Branwen. She's neutral, she's got virtually no personality to speak of, she's so utterly apathetic about her theoretical vengeance she doesn't even care what you do to Tranzig. All she ever does is mumble about warriors, fighting and buttocks. Yawn.
Otherwise, I would say Melissan. I mean, Irenicus was always going to be a tough act to follow, but really... the whole evil wearing the guise of innocence thing I find a bit too predictable, and other than that she has no personality at all.
Otherwise, I would say Melissan. I mean, Irenicus was always going to be a tough act to follow, but really... the whole evil wearing the guise of innocence thing I find a bit too predictable, and other than that she has no personality at all.
And everyone knows all red-heads are evil.
I thought they were just supposed to be short tempered and fiery... I'll have to keep an even closer eye on my cousins...
Hm, do NPCs really need a reason to stick with the party? Only very few have that, and it's either for the love of money or having nothing better to do. If anyone, Imoen has a real reason; sharing charname's fate of losing Gorion and being childhood friends. With others, I don't see a really strong reason to stick around after their quests, if they have one, is complete.
I think that Viconia has a very good reason to stick with the party. They are the only ones that 'Accept' her despite the way her race is viewed. And strength in numbers.
I also think that Khalid and Jaheira have very good reasons. One is a harper and wants to keep an eye on the Baalspawn and they are both good friends of the aforementioned Gorion, so they would want to help his ward.
Xzar and Montaron have very good reasons for keeping with Charname.
Yoshimo has a very good reason for sticking with the party until he has no more reason to exist.
and Saravok has a reason to stick with the PC.
So, I'd say that a fair number of the NPCs have reason to be with the party past their 'Quests'.
Faldorn (slightly redeemable in BG2 as a villain), Branwen, Dynaheir. Ajantis is just a noob, though I like his interaction when you try to recruit Dorn. Cernd in BG2 is fairly boring, Imoen is...there I suppose... There are some I dislike, but at least they aren't boring (Quayle, Korgan, TIAX!!!)
I actually have no idea. I find that I project onto NPCs that I like far more than they probably deserve.
Maybe Dynaheir (sp? =P), or Jaheira. I always found Khalid rather entertaining, but I never liked Jaheira. Minsc gets old, but I liked him at first so he gets a pass. BG2 has Cernd and Valygar, who kind of eclipse everyone but each other in their utter triteness. 90% of the time I just murder Valygar and use his corpse as a door key. I really dislike Korgan. I find him obnoxious, unfunny, dull, and generally a worthless fellow to have around. I always pray that he gets stuck in the Sacrifice Trial in Hell.
I actually have no idea. I find that I project onto NPCs that I like far more than they probably deserve.
Maybe Dynaheir (sp? =P), or Jaheira. I always found Khalid rather entertaining, but I never liked Jaheira. Minsc gets old, but I liked him at first so he gets a pass. BG2 has Cernd and Valygar, who kind of eclipse everyone but each other in their utter triteness. 90% of the time I just murder Valygar and use his corpse as a door key. I really dislike Korgan. I find him obnoxious, unfunny, dull, and generally a worthless fellow to have around. I always pray that he gets stuck in the Sacrifice Trial in Hell.
@Eudaemonium I have a history of loving strong willed women. =P
And I mean that in the most complimentary sense...so Jaheria was my fave romance and the only romance I got completely through despite horrible bugs that sometimes would end that before it got where it needed to go. =/
Jaheria is one of my favorite Characters but to this day I think she needs a slightly higher wisdom score (I always feel like they nerfed her there at least give her a 15.
Khalid is actually a decent character but I just never really have room for him in my parties. Minsc is a lot o fun but I always change him to Longswords and Scimitars over Two-Handed Swords if I keep him a ranger...or if I make him a Berserker like I think he should be I ditch long bow for long swords usually.
"Swords, not words" (I usually take that as literally as possible)
Khalid and Minsc were great fun in my first few play throughs, but you get a bit bored doing the same thing over and over...plus for good NPC combinations there's a lot of characters who are ultimately more flexible to work with. Rassaad is a beast if handled right, Neera is way more powerful than Dynahier, and Corvan is potentially a lot more flexible than Minsc.
Though I think with strength buffing items Khalid gets pretty dang decent...it's never really all that good at anything. I've always wished he was a fighter mage or something more involved.
But at least he's not Dynaheir who's only saving grace is high constitution.
I heard Khalid was supposed to be a Fighter/Mage originally, but they changed it.
I have to confess that I've only ever played BG with female PCs, so I never discovered what any of the romances were like, since my only option was Anomen, and I think I only used him for about 5 minutes on one playthrough before I gave him the boot. I was just never fond of Jaheira. I think my favourite female party member on my original BG2 playthrough was Mazzy.
Well. For most boring companion NPC... could basically pick just about every single one in the first game. Lack of banters and personal quests after having played BGII just makes them seem so incredibly lacking. Sure there's -some- but they're few and far between and some never even properly finish or start.
Since it's not really fair putting BG companions and BGII companions up against each other though, I'm going to go with Cernd. His voiceacting, while technically good, is very yawn and I just couldn't find myself to care much for his personal quest.
