Are there any *good* NPC mods for BG2 out there?

HugoRune

Basically, I like the idea of NPC mods but after having tried, and hated, some a couple of years ago I'm really wary of using any. I've tried Solaufein, Kelsey, Chloe and Saerileth and all are rather terrible. The best of this lot is Kelsey, I guess, but I just couldn't stand his annoying personality and, to my mind, much too much dialogue. That's a problem with all of them, they just never shut up. I like a bit of banter as much as the next guy but when you have to click yourself through walls of text and intricate dialogue trees every half hour or so, the writing needs to be really good or it gets old fast. Unfortunately the writing is about as good as your average fan fiction.

Anyway, before BGEE came out I was playing Tutu a bit and actually found an NPC mod that I quite liked, namely Finch. She's nothing special but she hit all the right spots for me. She's useful without being overpowered and she fills a role that was kinda missing from the game (good single class cleric). She's got stuff to say but at a more reasonable rate. Her personality, while it can be mildly annoying, was mostly amusing to me and the voice acting is actually really good, on par with the rest of the BG cast, I thought. Only downside for me was her quest, which is a stupid easter egg hunt (I hate that) but the mod doesn't force it on you and it's easily ignored.

So, now that I've finished playing through BGEE I'm thinking about starting BG2 again and I would like to try a new NPC to add some novelty. I'm not looking for a romance mod but I don't mind as long as it's not the sole focus. So, anybody got any recommendations?

amftron

Amber was probably the only one i played that wasn't horrible.

I never got around to playing with Fade so i'd be interested if anyone has played her what they thought.

ScotGaymer

The problem is that it is largely subjective what you would consider good and what you would consider bad.

As an example I agree that Saerileth, and Solaufein are painfully bad. I can't comment on Chloe as I have never played it.
But I disagree with Kelsey.

While I didn't have much use for him in my first game (my char was already a Sorc) I did in a subsequent game, and I found him to be fun and non intrusive (compared to say Saerileth). But you don't like him and think the opposite.

That said some of them can be said to be Objectively Bad. Like Saerileth.

I have a massive soft spot for Nathaniel (in spite of his flaws).

And I quite like Faren, and Arath. I would recommend Sarah but I downloaded/installed her but then couldn't actually find her in game lol.
Auren Aseph is apparently really good, but I can't speak to that either cos I haven't played her.

I would suggest you avoid the other NPC mods by the creators of Saerileth. They are just as bad as she is.

Uh thats it I think...

Oh wait!

Gavin!

Both BG1 and BG2 Gavin. I liked him in both. Very much. :-)

Pantalion

Tyris Flare, from hazy memory, was pretty inoffensive. She's a Fighter/Mage with a romance track, and had comparatively little whiny emo teen nonsense.

HugoRune

@fitscotgaymer

Obviously it's all subjective. That's why I included some information on what I liked. Anyway, thanks for the suggestions. Sarah and Auren look interesting, might want some more information on them, though. Arath, I don't know if i trust a modder that would give their creation such a ridiculous emo haircut. Also, don't want a druid. Gavin I've actually tried too but only in BG1. Found him unoffensive but also quite uninteresting. Still, it's a possibility, at least he wasn't annoying.

@amftron

Amber and Fade look interesting, thank you. I like female tieflings and thieves are certainly lacking in BG2.

Maybe someone who tried some of these can tell me a bit about their personalities. I really dislike brooding, angsty characters and I don't want too much drama in my party. My character isn't a psychotherapist.

@Pantalion

Thank you, another one that looks quite good. I loved Golden Axe in the 80ies even though I always played the dwarf.

AHF

My favorite BG2 NPC mod is 'Valen.' She is the vampire that recruits you to join Bodhi. I am not very good at playing evil characters and she...ummm....helps in that regard but doesn't nail you with walls of text or hijack the party. She is just a bloodthirsty vampire. She is not emo, brooding or angsty (no romance) - just liable to 'off' some goody-two-shoes every so often.

In terms of balance, I would have her wield daggers instead of her claws which have level drain (like other vampires) and can be quite overpowered. She gets bonuses in darkness as she gets higher level but gets crippled in the sunlight so it isn't too bad from a balance side of things. She also is a F/T, so she adds a second option to Jan as thief you can continue to develop over the course of the game.