Always keep in mind that books will be different than the game in certain aspects. Like I mentioned earlier, Phaere and Imoen have some naughty-time in the books, while that is not an option in the game (if I'm wrong about that PLEASE TELL ME!). I assume other "facts" from the games have been altered in similar ways in the books.
I agree that BG1 was built around more flimsy, frequently changing party setups; but given the fact that a party of six ends up in Irenicus' dungeon together, I think it's fair to assume those people were together at least for the end of BG1.
Also, none of the old NPCs actually recognize you in BG2 - YOU recognize THEM, if you so choose. This says to me that it's more of a nod to veteran players rather than some "canonical" prior involvement. Some NPCs are even mentioned only in passing or ignore you altogether (like Ajantis or Garrick).
But again, "what makes sense" or what you think "fits" is irrelevant when talking about canon - the only thing that matters is official reference material.
Viconia recognizes (by name in fact) and calls out to you for help when she was about to be burned at the stake. Jaheira recognizes her, too, saying she isn't particularly fond of her but what was being done to her wasn't justice.
Jaheira (Minsc too of course) remembers Edwin, and he remembers Khalid as well (he taunts Jaheira about him IIRC). She also remembers Xzar as a Zhentarim and wondering when he'll show up again after parting ways, and he, in return, calls her a Harper wench and continues by saying how he's only interested in CHARNAME and reciting our name (without anyone mentioning it beforehand).
Coran calls out to you by name, calling you friend and how he's glad to run into you. I think he mentioned something about trying to find us but lost us after the fight with Sarevok.
I've been trying to look a bit more into the BG2 novels and what's going on there, party-wise. I admit, I am confused.
Apparently, Abdel Adrian (i.e. canon-CHARNAME) not only has an affair with Jaheira while Khalid is still alive and later whores out Imoen to Phaere - he also ends up falling for BODHI of all people, hopping in the sack with our favorite blood-sucker.
I guess I should try and find a copy to read...
I always wondered... is being in relations with a vampire considered necrophilia? =P
i/y/i, j&m are given. The two other slots belong to Anomen and the rotating 6th spot depending on what quest you are doing. Unseeing Eye - Keldorn De'Arnise hold - Nalia Planar Sphere - Valygar etc etc etc.
Why Anomen? Because he is the canonical romance option for female characters (truely sorry) and he doesn't have a major quest attached to him. He is also the only character "turnable" in BGII depending on what path you take with his personal quest.
So this is how I see it, while there's no definite "canon" party like in BG1, there is a party composition and rotation order that would make most sense storywise:
Obviously the party in BG2 should include all the 3 Bhaalspawn characters, that means your PC, Imoen and Sarevok. But since both Imoen and Sarevok aren't available until later in the game that means you must take someone before them, the replacement for Imoen is obviously Yoshimo, but there's no real indicator who should hold the place before Sarevok joins, so that position is pretty left to your own preference. (I usually choose a warrior NPC so the play style isn't too altered after Sarevok joins)
Then we have Jaheira and Minsc who are carried over from BG1's canon party, so it would make sense you want to keep them just for consistency reasons. That way you'd have 2 companions who has been through everything with you since the beginning to the end, and I personally quite like that feeling.
The last position should be a romancable NPC other than Jaheira, mostly because they have more to offer in terms of their own centric-plots and you have more influence over their character development. I don't think there's a definitive answer where who it should be, but it would make most sense if it's one of Aerie/Viconia/Anomen.
You'd be better off reading good fanfiction, good sir...
Wait, are you saying there is good fanfiction and I wasn't informed...?
Sure? I mean, compared to the novel, you could read... My Immortal, Twilight Series, Half-Life: Full Life Consequences series, Forbiden Fruit: The Tempation of Ewdard Cullen.
Heck, they're all better than the slime called the 'novelization.'
Hell, the Saerileth mod is better because at least you can kill her in many ways.
You'd be better off reading good fanfiction, good sir...
Wait, are you saying there is good fanfiction and I wasn't informed...?
Sure? I mean, compared to the novel, you could read... My Immortal, Twilight Series, Half-Life: Full Life Consequences series, Forbiden Fruit: The Tempation of Ewdard Cullen.
Heck, they're all better than the slime called the 'novelization.'
Hell, the Saerileth mod is better because at least you can kill her in many ways.
Why Anomen? Because he is the canonical romance option for female characters (truely sorry) and he doesn't have a major quest attached to him. He is also the only character "turnable" in BGII depending on what path you take with his personal quest.
Viconia can also "turn" in her romance quest, and doesn't have a "major quest" attached. I wouldn't count any NPC quest as "major" except the one that gets you the stronghold for your class.
As for "canon party" - Canon can't be "an opinion", it's what the source material says is true. Going by that, the BG2 canon party appears to be Imoen, Minsc, Jaheira (and Khalid), who all wake up in the cages with charname. They are all members of the BG1 canon party and it lead them to the same situation. It isn't said that the canon party must be a full party of 6 people/5 charnames.