Strange, many people find Valygar boring..but me, I tag him along every now and then. A guy who looks like Jamaican/Brazilian who can kick a wizard's ass seems very appealing to me. I also enjoyed the planar sphere.
But to answer the OP, it's Cernd for me. He's the most forgettable, I think that reflects how boring he is.
I don't find Cernd or Valygar boring. Maybe because I like them both. You all who say Cernd is boring, at least admit that his ending story is colorful and tragic, and not boring at all.
In the first game, I'm going to have to go with Branwen. Basically everyone else is the sort of wacky or insane or Kivan that none of them are really any forgettable and all are quite exciting to use. Compared to that ridiculous bunch, a simple cleric of Tempus doesn't have much chance to shine.
The second game, I'm going to agree with the majority here and go with Cernd. His personality is bland, his character class is useless (especially without fixes), mostly any banter he gets is forgettable, and even his quest is nothing of interest. The only reason to bring him along is to listen to what he has to say to Edwin when he's transformed into a woman: if possible do the whole druid grove quest during that time. Though yes, I agree that his ending is pretty good.
@Chow Why would a Shapeshifter be useless with 19 str as a warewolf(and later the ability to shapeshift into a greater werewolf) and nice spells? Yes, druids in BG need more rabalancing but still, it is a nice class.
Comments
In vanilla I seem to be pretty anti-pure Druid; Faldorn? Cernd? Get away from meeeeh.
Xan
Garrick
Cernd
Valygar
Quayle
In that order. I think that Viconia has a very good reason to stick with the party. They are the only ones that 'Accept' her despite the way her race is viewed. And strength in numbers.
I also think that Khalid and Jaheira have very good reasons. One is a harper and wants to keep an eye on the Baalspawn and they are both good friends of the aforementioned Gorion, so they would want to help his ward.
Xzar and Montaron have very good reasons for keeping with Charname.
Yoshimo has a very good reason for sticking with the party until he has no more reason to exist.
and Saravok has a reason to stick with the PC.
So, I'd say that a fair number of the NPCs have reason to be with the party past their 'Quests'.
There are some I dislike, but at least they aren't boring (Quayle, Korgan, TIAX!!!)
Best thing he did for me was give me the opportunity to carry his tainted heart around with me... Reminded me he was dead.
Maybe Dynaheir (sp? =P), or Jaheira. I always found Khalid rather entertaining, but I never liked Jaheira. Minsc gets old, but I liked him at first so he gets a pass. BG2 has Cernd and Valygar, who kind of eclipse everyone but each other in their utter triteness. 90% of the time I just murder Valygar and use his corpse as a door key. I really dislike Korgan. I find him obnoxious, unfunny, dull, and generally a worthless fellow to have around. I always pray that he gets stuck in the Sacrifice Trial in Hell.
@Eudaemonium I have a history of loving strong willed women. =P
And I mean that in the most complimentary sense...so Jaheria was my fave romance and the only romance I got completely through despite horrible bugs that sometimes would end that before it got where it needed to go. =/
Jaheria is one of my favorite Characters but to this day I think she needs a slightly higher wisdom score (I always feel like they nerfed her there at least give her a 15.
Khalid is actually a decent character but I just never really have room for him in my parties. Minsc is a lot o fun but I always change him to Longswords and Scimitars over Two-Handed Swords if I keep him a ranger...or if I make him a Berserker like I think he should be I ditch long bow for long swords usually.
"Swords, not words" (I usually take that as literally as possible)
Khalid and Minsc were great fun in my first few play throughs, but you get a bit bored doing the same thing over and over...plus for good NPC combinations there's a lot of characters who are ultimately more flexible to work with. Rassaad is a beast if handled right, Neera is way more powerful than Dynahier, and Corvan is potentially a lot more flexible than Minsc.
Though I think with strength buffing items Khalid gets pretty dang decent...it's never really all that good at anything. I've always wished he was a fighter mage or something more involved.
But at least he's not Dynaheir who's only saving grace is high constitution.
I have to confess that I've only ever played BG with female PCs, so I never discovered what any of the romances were like, since my only option was Anomen, and I think I only used him for about 5 minutes on one playthrough before I gave him the boot. I was just never fond of Jaheira. I think my favourite female party member on my original BG2 playthrough was Mazzy.
Since it's not really fair putting BG companions and BGII companions up against each other though, I'm going to go with Cernd. His voiceacting, while technically good, is very yawn and I just couldn't find myself to care much for his personal quest.
But to answer the OP, it's Cernd for me. He's the most forgettable, I think that reflects how boring he is.
Spot on with the ending. Everything about him is forgettable...except his ending story.
The second game, I'm going to agree with the majority here and go with Cernd. His personality is bland, his character class is useless (especially without fixes), mostly any banter he gets is forgettable, and even his quest is nothing of interest. The only reason to bring him along is to listen to what he has to say to Edwin when he's transformed into a woman: if possible do the whole druid grove quest during that time. Though yes, I agree that his ending is pretty good.