Best NPC overall

Galmar · Post by **Galmar** » Sat Jan 03, 2004 5:38 pm

Adahn, i worry about you

fable · Post by **fable** » Sat Jan 03, 2004 7:00 pm

Guys, watch the language and the concepts, okay? I just got a couple of complaints about this thread from parents whose pre-teen kids are evidently playing BG2 for the first time, and reading this forum. Follow Buck's forum rules, above, and if you wonder whether something is questionable or not--don't say it. Thanks.

Mr Vegas · Post by **Mr Vegas** » Sat Jan 03, 2004 7:09 pm

sorry fable for bringing up the whole women thing
didnt know of any kids that read this forum

FilipeTeles · Post by **FilipeTeles** » Sat Jan 03, 2004 8:31 pm

edwin and aerie rulez
edwin is a lot fun and powerful and he is a mage,the best class(after sorceror) in my opinion.aerie for romance is the best I like her and cleric/mage is good too..........chain contigency with cleric spells is nice you can use things like protection from evil 10 radius and 2 gates.....

Mirk · Post by **Mirk** » Sun Jan 04, 2004 4:10 am

Guys, watch the language and the concepts, okay? I just got a couple of complaints about this thread from parents whose pre-teen kids are evidently playing BG2 for the first time, and reading this forum. Follow Buck's forum rules, above, and if you wonder whether something is questionable or not--don't say it. Thanks.

sorry fable, (and everybody else that got offended), that was certainly not the idea!

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Sun Jan 04, 2004 11:40 am

Haer'Dalis is the overall best NPC (ToB considered). Why?

1) Backs up (and surpasses) your Fighters when on Tenser's
2) Backs up your Mages with spells at higher level (because of faster leveling up)
3) Backs up your Thieves with the Pick Pocket skill
4) Boosts the whole party with (Enhanced) Bard Song
5) Lay Special Trap with 100 % success
6) Use Any Item
7) Armor while casting spells (and gets a good one during his own quest)
8) Any weapon
9) ** in Short Swords (and comes with two good ones as well)
10) Bard only items
11) Offensive/Defensive Spin
12) High Lore

Anomen is the most overlooked NPC and Jan perhaps the most useful.

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Sun Jan 04, 2004 3:44 pm

I second that Astafas!

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Sun Jan 04, 2004 4:09 pm

Originally posted by Bruce Lee
I second that Astafas!

I kind of thought you would Brucy - you're one of few who understands that a person complaining about Bards being worthless is in fact only complaining about his own incapacity of playing them...

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Sun Jan 04, 2004 4:12 pm

I second that aswell

UserUnfriendly · Post by **UserUnfriendly** » Sun Jan 04, 2004 5:59 pm

Originally posted by Bruce Lee
I second that aswell

yeah, but his bird thingie drives me nutters...

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Sun Jan 04, 2004 6:01 pm

Originally posted by UserUnfriendly
yeah, but his bird thingie drives me nutters...

"This sparrow is ready to fly"? Hehe, leave the guy some poetic space here, User...

UserUnfriendly · Post by **UserUnfriendly** » Sun Jan 04, 2004 7:47 pm

Originally posted by Astafas
"This sparrow is ready to fly"? Hehe, leave the guy some poetic space here, User...

haer: My dear raven...

pc: Nevermore!!!

napoleon_n_rags · Post by **napoleon_n_rags** » Sun Jan 04, 2004 10:41 pm

Ugh. Anomen is always over looked in such talks. If given Crom Fayer and once capable of casting very-very powerful defensive cleric spells anomen can be force to be reckoned with. Granted however if using an evil party Viconia is the obvious and much less annoying choice Anomen is still more capable a fighter.

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 2:23 am

I would have to say Jan.
The only (good) thief in the game, and he can cast some nice spells to!

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 5:04 am

Originally posted by napoleon_n_rags
Ugh. Anomen is always over looked in such talks. If given Crom Fayer and once capable of casting very-very powerful defensive cleric spells anomen can be force to be reckoned with. Granted however if using an evil party Viconia is the obvious and much less annoying choice Anomen is still more capable a fighter.

Absolutely (though I prefer dual wielding Flail of Ages and Defender of Easthaven) - with a few buffing spells he's amazing in combat. I also like the way he blows up vampires for you at higher levels... You could also try having Anomen stand back, using a Sling with Strength bonus, he does well there too.

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 5:07 am

Originally posted by Stilgar
I would have to say Jan.
The only (good) thief in the game, and he can cast some nice spells to!

Yeah, I find it extremely strange when people complain about there being no good Thief in the game: Jan has very high Thief skills thanks to his gear, and then throws spells as a Specialist Wizard in addition to that. Only one thing to say: Never leave home without your gnome!

Sytze · Post by **Sytze** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 6:27 am

Originally posted by Astafas
Haer'Dalis is the overall best NPC (ToB considered). Why?

1) Backs up (and surpasses) your Fighters when on Tenser's
2) Backs up your Mages with spells at higher level (because of faster leveling up)
3) Backs up your Thieves with the Pick Pocket skill
4) Boosts the whole party with (Enhanced) Bard Song
5) Lay Special Trap with 100 % success
6) Use Any Item
7) Armor while casting spells (and gets a good one during his own quest)
8) Any weapon
9) ** in Short Swords (and comes with two good ones as well)
10) Bard only items
11) Offensive/Defensive Spin
12) High Lore

I agree with you that Haer Dhalis is a very usefull and powerfull NPC. Almost every game I play, I take him along. Not only because of the points mentioned above, but also because hes, together with Jaheira, the most witted NPC of the game. Though I have to admit his doomthinking can get annoying...

