Back, after 14 years Options

[Shadan]

Hi there!

I haven't been here in last 14 years... I've just completed BG3 on tactical with vengeance paladin, and old NPCs in BG3 (like Jaheira, Minsc and Viconia (sadly I had to kill Viconia ) brought back my memories about BG2 and great IA times, so thanks to a sudden urge, I searched on internet and was suprised to see IA is still living and V7 came out, and compatible with EE.
I am thinking on relearning game again, and playing 1-2 IA runs... I have lot of time nowadays...
I've tried to remember what kind of parties did I have in old times.
I remember my start with IA V3.2, gnome F/I protagonist, blade bard (or Hear'Dalis) with his incredible spin, inquisitor with insane dispel (all 3 were nerfed later), usual B->Cleric etc.
I don't really remember to my other runs, just as a V6 playtester I played with necro protagonist and Cernd was my main healer instead of usual R or B -> Cleric.
My last V6 run was melee heavy party: vagrant protagonist, riskbreaker, berserker, swashie, usual R->Cleric, Necro.
As far as I remember, sorcerer, or double sorcerer were also great in the team.

Now, I see in V7 some other NPCs and suclasses are buffed, rebalanced. I am a little clueless about protagonist and party composition. As far as I see new rog NPC is good, also Mazzy is buffed to hell. So any recommendation is welcome on this topic (and on weapon proficiencies).

I am still playing my 2nd BG3 run (honor mode, but more than 1 save ) with a bard. When I finished this, maybe I start an IA run. Nowadays I have less patience, and I am getting bored in things easily, so I am not sure if I will have a strength and patience for IA, but I will see it.

Cheers,
Shadan

[Shadan]

Pekkae, thanks for advice! May I ask why do u make difference between avanger or auramaster regarding to Neera class?

I don't really likes multiclass characters because of slow spell progression.
Multi F/C has more melee potential in endgame from HLAs compared to dual F->C, but the dual one has much faster spell progression. Hopefully there ere 1-2 new good cleric HLAs, I don't know.
Wizard multiclasses similar, but better imho, since in high end difiicult fights, cleric usually buffs and heals, not too much time to melee. Multi F/M-es on the other hand are just fighters, even in end game, with better protection from spells, and their main role are to go into melee as other fighters. So fighter HLAs are more usefull on them as on F/C ones.

Thanks for welcome, Critto!

Fast question: As I see EE newest edition is 2.6 on Steam. If I buy that, can I backroll to 2.5? As far as I saw, IA works only on 2.5, doesn't it? Or do u have any other place to download 2.5 from?

I run through the posts in 2024 (pekkae run, nicoper run etc.), my plan V1.0 is the following:

1: Avanger or Shaman protonist: Druid is must because of new content, and I played auramaster with Cernd earlier. I am unsure however which one I chose.
2. Sibel, dualled to cleric at start.
3. Riskbreaker dual weapon flail+axe. I've played this subclass earlier 2-3 times as mercenary, but I saw there is a new weapon for them, and they are quite powerful. Maybe I change Imoen to RB, stolen the concept from Nicoper. I don't know yet, how should I do this.
4. Hesitating between kensai 2hander and Mazzy. Kensai is incredible offensive power, but Mazzy has a new content, hasn't it? And maybe 2 AC tank (Sibel and Mazzy) aren't needed...
5. Again a choice: Neera as wild mage or wizard slayer. Both are buffed as far as I red from Sikret.
6. Nalia as sorcerer.