You'd be better off reading good fanfiction, good sir...
Wait, are you saying there is good fanfiction and I wasn't informed...?
Sure? I mean, compared to the novel, you could read... My Immortal, Twilight Series, Half-Life: Full Life Consequences series, Forbiden Fruit: The Tempation of Ewdard Cullen.
Heck, they're all better than the slime called the 'novelization.'
Hell, the Saerileth mod is better because at least you can kill her in many ways.
Saerileth?
It is safe not only to say it's the worst and most irredeemable mod, but it has the worst and most irredeemable mod creators. Yet, it's STILL better than the BG paperback novels.
BG2 doesn't have canon or a canon party. There is no need for such, because the game doesn't continue after it. BG1 does have one, because BG2 has expectations on what you did and didn't do in the previous game.
Viconia can also "turn" in her romance quest, and doesn't have a "major quest" attached. I wouldn't count any NPC quest as "major" except the one that gets you the stronghold for your class.
Her turn doesnt happen till ToB and only if you are romancing her and are good alignment. Anomen turns regardless.
Oh. I never romanced her or Anomen. I thought they'd both turn and only be restricted to human, elf, half elf, not by alignment. Makes more sense this way. I've been puzzled why an evil charname could redeem her.
People who are ignoring Nalia are being rather silly. She has the strongest case of all except for yoshimo/imoen for being included.
NALIA: I Love her But I am not sure she is fits in long term personality wise after her quests I see her going back to her family castle and being activly involed in locaL politics AERIE:Don't see her long term party member either. not enough mental fortitude ANOMEN: Not a team player would never follow CHARNEME for a long time KELDORN: Great NPC but not long term, more dedicated to his family and knighthood KORGAN: Too psycho CERND: he is for the birds VALYGAR: too much of a loner to stay with a group long term, unless Mazyy persuades him JAN: Too flippent to stick around foir a long time MAZZY : I see a strong possibility for her, her group was destroyed and I sense that she needed a worthy cause and team to belong to there should have been a Mazzy romance it would have been simalar to Jaheira's since they both lost their loved ones VICONIA: She is a coin flip to me , I see her long term but not if charname Romances Jaheira instead of her. plus Viconia has a giant ego and would not want to be any thing less then the CHARNAME number 1. Edwin: another pain in the BUT , I am sure he will stick around as long as it suits his perpose Savorek: I am sure he will be long term but maybe not canonical , So that leaves IMOEN: with Yoshimo for a while MINSC: JAHEIA: I'll add Mazzy but can not figure out the last spot
First off: 1. When you leave gaelan's hideout, you are usually recommended to go to the copper coronet, and regardless of your class it is always given as an option. The copper coronet is pretty much the centre of your Athkatla experience, and Nalia is probably the first NPC you will meet outside Irenicus' dungeon, who will pretty much INISIST on joining you (you have to really push her away to avoid this)
2. D'Arnise keep is clearly the first dungeon your character is intended to undertake, and you are obviously intended to do it with Nalia (her knowledge of the secret entrance, and lockpicking, her short bow for grabbing the free fire arrows handed out by the captain, her enhancement of the story when you are exploring the keep.)
3. Charname is usually assumed to be a male human fighter in the canon, and through NPC's dialogues throughout both games. The keep is the fighter's stronghold.
4. She is the only female human sized NPC who is not related to you or does't have a romance written with her. I'm fairly sure any canonical party would only have one of the love interests in it, but would also likely have more than one female character.
There are other, slightly more tenuous reasons as well but these are the main ones.
The trouble with Nalia is that her interests are very centered on Amn and politics, rather than adventure; by ToB it's very clear that's what she'd rather be focusing on. It makes the most sense to leave her in the keep, overseeing things there.
Imoen I think is necessary for plot reasons, as is Yoshimo, Jaheira and Minsc just seem like givens, and then Aerie. Shes more likely to be the first NPC most people encounter outside Irenicus' chateau, becomes Minsc's witch, and she has plenty of mental fortitude; she struggles a bit with depression in the romance, but in the end she always really takes to and enjoys adventuring.
The fifth slot I usually rotate, but in ToB it's got to be Sarevok.
Comments
Then in ToB: add Sarevok.
Then in BG3: Aerie + Charname's kid, as the last surviving "Bhaalspawn," is a (really, the MAIN) companion.
If you a priesty then man in sewer tunnel
If you a fighty then arnesswoman
If you a mager then dat guy in hovel
and so on..
Jaheira (Minsc too of course) remembers Edwin, and he remembers Khalid as well (he taunts Jaheira about him IIRC). She also remembers Xzar as a Zhentarim and wondering when he'll show up again after parting ways, and he, in return, calls her a Harper wench and continues by saying how he's only interested in CHARNAME and reciting our name (without anyone mentioning it beforehand).
Coran calls out to you by name, calling you friend and how he's glad to run into you. I think he mentioned something about trying to find us but lost us after the fight with Sarevok.
