No cheating, no mods. You can either create a party with Bioware (only!) NPCs or create up to six party members of your own (or a combo of the two). No 3rd party NPCs please.

Couldn't multiplayer created characters be defined as 3rd party NPC's? I mean, you could say you'd bring Kelsey, or say you bring a Sorcerer with the same stats. It'd be the same thing after all.

And by saying no cheating I suppose e.g a Kensai/Thief MC is out of the question?

Actually, it wouldn't be the same thing. At least not in all cases. Most mod NPCs come with special weapons or armor, and I believe at least a few add other things as well.

Hard choice, but eventually, I will take an arcane-heavy party with decent tanks!

PC-Either Wild Mage or Sorcerer, these are the ultimate masters of the arcane! Good aligned or neutral, I do not like being evil. Plus it is way cooler to be good and struggle with the taint of Bhaal than embracing it.

Imoen-Another arch-magi, plus good thief!

Jaheira-Best tank IMHO, good combatant, capable summoner and healer. Also romance option.

Jan-He is very VERY useful. He gains thef skills and HLAs which are cheesy and uber powerful!

Keldorn-He is THE mage killer around for obvious reasons!

Sarevok-This guy is serious and powerful. I can convert him to CG even!

My party lacks a good cleric but I really do not need one that much:I can have tons of healing potions and restoration scrolls when needed.

I do not take Aerie as she takes forever to level up. I dislike Anomen as he is annoying, and does not get fighter HLAs, Jaheira is better than him in combat at high levels IMHO. I have to ditch Minsc as Sarevok is a lot more powerful. Mazzy is out as ranged weapons are for sissies. Valygar needs too much micro-management to be half as effective as straight Sarevok. I do not need Edwin, Viconia is too fragile to be an effective combat-caster, Korgan is powerful but not as good as Sarevok. Cernd...well I really do not what he has to offer.

I have two serious arcane casters (PC, Immy) and one support caster/excellent thief (Jan!), solid-defensive tank who can also cast druid spells (Jaheira), an offensive tank (Sarevok) and the ultimate mage tank/debuffer around! (guess who)

This party will beat unmodded game so easily it would be a walk in the park. :p

This works for me, as I keep going back to it time and again:

Keldorn
Anomen
Jaheira
Imoen/Jan
Minsc

My PC is a F/M of some type, either multi with Imoen as the main mage or dualled if I take Jan.

I'd be very similar to Silverstar, with just a few changes. I don't have a problem with mixing good and evil NPCs for example. Given that the PC would be a wild mage, and that Jan would take care of theiving skills, Imoen seems superfulous. If I wanted another mage, Edwin would be the better choice, and having a second thief is never necessary. What I would prefer is another front-liner, and I'll take Korgan. With berserk, I now have two characters that are immune to a lot of the nasty stuff mages can throw at them, plus the easiest character in the game to fight a demi-lich. I will keep all the other members in the party, and I agree with the assessment that Jaheira is more versatile than Anomen, and quickly surpasses Anomen as a fighter (after all, Anomen is what, level 7?)

Standard powergaming NPCs are Sarevok, Edwin, and Viconia. Beyond them, you can make a better NPC yourself. So, my party would be:

Sarevok
Edwin
Viconia
Swash10/15->Mage or Kensai13->Thief (for thief skills)
Ranger/Cleric or Fighter/Illusionist (buffing caster)
Inquisitor (Who for some reason has no trouble with the evil people. :nuts: Though I suppose you could convert two of them...)

Inquisitor (all hail his mighty sword)
Edwin (ubermage)
Anomen (fighter/cleric with a way too low wisdom even after the order thingy, but still, you know, nice character)
Imoen (thief always needed, mage spells also)
Sarevok (kicks arse)
Korgan (puts an axe in yer belly)

Player Character-> Sorcerer
Keldorn
Fighter/Cleric wielding Crom faeyr and rune hammer
kensai/mage using longswords
fighter/thief using dual katanas (was wizard slayer/thief in my last game, thanks sk)
cleric/mage

Ranger/Cleric (multiclassed) - using flail and warhammer
Inquisitor (Keldorn) - using 2-handed sword
Barbarian - using spear or halberd
Fighter/Illusionist (gnome) - dual wielding axe and longsword
Fighter/Thief (multiclassed) - dual wielding katana and scimitar
Arcane caster (Wild Mage, Sorc or Edwin) - using quarterstaff

You can't have Edwin and Keldorn in the same party, so you would have to either make your own inquisitor or mage to be able to use this party.

