RATE THESE NPCs!

Hazim ibn Gorion · Post by **Hazim ibn Gorion** » Wed Mar 28, 2001 4:25 pm

Uh oh. Now you've done it. A few repulsive, repellant, cretinous philistines above have dared malign Jaheira. I won't stand for it! So now I am once again obliged (nay, *forced*) to whip out my long-winded stream-of-consciousness argument for why J is the best (that's right, the BEST) NPC in the game.

Tank. Easiest character to get at super low AC. Bad weapon selection you say? BAH. 2 weapons: Belm (extra attack) and Blackblood (acid damage for trolls, blunt damage for clay golems, +3 enchantment for anything that needs it). Pair them with the Shield of Harmony for some groovy power. Need a range weapon and want to save sling of Everard for your mage? Don't forget that Druids can use daggers. Boomerang/Firetooth will do nicely. Strength? Don't be stingy; give her the belt.

Spells. Summon fire elemental (very long duration and no wimpy mage-like battle of wills). Summon woodland being. Insect plague. Ironskins. Animal summoning III. Healing healing healing. Fugedabowdit!

Romance. Most complex (and therefore interesting) romance in the game. Only romance that lets you stay lovers all the way through. Granted, it's buggered, but that's nothing that can't be fixed with a little patience and research.

Harper plot. Unlike the other NPC plots, you can only do the Harper plot in full if you keep her on permanently. It's weird, it's unpredictable, it's fun, and you get some good items out of it (esp. ring of wizardry and Harper pin).

I have only one thing to say to people who don't like J, "Yous gots no class."

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Thu Mar 29, 2001 2:52 am

fable; fair enough, but will she blow them up? At least she hasn't any of the times I've played her. But truth be told, I didn't use turn undead much before I started playing Anomen... My current party is now in chapter three and Anomen killed all the vampires (except Bodhi), mummies and other undead in the Graveyard district with his turn undead ability. Go running after fleeing undead is only an inconveniance, IMO.

The_Pope · Post by **The_Pope** » Thu Mar 29, 2001 4:44 am

Originally posted by Sabretooth:
Har 'Dalis: An odd choice for some but when used properly he is awesome. Equip with Bladesinger armor, Cuthroat, Zerthblade and Girdle of Frostgiant strengh. Now cast stoneskin, Tensers transformation and HD's unique Offensive Spin and you have a GREAT fighter. Lots of fun to use and an interesting NPC to have in your party.

Does anyone else love HD?!

I like Haer'Dalis. He's great, and he has some good dialogue with the other NPCs. But I prefer using the Girdle of Frost Giant Strength to assemble Crom Faeyr... Of course, Tenser's Transformation rules big time.

Agreed, Haer'Dalis has a low CON, granting him little HP. That's what his Defensive Stance is for. It easily gets his AC to -10. Once he gets low on HP, activate the Stance and cast a Stoneskin.

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The Pope, known in the Realms as Gabriel, is a Proud Member of the Brotherhood of the Woods

Manveru · Post by **Manveru** » Thu Mar 29, 2001 9:41 am

Aerie - multi-class, usually 2nd mage&cleric in my party, beloved no.2(romance with Jaheira is just more interesting with her)

Anomen - average fighter & cleric as well, he is kind of these fools that are suddenly kicked from the party.

Cernd - great in greater werewolf form. Kicked when I finish his quests.

Edwin - the best mage in the game (If I don't play mage protagonist at the moment). However if I use one of my favourite spells - holy smite - he suffers a lot because of his alignment. I like his dialogues.

Haer'Dalis - usually kicked from the party after doing his quests, interesting interactions with other NPCs but I simply don't like him (If he starts talking about ravens once again, I swear I will kill him !

).

Imoen - she is good enough to be party's thief with proper items, good mage (I usually have her in my party after Asylum)

Jaheira

- Party's healer, druid and the beloved one of my protagonist. The best NPC in this game (interactions, romance, story).

Jan - The funniest interactions with other NPCs, the best thief, 3rd mage (kicked when I meet with Imoen)

Keldorn - my 1st tank, Keldorn+Carsomyr = desolation

.

