747 I had to save and reload games all the time because minsc and edwin were arguing and ended up in a fight with minsc killing him. That got annoying. Also, getting a good reputation makes things cheaper, but makes edwin want to leave (so I kept on having to load the last saved game to get him back).
Its possible to play a multiplayer game but with all characters under your control, with each of them being a custom character, but you would lose out on the great NPC interaction and the tons of NPC quests.
747 Edwin is really useful later. The most powerful magic NPC in the game. Dont get too attached to Imoen though.
Spoiler:The romance quests are cool. There are 3 NPCs that male characters can choose from, and 1 NPC that female NPCs can choose from, and if you have them in your party, and answer their questions in the right way, they will end up getting married (I chose aerie, and continued the game in throne of bhaal, where she has a baby that she has to carry around all the time).
She might not always be around.
He is scary
Spoiler:
his name is jonaleth irenicus, and was the most powerful sorcerer of the elves. he was banished from suldalessanar by his lover (she also takes his immortallity away from him), and was exiled with his drow sister 'Bhodda' (who went to be the leader of a drow underground city). He grew to hate the elves and swore revenge on his ex-home. He eventually steals yuor soul, but I still feel sorry for him at the end. They should never have banished him, but he is evil.
747 He steals your soul in the game. His final battle when you get sucked into in hell (in shadows of amn) is not as difficult as the final battle in throne of bhaal.
He shouldn't be too difficult if you have edwin learn loads of high level (lv10)summoning spells and party enhancing spells. And have a cleric learn some quest (lv10) summoning and party enhancing spells.