How do you play Baldur's Gate?

[Eleima]

I can't believe I only just noticed this topic! A very interesting one, at that!

 

1 How many NPCs do you usually include (for solo, 0)?

Always five. I love the banters, the relationships, the romances...

 

2 Do you prefer a themed party (all good, all evil, all mages, all wizard slayers, etc.) or do you prefer a balanced party in terms of class and alignment?

I usually have a balanced party in terms of class, to have a harmony of sorts, and I usually have everyone on the same alignment (usually all good, different classes; I've only played evil characters once or twice).

 

3 Does NPC personality influence your party composition?

Definitely!! That's why I was never able to play the Aerie romance, because I could never stand her whiny personality.

 

4 Does an NPC quest influence you party composition?

Not usually. It comes as a bonus, most often than not.

 

5 Does NPC power influence your party composition?

Well, it's not a major element, but obviously, when you're choosing a cleric for example, you'd prefer someone with good stats, not a whiny cleric who has the constitution of a Kleenex box (am I ranting at Aerie again? Oops!)

 

6 Regarding your PC (player 1), do you single-class, dual-, or multi-?

Well, I never really got the hang of multi-classing or dual-classing, so I've always stuck with single-classing. But that's just lazziness and ignorance...

 

7 How powerful do you want your PC to be in terms of the challenges posed by the game?

Adequate. I hate having to bang my head against the desk because I'm so frustrated by a game. I play for fun! But over-powered games that are too easy are kinda pointless. So I guess there's a middle ground somewhere.

 

8 How powerful do you want your PC to be compared to the NPCs?

About the same, but a tiny bit more powerful. I don't like my PC dying too often.

 

9 How do you utilize multi-classed characters?

Umm, I don't. Although I know I should.

 

10 How do you use 'specialty-class' characters (bards, monks, specialty kits)?

I'm a very big fan of the monk, my PC is quite often a monk. I've played a bit with Haer'Dalis a bit, but not very often. So I'm not very big on specialty kits.

[Evaine Dian]

1 How many NPCs do you usually include (for solo, 0)?

Five. I want as many banters and as much interaction as possible.

 

 

2 Do you prefer a themed party (all good, all evil, all mages, all wizard slayers, etc.) or do you prefer a balanced party in terms of class and alignment?

Depends. I think I usually don't pay much attention to people's alignment, it's their personality I care about and who the NPCs get along with or have interesting banters in general. Class is more important, but if I absolutely can't stand an NPC, I prefer to take a different one along, even if it makes the party unbalanced.

 

 

3 Does NPC personality influence your party composition?

As I said, it's the NPCs' personality I'm interested in. If they suck (i.e. if they bore me), I won't take them along.

 

 

4 Does an NPC quest influence you party composition?

Yes, once in a while I take NPCs with me to be able to solve their quest and then just dump them.

 

 

5 Does NPC power influence your party composition?

Not much. Powerful NPCs are certainly cool, but if I'm not interested in their banters, they have to leave. I don't take anyone I can't stand into my party for too long, unless I'm forced to (as in NWN2).

 

 

6 Regarding your PC (player 1), do you single-class, dual-, or multi-?

I think dual- or multi-classed NPCs usually are really, really cool, but somehow it's different if I do it myself. I mainly play bards, mages, sorcerers, archers or clerics and only rarely dual- or multi-class.

 

 

7 How powerful do you want your PC to be in terms of the challenges posed by the game?

Not too powerful, not too weak. Unique special abilities rock, but if they make the game too boring, I'd rather go without them.

 

 

8 How powerful do you want your PC to be compared to the NPCs?

I get envious easily. I frequently check who has the most kills and hope it's "me", but I'm not seriously distressed if somebody else is the most powerful character in the group.

 

 

9 How do you utilize multi-classed characters?

I generally play without any great tactics and just do what I feel like. If a character has more than one class, I tend to use the one I'm more interested in or familiar with or need at the moment, but I also don't neglect the other class. Jaheira's usually fighting right in the front, but has to heal occasionally, Aerie might heal or cast some fireballs or other aggressive spells, Imoen mainly has to open locks and detect traps and also cast some spells occasionally.

