changing party alignment
doctordog
Member Posts: 44
Hey,
So I'm relatively new to Baldur's Gate and am currently at the area where you've recently stumbled upon -- and decimated -- the bandit's camp.
My party at present consists of Minsc, Dynaheir, Imoen, a chaotically good Mage, Xan and Kivan.
After looking around, I discovered Viconia, saved, reloaded and then rescued Branwen for the sake of comparison. I'd like to swap out Xan for one or the other.
I'd kind of like to spice things up and have some more evil characters in my party, though my moral inclination in most quests so far has been to do things with the best intentions. My reputation is currently at 17.
I read evil characters are likely to leave once you scale past 18 and that you can prevent this from engaging in small acts of cruelty (being caught pickpocketing etc.).
I don't really have any inclinations to play in an evil sense, so am I missing out by sticking to the higher road? Are there more cool good/neutral characters to come?
Most of this internal conflict (and hence my reason for signing up here) arose because Viconia just seemed so damn cool.
So I'm relatively new to Baldur's Gate and am currently at the area where you've recently stumbled upon -- and decimated -- the bandit's camp.
My party at present consists of Minsc, Dynaheir, Imoen, a chaotically good Mage, Xan and Kivan.
After looking around, I discovered Viconia, saved, reloaded and then rescued Branwen for the sake of comparison. I'd like to swap out Xan for one or the other.
I'd kind of like to spice things up and have some more evil characters in my party, though my moral inclination in most quests so far has been to do things with the best intentions. My reputation is currently at 17.
I read evil characters are likely to leave once you scale past 18 and that you can prevent this from engaging in small acts of cruelty (being caught pickpocketing etc.).
I don't really have any inclinations to play in an evil sense, so am I missing out by sticking to the higher road? Are there more cool good/neutral characters to come?
Most of this internal conflict (and hence my reason for signing up here) arose because Viconia just seemed so damn cool.
0
Comments
All joinable NPCs in BG1: http://gamebanshee.com/baldursgate/companions.php
if you click the image you can see their alignment.
1) I know it's tempting to recruit everyone you come across and try them out, you would be missing out on xp for your party if you keep switching members around.
2) Evil characters will complain if your reputation gets high (which it already is), and will leave you once it hits 18.
3) In general, Evil characters are stronger than their good/neutral counterparts. (Edwin > Dyanheir, Kagain > Khalid etc). However...
4) The game strongly pushes you to play good. In most circumstances, choosing the noble path provides greater rewards.
5) Merchant prices depends on your reputation, so an unpopular party (not the same thing as alignment) will find their shopping expenses to be significantly higher than a 'heroic' party.
6) Ajantis is a decent Paladin you may or may not have come across already.
7) Just so you know, there is such a thing as a 'canon' party. But it only matters if you want to roleplay your way into BG 2.
Are you playing Enhanced Edition or Gog.com? If it's Gog.com, then I can recommend that you install a mod called "BG Tweaks". It has a component called "happy party pack" that prevents party members from leaving over reputation, and a lot of other conveniences that make the game more fun.
http://forums.gibberlings3.net/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=693
If it's Enhanced Edition, then you can still run a mixed alignment party, but you'll have to do it the hard way. Either get caught stealing or kill somebody, basically. There's a mod called Sword Coast Strategems that is compatible with Enhanced Edition, and it has a component called "bardic reputation adjustment". (I think it's SCS - some one please correct me if I'm wrong.) It also has a whole bunch of components that make the game harder, but you can install bardic reputation adjustment and leave out the rest.
It places a bard in the Friendly Arms Inn whom you can pay to adjust your reputation for you either up or down.
http://www.gibberlings3.net/scs/
There's a sticky somewhere around here with instructions on how to mod Enhanced Edition. I thought it was too complicated for me, but a lot of people are doing it. With the Gog.com version, all the mods come with a utility called "Weidu" built in that makes installation relatively easy.
As to the other part of your question, I can think of at least three good-aligned npc's you haven't met yet, assuming that you haven't been to the Cloakwood Mines. There's a cleric, a fighter/thief, and a regular thief.
EDIT: I thought of one more super-easy way you could adjust your reputation down. Just use EE Keeper and change it to whatever you want.
@Heindrich, yeah the temptation is pretty strong, but I've kept this part together since rescuing Dynaheir. I was on the lookout for some sort of healer/cleric, so Branwen seems like she'd fit the bill nicely.
As you suggest, the game does seem to be pushing me to play 'good' -- it's felt like the natural inclination in most cases, whereas in certain games I just feel compelled to be evil.
I suppose since the evil character thing would mostly just be an aesthetic choice, I'll stick to good/neutral for this playthrough. However, does having 'evil' characters in your party compel you to make certain choices or is it still possible to play nobly, pending your reputation doesn't get too high?
@ belgarathmth, thanks for the compliment
In BG 1, having evil party members does not compel you to take any evil options, short of managing your reputation carefully. In BG 2, I'm not sure.
One thing sorely missing in this game is the ability to alter your alignment over-time, or having companions react appropriately to certain choices (most paladin or particularly good aligned people should desert or outright attack you for any choice you select that is highly opposed to their personality). There a tiny number of situations where it can happen...but there should be WAY more.
1. When you accept Silke's quest, kill the three innocent guys (you were confused!) and then kill Silke.
2. Kill Shandalar after the polar island quest. The guy sent you to a frozen hell-hole with no warning! He deserves to die.
3. Walk into the inn in SW Baldur's Gate where the fanatical paladin Phandalyn sometimes hangs out (only during the day, iirc). He will attack any party with an evil character in it, no matter what your PC does or say.
Also, just having Viconia (or the surprise NPC) will lower your party's rep by 2.