Many of the custom
NPC?s, also in some cases the Bioware
NPC?s, will be prone to a conflict of interests or personalities. It will take a strong, clever or manipulative leader to hold parts of this evil band together and for the most part they won?t take offense easily if you threaten or manipulate them into doing so, in fact in many cases the opposite will be true. This will be an evil party, not a psychotic party or one that?s full of just violence, as that would be very boring and one dimensional. Instead it will be full of plans, scheming, individual desires, conflicting interests and yes violence or moreover sadistic tendencies on occasion.
As you?ll see, I?ve spent the most time on the first
NPC and progressively the others are further and further from a working version.
Viaet - Drow Female, Assassin, Reportedly a Shadow Thief (Traits - Opportunistic, Cruel, More Talkative) *Chaotic Evil* 1, Viaet is obviously not a Drow name but when questioned about this, Viaet will give you the coldest glare you've ever seen from her scowl prone features.
2, Her loyalties to the shadow thieves seem? flimsy at best. Perhaps there is more to it? This will be a running plot theme but I am not sure how much to give away at this stage. I wanted an interactive shadow thief with my party, to see their reactions to the story as things developed and yet develop her at the same time.
3, Spoiler Teaser, avoid if you like surprises ?
Please don?t comment further (obvious) spoilers about point number 3 directly in this thread, thank you.4, Some
NPC's will negatively remark on a Drow female taking up this form of profession, especially Viconia.
5, I have planned out and in a small part implemented some extensive dialogue regarding houses, Drow names and background for this
NPC. Some of the names of which are taken from here:
http://www.angelfire.../drownames.htmlWould you say that was a good source for Drow names? You need to highlight that dark background to see the details. (Control+A) As a side note, Viconia is there if your interested.
Vic : Abyss, deep, profound
-onia}-onim : Rod, staff, token, wand
6, Viaet is quite easy to outfox when you understand her motivations. She is bright and clever in manipulating conversations on the face of it but not very wise, almost naive in a way, this is probably due to her upbringing and a Drow adjusting to human society.
7, Viaet often desires to stay at the back of the fighting.
8, Viaet does have fears and side to her beneath the surface but its extremely hard to penetrate and she doesn't welcome it when people do.
9,
Taaren - Male Human, Cleric and Retired Guard Chaplain (Traits - Sarcastic, Proud, More Cautious) *Lawful Evil*1, The main reason for Taaren is: I wanted a character that would interact with the regular guards, prison guards, cowled wizards, temple priests and city officials etc. I wanted a character who might be able to call on aid from old friends in their ranks, perhaps approach quests with that different point of view/advantage, as I believe that is quite a unique character concept.
2, He will provide an alternative to Viconia in parties, though he will also give the player the chance of two clerics and perhaps some interesting banter on the subject between them.
3. He was formally kicked out of the guard for reasons regarding his faith, his personality conflict is his lawful nature vs unlawful actions in that regard
4, I had considered making him a cowled wizard and indeed might still do so or at least one of the later characters I have planned. That would make for some interesting banters/interjections!
5, Spoiler Alert, ignore if you like surprises.
6, Spoiler Alert, ignore if you like surprises.
7, Taaren brings some balance to the group, some calm consideration. Sibi will consider any course of action if the matter at hand is important to her but otherwise she won't care either way, Viaet will probably want to profit from a situation no matter what and if possible amuse herself at someones expense, Malich will want to control a situation and dominate it. Taaren however, actually wants the group to work within the law, rather than outside of it where possible.
8, When he feels secure, Taaren likes to judge people according to a strict code of rules he sets for himself.
9, I am adding a slightly sarcastic side to him to give him some variety in his responses, this will be based on his beliefs in law and the usual order of things.
10,
11, He and Malich do find common ground on occasion and at other times they are at each others throats.
12, Taaren is not overly subtle in conversation but he is careful enough most of the time, much like his preferred choice of action.
As with before, please don't comment further with obvious spoilers in this thread. Related comments are fine, just not obvious statements. Sibiroasa Shade, Female Half Elf, Sorcerer (Traits - Sultry, Scheming, More Silent) *Chaotic Evil* 1, A single minded and incredibly focused Sorcerer, like many of her ilk she has the faintest hint of dragon blood in her veins. Sibi often speaks with a uncanny wisdom beyond her years and her focus is usually distant, however when it might suit her plans she can turn her attention closer to home and more mundane matters, though such moments are fleeting and often intense. It can seem that Sibi sometimes even moves differently, prowling like a cat about a room; yet she regards almost everything but her focus in the room as insignificant and the funny thing is, you can half believe it to be true.
2, Spoilers! Ignore if you like surprises
3, Sibi is drawn to strength, at least that is what it seems when you meet her. There are things she will take as her own without question, dangerous situations that she will seem oblivious to and unconcerned about. Her eyes are nearly always distant and dark, unless she looks at you and then the world seems to focus on your very shoulders.
