Party is Kensai - Khalid - Jaheira - Imoen - Minsc - Dynaheir. I recently dropped Garrick for Minsc and Neera for Dynaheir. Wild Magic was entertaining, but was becoming a little too detrimental. While I was rescuing Dynaheir, Neera summoned a Nabassu that killed literally everyone. Shortly before that, she'd polymorphed herself into a squirrel. Great fun, but yeah, I had to reload each time. The number of potential PCs is getting to me. I've turned down so many, and they're so cranky about it when you do. I forgot how many there were.
I don't know about the 'Garden', but as I need xp, I'll probably Google that up.
I don't blame you for ditching Garrick, regular bards in BG are meh (unlike IWD where I think they're great!).
There is a plethora of potential companions - I'm deliberately trying ones this time I've not tried before (with the exception of Minsc because... well Minsc). Mine is Blade - Ajantis - Misnc - Yesslick - Alora - Neera (who also summoned a demon on me once but thankfully I was high enough level to kill it).
The 'Garden' I mention is the area known as Mutamin's Garden... lots of XP but big risk of instant death if you aren't prepared (I can give a spoiler if you like).
Haha easily done - better to get waylaid by another game that incurring restartitis which is a common problem I have with RPGs... ooh what about this class...
Haha! Elden Ring doesn't really have that problem. All the classes are essentially identical once you gain a few levels. It's all about how you spec. And re-speccing is relatively easy compared to older Souls games.