The encounter with "Shoal the Nereid" bothered me on my first play of BGI. Couldn't immediately put my finger on it at first and once I did I thought well just let it go. But having taken a couple of new characters (my first has almost finished ToB now) through some of the early parts of BGI I still find it irritating.
***SPOILERS***
Spoiler
When you speak to Shoal it initiates a dialog that ends with the speaker dying regardless of what options you take and there is "no" save or chance to avoid. To simply initiate a conversation and then die without any recourse, Hmmm!
I think what bothered me is that it reminded me of PnP AD&D and a certain DM who once announced "you just died". There was no saving throw, nor was it a consequence of an action that even remotely could have had a result like that, was almost caprious. It was a "I need your character dead to accomplish something I want to happen" type of thing. Very distasteful! If I do something stupid or deliberately try something that is risky, I can accept that. Even if there something unexpected that pops up a good DM always allows at least a saving throw of some type.
***SPOILER***
Spoiler
I usually just kill her on sight. Yes, I give up the Helmet of Defense and some XP, however, she is worth 5000 XP. FAR more than the Ogre Mage and quest XP
:mischief:
Well, that's my rant. Did anyone else feel this encounter is not right?
I just started a new character when doing this encounter I killed the Ogre Mage and completed the quest. Then killed the nereid when she started to leave. Only got 500 XP for her plus the Ogre Mage XP and Quest XP. All put together it still didn't come close to the 5000 XP for just killing her outright. Hate to give up the helm but doesn't seem worth it (to me). Did you find a way to complete the quest then get 5000 XP for her?
If you time it right (attack her while attacking Droth) you can get her to turn hostile, thus landing you a little over 5000 xp & the Helm Of Defense. :mischief:
Also, the Helm is certainly worth it, not only does it give you a saving throw bonus but you get 20 % resistance to electrical, fire, & cold damage. It also looks really cool in BG1.
Not sure why you would kill an Innocent dryad ... thing though.
On a slightly related note can anyone tell me what a Nereid is in Forgotten Realms? Is it like a Sea Elf?
