as Terry suggested, but I just can't stand having a spellcasting PC).

I just got out of Candlekeep (I've been playing F-Zero on the GC a lot) so obviously, I'm not far in the game. Is Imoen a good thief? While she is a logical choice as far as role-playing goes, should I drop her for another thief when I get the chance? Who are the best spellcasters, clerics and supporting tanks?

Thanks in advance. Whoever answers first gets a free beer :D:

[Terry Penrod]

.

Assuming a good or neutral party, along with your resident thief Imoen in the first game, you will meet two NPCs named Montaron and Xzar shortly after leaving Candlekeep along the path east near a crossroads.

Montaron is a dumb, neutral-evil halfling fighter-thief that always travels with Xzar - a chaotic evil elven necromancer. Despite their alignments, you should pick-up them up immediately to help fight in the short run and then grab two more companions at the first inn you get to (The Friendly Arms Inn which also makes a great initial home base for storing goodies in a secure chest). The latter are Jaheira (a very useful half-elf Druid Priestess / Fighter) for healing, enhancements, etc. and her husband Khalid (a better than average half-elf fighter). IMO they are long term keepers.

A little later on in the town of Nashkel to the south, be sure to get Minsc and be extra sure to agree to rescue his powerful, lawful good human witch Dynaheir (an Invoker no less). Either way, deal with the evil wizard Edwin in Nashkel on the southern bridge any way you see fit. But he will join a good party for a while and is a very very powerful mage who can be extremely useful until you rescue Minsc's life partner. Realize though that he wants to kill Dynaheir and will come to blows with Minsc - your best good, human Ranger type who has great bow abilties, some minor but helpful spells and plenty of melee power - terrific with a big sword. He's also a very handy extra pack mule to help carry additional loot.

NOTE: Monteron & Xzar, Jaheira & Khalid and Minsc & Dynaheir are duos who can not be broken up. So you must accept both in a pair at the same time and both will leave together. The first two are just to help get you past the early stages to the south in order to pick-up Minsc, followed later by Dynaheir.

That will eventually give you:

YOUR MAIN WARRIOR

IMOEN YOUR THIEF

JAHEIRA & KHALID (healer / fighter and extra fighter)

MINSC & DYNAHEIR (the best ranger and good mage combo around)


There are other NPCs you can consider but I like the above best for overal abilties, range of skills and personalities for anything but a true evil party. Also, they can be gotten reasonably early in the game and therefore level-up really well together as you proceeed to the main city, sections to the north and to the difficult TOTSC EP areas scattered about.

Cheers, Terry

.

[Gaim Mastr]

The party Terry mentioned is one of the best, well-rounded in the game. But you will get a chance to meet other fighters & clerics of good skill while you wander about the countryside.

It should be noted that if one of the NPCs from the duos is killed in combat, the other will remain with your party.

One time I let Dynaheir die in combat and filled her empty spot with the Drow cleric Viconnia. Your reputation will take an immediate 2-point hit, but she's a great cleric. Her biggest problem is low strength. But there are potions and items to make up for that and turn her into a good melee combatant.

[Terry Penrod]

.

Viconia is the very best cleric in the game but is pure evil and does not play well with lawful / good companions. She does have some great lines though in BG2 - especially when she, Jaheira and little Aerie are in the party at the same time. The blue skinned Drow Priestess also has a good romance script in the sequel and if you stick with her all the way through to the final EP, it is possible to get her to rennounce her evil ways and turn good to prove her undying love to a male lead character.

There are some other good NPCs in BG 1 including a dependable paladin named Adjantis. He can be found in a farmland area north of The Friendly Arms Inn and makes an excellent addition to any good party. Alternately, you can create your own paladin from scratch or wait for Sir Keldorn in the early part of BG 2. That way you still have a holy warrior aboard by the time that the mighty Carsomyr sword becomes available along with all sorts of amazing armor (red dragon scale baby!), magic items (that glorious cloak of mirroring, a ring of free movement and those nifty boots of speed) plus super high levels.

For optional clerics, both Yesslick (a lawful good, dwarven fighter - cleric found in the Cloakwood Mines) and Branwen (a neutral human healer found at the Nashkel Carnival east of town) are solid but no better than Jaheira IMO and Viconia (despite the rep point penalty every time she joins your party) is even better - especially once she has the best strength enhancing gear, armor and weapons to augment her formidable spellcasting abiltiies and her snide but exotic feminine charms.

