3 replies to this topic

[Solar's Harper]

Has anyone thought BG2 was a little too easy with the NPCs?
There seemed to be a line where only your reputation counted as to whether an NPC would go to the finally lengths of the world for you, or leave at the final momment.

Now some mods have this already in mind. What I'm referring to is the main Bioware lot. Sarevok already has his chance to betray you in TOB during the final fight, depending on how evil you've been.

Now I'm looking for ideas from anybody as to where such tests of loyalty would be appropriate, and with who. Even Imoen may one day finally get sick of you if you've been too cruel to her and too evil to be anyone she'd want around.

Your rommanced one is also not nessecaryily stuck with you forever if you make a turn for the worse (or too far to the better for SOA's Viconia).
So what do you think?

There are two vital stages in the two game packs, one in SOA before Irenicus, and one during Melissan fight. (or at least for Accension there is, I haven't tried it without it)

So anyone got good ideas? And be sure to keep them practical for the modding community's sake, eh?

[Kulyok]

Tree of Life check. Besides, Keldorn betrays you and attacks you if your rep drops(I think it's <10 - see his banter file). Edwin betrays you if you attack the Red Dragon. Xan originally left you at the end of SoA in v1. Kivan is supposed to leave if you neither raise his wife nor romance him(doesn't in my games, though). Kova and his girlfriend leave you at some points, most notably at the end of SoA, if you turn Eeeeevil. Saerileth leaves you at most any opportunity. Gavin leaves, if your rep drops past a certain point(>1). BG1 characters leave, if you do not complete some of their quests on time. It's all there.

Personally, the more likely the character is to throw a fit and leave, the less likely I am to take him into the party.

[Solar's Harper]

Well I didn't know about that Edwin one, though I usually leave him out, too much arrogance doesn't work well for me.

But here is one issue, evil characters tend to leave once your reputation is above 18 for too long, I think they randomly complain about 4 times or so before the chuck up a fit and leave. I wasn't counting when Viconia did this before I reached Spellhold, so I can't verify.

But if that is the only reason they leave, wouldn't it be appropriate to sort of leave the player the chance to try and convince them of a ploy in motion, or some other nonsense lie.

Once they're gone, they're gone and they ain't havin' ya back. I kinda thought that was unbalanced, seeing on how they're there for themselves, and good acts can also yield great rewards, better than evil ones.

Perhaps this will be taken care of by NPC IEP, but anyway just thought to raise the idea of loyalty of one's comrades that were sort of linear in the game.
ie: Imoen=sister follow you everywhere
Jaheria=guardian/girlfriend (if male) that will always remain loyal because of Gorion's wish.
Edwin= self-serving, likely to betray at first notice before wetting himself.

And so on. In real terms, deciphering someone's loyalty to you can be harder than that, who knows... maybe they will see the benefit of working with you regardless if you're a polar opposite.

Anyway I'm just brainstorming here so if anyone can think of anywhere such things would be good, feel free to add 'em in.

[Andyr]

Edwin betrays you if you attack the Red Dragon. Xan originally left you at the end of SoA in v1.

Is this added by some mod? I don't recall that ever happening before.

Hendryk and I were writing an Eldoth for BG2 mod, where he'd abscond at some point with some cash if he didn't like you. We never got as far as coding, though, only writing.