This topic is not about who makes the most powerful party this is about hardcore nerds that are buying this game(and they should), playing through again, telling themselves that they are gonna do it different this time(THANKYOU GOG), but find themselves unable to ditch certain awesome npcs'.

For example; I would love to go all in as evil, but I would never play this game without Minsc..

This thread is about which NPC's you love and are non-negotiable and why.

Refrain from "most powerful party" posts plz.

Oddly enough, the only character that I can't find myself dumping is Imoen. Sentimentality beats all, I guess. (The fact that she's a good thief with potential to be a good mage helps, though.)

Edit: Generally goes for BG2 as well, with Yoshimo taking up the slack otherwise.

Probably Jaheira. Not that I feel I can't play through without her, but she just seems to fit so well with my party (as far as what she brings to the table). I know that sounds like "most powerful party", but that's not really it.

Anyway, this run I'm sticking mainly with Korgan, Jaheira, Viconia, and Nalia. Never taken any of them other than Jaheira before. The other slot is fluid, as I'm trying to do as many side quests as I can, but it's looking more and more like it'll be either Keldorn or Edwin (of course, I'm also considering Mazzy... *sigh* too many choices).

The guilt that you feel without minsc is what drove 'me to make this post. Also it's what makes this game great. I'm not dogging solo players, that's a different style of play, one that makes BG2 great(and shows that Bethesdas take on rpg's is flawed) What I'm saying is that good story telling and good characters is the shit

I'm a bit drunk. Imoen is not negotiable. Keep it goin guys

MINSC!
I cannot go five minutes without hearing 'GO FOR THE EYES!'
On another hand, I love Edwin in a sort of 'what the **** is wrong with you' kind of way.

Imoen I guess. Just doesn't feel right dumping her, and she's pretty good stats wise too.

2nd spot goes for Minsc, though I can do without him... and it would feel wrong killing Dynaheir so if I have Minsc, I most likely will have Dynaheir too.

Unless I'm playing a really nasty guy. I guess even if you're evil, Minsc is dumb enough to trick and a useful meat shield to have around. Maybe you could take his hamster hostage as an additional insurance. Threaten to feed it to kobolds.

Wow you just gave me the greatest idea on how to roleplay having a evil party with minsc in it. :)

Just a bit of warning - Viccy and Keldorn do NOT play nice together; it's about the only time you'll see Keldorn slip from Lawful Good into Lawful Stupid.

Aye, I'm aware of that. I should have mentioned I'm using the BGT and selected the option to have them not try to kill each other.

I have problems ditching Imoen. Even when I play evil party I feel bad for leaving her behind. It's supported by fact, she's funny and often able to chat with everybody and also make fun from almost all NPCs.

I usually keep Kivan no matter what. I find his surly nature very amusing.

[crap, spoiler alert, completely forgot to warn people, pretty big spoiler ahead!]

Imoen and Minsc I can never get rid off. They epitomise Baldur's Gate for me. I knew one guy who tried to play through TOB with just Imoen and Sarevok as a party of pure Bhaalspawn, an idea I liked but could never do since it means ditching Minsc, an unacceptable requirement.

NOOOOO YOU PUT A SPOILER IN YOUR POST! I DIDN'T KNOW IMOEN WAS BHAALSPAWN!