No, they do not! I wish people would only talk about things they actually know something about!

Here are the level 1 spells available to a level 8 Cleric, in unmodded BG1.

That's odd. I clearly remember casting Entangle with a cleric in BG1, as well as hostile clerics (one of the bounty hunters and the priestess of Umberlee, to be more specific) casting them on my party. Maybe it has something to do with the difference between the original 5 CD version and the 3 CD version which was introduced later, on which the digital release is probably based, and my memory simply blurred my experiences together. Nevertheless, I still think that a well-balanced party with a cleric as the only divine spell caster won't be hurt by not having Entangle, as there are a lot of enemies equipped with missile weapons. (bandits, kobolds, hobgoblins, etc.) Mages have a better repertoire of low level debilitating spells anyway, so one shouldn't really rely on druids for that role, and being able to cast Entangle certainly won't give the upper hand to Jaheira over a single class cleric or melee class character, especially in case of a first time player.

Sigh! A cleric has never been able to cast Entangle, in any unmodded version of Baldur's Gate -- I have both. And it's obvious you are still missing the point about Jaheira's roll and worth, or selectively ignoring it... or both.

Never had a problem with Jaheira in the party. She bashes, she survives, she heals. In BG1, smacking the other guy to death wins most battles. For the rest, using potions and scrolls prior to smacking the other guy to death works.

Sure it's possible to do different things with different party compositions and be more effective without her. But she is not a weakness or wasted, she always contributed ably in my parties. I was challenged at times but didn't have that much difficultly completing the game.

Take a chill pill, mate. You also seem to be ignoring what I'm saying about Jaheira's "roll" and worth. Aaand you also seem to be unable to accept that someone dares to share an opinion that doesn't match yours a 100%. You probably are right about Entangle...Here's your cookie.

I don't need any chill pill; I'm cool. You are the one continuing to argue against Jaheira using Cleric vs. Druid, which is not what this issue was/is about; you are the one throwing snide remarks about, not me. I fully accept that your opinion differs from mine, it's just that you are bending the point of the issue because you don't like druids. Enough said.

I think many of us veterans of D&D crpgs will find much to disagree with in the advice given in this thread, depending on personal play styles. For me, for example:

1) I do not place so much value on ranged weapons. I give my thief a bow & arrows (only use backstab when I really need to or it is extremely convenient), I give slings to my clerics (for when they are not needed in melee) & magic-users.

2) I only play BG through Tutu anymore. So things that only apply to vanilla BG do not apply for me.

3) ALL of my party members are equally important. I cannot begin to fathom how someone can leave a combat with 1 or 2 dead party members and say "Well I can just go recruit that scrub I passed on earlier to replace the guy I have been leveling up for a few days...". This means I am also very careful about whom I recruit and for how long I plan to keep them. Those two evil guys just past Candlekeep are usually gone shortly after I recruit Jaheera and Khalid and I send Khalid to his death as soon as I am on my way to getting a better RPC.

4) Jaheera is a valuable commodity through the entire game(s) for me (unless I play evil which is not often anymore because there are not enough evil characters to recruit that are worth crap. That one dwarf and Viconia and Edwin and maybe one other guy later that I am forgetting now.). She is basically a tank-healer for the most part.

5) Kivan is pretty good. But so is Cormyr (is that his name?) the fighter/thief guy. I usually have either one or the other as my dedicated archer/ranged attacker (using Tutu so I sometimes dual Imoen to a Mage).

Man...I am *THIS CLOSE* to starting up a new game of BG now.

Apart from my last post, I don't see where I threw any side remarks at you, and I did that only because you were acting rather arrogantly and aggressively in your replies regarding a topic that really isn't that important. (a video game) Anyhow, I apologise if I unintentionally offended you, and that's the end of it for me.

Getting kind of aggravating, or did it?

Anyway, since this was a topic for beginners. I think Jaheira is ok. Since they come in a pack of two you have to swallow khalid as well.
And i felt, since we were kind of family from the story, i should keep'm.

Since modding did not work for me, i just plaid it as it was intended.

Personally i love bow's. Its quite effective to have 1 or 2 excellent snipers in your team. Since i like to plan my attacks its a good strategy.

I never got used to Xar or what his name was. He was highly annoying and not that helpful since he died very easily.

In my run through the game i used a lot of haste, summon, web and healing spells. Others not so much. Ah and protection of course.

Would another section in the OP about NPCs and party composition be helpful to newbies, you think?

I'm sure countless vets will not use the advice in the OP due to differing play styles, mods used, and metaknowledge of the game. My suggestions were aimed at newbies who were clueless about the game and how to start. I've seen countless threads of "I'm a newbie, help!!!" So I decided to be proactive and make a thread to help them, trying to put several useful tips in one place.

In regards to #3, some people (such as myself) play games Ironman aka permadeath. It's not that I don't care about my members, it's that not everybody hits reload when an NPC dies. Yes, most gamers probably will reload, and I mentioned that, but some gamers will play even a virgin game on Ironman, and I was simply indicating that there are plenty of NPCs to fill empty slots, more than in most games.

To the broader issue people raised of Jaheira's usefulness, I'd like to point out that J is the only healer newbies are likely to get in the beginning of the game. Branwen is a little further on, might not be found by all gamers, and some might not be able or know how to get her. Having a healer is crucial to newbie survival, and getting one or more is a high priority IMNSHO. J is a must have simply for being a healer. Her relation to the PC, helping to draw newbies into the story, is icing on the cake. Yes there are other healers in the game but in the beginning, which is what this guide is aimed at, I don't see why people wouldn't take J.

Thanks. Too bad it got side-tracked into the BG2 mods of Tutu/Easy Tutu and BGT.
Actually Viconia is very accessible, as is Ajantis. They're on the entering edge of the areas east and north of the FAI respectively, in sections where enemies don't spawn or wander into. And since it's early in the game, reputation is neutral for both. Ajantis is a tank, Viconia probably the best healer of the game. And you can hold them both until you get to someone you feel is a better fit for your play style...

The only problem with Ajantis and Viconia for 'virgin' groups (newly out of Candlekeep) is that inexperienced players, if they wander around in the two respective areas looking for the joinable NPCs, will be summarily wiped out... no 'ifs' or 'buts'. Those areas hold enemies far too strong for level 1 characters.

*If* they wander too far in. Ankhegs and Black Talon Elites are indeed bad news for newbies. Staying close to the edge of the map is the key, going north in Peldvale and west in the ankheg area. The worst I've encountered is bandits and hobgoblins near Ajantis. I will say this - it's good policy to save before entering new areas with first or second level character parties.

That is like assuming the 'newbies' already know the area, or are meta-gaming. Like I said, for inexperienced players, those areas spell death... period.

Best way to get lvl 2 in exp, gather whoever you want to join up with for party and head to marl or biff or whatever the guy's name is in Feldepost's inn. If you have a small party like me, you will most likely be lvl 2 after saying the right dialogue to him. If not, kill him after you get exp from talking and will then most likely be 2.