Is a rounded party possible?

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Hola! My friend doesn't have a computer so wanted me to pose this question: What PC and NPC group would best take advantage of the weapons (nicer ones I'm assuming)? I was tellin her about that katana that stuns, etc. But I've never gotten past chapter 4 cuz it always freezes

 

I have to ask: If she doesn't have a computer, what would she care about a computer game?

Anyway, just about any PC-NPC combination (provided it's not horribly unbalanced in a fashion that would be plain to any player) can use the best weapons because you get so many proficiency points over the course of the game. It's just a matter of allocating them properly so that everything is covered by at least one character.

 

Oops, said that wrong, she doesn't have an internet connection yet

 

like fel, you can pretty much do anything you/she likes, but provide a bit more information, like, how many partymembers, and do you have any mods and stuff like that, then i and other people can easily come up with various suggestions on how to solve the equation.

oh and, are you/she planning on using NPC's or creating your own?

 

I agree that without additional information, it's almost impossible to give you specific advice. General rule of thumb for a six member party:

At least two front line tanks (I like 3)
2 characters using arcane magic
1 character using divine magic
1 character with thieving abilities.

Of course, multi-class characters can fill two roles. For example, Jan would fill the role of your thief, and one of your two arcane spell casters.

Here's a decent example:

PC F/T
Keldorn
Anomen
Imoen
Haer Dalis
And one other NPC you like.

 

I'll just throw out a couple of tips:

One of the best weapons in the game can only be used by a Paladin, and since Keldorn is the only NPC Paladin, I'd take him unless your PC is a Paladin, or you're planning an evil party.

The most frustrating character in terms of weapon selection is Jahiera, if she could use anything she can't use, I'd be happier. In my games, she doesn't acquire what I consider to be a genuinely worth weapon until ToB.

 

My husband gave me a rule he's lived by for DnD games and it's what I use.

2 fighter types
2 cleric types
1 thief
1 mage

In BG2, I like having 2 mages, usually one straight mage (Imoen, Nalia, Edwin) and one parttime mage (Jan, Haer'Dalis, PC F/M). There's lots of overlap when you read on, but I like party members who can hit back. Here's what I call my 'standard' party and how I distribute their proficiency points:

Keldorn - crossbows, 2 handed swords, 2 handed weapon style
- give him the Firetooth crossbow from WK and Carsomyr
Anomen - sling, war hammer, mace, flail
- Anomen's different because he can get 5* in weapons, like a fighter. I typically have him use the Crom Faeyr (war hammer). Some stick him with the Flail of the Ages (FoA, flail). Arvoreen's sling for SoA, then the sling from WK
Jaheira - club, scimitar, dagger, sling
- Firetooth throwing dagger from Ust Natha, the Spectral Blade (scimitar) from WK, Blackblood from Trademeet (club)
Imoen - shortbow, quarterstaff
-She comes with these profs, so just stick her points wherever. SotM (Twisted Rune) and Gesen's bow. Use Yoshimo if you like until you get her. His profs are fine as is.
Minsc - longbow, halberd, 2 handed sword
- Some of his profs overlap with Keldorn. Use The Wave (halberd), Silver Sword from Saemon and Githyanki, Psionic blade (2 handed sword) from Yaga Shura's mountain hideaway, Ravager (halberd) in ToB and Mana bow (longbow) from the Northern Forest where you meet Safana and Coran.
PC - katana, long sword, 2 weapon fighting style, axe
- A F/M of whatever race you like, preferably a multiclass. Celestial Fury from Temple district, The Equalizer, Axe of the Unyielding in ToB, Hindo's Doom for special occasions in ToB

 

My rule of thumb is to try and go with a four person party. Then your chances of having clashes of items and skills falls to almost nothing, you are forced to make better use of your characters' individual skills, and you don't have to mess around trying to manage six characters getting in the way of each other. Downsides are that you run our inventory space and you miss out some NPC dialog and quests.

 

If inexperienced in the game, I always advise that you pick up Keldorn (Sewers, Temple District) and Minsc (6 feet away from you in Irenicus' Dungeon) and then add/leave who you want.

This way you at least have two tough and durable frontline warriors.

These are both Good aligned so from there you may want to make an 'all good' party or whatever, but you at least have a strong base. You will probs need someone to heal, some one with mage spells and someone who can pick locks.