4, Most of Sibi is a spoiler but i'll give a little more detail, especially as some of you will know the basic concept from the previous post.
5, Sibi seems exceptionally interested in capturing the essence of things, whether it be a powerful word, book, moment or item. She carries a special bag of holding for such items and its depth seems almost limitless.
6, Sibi will wander into situations and traps both verbally and physically, some characters (read Viaet) will torment and perhaps even insult her but most of the time she won't even be concentrating on what they might say. Focus is the name of this character and only if she's actually focused on something important will she react with any meaningful response.
7, Sibi Schemes in an Edwin style where as Malich does it more openly.
8,
Malich Bladeborn, Male Human, Blackguard (Traits - Scheming, Proud, More Dominating) *Neutral Evil* 1, The blackguard epitomizes evil. He is nothing short of a mortal fiend. The quintessential black knight, this villain carries a reputation of the foulest sort that is very well deserved. Consorting with demons and devils and serving dark deities, the blackguard is hated and feared by all. Some people call these villains antipaladins due to their completely evil nature.
2, Malich is a fallen paladin from one of the orders in the city, he has been afflicted with something which has enraged him and given him a potent need for vengeance. The cause of this punishment will have him investigating many of the temples and holy places of the land for a cure, I think you'll agree a Blackguard in such places will elicit an interesting response.
3, Malich will be a character who always wants to control a situation and takes anyone questioning his ability to lead very seriously.
4, He will try and assert dominance over the groups choices but due to the unique nature of his affliction, will have to listen to the others for direction, much to his anger.
5, Malich schemes openly and directly much to Sibi's disgust, as she will always hide her goals.
Spolier alert!
6,
7, He is very overconfident and proud about his abilities, demanding at times and never shows the slightest hint of fear or doubt, only anger and frustration at his affliction.
8, Malich comes out with some startlingly disturbing comments at times,
Other Possible concepts I may use.
Ticharen Rae - Male, Shadow Druid (Traits - Sarcastic, Cruel) More Tormenting *Neutral Evil* If a neutral evil, shadow druid build cannot be made, I?ll make a fleshcrafter (necromancer variant). I?m not yet sure if I?ll break anything, in the game or other mods, by forcing a neutral evil druid alignment.
1, A Shadow druid has been talked about before but I have never had the experience of having one in my party yet. Think of all the opportunities for him causing death and decay in human lands, all the mini quests he?d have a very polar opposite opinion on!
2, This character will be the tormentor of the group, always picking on the others when they are vulnerable, he lives for the highs he gets making people feel small and worthless, as well as of course, undermining human rule.
3, If there was one character that was going to be overly cruel and sadistic, it will probably be this one.
4, He will find great joy in summarizing and dealing with mix raced half elves, in a very malicious way, in short, shadow druids are the evils evil!
Stor Vi Narin - Thief/Mage -Fiend Possessed - (Traits - Cruel, Proud) More Babbling *Chaotic Evil / Chaotic Neutral* 1, This character has either been possessed when you meet him or perhaps shortly after. He was cursed when he tried to rob a powerful wizard (perhaps a cowled wizard?)
2., His main design will be to slowly lose control to the fiend that has possessed him, over the course of the game, in a way such as the main character does to his essence. Not to give too much away but this will give them ?interesting? common ground.
3. The fiend is the mage part of the character and the human is the thief, they will be at odds and in the early stages of the game and the human will be fighting successfully to retain his senses.
4, This character might have certain ties to...., well I?ll stop there and keep you guessing
5, I may make this
NPC able to be exorcised by a good player cleric/paladin or turned fully demon by an evil PC.
6, The other twist I had on this
NPC was making it a Shapeshifter druid who, for some reason, could not fully control the werewolf curse within him. That again depends on whether I can make a shadow druid, as there is no need for two druids in the party.
Working title names, ignore the names for now
Mia - Female Vampire (Traits - Sultry, Sarcastic) More Playful *Neutral Evil* 1, I know its another vampire
NPC and I might make her male as a consequence but the design will be different in that she needs to feed, otherwise she?ll turn on the party. I may do this the simple route with interjections and a running variable or I may make a more complicated coding attempt. I was thinking I might make her so the player must let her feed every so often, otherwise she may turn on the party in a bloodlust.
2, She loves and lives for the hunt and any innocent blood she can take along the way. You might have to sacrifice a party member to appease her thirst at one point!
3, I want to make her truly feel like a vampire, one your never actually feel safe around. Not in a violent/chaotic way but in an unnerving way, that would be the design goal with her.
4, She will be overly paranoid about her own self preservation, I say overly as many evil characters will keep it clearly in mind but the undead and Mia even more so.
Other idea's!These are for a little comic value, I may do a 1 day evil
NPC at one point.
A Pirate, plenty of drinking, fighting and singing!
A Dwarven female with cruel but funny traits. Perhaps a romance for Korgan? Though i'm not sure if thats practically possible.
Edited by Paareth, 07 September 2008 - 11:04 AM.
