Companions

Requirements: Recruiting party members is relatively simple compared with some games, but turning them down and in some cases dismissing them from the party to recruit again later is hazardous.

A few potential party members can only be recruited under certain circumstances: Skie can only be recruited if the party kept Eldoth after his request to rescue her, Garrick will not join until the Silke subquest in Beregost is completed (and will leave if rejected, but will return to the game later), Quayle will join only after the Cloakwood mines, Safana wants to explore the Flesh Golem cave, but will remain thereafter, Alora (stand watch, talk to her a couple of times),.

Other characters will leave the party and in some cases disappear if certain requirements are not met:, Kivan (will leave if removed from the party), Xan (speak politely or neutral to him or he leaves, although Viconia will abuse him roundly with no effect).

A lot of characters have goals, stated purposes for joining the party, but only a handful of characters have fairly involved quests that are required to keep them around or in the party. These characters will join immediately, but they will leave the party if their tasks are not completed within a certain time or if the player enters a certain area. Minsc of course wishes Dynaheir freed, Coran wishes to face Wyverns in the fourth Cloakwood forest,

There are teams that cannot be split up; if one of them is asked to leave, the other will leave the party also: the romantically involved Dynaheir and Minsc, and Jaheira and Khalid (also disappear if declined. Jaheira's laconic "No tears shed for those lost in righteous battle" upon other party members' death is replaced with an anguished wail should Khalid die!), Montaron and Xzar,.

Many party members will request to join the party once; if declined, they can not be recruited again, and will in most cases disappear from the game. Montaron and Xzar (disappear), Jaheira and Khalid, Dynaheir and Minsc, Yeslick, Edwin, Viconia (disappears, deal with Flaming Fist, reputation -2 when joins), Shar-Teel (challenges, and therefore requires, male party member),

The exceptions, that will never disappear or leave the party due to obscure player actions are: Imoen, Ajantis, Alora (joining requirement), Faldorn, Kagain (despite a lot of scripted talk about his goal and its completion), and Tiax'

Some companions only join the party for the duration of a storytelling segment, or quest, see below

Baldur's Gate
 Party Members 

Baldur's Gate 2
 Returning Companions

 Familiar Faces
 * Branwen / Xan
 * Coran / Safana
 * Xan / Montaron
 * Ajantis
 * Dynaheir
 * Faldorn
 * Garrick
 * Khalid
 * Quayle
 * Tiax