I've just read an Icewind Dale review and you have to make your whole party! How do other people feel about this? I (personally) prefer to spend more time souping up the main character, around whom the storyline revolves. I've played RPGs with similar systems and it hasn't worked in my mind at all. *Sigh*, no more NPCs with personalities beyond all that `TO BATTLE!` rubbish.

I much prefer creating all my characters. That way I get the classes and races I want instead of hoping an NPC happens my way. There are no fighter / mages in Baldurs gate and thats one of my favorite multi classes. Plus you don't have to listen to the annoying whining of NPC's (Khalid).

No Khalid? Yyyyyess! Re-sult!

I like being able to totaly customize all my party but I do miss NPC's who can have extra special powers and interesting, un-Khalid-like personalities. I was sorry to see that BG2 will only have 16 available NPC's that can join the party.

You missed the best part of whiney NPC's ... killing them, or people close to them. Kill Jaheira, watch Khalid whine, then whack his head off too.