Nice post, thanks for taking the time :)

- Regarding Aerie: that's fair enough, and I agree with you that it's nice to have someone in your group who might be a bit less brooding and genuinely enjoys (most of) the new experiences that come with being an adventurer. In BG1 Imoen fulfilled that role for me, in BG2 almost all of the NPC's have had some really bad stuff happen to them or to their loved ones, even Aerie, so I prefer taking Jan Jansen with me for an *ahem* "alternative view" on the situations we get ourselves in. I think the main problem with Aerie, for me, remains the cheesyness of her storylines -- the romance, "uncle" quayle, and the whole thing with Minsc... It's just not my cup of tea.

- Interesting observation there, about Jaheira, and I completely agree -- especially in the first game she is the one who kind of steps in and takes over from Gorion as far as guiding the PC goes.Though she lacks his subtle touch, she does what she can. In the second game, because of what happens to Khalid and with her Harper past coming back to haunt her, etc. she comes to rely more on the PC and through those situations they become equals. But we still see those matronly characteristics shine through in her interactions with Imoen and Aerie.

- Yeah, Xan was apparently one of the devs' PnP character, but all they kept was his name, his race and the sword. They could've at least made him a Fighter/Mage, with a sword like that, though that doesn't really fit his personality, does it? Ah well, I always get a kick out of meeting his cousin in IWD -- he's a lot less depressing ;-)

- By "realest", do you mean most realistic? I guess there's something to be said for that. Khalid is one of the few pure Fighters in the game, and the only good-aligned one at that, and although the whole "bastard with low self esteem because he was ignored by his father" background is not the most unique, it does explain his character and why he chose to join the militia (in spite of how uncomfortable he is with confrontation). He was just a common joe soldier, really... But I bet that all changed when he met Jaheira. I would've liked to find out more about how those two met.

- So you change Jaheira and Minsc's classes? Interesting. Did you decide to do that purely from a gameplay/mechanics perspective, or is there a deeper reason? Jaheira as a Cleric/Ranger kinda fits, I guess, though it would be weird to not have her be a Druid. And wouldn't you have to change her alignment as well, then (as Rangers can only be Good)? I don't think I could do that -- her alignment is such a big part of her character. And Minsc a Paladin?! Wow... I know the guy dedicates himself to kicking evil's ass, but I really don't think he has the mental capacity to be a Paladin. Too many blows to the head and, also, his Berserker nature makes him unpredictable. I think Keldorn even tries to teach him a bit about self-control, but Minsc won't listen. Minsc as a Barbarian would be most fitting, however. I think that is what they probably had in mind for him, and went with Ranger because it was (arguably) the closest to the Barbarian class.

I don't really like Nalia, but that's not a personal issue so much as her being a less-effective Imoen-clone.

Years ago Anomen used to bug me a lot, but nowadays I find him tolerable. He's also awesome at what he does. I used to think Aerie was fine, if a bit whiny, but nowadays I find her so whiny it's rather tedious just to have her in the party. But she's still the best of the male romance options, especially considering almost ALL of Jaheira's "romance quests" can be completed without actually romancing her, and the conclusion of Viconia's is bittersweet at best.

Mazzy and Valygar are probably my favorites, and they go well together too! I also really like Yeslick, and am somewhat saddened that he didn't make it into BG2, but I figure he's back rebuilding the mines or somesuch.

I don't have a lot of experience with some of the "lesser" BG1 companions, because I've only played it a few times and some of their stats are really really terrible. Kagain got on my nerves, but I suppose he does that on purpose. :) The "main" ones all seem to be fine, even if they differ somewhat from their BG2 personalities.

Kagain....that damn croak is digusting and hes booooooooooooooring, too bad he's a good tank with dex belt!

-Jan Jansen is perfect for any possible party! I would take him full-time w/my party, but I already have an exact idea of what I want, with no room for a 7th full time party member.

-Yeah Jaheira, Imoen & Aerie are great to have in one party. That's always the female contingent of my BG2 party; and the 'Aerie' template is one of the MP created PC's I create for my BG1 playthroughs.

-LOL! Good thing I bought IWD 1 & 2 during the December 2010 sale! Is Xan's cousin in the 1st or 2nd game? Also (SPOILERS), you'll meet at least one of Jan Jansen's relatives in NWN1's Official Campaign. I couldn't believe it when I saw it. Predictably, it's arguably the funniest moment in the entire game (which I find has plenty of funny moments; not as much as BG1 or 2, but enough to remember, but not overshadow how dark that game is)! And again, there's someone with the last name of Jansen you see in Planescape: Torment, but the quest doesn't seem finished. At least I couldn't figure it out. It doesn't have any of the 'Jansen' humor in though. Understandable, given that PS:T came out before BG2 & NWN1.

-IIRC, both Jaheira & Khalid are level 2 while your PC is level 1, when you initially meet them at the Friendly Arm Inn. And in BG2 (SPOILER), you learn that Jaheira had a hand in bringing down a rich man who was involved in the slave trade. It may not be the way how they met, but it's certainly the most likely source of their xp levels to start BG1.

-Not from gameplay reasons at all. Strictly roleplaying. One would effectively argue that what I did was effectively make them into different people, and I admit that's pretty much what I've done. However, I kept them as Jaheira & Minsc in order to get their quests in BG2. But no worries, they aren't more powerful than the given BG2 NPC's (Jahiera as a Cleric/Ranger is akin to what Anomen has to offer, and Minsc as a Pally is, the way I play him, much the same in terms of effectiveness as he is as a Ranger), as I'm not into powergaming. And I change their alignments to Neutral Good (Jahiera seems as much Neutral Good as she is True Neutral; see the conversation she has when the party confronts Galvery), and in changing Minsc to a Lawful Good pally, I roleplay him pretty much as a different person, one who hasn't suffered a head trauma - that's more for my psychotic Bard PC! Ha!

@ bevinator

Everyone, including me, falls into the trap of playing Nalia like a poor man's Imoen. But the fact is they're very different, mainly due to Nalia's physical strength. Really, with her 14 STR and spells, she could be an effective fighter in some situations, and has much more backstab potential than Imoen. Obviously they both lack points in stealth, but casting Invisibility on them makes them backstabbers, of which Nalia is the best among all joinable NPC's in BG2, this side of Yoshimo (on more than one account, that is).

@ pingu53

I only have Kagain in my party for a short time (the quest north of Beregost), but even without enhanced dexterity, he's quite a tank because he regenerates - courtesy of that illegal constitution score of 20 that he has!