As the title suggests, the original post is indeed intended to gather all facts about Hexxat. With some new information coming it will be changed accordingly. The main idea is that any forum member or guest can click the 1st page of this discussion and see everything known about this much anticipated NPC and an update if available.
To date not much has been leaked. Everyone may build their own guesses and this very desire to anticipate Hexxat's class, alignment, stats, ability to dual-class and so on can not be condemned. Any discussion is never futile.
Personally, I've been glad to read your arguments and can see sense in both points of view. Only time will tell the truth. But the more discussion here, the better - during a dispute a new angle can be discovered. For example, @CutlassJack has given a very strong argument about the number of thieving points.
Pff.. I'm sick with this gay stuff about the new NPC.
What about her class? Any thoughts? Ok. She can't be a bounty hunter like Yoshimo. 2 same kits in one game - impossible I guess. Swashbuckler? They promised a "pure thief class" not a half-fighter class. It's boring if she's a vanilla thief, every NPC in BG2 is a kitted single class. Impossible. I bet she's a shadowdancer and with no dual class opportunity.
I don't think she's an assassin according to the info we already have... And that's make me sad...
Swashbuckler? They promised a "pure thief class" not a half-fighter class.
Swashbuckler counts as a pure thief class, but I think part of the appeal of having a single-classed thief is having an NPC with a good backstab modifier (though I suppose Jan gets there eventually). The devs may not see it that way, though.
It's boring if she's a vanilla thief, every NPC in BG2 is a kitted single class. Impossible.
Not quite; Mazzy, Minsc, and Viconia are all unkitted single-class NPCs. Boring or not, this is a possibility, and it's one they may take in order to avoid disappointing people who really want a single-class thief but really don't want it to be X kit. There is also the possibility that she will be an unkitted thief with some complementary abilities thieves don't normally have (ala Minsc's rage or Mazzy's spell-like abilities).
I bet she's a shadowdancer and with no dual class opportunity.
I don't think she's an assassin according to the info we already have... And that's make me sad...
I'd like it if she had dual-classing capability, but I don't expect it at this point. Shadowdancer does seem like a strong contender, if only because they added the kit and haven't applied it to any NPCs (that I'm aware of) yet. I haven't ruled out Assassin; depending on the kinds of artifacts she's hunting, killing the owner may in some cases be the only reasonable way to acquire it.
I haven't ruled out Assassin; depending on the kinds of artifacts she's hunting, killing the owner may in some cases be the only reasonable way to acquire it.
My feeling is that would be the reason she needs you. Combat is the one guaranteed thing your party can provide. If she were lacking in basic thieving skills your group might not be able to provide it, and remove a primary reason you'd want her along.
There is also the possibility that she will be an unkitted thief with some complementary abilities thieves don't normally have (ala Minsc's rage or Mazzy's spell-like abilities).
Shadowdancer does seem like a strong contender, if only because they added the kit and haven't applied it to any NPCs (that I'm aware of) yet. I haven't ruled out Assassin; depending on the kinds of artifacts she's hunting, killing the owner may in some cases be the only reasonable way to acquire it.
It's only because shadowdancer is the new thief kit. As we've seen before Dorn and Rassad are using the new kits - BG and sun soul monk. It would be logical enough.
And assassins... Well in my opinion - assassins are very deadly on high levels. It's a matter of taste, but the skill point penalty doesn't count in BG2. You will have over9000 skill points even before TOB. But the poison and BS multiplier are priceless. And to be honest her portrait does not like a swashbuckler to me. Nor assassin...
So it could be you're right and she's a vanilla thief with some innate abilities or spells. Or the new kit - shadowdancer. Sounds logical.
My guess and hope is that she will be a Neutral Evil Tiefling Shadowdancer with a way to make her Neutral.
-Hexxat as suggested is not a human name and has some fiendish elements to it. -Not sure if it's true but if her hair is purple then it's more likely that she's a Tiefling. It's one of their natural hair color. No, Imoen is not a Tiefling. -Shadowdancer is a new and fun class and she could have really high Dex along with a personal item only she can use that further boosts her stealth, letting you put points elsewhere. -If she's just a Thief without a kit she would be a wasted opportunity and boring gameplay-wise and Jan would still overshadow her (pun not intended).