 

 

 

10 How do you use 'specialty-class' characters (bards, monks, specialty kits)?

I love bards, although they are somewhat overpowered. I like the concept of the monk as a class, but I don't enjoy playing as one (I'm too attached to my nifty weapons and armours). I don't like any of the mage kits, but some of the other kits are cool, like the archer.

[coaster]

1 How many NPCs do you usually include (for solo, 0)?

 

Usually, either three (I go for the classic fighter, mage, thief, cleric/druid four-person party) or zero (if I fancy soloing). I get a bit bored with managing 6 characters.

 

2 Do you prefer a themed party (all good, all evil, all mages, all wizard slayers, etc.) or do you prefer a balanced party in terms of class and alignment?

 

Themed w.r.t. alignment, but balanced w.r.t classes.

 

3 Does NPC personality influence your party composition?

 

Yes. I will usually avoid Aerie, Jan, Anomen, Mazzy and Minsc. For some reason more of the good characters irritate me than the evil ones. In a party game I will rarely play without Jaheira since I like the romance plot.

 

4 Does an NPC quest influence you party composition?

 

Yes, I will pick up NPCs for quests only and chuck them afterwards. I also like the Harper quests (another reason to take Jaheira along).

 

5 Does NPC power influence your party composition?

 

Somewhat. Keldorn's uber Dispels and True Sights I often find invaluable, and in an evil party, Edwin is just too good a spellcaster for me to leave out (unless I'm playing an evil mage myself).

 

6 Regarding your PC (player 1), do you single-class, dual-, or multi-?

Usually multi if I am soloing, or single class in a party. I rarely dual-class due to the HLA penalties, although I would quite like to try the wizardslayer dualled to either thief or mage.

 

7 How powerful do you want your PC to be in terms of the challenges posed by the game?

 

Usually very powerful, as I often play with difficulty enhancing mods. In solo games with a multiclass I will often remove the level cap and occasionally SK in a kit (eg. fighter-wild mage-thief; berserker-mage-cleric; etc).

 

8 How powerful do you want your PC to be compared to the NPCs?

 

Comfortably more powerful. I'm the child of Bhaal and they are my minions

 

Seriously, as I usually play Tutu with the level cap removed and then import the character into BG2, I'm usually a couple of levels ahead of most BG2 NPCs when I pick them up. I also make sure my PC gets all the best equipment (even if strictly speaking they might be better utilized by another character).

 

9 How do you utilize multi-classed characters?

 

I usually play fighter-mage or fighter-thief if I am playing multi.

 

10 How do you use 'specialty-class' characters (bards, monks, specialty kits)?

 

I've played a few cool kits etc. Monks and sorcerors are great for the overpoweredness; Cavalier is my favourite paladin kit, due to the "traditional knight" feel of the kit; Archers are superb for taking out enemies; Assassins are fun for the poison/backstab combo; Wild Mage is hilarious (apart from the time some obscure wild surge bug permanently reduced my number of attacks to zero). I don't usually bother with the other specialist mages, or with cleric, druid or bard kits - they don't interest me, and feel too much like "support characters" to me.

[close2myheart]

Great topic my play is...

 

1. How many NPCs do you usually include (for solo, 0)?

5, since I love the banters (and conflicts! love the conflicts as well! ) I would have 1 or 2 'permanent' NPC that would stick from begining to the end (usually the romancable NPC) and the rest are kinda 'temporary' so to speak.

 

2. Do you prefer a themed party (all good, all evil, all mages, all wizard slayers, etc.) or do you prefer a balanced party in terms of class and alignment?

Nope. I just pick n drop the NPC based on whims

 

3. Does NPC personality influence your party composition?

Yep. It's fun to mix different NPC personality into my party. I really get kicks from Tiax (He's a deranged, evil and self delusioned gnome gone mad, but heck that's why he's fun ) But too bad I gotta kick him soon since a certain Paladin in my war party sez he's getting headaches from Tiax pestering him And that Paladin is a 'permanent' NPC in my group. So, sorry Tiax

 

4. Does an NPC quest influence you party composition?

Yep. Take the required NPC -do quest-see interjections-then drop 'em off.