I always wondered... is being in relations with a vampire considered necrophilia? =P
i/y/i, j&m are given.
The two other slots belong to Anomen and the rotating 6th spot depending on what quest you are doing.
Unseeing Eye - Keldorn
De'Arnise hold - Nalia
Planar Sphere - Valygar etc etc etc.
Why Anomen? Because he is the canonical romance option for female characters (truely sorry) and he doesn't have a major quest attached to him. He is also the only character "turnable" in BGII depending on what path you take with his personal quest.
Obviously the party in BG2 should include all the 3 Bhaalspawn characters, that means your PC, Imoen and Sarevok. But since both Imoen and Sarevok aren't available until later in the game that means you must take someone before them, the replacement for Imoen is obviously Yoshimo, but there's no real indicator who should hold the place before Sarevok joins, so that position is pretty left to your own preference. (I usually choose a warrior NPC so the play style isn't too altered after Sarevok joins)
Then we have Jaheira and Minsc who are carried over from BG1's canon party, so it would make sense you want to keep them just for consistency reasons. That way you'd have 2 companions who has been through everything with you since the beginning to the end, and I personally quite like that feeling.
The last position should be a romancable NPC other than Jaheira, mostly because they have more to offer in terms of their own centric-plots and you have more influence over their character development. I don't think there's a definitive answer where who it should be, but it would make most sense if it's one of Aerie/Viconia/Anomen.
Heck, they're all better than the slime called the 'novelization.'
Hell, the Saerileth mod is better because at least you can kill her in many ways.
As for "canon party" - Canon can't be "an opinion", it's what the source material says is true. Going by that, the BG2 canon party appears to be Imoen, Minsc, Jaheira (and Khalid), who all wake up in the cages with charname. They are all members of the BG1 canon party and it lead them to the same situation. It isn't said that the canon party must be a full party of 6 people/5 charnames.
It is safe not only to say it's the worst and most irredeemable mod, but it has the worst and most irredeemable mod creators. Yet, it's STILL better than the BG paperback novels.
Probably a fairly accurate assessment, really.
Jaheira
Mimsc
Imoen / Yoshimo / Imoen
CHARNAME ( 1/2 elf or human druid )
Viconia
Edwin
IN ToB Savorak replaces Viconia or edwin
after her quests I see her going back to her family castle and being activly involed in locaL politics
AERIE:Don't see her long term party member either. not enough mental fortitude
ANOMEN: Not a team player would never follow CHARNEME for a long time
KELDORN: Great NPC but not long term, more dedicated to his family and knighthood
KORGAN: Too psycho
CERND: he is for the birds
VALYGAR: too much of a loner to stay with a group long term, unless Mazyy persuades him
JAN: Too flippent to stick around foir a long time
MAZZY : I see a strong possibility for her, her group was destroyed and I sense that she needed a worthy cause and team to belong to
there should have been a Mazzy romance it would have been simalar to Jaheira's since they both lost their loved ones
VICONIA: She is a coin flip to me , I see her long term but not if charname Romances Jaheira instead of her. plus Viconia has a giant ego and would not want to be any thing less then the CHARNAME number 1.
Edwin: another pain in the BUT , I am sure he will stick around as long as it suits his perpose
Savorek: I am sure he will be long term but maybe not canonical ,
So that leaves
IMOEN: with Yoshimo for a while
MINSC:
JAHEIA:
I'll add
Mazzy
but can not figure out the last spot
First off:
1. When you leave gaelan's hideout, you are usually recommended to go to the copper coronet, and regardless of your class it is always given as an option.
The copper coronet is pretty much the centre of your Athkatla experience, and Nalia is probably the first NPC you will meet outside Irenicus' dungeon, who will pretty much INISIST on joining you (you have to really push her away to avoid this)
2. D'Arnise keep is clearly the first dungeon your character is intended to undertake, and you are obviously intended to do it with Nalia (her knowledge of the secret entrance, and lockpicking, her short bow for grabbing the free fire arrows handed out by the captain, her enhancement of the story when you are exploring the keep.)
3. Charname is usually assumed to be a male human fighter in the canon, and through NPC's dialogues throughout both games. The keep is the fighter's stronghold.
4. She is the only female human sized NPC who is not related to you or does't have a romance written with her. I'm fairly sure any canonical party would only have one of the love interests in it, but would also likely have more than one female character.
There are other, slightly more tenuous reasons as well but these are the main ones.
Imoen I think is necessary for plot reasons, as is Yoshimo, Jaheira and Minsc just seem like givens, and then Aerie. Shes more likely to be the first NPC most people encounter outside Irenicus' chateau, becomes Minsc's witch, and she has plenty of mental fortitude; she struggles a bit with depression in the romance, but in the end she always really takes to and enjoys adventuring.
The fifth slot I usually rotate, but in ToB it's got to be Sarevok.
to much of a party boy, and a ( put me in center stage) urban personality
to make a commitment to a long term cause