No mods?? Does that include XP Cap Removers??? :(

Fine..uh...

Ranger/Cleric (Multiclassed)
Fighter/Mage (Kensai Dual-classed at lvl 13)
Sorcerer
Blade

Of course I'd be uber-stats for the PC and the best equipment available.

PC -> Kensai/Mage, Robe of Vecna, Amulet of Power, Ring of Wizardry, Ring of Gaxx, dual-wielding the Celestial Fury->Blackrazor and Crom Faeyr.

* Korgan, dual-wielding axes. The best tank in the game IMO (never really liked Jaheira...)
* Keldorn, Carsomyr, 'nuff said.
* Jan Jansen, the one and only real backstabber in the game. Potent offensive caster, though he's best att boosting himself. Dak'kon's Zerth Blade/Short Sword of Mask.
* Viconia, Cleric all the way. Not that much to say about her.
* Edwin, the best NPC caster in the game IMO. Has a tremendous amount of spell slots. Staff of the Magi and Sling of Everard +5.

--

An MP-party would probably be something like this:

Ranger/Cleric (MC)
Fighter/Mage (MC)
Fighter/Thief (MC)
Sorcerer

I wouldn't take a party... I'd go solo with a Blade. ;)

Otherwise I would take (in order of choice):

a Wild Mage -the best type of mage period.

a Ranger/Cleric (MC) -any powergamer's dream.

a Wizard Slayer 13/Thief (DC) -perfect once you get UAI.

a Cleric/Illusionist (MC) -for some backup.

a Barbarian -a fulltime tank.

an Undead Hunter for the last slot -for convenience.

Alternatively I'd go with a Wild Mage PC, Jaheira, Jan, Viconia, Sarevok (or Korgan in SoA) and Aerie (if I could stand her whining).

BTW, can you tell me just which mod makes Jaheira unable to wear metal armors? I actually liked the idea as she is a druid, but it's getting a little inconvenient... I hope at least ankheg and dragon plate are allowed.

But she's a fighter too so she's able to wear metal plate?

--PC – NG Human Berserker 9/MageX – This option allows me to have a familiar in the game, and makes for a helluva powerful character. A little slow getting started. I sometimes allow myself 1 opportunity to cheat and give this character a 100k XP boost at the start of the game. He should be a little more powerful than his compatriots after all-- blood of a god and all.

--Character 2 – NG Half Elf F/M/T – This is the PCs longtime, and incredibly versatile companion.

--Character 3 – Minsc – He’s powerful. He’s available from the beginning, and is just a logical choice. From an RP perspective, I have a hard time not bringing him.

--Character 4 – Jaheira – Similar logic as Minsc. Good Fighter. Good Tank. Good Healer. Gives Access to full array of druid spells plus a harper resurrection spell. At higher levels her relative power only increases. Plus (and I realize this isn’t a powergaming reason), she adds some interesting drama/quests to the game.

--Character 5 – Anomen – We meet him early on in the Copper Coronet, and while he’s arrogant, we can see the potential in him. Yeah, he has low wisdom, but nobody's perfect, and once he starts getting up in levels a bit, he seems to have plenty of spells per day. Only gets better once he passes his test. I always look forward to that metamorphosis in Anomen. My first time through the game ever, Anomen failed his test. And it really bummed me out. So it’s always a special moment for me when he gets knighted. Plus, he can attain grandmastery in his weapon of choice (often this is Crom Faeyr).

--Character 6 – Keldorn – For all the reasons mentioned by others. Plus he’s available early in the game (I like to assemble my group early and keep them together throughout the game). I also enjoy the drama between him and Anomen, and watching their relationship as brothers in the Order evolve.

_________________________________________
** Synopsis: This party has a powerful arcane caster (PC) with a lot of hitpoints, and with the right equipment will have decent enough AC to go toe to toe with enemies. Add in defensive/illusionary spells, and this character can tank with the best of them.

It also has a more than capable backup arcane caster, who is good with weapons, and can handle all roguish needs. I have sometimes substituted a blade for this role, but the F/M/T is an overall more useful character IMO, and has better spellcasting power.

We have plenty of divine spell casting between anomen and jaheira, and even Minsc eventually provides his own small supplement to this. Plus, all of the priests are well armored, highly capable front line fighters.

In short, this party has it all, and will basically breeze its way through the entire game. There is plenty of interparty banter and I’m able to make good use of basically all of the game’s most powerful items. Plus, all of the characters are tough and able to withstand a lot of punishment.