 

5. Does NPC power influence your party composition?

Hmm... I guess so. The 'final' party composition (the ones that get to meet the final boss) usually depends on my PC and the 'permanent NPC's' professions/abilities and alignments.

 

6. Regarding your PC (player 1), do you single-class, dual-, or multi-?

Multiclass Using humans or half elves.

 

7. How powerful do you want your PC to be in terms of the challenges posed by the game?

The first play through, just a bit more powerful than the rest of the NPC's. After the umpth-time playing, I just cheat (uhm.. oh wow, did I just write that? ) I am Bhaal's kid after all so I'm pretty much shamelessly powerful

 

8. How powerful do you want your PC to be compared to the NPCs?

Very. Mwahahaha

 

9. How do you utilize multi-classed characters?

Usually it's something/Mage.

 

 

10. How do you use 'specialty-class' characters (bards, monks, specialty kits)?

Never tried them

[Starcrunch]

Noticied this and thought it might be fun to play too...

 

1. How many NPCs do you usually include (for solo, 0)?

5 or 3, depending on mood (5 more common but occationally I get the urge for playing through with 3 NPC's).

 

2. Do you prefer a themed party (all good, all evil, all mages, all wizard slayers, etc.) or do you prefer a balanced party in terms of class and alignment?

Themed party is uncommon for me, but I've played all mages before. The party is usually good, neutral characters. I can deal with Viconia too.

 

3. Does NPC personality influence your party composition?

Yes, and I tend not to like NPC's who are contentous about everything. The NPC needs to get on well with at least the PC, and preferably some collection of NPC's. That's not to say the NPC needs to get along with all conceivable PC's, but they should at least get along reasonably with SOME PC. I'm pretty much fine with various romance NPC's fighting over the PC, but I do tend to put that sort of thing down in a hurry. If I ever get the feeling that an NPC-NPC conflict is bitter enough that it could lead to a breackdown in combat, someone is going to go (and it's going to be the NPC I personally like least). This doesn't mean their shouldn't be such breakdowns in an NPC mod, I'm perfactly willing to choose, but it shouldn't happen with more than a handful of NPC's, IMO.

 

4. Does an NPC quest influence you party composition?

To an extent. I take certain NPC's on their quests. Keldorn is always taken and then left to be with his wife if I don't wnat to keep him. Valygar is usually taken, unless I'm evil. I take Mazzy for a while. I do wish it were possible to have Imoen die in Spellhold if the party doesn't have a slot for her, rather than always being forced to leave someone behind.

 

5. Does NPC power influence your party composition?

No. I try to always have thief, but other than that I usually cover everything without thinking.

 

6. Regarding your PC (player 1), do you single-class, dual-, or multi-?

PC is almost always single-classed. Usually a kitted character. Usually mage (including sorc), cleric (DR Lorekeeper of Oghma is one of my favorites), or bard. More rarely a monk or ranger. He is never a Druid or Barbarian for story reasons (there is no conceivable way to reconcile growing up in Candlekeep and having those classes, for similar reasons I don't take kitted fighters). I like druids but couldn't care less about barbarians, Minsc is close enough IMO. I've played a few paladins and non-kitted fighters but never deeper than BG-I.

 

7. How powerful do you want your PC to be in terms of the challenges posed by the game?

Usually the PC is just part of the puzzle. With a good party it's pretty hard to be challenged by any part of the game. With a balanced supporting cast the PC doesn't have to do anything... Hmm, I might try a themed game where the PC has zero kills.

 

8. How powerful do you want your PC to be compared to the NPCs?

Well if the PC is a mage/sorc he'll eventually be more powerful than any non-mage. If he's a wild mage, then there is no contest...