Pff.. I'm sick with this gay stuff about the new NPC.
What about her class? Any thoughts? Ok. She can't be a bounty hunter like Yoshimo. 2 same kits in one game - impossible I guess. Swashbuckler? They promised a "pure thief class" not a half-fighter class. It's boring if she's a vanilla thief, every NPC in BG2 is a kitted single class. Impossible. I bet she's a shadowdancer and with no dual class opportunity.
I don't think she's an assassin according to the info we already have... And that's make me sad...
I imagine a shadowdancer to be kind of grey skinned like a shade though
I have my money on Tiefling as well, though I think it's more likely that she'll be a single-class Thief.
I disagree that that'd be boring because what most players seem to complain about is the lack of an all-purpose Thief that you can take all the way to epic levels. Jan is not the best choice in that regard due to being multiclassed.
She might also get some unique abilities to compensate for the single-classed-ness. I mean, Sarevok is a true class Fighter, but he's far from boring (*deathbringer-assaults all arguments to the contrary*). Mazzy is also true class, but has a bunch of unique skills to make up for it.
I'm pretty sure all the true class NPCs have some unique things to give them interesting twists (though to be honest, Sarevok and Mazzy are the only two I can even think of), and there's nothing suggesting Hexxat would be any different in that matter.
She might also get some unique abilities to compensate for the single-classed-ness. I mean, Sarevok is a true class Fighter, but he's far from boring (*deathbringer-assaults all arguments to the contrary*). Mazzy is also true class, but has a bunch of unique skills to make up for it.
I'm pretty sure all the true class NPCs have some unique things to give them interesting twists (though to be honest, Sarevok and Mazzy are the only two I can even think of), and there's nothing suggesting Hexxat would be any different in that matter.
Though Sarevok is a Deathbringer and Mazzy is supposed to be a Paladin or a Sword of Arvoreen. I think.
Still, it's a perfect oppurtunity to use the new Thief kit on the new Thief. See what I'm saying?
All right. I'll betray my NDA and reveal that Hexxat is just an illusion created by Boo who is actually the Bhaalspawn closer to ascending to godhood. Everything that happens is part of Boo's evil master plan to gather as many Bhaalspawn together as possible, for, in the end, there can be only one.
And no, I won't tell how Hexxat, the Illusion fits in his plans, I said I'd betray my NDA, not reveal the full plot...
Please tell me nobody believed a word of what I just wrote...
All right. I'll betray my NDA and reveal that Hexxat is just an illusion created by Boo who is actually the Bhaalspawn closer to ascending to godhood. Everything that happens is part of Boo's evil master plan to gather as many Bhaalspawn together as possible, for, in the end, there can be only one.
@Fredjo Nope the opposite thread is that way <--->
Hah! I have spotted the cleverly-hidden meaning in your post! Clearly, this IS the opposite thread, since if it is, your post becomes "Yes, the opposite thread is this way --><--", in other words, it's right here!
(I, of course, break all of the rules, hence this post is not opposite.)
I know @shawne doesn't like suggestions without proofs. But the latest changes in the beta version make me think Hexxat may be a shadowdancer (no matter how I feel towards it - sadness or joy, - it doesn't matter here and I won't tell in order not to bias this post).
The degree of attention the Devs give to the shadowdancer kit - among all the other issues the current non-beta version has - for me shows this issue is related to something very important in terms of the additions in BG2:EE. And it brings to mind new characters for me, a new thief especially.
LiamEsler doesn't post in every possible thread. But surely his attention to the threads about this new thief have something to do with his functions (his role) in the team. And similarly his attention to the threads about shadowdancer's fixes may be connected to the same cause.
The amount and the scope of changes regarding a shadowdancer kit is somehow similar to the changes regarding a sun-soul monk. And the latter is surely connected to Rasaad. So maybe the former is connected to another EE NPC.
I guess the Devs gave us new kits not only for our pleasure alone but also in order to help to express new character's nature by their kits. That's why the attention to the shadowdancer kit can be explained it's bound with the plot of the new NPC - something I read along the lines of "a shadowdancer is not a backstabber, (s)he's more for tactical fighting stratagies"
So presumably Hexxat will be a shadowdancer and one day in the future we'll have a new NPC with a dwarven defender kit.
