I've played several times and followed the bread crumbs. Haven't played in a while and started a game. But I want to try some new members. So I am just going to ignore Khalid and Jaheira. It's hard because of the start of BGII. LOL. But even after several years I don't want to hear how Gorion is proud of me. Besides if you take those two, your choices are immediately limited. Doing the Basilisk thing did shut up Khalid once but I couldn't keep it that way.

What I would like to know if I go south and skip the Friendly Arms map altogether until later in the game, does that screw-up the quest?

Thanks
PS Any one ever successfully pick pocket Elminster when he show's up on the Coast map?

No. You may do whatever you like. All you have to be aware of with Jaheira and Khalid is that if you leave them in the vicinity of the Friendly Arm Inn, the area script will remove them when you enter after completing the Nashkel Mines. They will be gone for good.

Elminster does not carry any pickpocketable items. He only carries a staff. The only Elminster that has anything to pickpocket, or loot, is the Doppelganger Elminster in the Candlekeep catacombs.

Both answered.

Thanks
Bob

You might want to visit the friendly arm inn just to pick up the ring of wizardry and pick up the quest to kill the spiders in bereghost. You can ignore khalid and jahera if you feel like it.

The Spiders. Forgot. Besides the Hobgoblins are easing exp points on that map.

I was thinking:
Me Fighter multi mage
Imoen Pure Thief
Branwen Cleric
Xan Mage
Kivan Bow
and ?

I would start out with Branwen/ Me as the front line
Kivan and Imoen Bow
and Xan Mage. (I know there are better mages. But I picked him up in the mines once and his Sword is neat (strange for a mage, but neat) and his comments a hoot. So I thought I'd do a full run.

First though, since I'm doing Multi, I though I'd try to get some levels on Imoen and My fighter before bringing the band together.

Another Mage? or Fighter? Comments?

You're going to need somebody better than Branwen up front, for both combat and support reasons. Xan is just about the squishiest thing, and has the very worst spell school. Personally, with your other members, I would go for Minsc and Dynaheir.

Minsc and Dynaheir are like Khalid etc. Always had them.

There was a female fighter not too far away (Basilisk map) if I remember correctly. I'll look it up. Move the Cleric back to support maybe, I'll have to think about it.

The female Fighter on the Basilisk map is Shar-Teel, but she's "Chaotic Evil." You might rather get Ajantis, since he is a Good aligned character so he''d fit in better with Kivan and Imoen. He's on the road in the Ankheg Map, which is just north of the Friendly Arm Inn.

I forgot about him. Yea. Never had him in the party. Not a bad idea.

Thanks.

I'm planning another BG1 run through and was considering Shar-Teel (the character you're refering to above) but she has 9 con which seems very odd for a fighter. Anyone have first hand experience using her? Does her low con make her too squishy to be a front liner?

Edit: I just check this from an online source, I haven't checked Star-Teel's stats in game so it's possible the source I checked got her con stat wrong

Shar-Teel does have a squishy CON, but her real strength, for an evil party, is that she can be dual classed into a F/Thief since she has 17 DEX, remembering that pure evil parties only have Montaron as an alternative thief. With her far superior STR she makes much the better option.

Went with Ajantis and Branwen who are making small talk and Kivan. Not bad. Xan does suck but will stick with him and see what develops. New born kittens have more chance to survive in a fight.

But Imoen. I always kept her as a pure thief. With that special light crossbow, shadow armor, and boots of avoidance, she is one great sniper. But to change things around, I might see what play is like with both myself and Imoen dueling to mage.
What do I get if I dual Imoen to a mage as many do? And when for both?

Thanks

What do you get? I don't understand. Dual classing in BG1 is a royal pain due to the low amounts of XP, and the time it requires to regain disabled classes. But if you want to maximise Imoen's abilities, level 7 will allow her to reach level 8 mage and brings her to the BG2 status. As for your fighter, you could go to level 3 for an extra proficiency point, or extend it to level 6 for another, or wait until level 7 to get an extra half attack per round.

What advantage over a pure thief? I would loose some trap ability I suspect. Do I have to jettison one like Kivan to bring a pure thief to make up for the lose? How do Mage talents improve a thief's ability or a thief's talents improve a mage?

As for the fighter, with Xan weak, I'm thinking more of mage than a fighter so I guess level 3.

Thanks
Bob

There is absolutely no advantage in dual classing Imoen in BG1. She is your very best thief option, bar none -- she has the best stats of any character in the entire trilogy. My advice, keep her as pure thief, and concentrate on her stealth and trap skills. Locks can be opened by mages and clerics.

A mage can improve a thief by support spells like invisibility (although there are potions), and a thief can improve a mage by freeing up spell slots (knock etc.) That's very simplistic, but you get the idea. As I said, dual classing Imoen in BG1 is an exercise in foolishness.