Poll: Party Members

[Gemore]

Whenever i play an RPG, i tend to pick 2-3 members and stick with them pretty much the entire game. It's not that I don't like the other characters, It's just I don't like them MORE and I struggle to make myself use everyone.

As an example, I havent put in the Dog or Sten into my party yet, but there are plenty of other examples (mass effect 2 - Jacob)

 

[SimuLord]

I tend to pick my favorites and stick with 'em through hell and high water.

 

[Gemore]

For the people who switch them around - why do you? Honestly i think it would probably be more interesting to switch them, but I'm curious.

 

[Bryan Jue]

I like to switch them around. The developers spent the time to put them in there, so I figure I should make the effort to at least try them out. Sometimes it leads to some nice variety and fun, like in Mass Effect, where you can get unique dialogue and different combat styles.

 

[RatRace123]

I always like to switch 'em up.
Though a big deciding factor depends on story and dialogue. If a certain party member has a special connection to a level (like say, Allistair in Redcliffe, or Liara on Noveria) then I usually bring that party member with me, it changes up the story dynamic of that level somewhat and it adds interesting alternative dialogue.

 

[Saltyk]

It depends on the game. Some will force you to use other characters from time to time. In Breath of Fire 3, all of your characters had abilities that you would need to get through certain areas, so you would need them from time to time.

Also depends on if my unused party members level up while on the sidelines. If so, I'll try to mix and match, keep the group balanced, and learn what characters do well in what situations. Think Chrono Trigger.

If they don't gain any experience outside of the active group, then I tend to focus on a core group. Gotta figure that even if Nina's magic is more useful here, it's better to use Bob, since he has 126 levels on her.

 

[Saltyk]

For the people who switch them around - why do you? Honestly i think it would probably be more interesting to switch them, but I'm curious.

I've found that sometimes that character you never use because they are "weak" will suddenly shine with all that powerful Ice magic that they have at thier disposal.

I'm not even making this up. I recently went back and replayed Breath of Fire 3 (which is why it's on my mind) and before I never used Nina, because with her low Hp, Power, and Def she was very weak. I decided to use her a little for shits and giggles. Suddenly, I realized how powerful she is! With her powerful magic and high speed she could decimate whole groups of enemies. I still avoided her like the plague for boss fights, but she destroyed random mobs.

I find it happens in a lot of games. True, Mission (KOTOR) is weak in a fight, but her skills are extremely usefull for other survival issues. It's all about balance.

 

[Gemore]

I usually stick with the same people and let a few characters fall behind.

Characters falling behind is quite probably the main reason i stick with a few. Even with games that shares exp, the loot itself either goes to the main ones i use, or gets sold.

That is what I liked about ME2 though - i used more of a variety in that game than usual, and I felt like i got most characters involved at some point.

 

[rockyoumonkeys]

Yeah, I typically keep the same party members. It's just much easier to manage leveling and inventory/equipment with three characters as opposed to seven.

Obviously sometimes this creates problems if the game forces you late in the game to use a character you never really used.

 

[Betancore]

I almost always stick with the same party members, unless a quest/mission/assignment/whatever else requires me to have a specific person on my team. If they don't level up on their own then I just never bother to use them.

 

[hurfdurp]

I like to retain my original members for as long as possible and just make them super pimp while the other options just dwindle in the back somewhere. This is mostly why I didn't really take to the new Final Fantasy because they forced you to constantly switch, I couldn't care for a core posse ;_;.

I never get rid of my starter Pokemon.

 

[Gemore]

I think another reason i keep the same party is because of the usual "favor system" ala Dragon age. To look at it another way, its because you would rather hear what the "core" party has to say rather than the others in said party.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

For the most part I'll keep my group the same, but if a better alternative arrives I'll swap out a party member for the new recruit - generally speaking I'll swap out a general character for a specialised one eg: swapping out a generic mage for a specialised healer, a generic warrior for a specialised damage sponge, a rogue for either thief or assassin, you know the kind of thing.

Generally speaking in a group of four I'll try and maintain two fighters with one rogue and one mage, although character availability, quest and of course game can swap this about somewhat.

 

[Cazza]

I mostly keep the same characters. Sometimes I take someone else if I feel the mission is towards them.

 

[DustyDrB]

Not at all, I rotate. I might not use any same team twice.

True, Mission (KOTOR) is weak in a fight, but her skills are extremely usefull for other survival issues. It's all about balance.

Mission is actually very useful as a ranged character due to her high dexterity. She and HK-47 are the best ranged characters in the game. The others (based on their default weapons: Carth, Canderous, and Zaalbar) are higher strength characters, which actually does nothing for their shooting.

For the people who switch them around - why do you? Honestly i think it would probably be more interesting to switch them, but I'm curious.

Part of it is roleplay: I can imagine the ones who are always being left behind feeling useless or even like the "team leaders" are conspiring against them. I always like to think of myself as a leader who wants to know his team.

Part of it is tactical: In Mass Effect 2 (and in other games, but I think of it because I just beat it again), some team members are better suited towards certain kinds of fights. On Horizon, The Collector Ship, The Derelict Reaper, and the Suicide Mission, I want to take someone with an Area Throw/Pull/Slam so Husks can be taken out quickly, but also someone with great anti-Armor and Barrier abilities (Warp, Incinerate, Inferno Grenade, Armor Piercing Ammo and others). On missions with more Geth or Mech, I take people with Overload, AI Hacking, and other skills suited to those enemies.

Part of it is curiosity: Just try mixing things up, using new combinations to achieve results in different ways. It keeps things interesting and also lets you learn how to use each character.

 

[Omega Pirate]

I usually stick with the same characters for the duration of the game, since they are usually higher level then the ones I don't use. Its also easier to find armor/weapons/spells for 3 characters instead of 6.

 

[Harlemura]

I keep the same usually, just for convenience. It's annoying switching people in and out all the time.
If I've been stuck on the same part for like half an hour, I'll usually switch someone. Sometimes I don't even switch 'em back.

In FF XIII, for example, Barthandelus gave me an excuse to switch Snow for Sazh, then Lightning, Sazh and Vanille became my go-to party.
Started again and used Fang, Snow and Hope all the way through, but that was just too easy. I prefer my "Alpha Squad".

Yes, I called my original team Alpha Squad, stop judging me.
My second team was Delta Squad... seriously, quit judging!

 

[UnwishedGunz]

well it depends on if you mean AI, if so then yea but only if they go out and find me health and ammo for my shooty sticks