 

9. How do you utilize multi-classed characters?

Well Aerie is nearly the best NPC in the game as far as power goes. She has decent stats once you get the Belt of Fortitude and something to boost her strength... but the ability to put together arcane and divine buffing spells can make her really sick. Jan isn't as good but he's the only NPC that levels as a thief after Yoshi betrays you. He's a weak mage with more thief skills than needed (aerie is also a weak mage, but there is a lot more synergy between her mage and cleric spells that can make up for it). Usually Imoen is my thief, the game just doesn't ask for more out of a thief than Imoen provides. I am playing with Amber now as a thief, and liking her very much.

 

10. How do you use 'specialty-class' characters (bards, monks, specialty kits)?

I use HD a lot. He's got some really good dialog and I always take him if I'm romancing Aerie... He makes that romance worth while IMO. To be honest despite their incompatability at least their romance is built upon something he and Aerie have in common... The PC-Aerie romance is built upon the simple fact that the player isn't a complete evil bastard when Aerie talks about her problems.

 

Random off topic rant about Aerie's romance: I actually kind of like Aerie, but the romance starts too quickly, you never discuss you're "little" problem in a direct way (which is weird as it's actually the central topic of the whole damn story arc!), you then get forced into a dialog where you get to choose between taking advantage of her (the dialog option conotates a certain amount of calculated sleezieness), or effectively telling her she doesn't actually know what she wants, and you do. "The wouldn't you rather wait until the time is right," line just makes me cringe because it impies that Aerie hasn't really thought things through and that she doesn't know that she wants to sleep with the PC, and that if she were to think a little harder she'd know this... Wow! Now I've shown respect to Aerie by implying she's a thoughtless fool who doesn't understand what she wants*. Oh, yes then you can have a baby with a gestation period of a few days... which I believe Jaheria even comments on... Oh and that's only after having fought the shortest fight in history about whether preganant women should be adventuring (well it may acutally be the only such conversation in history), in which Aerie deadpans a line about resurrecting her fetus...

 

*Why the choice between a bad prono line, "How could I refuse such a sweet offer?" or claiming Aerie doesn't know what she wants (strictly speaking the PC implies she doesn't know how to recognize the right time for having sex; but the right time when it comes to sex is very much tied into what a person wants)? Why are there only dialog choices that imply the PC is much more mature as far as relationships goes than Aerie? I mean unless he had a fling with Imoen back at Candlekeep there are, in cannon, no chances of him being in a relationship, and all of one chance of him having sex before this scene plays out.

 

Sorry for tha Aerie rant,

-Starcrunch

[Jarno Mikkola]

I have widely modified game, so...

 

1) How many NPCs do you usually include (for solo, 0)?

I usually have few PCs, but I would wish I could take the whole army of npcs with me, but...

So 3 to 5.

 

2) Do you prefer a themed party (all good, all evil, all mages, all wizard slayers, etc.) or do you prefer a balanced party in terms of class and alignment?

I use the good party's in the end(ea. Viconia, etc.) cause they are more powerful.

 

3) Does NPC personality influence your party composition?

So long as there is a certain gnome with a turnip fetish, I won't have him. But usually no.

 

4) Does an NPC quest influence you party composition?

Some times I might take them with if I know how to solve the quest, and some times I just need their helping hand...

 

5) Does NPC power influence your party composition?

YES, as I am a power gamer and I like good challenges to be faced with the strongest might I can wield, I ...

 

6) Regarding your PC (player 1), do you single-class, dual-, or multi-?

I use (multi-)class kits, or single class (kit-ed)fighters. So no, it's single class.

 

7) How powerful do you want your PC to be in terms of the challenges posed by the game?

Just enough for him to get killed for the smallest of mistakes.

 

8) How powerful do you want your PC to be compared to the NPCs?

They need not to be as strong, as I mostly can wipe the floor with my PC.

 

9) How do you utilize multi-classed characters?

To the best of my abilities. So-o, they'll be the first ones to be slaughtered.

 

10) How do you use 'specialty-class' characters (bards, monks, specialty kits)?

I hate bards, I put 'use all items' ability to Kensai's(although, I might just as well dual Sarevok into a thief ), never really used monks, and I like the druidic-sorcerer kit more than pure sorcerer, so...