But I dont quite agree with the reasons you gave for him being the most powerfull NPC...

point 2) Yes he levels up faster, but he doesnt gain spells above level 6. And at that level, spells become really powerful. I know, all he needs are some protection spells (Prot from Magic Energy, Magic Weapons, Stoneskin, etc), but he still missed out.

point 9) I know his weapons can be usefull early in SoA, but its just not powerfull enough, ones you advance further in the game (especially in ToB). Only ** in short sword and 2 weapon style doesnt do the trick either.

point 10) Bard only items? Are there any powerfull bard only items then?? (I might be wrong here, so correct me if I am)

Overall hes a very good NPC, but the best or most powerful?? Nah, not really...
I consider someone powerful when he|she excels in anything which can smack enemies. And Dhalis excels in Lore, setting traps and pickpocketting, but those abilities dont make him powerful or very good...

Dark_angel · Post by **Dark_angel** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 6:39 am

For my style of play -

Best female character - Aerie (a good variety of spells, and can be strong in melee if buffed and wearing a girdle of strength)

Best male character - Haer'Dalis (I'm a sucker for poetry, and for some reason he dies far less than Anomen and the guys, despite the fact I use him in melee a lot, oh, and he can cast spells, pick pockets and do Bard Song)

Best mod - Solaufein (one of the best NPCs you can have, in my opinion, a good fighter and a good mage, AND has his own quests).

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 7:30 am

Originally posted by Sytze
I agree with you that Haer Dhalis is a very usefull and powerfull NPC. Almost every game I play, I take him along. Not only because of the points mentioned above, but also because hes, together with Jaheira, the most witted NPC of the game. Though I have to admit his doomthinking can get annoying...

But I dont quite agree with the reasons you gave for him being the most powerfull NPC...

point 2) Yes he levels up faster, but he doesnt gain spells above level 6. And at that level, spells become really powerful. I know, all he needs are some protection spells (Prot from Magic Energy, Magic Weapons, Stoneskin, etc), but he still missed out.

point 9) I know his weapons can be usefull early in SoA, but its just not powerfull enough, ones you advance further in the game (especially in ToB). Only ** in short sword and 2 weapon style doesnt do the trick either.

point 10) Bard only items? Are there any powerfull bard only items then?? (I might be wrong here, so correct me if I am)

Overall hes a very good NPC, but the best or most powerful?? Nah, not really...
I consider someone powerful when he|she excels in anything which can smack enemies. And Dhalis excels in Lore, setting traps and pickpocketting, but those abilities dont make him powerful or very good...

Who spoke of most powerful NPC? Best overall is the topic. A Bard will never beat a Fighter at fighting or a Mage at throwing spells. As a jack-of-all-trades he gets a bit of everything, thus being the best overall character in a party. I think all the soloplays with Blades more than prove my point.

A Bard won't get spells above level 6. However, the spells he gets, he may throw at a higher level (if levels are considered in the spell). That is an advantage.

You seem to agree that his Short Swords are useful early in the game. Should that not be one of his advantages, you mean? As with all characters in the party, you will probably switch weapons several times during the game. Luckily, H'D may use almost every single weapon you'll find...

Only (Dual/Multi) Fighters may put more than one proficieny point in a weapon or style. However, H'D comes with ** in Short Swords and may put *** in Two Weapon Style. Is that not an advantage compared to the other NPCs? Should you not like the way his profs are spent, he'll gain new ones just as fast as any other Bard or Thief...

Take a look for yourself at the harps under the equipement pages. Immediately after having H'D join you, you may obtain the Harp of Discord for example. It gives you three extra Chaos per day, not only a fifth level spell but also one of the more useful spells in the game.

Sytze · Post by **Sytze** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 7:51 am

Originally posted by Astafas
Who spoke of most powerful NPC? Best overall is the topic.

You are completely right...I must have read over the title, I read the posts and saw that most people starting talking about powerful/best NPC, my bad.
In that case, Dhalis is indeed the best overall NPC

Originally posted by Astafas
You seem to agree that his Short Swords are useful early in the game. Should that not be one of his advantages, you mean? As with all characters in the party, you will probably switch weapons several times during the game. Luckily, H'D may use almost every single weapon you'll find...

Only (Dual/Multi) Fighters may put more than one proficieny point in a weapon or style. However, H'D comes with ** in Short Swords and may put *** in Two Weapon Style. Is that not an advantage compared to the other NPCs? Should you not like the way his profs are spent, he'll gain new ones just as fast as any other Bard or Thief...

Yes, but he can only gain ** in Short Swords....and compared to other weapons, Short Swords lack power at the end of SoA and in ToB. He can only have * in all other weapons. That isnt an advantage. I know there are NPC's who can only get * in certain weapons (only a few in the game though), but they are better at certain area's (like magic, fighting or thieving) then Dhalis.

Originally posted by Astafas
Take a look for yourself at the harps under the equipement pages. Immediately after having H'D join you, you may obtain the Harp of Discord for example. It gives you three extra Chaos per day, not only a fifth level spell but also one of the more useful spells in the game. [/b]

That is indeed usefull, but you only name 1 item (not counting bonusmerchants...). Other NPC's can use items which a bard cannot. Although, no....wait....the UAI ability negates all Im saying here......crap, your right on this point.

I withdraw most of the things I said, cause I missed the main meaning of this thread. But that doesnt mean Dhalis is very good at all those things you said (weapons to name only 1....) Jaheira Jan or Aerie outclass Dhalis on certain erea's.
Dont get me wrong after al this though, I like Dhalis and I dont take him in my party all those games for naught.