First timer at IA, Magic heavy party - how will it fare? Options

[jojamie]

Hi all

I stumbled on this mod much by accident and it has thrown me back into adventuring through Baldur's Gate for the first time in a couple of years.
So thanks Sikret for all your hard work, and continued work

So, on to my question. I am a sucker for magic, and seem to always lean to a magic heavy party. What I would like to know is will it be fine to run a magic heavy party in IA or do I need more fighter types.

Here is my proposed party:
F/M Multi - always played dual, and can't drag myself away from being a magic user
R/C - Jaheira
Auramaster or Blade - Cernd or Haer'Dalis
Stalker - Valygar
T->Mage - Nalia
Sorcerer - Imoen

Out of the above, I have only ever take along Jaheria and Imoen. I won't leave Imoen out of my party - shes my sister!
I also wanted to try new NPCs (even if I tweaked them) as I want to hear the banter.

My standard party of old was F->M, Imoen, Jaheira, Minsc, Keldorn and Anomen.
So time for a change.

So, will my party be fine, or will I find myself in a constant reload or throwing the towel in and restarting with a new party??

I am open to suggestion, but don't want to hear spoilers - I am looking forward to the challenge.

One other question - would a triple class protagonist work? I am undecided but lean to the double-class.

Also, what is the Vagrant like to play - would he be better than using a F/M, or would I replace Valygar with him??

Sorry for all the questions

[Raven]

You don't have to apologise for asking questions . Everyone was new to IA at one time.

So, on to my question. I am a sucker for magic, and seem to always lean to a magic heavy party. What I would like to know is will it be fine to run a magic heavy party in IA or do I need more fighter types.

Looking at your party, you probably would find it easier if you had a second character who is a single class fighter type (on top of Valygar), Keldorn would be a good example. But I don't see why there would be any problems playing the party you propose. F/M multi is probably more useful than dual.

One other question - would a triple class protagonist work? I am undecided but lean to the double-class.

Well I would recommend sticking to the F/M as you plan to play with a full party. A triple class character would only get really powerful late in the game, and most IA players seem to find the beginning of the game the hardest, so it's important to have a strong party right away.

Also, what is the Vagrant like to play - would he be better than using a F/M, or would I replace Valygar with him??

When v4.3 is released (soon) the Vagrant is made much more powerful, especially if the vagrant is the protagonist. Although at the moment (v4.2) F/M are arguably the most powerful of classes, their power is lessened somewhat by the restricted use of many powerful magic items in 4.3. My personal preference would be to replace Valygar with a Vagrant, but make the Vagrant your protagonist instead of the F/M. So I would have

Vagrant protag.
F/M
R/C
Cernd/Haer'dalis
Nalia
Imoen

But that's just my view. I'm sure other people will make other suggestions.