Here's a quick little poll, just to see how people put their parties together.

I'm asking if you made your ideal party up (either 6 of your own characters or your PC and 5 NPC's, what would be the breakdown of dual-wielders, two-handed weapon users, missile weapons etc.

I'm asking what they use for their primary weapon. For example, if you have Keldorn, you may occassionally have him fire his crossbow at something, but his primary weapon would be a two-handed sword.

Pretty self explanitory, but here are the categories:

Single weapon style - Any one handed weapon and no shield

Single weapon and shield style - any one handed weapon and a shield

Two weapon style (dual wielding) - any two single handed weapons

Two-handed weapon (but not bows) - a single two handed weapon (2-handed swords, halberds, spears, staves).

Missile weapons - any projectile or thrown weapon

Poll Information
This poll contains 5 question(s). 27 user(s) have voted.
You may not view the results of this poll without voting.

Poll Results: Party Composition with fighting styles (27 votes.)

How many characters use a single, one-handed weapon? (Choose 1)
* 0 - 67% (18)
* 1 - 26% (7)
* 2 - 7% (2)
* 3 - 0% (0)
* 4 - 0% (0)
* 5 - 0% (0)
* 6 - 0% (0)

How many characters use a single-handed weapon and a shield? (Choose 1)
* 0 - 19% (5)
* 1 - 44% (12)
* 2 - 37% (10)
* 3 - 0% (0)
* 4 - 0% (0)
* 5 - 0% (0)
* 6 - 0% (0)

How many characters use two single-handed weapons? (dual wielding) (Choose 1)
* 0 - 4% (1)
* 1 - 52% (14)
* 2 - 33% (9)
* 3 - 11% (3)
* 4 - 0% (0)
* 5 - 0% (0)
* 6 - 0% (0)

How many characters use a two-handed weapon? (but not bows) (Choose 1)
* 0 - 0% (0)
* 1 - 41% (11)
* 2 - 56% (15)
* 3 - 4% (1)
* 4 - 0% (0)
* 5 - 0% (0)
* 6 - 0% (0)

How many characters use a missile weapon (fired or thrown)? (Choose 1)
* 0 - 4% (1)
* 1 - 30% (8)
* 2 - 37% (10)
* 3 - 19% (5)
* 4 - 4% (1)
* 5 - 4% (1)
* 6 - 4% (1)

Good question, for me it's 2 times dual wield, 2 times 2handed weapons (if the staff for my mage counts), one times weapon+shield, and one missile weapon user.

one missile weapon user
two 2handed weapons users
one weapon+shield user
one dual wield user
one single weapon

@diebysteel

Of course your mage's staff counts - if that's what he/she primarily is equipped with, even if he doesn't use it much for combat.

Fighter/Mage, dual-wield, having so many defensive resources, I love having my main character take advantage of all those dual-wield combos.

Jaheira, shield + scimitar

Anomen, flail of ages + shield

Keldorn, carsomyr

Minsc, part of Minsc's appeal is that there are so many two-handed weapons that allow Minsc to adapt himself to so many situations. The Wave halberd for fire-based creatures. The Ravager for intense melees against non-boss creatures. The Psion Blade for Mind Flayers, Myconids, Umber Hulks, etc. The Sword of Grief for boss characters.

Imoen, staff of the magi.

In my party, everybody else besides my fighter/mage uses missile weapons. It often takes a while for the monsters to close in on your party. Other times, you often match missile fire with your opposition. Or, I'll have my invulernable fighter/mage have everybody come to him, while his comrades take shots from afar.

Keldorn - Firetooth crossbow
Jaheria - Firetooth dagger
Anomen - Errine Sling
Minsc - long bows
Imoen - Gesen Bow + Arrows of Biting, awesome combo.

Those who can, use single weapon/ two-handed weapon and a missile weapon....

Normally, I have two characters with single plus shield, a 2H weapon wielder, and a dual wielder up front with two spellcasters in the rear using missile weapons.

I just re-started running a psychopath. I made him a berserker dualled to thief on the theory that Irenicus' screwing with his head did more damage than we thought. He's amnesiac and won't get his memory back until his thief class exceeds his fighter class. Thus, the dualling was not intentional. He uses a short bow and, if things get too close, he drops it for a short sword and buckler.

Party composition is subject to extreme change as I made him CE upon dualling (he was originally CG). He has Jaheira (scimitar/Sling and shield), Anomen (Mace/Sling and Shield), Minsc (Mace and shield or 2H sword, depending on how Boo feels that day -- I flip a coin), and Viconia (Mace/Sling and shield).

He's smart and crazy, so he won't kill anyone if it means he'll be implicated. However, he's already killed off Aerie because of how annoying she was and Imoen was saved a similar fate by the expedient of her belt and Irenicus.

He also finds it's much easier to control goody-goody characters like Anomen than others like Jaheira (she's next likely to disappear), so it will be funny if his ultimate party is made up of one psychotic evil bastard and 5 noble types. Then again, I think he's really going to get along with Edwin, so we'll see.

I wonder if he'll keep Nalia long enough to do her quest. I just add NPC's and, as soon as they annoy me, I see if there's an opportunity to kill them. If so, they die. If not, I wait until the opportunity arises and see if they are still annoying. If not, they get to live. Obviously, the party will change significantly over time, so the weapon usage will as well.

I'm thinking of writing his story for Creativity Surge if I get the time.

I follow Beren's method of battling foes. But most enemies will require Minsc to dual-wield with crom faeyr(sorry if wrong spelling) and flail of ages to kick ass. Sarevok will goes for Grim sword of grief. Keldorn will of course goes for his Holy Avenger. I myself and the rest will provide the fire power needed to cover them. :tie:

PC - Dual Long Swords
Jaheira - Dual Scimitars
Imoen - single long sword/short sword or Bow
Minsc - Two Handed Sword, Halberd or Bow
Anomen - Hammer and Shield
Valygar - Dual Katanas

No real plan, just the way it turned out really

I just went with my latest party:

Me-Swashbuckler dual-wielding Long Swords, Short Swords, Katanas or Scmitars...whichever of those I can get my hands on.
Minsc-Gram the Sword of Grief.
Aerie-Crom Faeyr and a shield.
Imoen-Firetooth
Mazzy-Gesen Bow
Cernd-Shapeshifter Claws (not sure what they are? Get the Ease-of-Use mod)

Hmm, I just realized something-each of my character have five letters in their name (my PC's Calan). A plot?!

Off topic, but you seems to have made an awful lot of polls lately, Aldeth the Foppish Idiot...

Depends on who I'm playing with. Usually I play a thief.

Thief-long or short sword and a bow
Minsc-two handed sword and a bow
Jaheira-Scimitar and shield or sling and shield
Yoshimo-his sword and a bow
Mazzy-her sword plus a shield and her bow
Edwin-dagger or Quarter staff

but I mix it up a lot. I'm not a big fan of dual wielding, unless I make a ranger, then I dual wield a long and short sword...just make sense to me.