For a really good alternate archer type in BG 1, Kivan (a chaotic good, full elf Ranger) is hard to beat once he has the best long bow of accuracy and bracers of archery. He makes a great sniper as all elven bowman do. He can be found in the High Hedge area.

Matter of fact, for pure combat abiltities, Viconia as your cleric and Kivan as an extra archer might be even better than Jaheira and Khalid. But the latter are still quite good and best of all, become available almost immediately, so they level-up with you right off the bat and Jaheira plays a key role in the sequel - so she / they also add to the experience in other ways.

Safana (found in the Lighthouse area) also makes a decent thief if you want to switch-out Imoen (although she is so key to the overall story). However, in BG 1, Imoen is just a plain thief with no mage abilties, as she has in BG 2. She is also not absolutely essential to the plot in the first game, so that is a consideration if you want to get rid of her - although I've never seen any good reason to.

Cheers, Terry

.

[Nova]

Hmm, I think I will drop Jaheira and Khalid for Viconia and Kivan after all. I never really liked Jaheira (way too bossy and b****y for my tastes :):)
and they also both can be found pretty early in the game.

[Gaim Mastr]

Plus the soldier you have to kill to get Viconia will net you some nice plate armor and such. Good stuff for a new/very low level character with little to no money.

:wink:

[RHooks]

Better to get your party set as soon as possible. When you pick up characters late in the game they will be at your level but you will not have had any input in their stats. Computer does some strange things when configuring the NPC's. It's better to pick them up as early as possible and pick the stats you find desirable.

[Mr. Natural]

The blue skinned Drow Priestess also has a good romance script in the sequel and if you stick with her all the way through to the final EP, it is possible to get her to rennounce her evil ways and turn good to prove her undying love to a male lead character.

The BG series is really an amazing feat in gaming. So many different ways to play the game and different stories can result depending on your party. It makes me want to dive into the series again.

[Nova]

My party, so far, will be :

My PC (Nova, very original!) - Melee & ranged fighting
Minsc - Melee fighting
Kivan - Ranged support
Imoen - Thievery
Viconia - Cleric stuff
Dynaheir - Mage stuff

I first wanted Edwin for a mage because he's funny, but Minsc would have hacked him apart. Is Kagain a good fighter? I could replace Minsc for him.

[RHooks]

Same party I had except for Viconia. I used the other cleric chick as I did not want any evil characters.

[Cronus]

Doesn't Minsc have a hamster or something...?

[RangerRick]

You mean BOO?!

[Nova]

He has a miniature giant space hamster :wtf:

[Terry Penrod]

.

My party, so far, will be :

My PC (Nova, very original!) - Melee & ranged fighting
Minsc - Melee fighting
Kivan - Ranged support
Imoen - Thievery
Viconia - Cleric stuff
Dynaheir - Mage stuff

I first wanted Edwin for a mage because he's funny, but Minsc would have hacked him apart. Is Kagain a good fighter? I could replace Minsc for him.

Minsc has significantly Higher Strength than Kagain and is a Ranger with some helpful spells. As a Ranger with 18/93 Strength, he is also the ability to use the very best long bows in the game plus he is a good aligned, human character who is essential for keeping the best good mage Dynaheir in your party - plus he has Boo and plays a solid role in the sequel. Also, with his extra strength, he can carry a lot more goodies.

Kagain, a pure fighter with a rather Puny Strength rating (15), is a lawful evil dwarf with no special abilties. His only claim to fame is a huge Constitution rating of 20. But Minsc can also wear the best armor, etc. and is plenty sturdy for melee with a mighty sword, axe, warhammer or whatever you want to give him along with a great bow for double ranged attacks.

IMO, Minsc is better in every way.

Cheers, Terry

.

[Gaim Mastr]

Minsc can't cast spells because his Wisdom is too low. Sucks, expecially in BG2 when he gets to higher levels. His strength does make him a great front-line tank. As you level him, you can make him pretty good with a bow as well. :yes:

[Terry Penrod]

.

Minsc can't cast spells because his Wisdom is too low. Sucks, expecially in BG2 when he gets to higher levels. His strength does make him a great front-line tank. As you level him, you can make him pretty good with a bow as well. :yes:

I thought he had a few basic spells on his Special Abilities bar GM, like minor healing and charm animal. Then again, I don't recall ever using him for healing and generally don't bother charming animals when my cleric can summon huge creatures and an army of greater skeletal warriors, turn undead, charm people, etc. and even polymorph into beasts on occasion.

Cheers, Terry

.