That's partly true, if both are on the same level once you meet them, and their stats don't differ too much, then your first NPC is at a higher level and better. The best thing to do is try out all the NPC's in your games. When you know their strengts, you keep in mind who you want in your party and get them as soon as possible in the next game.
When I picked up Sarevok at the start of ToB I found him upper crap, being at a much lower level then my two other tanks, so I kicked him out again.

I don't use too much magic either, actually only in the big fights, too much fuss most of the time.

Another basic rule: Try not to mix up contradicting alignements too much. Like minsc & edwin don`t get along too good .

Just try to get some decent melee fighters (don`t know what you play yourself so that might influence who and what you need), someone for healing, some with thiefskills, and preferably 2 persons with mage-skills. Although you don`t fancy mages a lot, you defenitely need them, once they get on higher lvl you can`t imagine how you would survive without them. So i`d advice at least one mage or sorcerer and someone that could backup (thief/mage, bard or cleric/mage for example) can come in handy.

Every NPC has it`s strong points, and most of them have their own quests as well. They all interact different. So it`s really worth just trying to form a balanced party and see how it works out. And then play the game again. And again. And again.

whoops, bit more drunk than i thought i was...

Arathorn - talk about giving away a total spoiler, don't tell him about Sarevok u muppet, as far as HardFactor is concerned he's dead......some people (maybe a mod could take this out before HardFactor sees it)
plus -

wtf?? arathorn...tsk tsk, there's no excuse for that...

And for a first run through, if you evil the party is pretty self explanatory, being there is only a few evil NPC's in the game
i.e. Korgan Edwin Viconia (all of whom are very powerful NPC's)
then of course you can pick up the any 2 neutral characters you want really or just keep it as the 4 if you think you're up to it.

Good parties however can vary a lot as there are loads of good and neutral NPC's so bascially it's up to you to choose. I however like a party including Keldorn, Minsc, Haer'Dalis, Aerie and Nalia plus your PC of whatever class you want really. But it's totally up to you man, none are especially weaker than any other so it all dpeneds on the way you play. Though i would suggest a balanced party of similar alignments for the first time through



....can't believe i was nice to a total newbie...

well basically yeah Korgan will mess up your party because if your reputation is like 20, then he'll leave your party. However he doesn't have any particular grievances with any of your party, so if you keep a fairly neutral reputation he might survive, although if a ranger's reputation drops too low then he'll become a fallen ranger and be absolutley shite . No having Keldorn in your party does not mess up the Renal Bloodscalp tasks at all

I use it in difficult fights, but in minor fights my tanks already bashed the crap out of my enemies before my mages get the chance to add something.

not strictly true, looking at his party he has aerie in it, and korgan has one MAjOR problem with her. That could cause some grief.

It's not a 'problem' It's party interaction. It's coooooooool

well maybe, it all adds to the fun

I can't believe you were nice to Hordfactor, being a newbie on the boards, pick your party though keeping with your alignemt and with the person you are, if you've got tanks make sure you have a mage and cleric at least, also bards are pretty good sometimes with the lore ability and as second rank fighters with the magic spells thrown in.

Myrddin, you gravedigger!

oh rod off you...some fucking people

Just agreeing