I've got both BG1&2 installed together with the BGTrilogy mod, but I'm just playing the game on easy, because I don't want to be playing this game for the rest of the year. :) Too many other good gog games to play!

I've never been a fan of magic users in games, and I'm having a hard time getting into the magic system in this game (the whole re-memorize after every usage thing), and I've been doing fine with my mage-less party. I've never used any spell other than Cure Light Wounds.

Now, I know magic is supposed to be extremely important later in the game, but will I be okay running through the game on easy? (It seems like I don't suffer any experience penalty, which I assume is something to do with the BGT mod).

Normally I like a bit of challenge, but I've never played these games before, and have very little free time for gaming (and these games look massive), so I just want to casually play it.

What are your thoughts?

You are right to choose a non-mage character if you want to get through this game quick, at least in the beginning, Mage characters start absurdly weak in the beginning but towards the end become the most powerful characters. However you will spend alot of time reloading. So only be a mage if you want to be immersed into the game, non-casters are still a ton of fun to play and dont worry you will have at least 1 other mage character in your party, but get them in early otherwise it will be hard for the mage party member to catch up to the rest of the party and the other fights, and also have 1 cleric in your party as well because groups dont last that long without healers.

BG1: You can skip magic entirely. Maybe bring a cleric for heal-on-rest.

BG2: Bring a cleric for heal-on-rest, bring an inquisitor (Paladin kit, Keldorn is one) for Dispel Magic and True Sight.

It's possible to get through both games without any spellcaster of any kind, but it makes things a little more difficult. On easy, though, people do a lot less damage so it's not as much of an issue. On harder difficulties you'll need to chew through more healing potions because the fights will take longer, and some of the mage enemies in BG2 will be kinda tough, but it's manageable. However, in BG2 you can also get a whole stack of regeneration items which greatly offset the need for healers. It's even possible to solo every class through BG2, and most classes through BG1, so it's certainly not mandatory.

However, by skipping it entirely you'll be missing a big aspect of the game, which I think ultimately will be to the game's detriment. There are certain bosses that cannot be defeated without magic (such as Kangaxx) and on the whole magic will make your life a lot easier, even if you aren't using full spellcaster characters.

Thanks for the info (and not giving me a hard time about "dumbing down" the game). So I can assume I'll be okay with a cleric and a druid in my party?

I've never used magic in single player games that give you the option (like Fable or Elder Scrolls), but I don't want to cripple myself in this, since this is the first multi-character Western RPG I've played. I couldn't imagine going through a Final Fantasy without magic, for example.

Also, one last question: I'd like to keep Minsc but kick out his partner (can't remember her name). I know you can do this by removing her after she's dead, but I understand that you can never get her back. Will this cause any glitch when my BGTrilogy switches over to BG2? I'm pretty sure you start the game with her in the dungeons.

You can remove Dynaheir (and any other NPC dead or alive) from your party, this won't cause any glitches.

Well, you can get away with it, but magic (arcane [mages/sorcerers] especially, but divine [clerics/druids] too as long as you memorize more than just healing spells) is one of the most fun and interesting parts of BG/BG2 and you're really missing out if you don't use it.

If both are alive, then either both stay or both go. They're inseparable, just like Jaheira/Khalid and Xzar/Montaron. There is a mod that allows separating the pairs: the BG1 NPC Project at Gibberlings 3. Sword Coast Stratagems from the same site may also have a component that allows the same thing, but of this I'm uncertain. Both are BGT mods.

As for Dynaheir out and Minsc in the party when transitioning, no, there should be no problems.

As Vlantis said, you can kick one out without losing the other if one is dead; that said, you can also stick the one you don't want inside a building you don't plan on ever entering again and then remove them. The 'trigger' for the other character to leave only flips when the one you kicked starts dialogue with you, so if you stick them inside a building, it'll never trigger.

Man, I've never even thought of the idea of playing without arcane magic. I dunno, I think you might end up having considerable difficulty or at least setting yourself up for frustration. Combat in BG (and BG2 in particular) is like a massive game of "rock-paper-scissors", only you'll have no option to play with the scissors. When the game gives you paper, you're going to be stuck. As mentioned, some enemies are going to be immune to weapons, either naturally or by spells, and arcane magic is used to bring down their defenses. (The easy difficulty setting has no affect in this regard). And then there are helpful buff spells, like Haste, that can turn a seemingly impossible battle into an average one.

Even so, you might get away with it for BG1, though I think you'll have more trouble in BG2. Also should you find you eventually need arcane magic, you would have missed the learning curve experience of having a magic-user character to know how to use it effectively. That could make things a bit overwhelming.

In BG2 you would do well to pick up a multi-classed character like Jan Jensen - so not only do you get a pretty useful thief, but at least have a way to cast the important anti-magic spells.

Best of luck to you in this endeavor... :)

Thanks guys. I've still got my game saved both before and after I have Dynaheir in my party (sent her into battle unarmed, then traded her corpse back. :P) In the meantime I'm playing Duke Nukem 3D and Space Quest games while I decide.

I'm probably just going to keep her and deal with it, although mages seem pretty useless until later in the games.

Magic. Blegh.

The magic system is a bit involved, but there are some fun things. Since you're not a fan you should consider dual- and multi-class casters, that way you have it when you need it, but can treat them like their other class most the time. For instance, a thief/mage can function very well as your primary thief, use shortbows and light crossbows, and when you absolutely MUST use magic... you know, they're mages too. If you're going bare bones, you could get a cleric/mage and have only one caster.

I rarely make pure casters, I prefer to start them out as something sturdier and dual. Ranger>clerics can cast both cleric and druid spells, which is extra fun and are still pretty good at melee. Cast a few buffs on them and they're awesome at it! Same with fighter/mage combos, you can always use their spells as a way to boost their melee.

Also, you can totally kill Kangaxx without magic. I have often just put down a bunch of traps in the corner, killed his first form, then used Ring of the Ram to blast him into the corner of traps.

I have to say though, this isn't really a series one should put a time limit on. A man can spend years replaying it, maybe even 14 years... of and on...

No need to force yourself keeping Dynaheir now. You can get along quite well without mage spells in BG1 and in BG2 it won't matter, you'll have to regather NPCs there anyway.

In the later parts of BG2 mages are quite important for the breach spell but high level thief can use mage scrolls. Without a mage make sure to use potions like oil of speed wisely.

Thanks for all the replies. It turns out I no longer have a save with Dynaheir alive, so I'll probably just keep her once I get her again in BG2.