Korgan - great fighter, funny dialogues but he is evil so suffers from my favourite spells.

Mazzy - nothing special, I kick her after doing her quests.

Minsc - 2nd tank in the party. And of course Boo is essential

.

Nalia - annoying girl with ugly small portrait (the bigger one is more interesting) and stupid dialogues about helping people (I hate them

). Kicked off after her quests.

Valygar - good tank, nothing more, kicked after Planar sphere quest.

Viconia -

2nd cleric in game (Manveru even multiclassed is the first one). My protagonist hates her because of her picking on Jaheira. She is a drow and this is the second reason why Keldorn has the right when he wants to end her worthless life (besides that sometimes I have her in the party to cause these juicy discussions between all three romance intersts). (VNC)

Yoshimo - very good thief but he is a traitor so deserves good enough for his fate.

Manveru - My protagonist, usually half-elf, true neutral, pure or multiclassed cleric, essential to play, the best character in game - The mighty Child of Bhaal, lover of Jaheira. I await with impatience to see the end of his story.

------------------
Manveru Telkontar, a Proud Member of the Brotherhood of the Woods.

Elen sila Lumenn' Omentielvo

Radek · Post by **Radek** » Fri Mar 30, 2001 5:24 am

I think almost all NPCs fit some strategies. Exceptions:
1. Cernd: The Werewolf ability cannot save him. Too weak. Sucks.
2. Yoshimo: Well, good thief, but bad fighter which tries to avoid fighting somehow even if he needn't (in my group, Yoshimo, feared by all, scored 3%) and a traitor which leaves you in the Asylum. Well, there is a post on this forum which shows how to preserve him (stone him before leaving for Asylum and un-stone him after returning from there) but this costs Yoshimo too many exp. points.
3. Haer'dalis: There are better fighters and better mages available in the game. He does not bring any advantage. The ability to use bard-only equipment does not suffice. Sucks.

aris · Post by **aris** » Sat Jul 07, 2001 7:12 am

My char - imported Fighter from BG1, at Lvl 13 dualed into mage. 19 Str, 19 Int. All the rest is irrelevant.

Haer'Dalis - Personal vavourite. Get some hardware to overcome his constitution problem, and he's.. not exactly but almost a tank. AND I totally love the character.

Yoshimo - I'm a sore cheater, I know, I read about a way to leave him alive even after ... (I hate spoiling and I already am) but I got him to continue with me even after this. Excelent thief.

Keldorn - A tank. The closest thing to a paladin in the game other than yourself, and I didn't want a paladin cuz paladins don't dual.

Minsc - THE tank. Also, a personal favourite.

Anomen - female char, so I need him for a romance.

Cheers

Nightmare · Post by **Nightmare** » Sat Jul 07, 2001 7:54 am

Aerie: Spell powerhouse. Okay voice, bad hp.

Anomen: never used

Cernd: used for quest; good druid, bad everything else

Edwin: THE best mage. 3 extra spell slots, great voice. Can't cast identify

Haer'Dalis: never used

Imoen: good thief, great mage. has a nice personality

Jaheira: good druid, good fighter. Very complex personality.

Jan: Absolutly hilarious. very good thief, good mage. Funniest NPC.

Keldorn: With the right equipment (girdle of str, gautlets of dex), is a very good tank. Great voice, good personality. Weilds carsomyr. Period.

Korgan: The best tank. Good voice, some hilarious jokes.

Mazzy: haven't used

Minsc: Good tank. Is sometimes very funny (espicially with Jan in the party), but an incredibly annoying voice.

Nalia: bad theif, good mage. Okay personality.

Sarevok: Excellant fighter. Great voice, very interesting personality. and deathbringer assault.

Valygar: used for quest, very unimpressed.

Viconia: a damn good cleric. Good voice, great personality.

Yoshimo: Very good thief. Great voice.

