As a warlock, I try to use everyone a little.

• Except Gale. I just have no use for another mage. I figured I'd save him for another playthrough.

• I respec'd Wyl into a paladin cause I wanted to try that class out (and have a proper tank) and knew I'd never have a use for two warlocks. It took a while before I truly made use of him, but turns out paladins are incredibly powerful, so he's now a constant member of my party.

• The other two typical members are shadowheart (romancing her and it feels natural to always have a cleric) and Astarion (he's just hands down the best at lockpicking and I do that a ton).

• I've experimented with having Jahera (as a ranger) replace Astarion, but it makes lockpicking harder. Is there really no way to get companions more proficient with skills?? I actually hate Astarion as a person and don't enjoy rogues (too often I simply cannot get a sneak attack in).

• I've regularly swapped the melee attacker for any of the others (I love Karlak's personality, but found barbarian just isn't as good -- Laezel as a fighter is a bit better). Halsin was the best tank for the mid game, cause Owlbear is far stronger than anything else. Probably still is. Just feels kinda boring.

• Every now and then I've swapped Shadowheart out for someone. It feels weird to not have a cleric with me at all times, but I don't actually need her and she's so bad at combat. I'm probably making a blunder in using her so much, especially since I have a Paladin and so many healing potions.

• I tried respecing >!Minsc!< to be a monk to give that a try (I've had so much monk equipment and it's one of the few classes I've yet to use), but... I must be doing something wrong? The unarmed damage is utterly pitiful compared to any other melee character, even with the best equipment I've got. I decided to just bench him rather than figure it out.

• I only very, very briefly used a hireling, before Halsin joined my party proper cause I wanted to try wildshape (why does he take so long? I genuinely thought he would never join cause he spent dozens of hours waiting in my camp as an unplayable character).