Around $3-5,- whether I believe I like them or not.
I'm a completionist and have faith in your writing abilities that even an NPC that seems boring on paper might intrest me afterall. However, this is providing that it's not just a bare-bones NPC (figuratively, not a literal skeleton, you have to spell these things out with D&D) but one with a personal sidequest the size of Edwin's (so one that spans for longer than "check this place, kill a monster, take an item") and several banters with other NPC's.
I'd pay extra if the character was A) a (female) dwarf and/or had a romance not with the player but with another partymember, which I feel is a venue rarely explored by games. I found watching Aerie and Haer'dalis' relationship unfold (and later crash) almost more interesting than my own.
I'm tired of playing second fiddle to NPCs that are illegal (Dorn) or catering to the quests of useless companions (Rasad). I own this world, it's about ME 24/7, not my supporting cast. Go make me a sammich Neera! Nobody cares if you cast fireball on the party I am immune to fire!
Personally I am not as interested in this right now, since I haven't played through BG2 more than 3 times or so, so I don't yet need new content to spice it up. I understand the appeal, though.
I know there's contract issues, but I would be more interested in DLCs that add more quests to promote greater integration in the already expansive world. Something like building on the mindflayer conspiracy possibility or adding more options beyond the shadow thieves and vampires for getting to Spellhold. I figure maybe if we pay some for DLCs they might be able to afford to renegotiate something on that front.
After a certain time has passed since the release of BG2EE I think I would pay for a new NPC as an addon. The game still needs a good dwarf, for e.g. If I could have a dwarven cleric as an NPC in BG2, I would certainly get it, even if I have to pay.
There can be other options, appealing to me: a barbarian NPC, a druid NPC, a bard NPC...
Now I think that 5 USD could be a good price for a fully developed NPC, with personal quests and items, maybe even a romance.
Having had enough time to fully evaluate the EE NPCs, I'd have to change my answer to no.
The writing for Dorn, Rasaad, Hexxat and Neera is just too rushed, too inconsistent, too unpolished to warrant shelling out cash for more of the same. Granted, Beamdog's current line is that they're free of the factors that constrained them during the making of the BG EEs... but I need to see concrete evidence that they can do better before giving them another penny.
I voted $6 if I liked the character -- more if the NPC was part of a new adventure. I'd like to see the devs repeat what worked with Neera -- have beamdog create an outline and have Ossian studios do the writing. And I agree with @bengoshi -- a good dwarf cleric would be ideal.
I voted $6 if I liked them... but let's be real, I'd probably buy them regardless of price as long as it is not exorbitant (10$ is pushing it unless it came with a lot of new content)
Really, I would much rather prefer new quests that don't require you to take new NPCs. One of the most annoying things about the EEs is that you were forced to take the NPCs with you to experience ANY of the new content, which is incredibly limiting. You get infinitely less bang for your buck and if you don't like a character you just feel cheated out of new content that you were looking forward to. Even if they added a new city (something like Trademeet) with like 15 new quests and one new NPC I would personally hand Andrew Foley or some other developer 15 bucks out of my pocket and then give them a high five/fist bump (whatever they prefer)
There's already plenty of NPCs to choose from, I'd see no need to pay for any more of them. Not to mention that there are a number of user made NPCs that are just as good as some of the originals that I could get for free if were so inclined.
Would new official content be worth it more for portable devices? I mean, if they have trouble installing mods on them?
They did have spacing issues as well with these (I think either Android or IOS has a app size maximum limit). I really don't know how large each of their current NPC mods is from a download standpoint (since I've only ever owned the full game via mac/pc) but I imagine that would also factor into this.
I think the major question is whether the writers are able or willing to revise the characters post-release. It's very hard to justify Hexxat's $2.99 price tag on iTunes given the way she's currently written (especially with regards to her quest structure and ToB content). But as long as they're still being patched, it's still theoretically possible to fix the outstanding issues.
this poll was anonymous, I wonder what past me voted for
present day me would pay up to 10$ for some one I liked i.e Neera. I wouldn't pay at all for some one I didn't want i.e Hexxat or Dorn. If I could have paid a few quid less for bg2EE and not had Hexxat id have taken that option.
as far as dlc goes id choose either NPCs or new KITs over any other options
Also worth pointing out: for all that I personally don't have any use for the Black Pits, BP2 does introduce a whole array of NPCs who might make for interesting party members in the main game (ie: Voghiln, Brother Ellraish, Mercy Whitedove, Gezzthemin, Feldrak, etc.)
Ehh maybe like 5 bucks an NPC. There are so many in BG2 already though at this stage. I'd rather just see more ToB related content (additional areas, quests to flesh out Saradush and Amkethran more, etc).
Comments
I'm a completionist and have faith in your writing abilities that even an NPC that seems boring on paper might intrest me afterall.
However, this is providing that it's not just a bare-bones NPC (figuratively, not a literal skeleton, you have to spell these things out with D&D) but one with a personal sidequest the size of Edwin's (so one that spans for longer than "check this place, kill a monster, take an item") and several banters with other NPC's.
I'd pay extra if the character was A) a (female) dwarf and/or
I know there's contract issues, but I would be more interested in DLCs that add more quests to promote greater integration in the already expansive world. Something like building on the mindflayer conspiracy possibility or adding more options beyond the shadow thieves and vampires for getting to Spellhold. I figure maybe if we pay some for DLCs they might be able to afford to renegotiate something on that front.
"Would you be willing to put your money where your mouth is? If we made new NPCs addons, would you be willing to pay for them to fund their creation?"
http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/comment/351256/#Comment_351256
After a certain time has passed since the release of BG2EE I think I would pay for a new NPC as an addon. The game still needs a good dwarf, for e.g. If I could have a dwarven cleric as an NPC in BG2, I would certainly get it, even if I have to pay.
There can be other options, appealing to me: a barbarian NPC, a druid NPC, a bard NPC...
Now I think that 5 USD could be a good price for a fully developed NPC, with personal quests and items, maybe even a romance.
The writing for Dorn, Rasaad, Hexxat and Neera is just too rushed, too inconsistent, too unpolished to warrant shelling out cash for more of the same. Granted, Beamdog's current line is that they're free of the factors that constrained them during the making of the BG EEs... but I need to see concrete evidence that they can do better before giving them another penny.
Really, I would much rather prefer new quests that don't require you to take new NPCs. One of the most annoying things about the EEs is that you were forced to take the NPCs with you to experience ANY of the new content, which is incredibly limiting. You get infinitely less bang for your buck and if you don't like a character you just feel cheated out of new content that you were looking forward to. Even if they added a new city (something like Trademeet) with like 15 new quests and one new NPC I would personally hand Andrew Foley or some other developer 15 bucks out of my pocket and then give them a high five/fist bump (whatever they prefer)
But the NPC would have to be well-written and interesting.
More Neera and Rasaad, less Dorn and Hexxat.
present day me would pay up to 10$ for some one I liked i.e Neera. I wouldn't pay at all for some one I didn't want i.e Hexxat or Dorn. If I could have paid a few quid less for bg2EE and not had Hexxat id have taken that option.
as far as dlc goes id choose either NPCs or new KITs over any other options