You can't have Edwin and Keldorn in the same party, so you would have to either make your own inquisitor or mage to be able to use this party. You can so long as you keep them separate and/or keep Edwin as Edwina. The banter that starts the fight has conditions on it for range and for Edwin being male. Though from the powergaming side, you can easily make an Inquisitor better than Keldorn.

The party which is the best at the ToB cap (which can even be reached in starting dungeon by crazy powergamers):

1.HE F/M/T
2.HE R/C
3.Human kensai13/mage28
4.Gnome Fighter/Illusionist
5.Elf Sorcerer
6.HE Blade (for improved bardsong)

Any party with a Wild Mage and Sarevok/thief is ultimate powergaming. That's got you all the magic and all the muscle with backstabbing goodness you'll ever need.

Put a R/C and a C/T in the mix and you're getting ridiculously high on power-tripping.

Of course having some more back up muscle won't hurt, so adding some more fighter types, preferrably dual class or a F/M in there will get you so high and mighty you'll never come down.

Jaheira romance can be justified by the power-gaming aspect. The Harper Pin is really that good. Nothing you couldn't do without, but one of the best necklaces in the game however.

Firecam Full Plate and Corthala Family Armor and the NPC's that go along them will take you long way in the game, if you're not putting them on characters of your own making, which I'd consider a tad distasteful. Only rogues with high levels should be able to wear unique items meant for certain characters.

So my list would be:
1. Wild mage
2. Jaheira
3. R/C
4. C/T
5. Valygar
6. Keldorn
and Sarevok/thief replacing Valygar when he's available.

Of course then there's this option as well:
1. F/M/T
2. F/M/C
3. Wild Mage
4. Sarevok Thief

I'd think that these parties are pretty well balanced, with each characters abilities backing the other characters up well, making it a team effort. I know it's power-gaming, but still, what's the point of having all these powerful characters standing idle when one of them kills all the monsters? With this topic I'd put the emphasis on powergaming party.

@ Silvershield: Normally yes, but I've brought in several mods (I think it might be the druid rebalancing thing from Divine remix) - and she won't take even a chainmail. I don't know about ankheg plate, but I sure as heck hope she can wear dragon - even if I have to tackle the improved tactics dragons. I have some gold, but the (improved) aeger hide just doesn't seem as good.

Also, I chose PnP restrictions on multiple defense items, and while before it accepted them if they were in different slots, now it doesn't, just as in the normal BG II. Kinda harder to beat tactics without the high AC and Saves.

Edit: At least it would be but for conjure animals and shapeshifter remix. I think two of those bears can take down a dragon.

The Shadow Dragon Armor is nice, and I think it's technically considered leather, so Jaheira should be able to wear that if all else fails.

Marc, Jaheira can wear any armor.

Apparently not in The Shaman's game. Read his posts. It sounds like Divine Remix mod might be limiting Jaheira's armor choices, but I've never played it, so can't say for sure.

Divine Remix will limit Jaheria to only armours that a Druid can use.

Weird, I didn't realize.

Here's a nasty party I've been toying with:

Protagonist: Gnome Fighter/Illusionist (I don't know if a Berserker > Mage would be better). (Axe)
Jaheira (Scimitar)
Anomen (Flail)
Keldorn (Greatsword)
Imoen (Staff)
Valygar (Katana)

I think a big part of "ultimate power" is using the powerful stuff this game gives you.

(I don't know if a Berserker > Mage would be better). There are solid arguments for going either way with your proposed group. Berserkers are just great, period, due to all of the immunities they receive when raging. If you go this route, though, once you lose Imoen you'll lacking in the arcane magic department for at least some period of time (depending on when you decide to dual to mage).

On the other hand, the gnome fighter/illusionist is always going to be leveling pretty slowly. So if you want a lot of arcane power, ultimately this option will leave you less powerful. Even when you do get Imoen back, she's likely going to be somewhat behind the curve as a caster, and you're F/I will be as well, due to his shared xp configuration.

At the end of the day, since you'll already have a good handful of powerful melee characters, I think I'd go the dual class option. I think this is the better "power gaming" option, because in the long run, you'll have 2 immensely powerful arcane mages on the team, and a lot of melee power to supplement.

My 1/2 CP.

Hmm, I lean towards the multiclass myself, because I'm a huge fan of Fighter HLAs.

It comes down to GWW vs a better mage.

BTW, When Imoen is gone, I usually use Jan for some arcane power.

@ Felinoid: I know Keldorn is by no means the "ultimate powergaming inquisitor", I just got kind of sad when I realised that my powergaming party would include at most 1 of the NPC:s if I didn't put Keldorn's name there. :p