Comments
As the title suggests, the original post is indeed intended to gather all facts about Hexxat. With some new information coming it will be changed accordingly. The main idea is that any forum member or guest can click the 1st page of this discussion and see everything known about this much anticipated NPC and an update if available.
To date not much has been leaked. Everyone may build their own guesses and this very desire to anticipate Hexxat's class, alignment, stats, ability to dual-class and so on can not be condemned. Any discussion is never futile.
Personally, I've been glad to read your arguments and can see sense in both points of view. Only time will tell the truth. But the more discussion here, the better - during a dispute a new angle can be discovered. For example, @CutlassJack has given a very strong argument about the number of thieving points.
What about her class? Any thoughts?
Ok. She can't be a bounty hunter like Yoshimo. 2 same kits in one game - impossible I guess.
Swashbuckler? They promised a "pure thief class" not a half-fighter class.
It's boring if she's a vanilla thief, every NPC in BG2 is a kitted single class. Impossible.
I bet she's a shadowdancer and with no dual class opportunity.
I don't think she's an assassin according to the info we already have... And that's make me sad...
As we've seen before Dorn and Rassad are using the new kits - BG and sun soul monk.
It would be logical enough.
And assassins... Well in my opinion - assassins are very deadly on high levels. It's a matter of taste, but the skill point penalty doesn't count in BG2. You will have over9000 skill points even before TOB. But the poison and BS multiplier are priceless. And to be honest her portrait does not like a swashbuckler to me. Nor assassin...
So it could be you're right and she's a vanilla thief with some innate abilities or spells.
Or the new kit - shadowdancer.
Sounds logical.
-Hexxat as suggested is not a human name and has some fiendish elements to it.
-Not sure if it's true but if her hair is purple then it's more likely that she's a Tiefling. It's one of their natural hair color. No, Imoen is not a Tiefling.
-Shadowdancer is a new and fun class and she could have really high Dex along with a personal item only she can use that further boosts her stealth, letting you put points elsewhere.
-If she's just a Thief without a kit she would be a wasted opportunity and boring gameplay-wise and Jan would still overshadow her (pun not intended).
I disagree that that'd be boring because what most players seem to complain about is the lack of an all-purpose Thief that you can take all the way to epic levels. Jan is not the best choice in that regard due to being multiclassed.
I'm pretty sure all the true class NPCs have some unique things to give them interesting twists (though to be honest, Sarevok and Mazzy are the only two I can even think of), and there's nothing suggesting Hexxat would be any different in that matter.
Still, it's a perfect oppurtunity
to use the new Thief kit on the new Thief. See what I'm saying?
Oh, and let's not forget Minsc's berserker rage.
Meooow!
*continues eating popcorn and reading the speculation
And no, I won't tell how Hexxat, the Illusion fits in his plans, I said I'd betray my NDA, not reveal the full plot...
Please tell me nobody believed a word of what I just wrote...
I believe everything you said! (Wait are we still in the opposite thread?)
(I, of course, break all of the rules, hence this post is not opposite.)
Does this mean a voice cameo by Michael Ironside as Katana? ;-)
The degree of attention the Devs give to the shadowdancer kit - among all the other issues the current non-beta version has - for me shows this issue is related to something very important in terms of the additions in BG2:EE. And it brings to mind new characters for me, a new thief especially.
LiamEsler doesn't post in every possible thread. But surely his attention to the threads about this new thief have something to do with his functions (his role) in the team. And similarly his attention to the threads about shadowdancer's fixes may be connected to the same cause.
The amount and the scope of changes regarding a shadowdancer kit is somehow similar to the changes regarding a sun-soul monk. And the latter is surely connected to Rasaad. So maybe the former is connected to another EE NPC.
I guess the Devs gave us new kits not only for our pleasure alone but also in order to help to express new character's nature by their kits. That's why the attention to the shadowdancer kit can be explained it's bound with the plot of the new NPC - something I read along the lines of "a shadowdancer is not a backstabber, (s)he's more for tactical fighting stratagies"
So presumably Hexxat will be a shadowdancer and one day in the future we'll have a new NPC with a dwarven defender kit.