What type of party NPCs would you like to see added?

fable · Post by **fable** » Thu Dec 26, 2002 9:51 am

IMO, and for what little it's worth, the most successful mods to date have been those which created a few carefully balanced new party NPCs with elaborate, well-edited dialog, and perhaps a quest or two of their own. I'm sure I don't need to name the various mods: we're all pretty much aware of them, since they frequently occur in conversation.

So I thought I'd ask what kind of party NPC you'd like to see added to the game, keeping well within the appropriate professions, skills, spells, and levels?

Personally, I'd enjoy seeing a Wild Mage, young and perhaps a bit schizo, prone to extremes of mood; lamenting his/her ability to control his spells, very insecure at the beginning, having been tossed out of an abusive, uncaring community that had no use for him/her. Eventually, of course, the mutually supportive adventuring unit and the necessity to grow (or die) in the face of common enemies would shore up their confidence, and produce a slightly less shaky, more encouraged and successful figure, over time.

Your own wishes?

Baldursgate Fan · Post by **Baldursgate Fan** » Thu Dec 26, 2002 10:18 am

I am still waiting for Birchard, a Lawful Neutral Fighter.

I like NPCs who come with a lot of historical baggage

BTW, has anyone tried Shadows over Soubar mod? Sounds interesting, I will probably download it over the weekend, considering that it's 300mb!

dios · Post by **dios** » Thu Dec 26, 2002 11:01 am

Maybe a good thief? Something like Montaron in BG1...mm
A little...little..little.

Or another bard...a skald perhaps...
And a fighter who can use...dualwielding real good...

NPC:s with a lot of dialouge and quests are funniest to play

and yes, a new cleric...really needed.

Schwoebli · Post by **Schwoebli** » Thu Dec 26, 2002 5:29 pm

maybe an anti paladin or a conan like barbarian would be cool.

majoola · Post by **majoola** » Thu Dec 26, 2002 6:03 pm

i've recently downloaded the new (or not-so-new, rather) npcs and would have to say that i agree in that they're the best mods that actually add to the game. but they all the worthwhile npcs seem to be magic-users (mages, fighter/mages, etc.) it would be interesting to see some of the lesser used classes like a barbarian, monk or a totemic druid

hmm...maybe go back to the days of bg 1 and bring back the chicken (what was his name?) to restore his manhood or something...or find him a new body inside a golem...erm. though i'm already thankful for what the bg community has made already i'd also like to see someone do the dwarf thrower (or has that already been done?). seeing korgan flying across the screen wouldn't be too bad...perhaps a dwarf-hating elf npc is considerable?

Phantom Lord · Post by **Phantom Lord** » Thu Dec 26, 2002 6:44 pm

A capable thief or - even better - fighter/thief would be worthwhile ... they should have multiclassed Mazzy - who is a good fighter, but there are too many of them in the game.

Nightmare · Post by **Nightmare** » Thu Dec 26, 2002 6:51 pm

A single class thief. A monk. And a wild mage. I'd like those added.

Also, I'd like them to have a history (almost all the NPCs have wicked cool personalities), like the ones in Planescape: Torment.

Morte would be cool to have as an NPC in this game.

SimDing0 · Post by **SimDing0** » Fri Dec 27, 2002 12:18 pm

I don't really mind the type of NPC so long as it is well produced and fits in well with the original game.

Originally posted by Baldursgate Fan
BTW, has anyone tried Shadows over Soubar mod? Sounds interesting, I will probably download it over the weekend, considering that it's 300mb!

I played SoS a bit, and my initial impressions were quite good (better than some other mods I've played). I didn't make much progress on its main quest (I'm more of a modder than a player), but the bits I did go through were professionally done and interesting... well, in my opinion

Screaming Johny · Post by **Screaming Johny** » Fri Dec 27, 2002 2:01 pm

Class-wise, I would love to see the classes that don't have NPC's: Monk, a decent theif, or a Barbarian.

From a story point of view, I would love to see an Undead Hunter. This would be a good character in general, but he could be on a quest to rid Aktalla of it's vampire problem. He would fit perfectly into the party until Bhodi's demise. He could then offer to stay on with you, since you helped him (like many of the other NPC's do.)

It would be good for him to object to certain quests (Mae'var) and refuse to participate. Justifying working for the shadow thieves in the first place would be a stretch, but could be justified. You are still helping the poor saps with their undead problem. The fun part would be working with a REAL goody two-shoes Paladin that would actually force you to make some hard choices.

Other NPC possibilities abound: An elven bounty hunter going after Jon, a wizard slayer going after Jon, or any other NPC he has burned in the past such as a Monk or Barbarian that had their village/monastary destroyed by him (he seems to go through a lot of strongholds.)