Tigerin · Post by **Tigerin** » Sat Jul 07, 2001 9:52 am

Melosh-tar - mamber # 0 ?????????????

volle · Post by **volle** » Sat Jul 07, 2001 2:54 pm

Sigurd ... you need only viconia and korgan and you will kickass in the close combat.
Mages will take care from most of enemys.
My evil party was:
Edwin
Necromancer (Ch.Evil)
Viconia
Korgan
Jan
Cernd
Jan&Cenrd are neutrals but... who cares

Weasel · Post by **Weasel** » Sat Jul 07, 2001 2:59 pm

Originally posted by Tigerin:
<STRONG>Melosh-tar - mamber # 0 ?????????????</STRONG>

At one time members had two or more member names.....Buck put a end to it and had all the members turn in their 'Fake' names...When it was deleted by Buck it becomes 0.

Fezek · Post by **Fezek** » Sat Jul 07, 2001 3:49 pm

Aerie - Don't know. LV-na

Anomen- Preferred Viconia's magic res but good tank. Too sraight.LV-3

Cernd- Too dull.LV-1

Edwin- turns into Edwina. LV-7

HaerDalis- "Should we sell Jaheira?" LV-8

Imoen- Good mage but dull. LV-3

Jaheira-Insect Plague, Blackblood, LV-5

Jan- Top character. Too many one-liners to quote. LV-10. Good theif,mage,crossbow skills

Keldorn- "I'm looking for some gloves of Dexterity and there MIGHT be some in these sewers" Very cheesy! Dull. LV-2

Korgan- Dont know, HaerDalis can use Dwarven thrower so unnecessary in party.

Mazzy- Don't know but since she wants to be a Paladin she's probably dull. LV-na

Minsc-"Boo,look, some squirrels, let's throw some nuts!"- LV-9

Nalia- Good mage but dull. LV-3

Valygar- Don't know LV-na

Viconia- Viconia, Haerdais and Jan ARE the Marx Brothers when together. LV-7

Yoshimo-Good thief, the 4th member of the Marx brothers. Dies too early. LV-6

note-LV means laugh value. Unfortunatley, the program writers gave all the best lines to the "weakest" characters so my party often gets a whooping!!

koz-ivan · Post by **koz-ivan** » Sat Jul 07, 2001 9:14 pm

wow, this thread is back from the dead.

aerie - very intresting combo's, if she wasn't so fragile i'd take her every time.
anomen - great char, story & gamewise.
cernd - is there a reason to take him?
edwin - great at casting spells, but weak & poor stats.
haer'dalis - i just don't have the paitence.
imoen - good enough to handle all thieving & spell casting needs. (but save some quests for her)
jaheria - one of my fav's, has some really usefull spells, and in-depth personal quest.
jan - a little personality goes a long way.
keldorn - with a few items he's god.
korgan - without gm patch most of his wpn proff are wasted. alignment prevents use of best (soa) axe. he's good w/ the crom later (just like almost every char)
mazzy - if you need an archer.
minsc - personality, dual wield, liacor, boo.
nalia - tied w/ imoen for best good aligned mage. makes a very good team w/ imoen.
valygar - seems to have a special ability to die in every fight. dual wields katana's.
viconia - personality, romance option but needs nursemaiding in combat.
yoshimo - personality, one of my fav's, only single class thief.

Xyx · Post by **Xyx** » Sun Jul 08, 2001 1:44 am

My humble opinion (rated from best to "least good"):

Tanks (All need a 19+ Strength item, though some more than others. Several really need the Gauntlets of Dexterity.)
Keldorn (with Gauntlets)
Yoshimo (dualled to Fighter)
Korgan (with Gauntlets)
Mazzy
Haer'Dalis (with Stoneskin and Tenser's)
Anomen (with Gauntlets and Holy Might)
Jaheira (with Iron Skins)
Valygar
Minsc
Viconia (with Holy Might)
Aerie (with Stoneskin, Holy Might and Tenser's)
Cernd (in were form, with Iron Skins)

Priests (Clerics preferred over Druids)
Viconia
Anomen
Cernd
Aerie
Jaheira
Valygar
Minsc

Mages
Edwin
Imoen
Nalia
Jan
Aerie
Haer'Dalis

Rogues
Yoshimo
Jan
Imoen
Nalia
Haer'Dalis