Hmmm... well, was ToEE balanced for 5PCs? Or 8 characters? I have no idea. I would personally suggest 4PCs, 3NPCs, and one empty spot for additional quest-related characters like the merchant or the guy in the cells. But thats just me. That set-up would require changing your party format from 5/3 to 4/4 using the Front End. But it depends who you have and how you set up your party. Experienced ToEE players can generally do the moathouse at 1st level with a smallish party where n00bs might struggle with the full 8 - it really does depend on the player.
i guess I recommend 3 NPCs for the additional fun of having them? But they are all 2nd level (or should be - Aereon might be 3rd) so they do beef the party slightly. But really a bunch of first level PCs, plus Two Swords if they really need some muscle, should be fine. The bigger encounters for first level PCs - the zombies in the sewers, the larger (Dire) animals etc, can all be seen before you reach them if you take your time and listen: there's no concealed Fiendish Dire animals or anything.
I see in KOTB you can have up to 10 party members. What is the potential make up? Can you run 10 PCs/NPCs or are you limited to 8 because of the Front End? Are the two extra slots made mostly for companion animals/familiars? Thanks.
:blink: Errr, no... you can have the usual 8, plus 9 more attached critters run by the game's AI: the mercenaries, the back-up archers, summonable companions, controllable undead, those sorts.
