Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - General What Party Compositions Do You Prefer Based On Your Class?

Most of the companion story advancement occurs in the camp, when everyone is present. That's not to say there aren't details you will miss if you don't have a certain character in your party.

But there are other points to be taken into account. Suppose you have a full custom party and want to do the accompanying quests later. In EA, unfortunately, you can't "park" any of your custom chars in the camp and replace them with a companion. I hope this has been adjusted.

I will play a lore bard/feylock on first playthrough probably. I'm not planning to have the same companions all the time, but I guess that Shadowheart and Karlach will be in my team most of the time and for the last slot, I switch out characters that seem fitting for certain storyparts. With preferences to the new companions ( Halsin, maybe-Helia...), because of the novelty.

I will play with the companions I "like" (which does not necessarily mean that I like them) and don't think about perfect party composition. Maybe I will play on "Normal" instead of "Hard" if it gets too difficult.

My first groups in the EA (main as Ranger, Cleric, Barbarian, Fighter, Sorcerer) consisted of Shadowheart, Lae'zel and Gale and partly Astarion, I totally ignored Wyll. I learned later that Wyll is quite interesting, a strange guy.
At the end of EA I decided to play as Rogue which was never a class I liked that much in any game, but as which I can imagine my character the best, because a Rogue is such a humble, boring, normal choice. I had some difficulties to decide between Lae'zel or Wyll in the party. Lae'zel would be better for gameplay in combination with my Rogue, but I don't like her that much, so it will probably be Wyll.

My motivation/thoughts for my group:

Shadowheart: powerful class, even with Trickery domain; as person she is mysterious, like it, but, quite honestly, it's more cause I want to sleep with her.
Gale: no need to talk about Wizard class; as person I like his soft rational scientific way, and that I got more and more frightened by him and his problems.
Wyll: Warlocks are stronger than I thought, and his flying minion is fantastic and often a lifesaver against ranged enemies; as person he is such a funny mess, I'm curious.

As my first playthrough is to be evil, it'd be Shadowheart, Lae-zel, Charname and ... we will see who gets the 4th slot.
I tend to stick to the same people, so no swapping.

I don't know if this answers the question, I hope it does, but I don't think of my preferred party in terms of mechanical synergy with my character's class. I honestly think in DnD5e you can mix almost any 4 classes together and have a perfectly functional party that can easily get through the whole game. Worst case scenario is taking more long rests than usual.

Sadly I can't say I really 'like' any of the current companions. This hasn't ever happened to me outside Larian games. So instead I intend to pick those whose stories intrigue me or I think they fit the campaign and will have interesting content. As of now I'm thinking:

• Shadowheart. In Sven's own words, her artefact is something they really want us to experience. Also she has enough Morrigan vibes to give me proper Dragon Age nostalgia.
• Lae'zel. Missing out on the githyanki companion in a campaign where mind flayers play a major role would be a sin. I only hope she becomes less abrasive over time.
• Wyll. This would be the first crpg where I'd see a proper warlock story that actively involves the patron. This is my 'flexible slot' and I'm ready to swap him out for Karlach or the unrevealed companion if they prove more interesting or likeable.

When it comes to D&D I have long (going back to 2e) been someone who very strongly favors melee martial characters over spellcasters, and tolerate spellcasters in my party only because they are necessary for certain things (including healing). The straight-up fighter is actually one of my favorites. Ranger and paladin are also good. Don't care for barbarian too much because I don't like raging. And not monk either because I like using weapons.

For the party, right now I don't have anyone because I want a strictly good party. Minsc and Jaheira are a 'no' because I don't see them as reasonable level 1 characters. The newly announced characters I'll have to wait and see because I don't trust Larian to do justice to good characters.

I'm really excited to see what happens with Wyll's story (though I likely won't on my first playthrough, since I'll have to kill him). I really, really hope they've built out his character and dialog more, I think in EA he's the weakest-written character, and he has some very strange barks that make no sense.

At least in EA, party composition doesn’t seem to matter very much.

However, having a party full of glass cannons is risky. If you don’t want to be forced to overly careful, having at least one tank / healer and a character with good perception is important.

3 goals.
1. Well rounded combat party
2. Cover necessary skills like stealth, open locks, diplomacy, ect
3. Keep the jerks out of the party.

Main will likely be a fighter so I am looking at
Karlach -> (maybe Minsc)
Shadowheart -> Jaheira (Or Helia if she will be the last Origin)
Gale

If it turns out that ranged is more important than melee maybe blaster wyll instead of karlach.

Might not achieve goal 2 without some sacrifices, but good enough.

You'd be able to achieve it if you keep either Jaheira (very likely a druid) or Shadowheart in your party. Enhance ability solves skill checks mostly.

Currently, I'm thinking Oath of the Ancients paladin, with Halsin/Karlach, Shadowheart, and Gale as my base party. Assurance that either Larian or a modder will provide a Speak with Animals amulet would make me feel that I had more choice in Tav's race/class.

Well, surely Halsin's got that covered for you?

Yes, and no. He likely won't ALWAYS be in my party, and it's not quite the same when handled by another party member--or at least it wasn't in DOS 2. Having Ifan (who could talk with animals) in my party didn't feel like an adequate substitute for my character interacting and developing a personal relationship with animals that we encountered. I want Scratch to be my pet, not Halsin's. A me problem, I know, although Larian's inclusion of Animal Empathy (providing free talk with animals without having to spend talent points on Pet Pal) in one of the Gift Bags for DOS2 suggests that Larian observed a wider desire for this capability.

My paladin playthrough seems tough to build a team around. I like the idea of playing a drow paladin but I suspect Minthara is one and I absolutely want to be an evil drow on my playthrough with her.

But it does look like Larian has Shadowheart-Gale-Karlach as the good-aligned party mates since they accomplish the classic four role party by themselves so your Tav can be anything.

In 5e monk can hold a weapon, and then decide on a attack to attack basis whether to use the weapon or unarmed attack. The weapon attack can use the unarmed damage die if it is better than the weapon, but the damage type remains the same as the weapon. At least, that's how it is by the book, no idea how Larian will implement.

I also prefer main to be melee, especially in Vancian system. Mine will probably be bladelock or monk, depending on how they are implemented.

Good to know about monks! I've not cared to even look at them since 3.5e. This is actually a good change in 5e, much like the change that paladins don't have to be LG, something I very much disliked in earlier editions.

Since I very highly doubt I'd ever want to replay BG3, I'd want to have my one play-through be a solid and comprehensive one. So a paladin is what's most likely. Halsin's probably a yes for my party. But that's it, because I can't stand any of the first five "origins." I may take SH along for no other reason than so I can mock and vilify her for being an effing Sharran. The to-be-revealed companion is critical because if that companion is also a bust I won't have a party.

I think paladin is probably stronger than monk if you use point buy or standard array. I'm still partial to monks though.

I am pretty sure this mod has a speak with animals amulet and its available in the starting ship.

I think its in the container with the rings in it, but there are two baskets to check so one of them for sure.

Dipping into rogue for the extra bonus attack (level 3 rogue thief) might make monk even better, and you get sneak attack die.

Dual wield short-swords with 3 attacks and bonus 2 unarmed strikes. Other crazy combos like 2 strikes and 4 unarmed attacks or 4 sword attacks.

If you start as Monk you still get an extra skill and expertise too when you take your first rogue level.


Add too the watch list on the seventh: how are they buffing Monk?