ARcheR_S_ · Post by **ARcheR_S_** » Fri Dec 27, 2002 2:06 pm

Id like too se an NPC like Gimli the Dwarf.

Or just a "good friend" NPC which, IMO, laks in this game.
Im waiting for the (new) Kivan NPC.....maybe that will fullfill some wishes.......since he seems like a friend (fellow Archer

)

Maharlika · Post by **Maharlika** » Sun Dec 29, 2002 12:12 am

Nice thread, fable...

...the way I see it, there are too many mage-thief classes (Imoen, Jan and Nalia).

A kensai seeking a way back home (probably picked up in the planar-sphere) only to realize that there is so much to see and learn this side of the world and sticks up with the pc...

A barbarian from Minsc's home of Rashemon would be cool.

@Screaming Johnny: I like the idea of an Elven bounty hunter or wizard slayer after Jon.

Skuld · Post by **Skuld** » Sun Dec 29, 2002 1:41 am

Well from what I've read Kivan did get added into TDD as an Archer as did Monty(swashbuckler) and Kagain(trollslayer). I wish you could just have the extra NPC's without the rest of the TDD ridiculousness. Anyway just bringing back a few choice BG NPCs that aren't already in the BGII story or could have a modified story with an option to join you, slightly modified to fit into kits, would be great.

Baldursgate Fan · Post by **Baldursgate Fan** » Sun Dec 29, 2002 3:19 am

Having BG1 NPCs in BG2 is a great and natural idea. I also would love to see PS:T NPCs, such as Dak'kon, if they could swing it. Afterall, there is already a Dakkon zerth blade for sale...

Saumerez · Post by **Saumerez** » Sun Jan 05, 2003 10:30 pm

A few ideas I had:

1. Another Bard/kit (bards are interesting but there is only one available).
2. Fighter/Thief (SoA is dripping with mage/thieves, I'd like some variety).
3. A Barbarian. (Just for variety).
4. A Monk (variety).
5. Any BG1 NPC would be fine. Would be nice to see old friends again!

UserUnfriendly · Post by **UserUnfriendly** » Mon Jan 06, 2003 1:27 am

choloe is a kensai.,...

a pure assassin with a unhealthy attitude twords sheep is in beta right now....

juna is a slave monk....

geeze....too many npc...overload,,,,overload...

daeleks....self destruct....eeeeekkk...

Ihtafir · Post by **Ihtafir** » Mon Jan 06, 2003 5:00 am

A powerfull wizard like Gandalf that only want to stay with you in certain missions would be cool.

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Mon Jan 06, 2003 5:31 am

Originally posted by Ihtafir
A powerfull wizard like Gandalf that only want to stay with you in certain missions would be cool.

Heheh,
I saw LOTR: the Fellowship just after I defeated the balor in BG2 with my solo kensai/mage, after that, i found Gandalf not that good

But, I would like to see:
1. WIldmage (only with good voice set and personality)
2. Cleric
3. Thief (no assassin, assassins have to low thief skills in the beginning when you play a full party)

Twyze · Post by **Twyze** » Mon Jan 06, 2003 7:10 am

How about a Jedi? I suppose it would be like a Kensai with some magic powers. We've seen Jedi use things like charm, chain lightning and something that looks like a dragon's wing buffet. They would not be allowed to use armour or missile weapons - just longswords. Or should I say lightsabres?

You could have good or evil characters, but probably not neutral. I'd see the good Jedi as lawkeepers. Those who have gone over to the dark side would just be megalomaniacs.

Okay, so it would be a bit odd to mix sci fi and fantasy. But you could easily imagine that the Jedi have been around for centuries.

Nightmare · Post by **Nightmare** » Mon Jan 06, 2003 4:59 pm

Heh...I bet I could create a character with Shadowkeeper that would be a Jedi...sweet...

Too bad I don't have BG2 installed right now.

Skooter327 · Post by **Skooter327** » Mon Jan 06, 2003 7:10 pm

I love Screaming Johny's idea of "an elven bounty hunter going after Jon, a wizard slayer going after Jon, or any other NPC he has burned in the past such as a Monk..."

I also like the prospect of Ps:T NPCs in BGII. Dak'kon is my favorite, but they are all cool.

I agree that fighters, mages, and thieves are overdone. I'd like to see something different. A monk or barbarian is a good choice. I also would like to see new NPCs in races that aren't availible to the player. I thought having Aerie be an avariel was a nice touch. Having a Githzeri NPC could make the Githyanki encounters much more interesting.

Finally, I think it would be cool to see a gnome with a primitive robot he's built (Like the robot in Chrono Trigger), as a pair of NPCs. BGI had so many paired NPCs, but BGII doesn't have any.