 

11. Do you play with add-on NPCs, and if so, how many at a time, and why? I install all of them, but do I play them, it really depends on can they take the role I need them to wear, for example the Kensai-Thief Sarevok, (Ranger lv2)-Priest of Lathander Jet'Laya or Spellweaver Xan.

 

And in case you didn't realize it yet, I do cheat quite much(enhance the experience with shadow keeper ), and play with the all the hard mods and with the hardest difficulty lever.

[Avenger]

I don't play it anymore in the regular sense, but it is loaded in a debugger every day

Looking at the innards is entertaining.

[Choo Choo]

1 How many NPCs do you usually include (for solo, 0)?

 

Full party, always. (In BG2, I go with four NPC's, and then I switch the fifth place to complete all quests, and then I go with Yoshimo to Spellhold and pick up Imoen.)

 

2 Do you prefer a themed party (all good, all evil, all mages, all wizard slayers, etc.) or do you prefer a balanced party in terms of class and alignment?

 

I rarely bring along any evil character for long. Except for that, no, good and neutral and chaotic and lawful abound.

 

3 Does NPC personality influence your party composition?

 

YES!

 

4 Does an NPC quest influence you party composition?

 

No. It doesn't.

 

5 Does NPC power influence your party composition?

 

It comes after personality.

 

6 Regarding your PC (player 1), do you single-class, dual-, or multi-?

 

If only elves could dual-class.. I usually (read: always) play as an elf, and I hate multiclassing, so no, it's singleclass.

 

7 How powerful do you want your PC to be in terms of the challenges posed by the game?

 

Enough to make it fun. Not overpowered, but.. adequate to the difficulty.

 

8 How powerful do you want your PC to be compared to the NPCs?

 

I tend to even it out. All characters have their strengths. Except for some who lack them completely but I never bring those around for long at all.

 

9 How do you utilize multi-classed characters?

 

I hate multiclass. I'd find Jaheira much more useful if she was dualled..

 

10 How do you use 'specialty-class' characters (bards, monks, specialty kits)?

 

I tend to play as a kensai myself, so..

 

11. Do you play with add-on NPCs, and if so, how many at a time, and why?

 

I always, ALWAYS bring Xan along. I've got loads more installed but he's the only one who's always in my party.

[Daulmakan]

1 How many NPCs do you usually include (for solo, 0)?

5.

 

2 Do you prefer a themed party (all good, all evil, all mages, all wizard slayers, etc.) or do you prefer a balanced party in terms of class and alignment?

I usually favor game balance (couple of fighters, cleric, thief, mage/s, etc.), depending on my PC's class. I mostly play good characters, but I tend to go with a full evil party when the PC is a baddie.

 

3 Does NPC personality influence your party composition?

Relatively. I can't stand Anomen, but I take him along every now and then. I like Mazzy, but I hardly have her join me. It depends on the particular party makeup I guess, although some I never take (Haer'Dalis, Cernd).

 

4 Does an NPC quest influence you party composition?

Yes. I Usually try to do every quest available, and I take the corresponding NPC for it (and discard them after they're useless ).

 

5 Does NPC power influence your party composition?

Not really.

 

6 Regarding your PC (player 1), do you single-class, dual-, or multi-?

All of the above. Dual-class is the least frequent.

 

7 How powerful do you want your PC to be in terms of the challenges posed by the game?

The most it can be. Best gear usually goes to the PC, when appropriate.

 

8 How powerful do you want your PC to be compared to the NPCs?

See above. He/She doesn't necessarily have to be the most powerful in the party, just the most it can be in regards to its class.

 

9 How do you utilize multi-classed characters?

Less often than single-class, more often than dual-class.

 

10 How do you use 'specialty-class' characters (bards, monks, specialty kits)?

Pretty much all the time.

 

11. Do you play with add-on NPCs, and if so, how many at a time, and why?

I always take at least one, it provides another chance at a replay. There are still plenty that I haven't tried yet.