Even the greatest adventurers can't survive alone, but fear not for there are adventurers out there willing to join you.

Be aware of alignment clashes, as not everyone will tolerate each other. If you choose wisely then you will have a strong party to save the world or destroy it, whichever you prefer.

When changing party members make sure you take everything off them first, otherwise you lose their stuff (unless you want them back).

Jan Jansen can make 5 Bruiser Mates (bolts) per sleep. Damage is only 1D2+1 but they can stun for two rounds (if save fails). You can use them as bolts or sell them but I recommend using them because their ability to stun is very useful

Baldur's Gate II Enhanced Edition

Baldur's Gate II Enhanced Edition has new characters; I'm including these as I come across them in the game. As far as I know, the weapon proficiencies of the old characters haven't changed but I will also check these and update them if necessary.

Name	Alignment	Class	Weapon Proficiencies	Location
Aerie	Lawful Good	Mage/Cleric	Mace + Sling + Quarter Staff +	Rescue her in the Circus, Waukeen's Promenade
Keldorn	Lawful Good	Inquisitor (Paladin)	Crossbow ++ Long Sword ++ Two Handed Sword ++	Near old tunnels in Temple Sewers, once you have agreed to help Temple of Helm
Mazzy	Lawful Good	Fighter	Short Bow +++++ Short Sword +++	Rescue her from Temple Ruins, connected to Umar Hills quest
Minsc	Chaotic Good	Ranger Racial Enemy: Vampire	Mace ++ Longbow ++ Two handed Sword ++ Two Weapon ++	In Irenicus' dungeon where you start
Nalia	Chaotic Good	Thief/Mage	Dart + Dagger + Short Bow + Short Sword + Quarter Staff +	Inside Copper Coronet in The Slums
Imoen	Neutral Good	Thief/Mage	Dart + Dagger + Shortbow + Short Sword + Quarter Staff +	Rescues you in Irenicus' Dungeon
Valygar	Neutral Good	Stalker (Ranger)	Katana ++ Spear ++ Long Bow ++ Two Weapon ++	In his cabin in Umar Hills
Jaheira	True Neutral	Fighter/Druid	Club ++ Sling + Scimitar + Quarter Staff + Sword and Shield +	In Irenicus' Dungeon where you start
Cernd	True Neutral	Shapeshifter (Druid) He can't wear any armour but he can wear bracers and an amulet, ring or cloak of protection. You can purchase some good bracers (AC3 are best but they also sell AC4) from Adventurer's Mart in Waukeen's Promenade.	Sling + Scimitar + Dagger + Quarter Staff +	In Mayor's house, Trademeet
Yoshimo	True Neutral	Bounty Hunter (Thief)	Katana + Dagger + Short Bow + Single Weapon +	In Irenicus' Dungeon through portal
Anomen	Lawful Neutral	Fighter/Cleric	Mace ++ Spear ++ Sling ++ Warhammer + Quarter Staff + Sword & Shield ++	Inside Copper Coronet in The Slums
Haer Dalis	Chaotic Neutral	Blade (Bard)	Dart + Dagger + Two Weapon ++ Short Sword ++	Secret Door in Temple Sewers, free him and he'll join
Jan Jansen	Chaotic Neutral	Thief/Illusionist	Dagger + Short Sword + Crossbow + Quarter Staff +	In the Government District
Edwin	Chaotic Evil	Conjurer	Dagger + Quarter Staff +	In Maevar's Guild, Docks. Do Shadow thieves quest then he'll join
Korgan	Chaotic Evil	Fighter	Axe +++++ Warhammer +	Inside Copper Coronet in The Slums, listen to his tale and he'll join
Viconia	Neutral Evil	Cleric	Mace + Warhammer + Sling + Sword & Shield +	Free her in the Government district and she'll join you either then or in the Graveyard district. If she joins, you'll lose 2 reputation points as she's a Drow elf.

Requires Throne of Bhaal expansion

If you ever wish to change party members you can summon them in Pocket Plane and they will level up.

If you wondering how to get to Pocket Plane, your main character has the special ability once you acquire it in the expansion.

There are some containers in the pocket plane where you can store things.

Name	Alignment	Class	Weapon Proficiencies	Location
Sarevok	Chaotic Evil	Fighter	Two-handed Sword +++++ Two-handed Weapon ++ Halberd + Crossbow +	Pocket Plane in expansion, give him part of Imoen's soul or your's and he'll join

New characters in Baldur's Gate II Enhanced Edition

Name	Alignment	Class	Weapon Proficiencies	Location
Rasaad	Lawful Good	Sun Soul Monk He can't wear any armour but has AC0 and of course can have either a cloak, ring or Amulet of protection. He isn't too bad at unarmed combat with his special abilities, especially as he levels up. You can also use him to find traps but he can't disarm them.	Enhanced Edition only: Dart + Katana + Sling + Scimitar/Wakizashi/Ninjato +	You meet him in Trademeet. Follow him and if you agree to his quest (after a very long conversation) he will join you. His quest starts in Athkatla's City Gates.
Neera	Chaotic Neutral	Wild Mage if you don't use Nahal's Reckless Dweomer spell, she only has 5% chance of a random spell instead of the selected one. Wild magic adds fun to the game. I recommend you replace her quarterstaff as it can injure her.	Enhanced edition: Sling + Dagger + Quarterstaff +	You first meet her in the Bridge District but she won't join you until you meet her again at Wild Forest or Hidden Refuge. Wild Forest will be put on your map after leaving the Bridge District. She is needed to gain access to the wild mage camp in Hidden Refuge but once you have spoken to Telana you can swap party members back.
Wilson	True Neutral	Grizzly Bear Enhanced Edition	He has 20 strength, a large amount of hit points and does good special attacks. Not bad for a bear	He is linked to the Hidden Refuge but won't be found until Rasaad's quest, which starts in Athkatla's City Gates. You will find Wilson (Grizzly Bear) in a cage in Heretic Temple area across the bridge, near the bottom. Talk to him before releasing him and be nice to him. To release him either pay 1,000GP or threaten Jolstead. Wilson will then be found near the northern exit. Be nice to him and he will join your party.
Dorn	Neutral Evil	Blackguard Apart from being a good with a two-handed sword, he also has some good special abilities and is immune to level drain and fear.	Enhanced edition: Crossbow ++ Two-handed Sword ++ Two-handed weapon ++	Near Radiant Heart temple, agree to do his quest and he will join. You will lose 1 reputation point if he does.
Hexxat	Neutral Evil	Thief	Enhanced edition: Dagger + Shortbow + Long sword + Short sword + After doing her quest: Club + Dagger + Short sword + Single Weapon +	Inside the Copper Coronet in the Slums district. Agree to go to Dragomir's Tomb in Graveyard District and she will join you. Dragomir's Tomb is through a secret door inside the first tomb on the right, from the southern entrance to the Graveyard. When you have finished the tomb but before you leave, you can persuade her to join you. If you are nice to her when she re-joins, you will gain Dragomir's Respite (a bag of holding) to keep even if you don't keep her in your party.