Going to try a run through IA5, Could use some starting pointers Options

[The Bigg]

So... I've decided to take the plunge and try a run through IA 5. Since I'm not the greatest tactician (for example, both topical fights of Ascension are over my level), I'd like to ask first-hand if I'm in for a pointless reload game or not.

I'm going for a party as follows:
- PC Vagrant
- Valygar
- Anomen
- Cernd
- Nalia
- Edwin (Minsc while waiting to be able to recruit Edwin)

Questions:
- Is the party good enough (with three weak people), or am I in for hopeless defeat, keeping in mind I'm not a strong tactician?
- I've seen a guy who was going to use Nalia as the main thief. How is that possible? Does that depend on making use of large amounts of Knock spells and avoiding/saving vs. the trap effects, or is there something else?
- If I edit Edwin to be a Sorceror, will this cause problems?
- Ditto for using the patch from Ease of Use to allow him in a good party.


Technicalities: my WeiDU.log is basically a by-the-book IA install (with the exception of WSM, which I cannot imagine being incompatible with anything as far as BG2 is concerned):

CODE

// Log of Currently Installed WeiDU Mods
// The top of the file is the 'oldest' mod
// ~TP2_File~ #language_number #component_number // [Subcomponent Name -> ] Component Name [ : Version]

// Baldurdash 1.12 non-WeiDU goes here.

~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #0 // Infinite Weapon, Potion and Ring/Amulet Stacking
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #3 // True Grand Mastery (extra half-attack, etc.) (Baldurdash)
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #4 // Shut Up "You Must Gather Your Party Before Venturing Forth"
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #6 // Wear Magical Armor AND Magic Rings (etc.)
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #9 // Un-Nerfed THAC0 Table, Saving Throws, Grand-Mastery, and Arcane, Divine Spell Progression (Blucher)
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #10 // XP Cap Remover
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #14 // Multiple Strongholds (Baldurdash)
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #15 // Bonus Merchants (Baldurdash)
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #17 // No Drow Avatars On Party In Underdark
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #18 // Imoen ToB Dialogue Fix
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #20 // Female Edwina
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #21 // Romance: Bug Fixes (required for later components).
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #25 // Happy: NPCs won't fight with each other or leave the group.
~SETUP-IMPROVEDANVIL.TP2~ #0 #0 // Improved Anvil for SOA & TOB

Tp2 and pre-game suggestions:
- Can you upload (for example in the first post of the Bug Reports Thread) a .zip containing all hot-fixes? Currently, having to hunt them down via the Progress Report Thread looks somewhat cumbersome.
- REQUIRE_FILE ~data\25dialog.bif~ isn't user-friendly for those who have multiple installations and are using older WeiDUs. REQUIRE_PREDICATE (FILE_EXISTS_IN_GAME ~mel01.cre~) has the same effect, but also works if you install IA on a multiple-installs environment.
- (minor) using AT_EXIT ~notepad "ImprovedAnvil\Improved Anvil_readme.txt"~ doesn't work on Mac, Linux, or with newer WeiDUs. AT_EXIT ~view ./"ImprovedAnvil\Improved Anvil_readme.txt"~ is fine in all of these situations. Moreover, it might be worth it to open the other document files as well.

I doubt I'll be able to report anything more useful than "that was too hard for me PLZ nerf them", but I'll try to say useful things at least

[Raven]

So... I've decided to take the plunge and try a run through IA 5. Since I'm not the greatest tactician (for example, both topical fights of Ascension are over my level), I'd like to ask first-hand if I'm in for a pointless reload game or not.

Hmm, I'd say a certain amount of reloading is unavoidable for anyone playing IA the first time (whether they are a good tactician or not). I think the biggest thing is having time to play and accepting progress may not be too quick. I'd recommend following the quest order I put together.

I've said this many times but one thing that catches people out in IA is that you cannot simply go for a particular battle and assume that, because you have access to it, you should be able to finish it with the right tactics. There are battles which really cannot be won until chapter 6, unlike in the vanilla game. The fact that they are not winnable is not a reflection of a lack of tactical ability.

I'm going for a party as follows:
- PC Vagrant
- Valygar
- Anomen
- Cernd
- Nalia
- Edwin (Minsc while waiting to be able to recruit Edwin)

Questions:
- Is the party good enough (with three weak people), or am I in for hopeless defeat, keeping in mind I'm not a strong tactician?

I don't think you've got three weak people there, the party looks ok to me. I would say that Auramasters (like Cernd) are not the easiest class to use. I was actually planning to write some Auramaster tactics since it seems Cernd is not being picked by too many people. Maybe I'll get around to doing that in the next little while.

Personally I would recommend replacing Edwin with another fighter-type character, not because mages/sorcerers aren't powerful, just because they require more micromanagement (not what you want when starting out).

- I've seen a guy who was going to use Nalia as the main thief. How is that possible? Does that depend on making use of large amounts of Knock spells and avoiding/saving vs. the trap effects, or is there something else?

Knock may be necessary to open some locks, yes. Nalia's thief skills have been redistributed in IA to make her a little better at finding/disarming traps, though, so you might not need Knock after all.