As there is already 8 full pages of comments on this matter, I'm sure that my opinion has already been said but I might as well throw it out there.
I would love to save Clara at the cost of killing Hexxat. Even if she becomes just a blank slate NPC, as Hexxat said her character was. If we wanted a great story, we got it. But even for an evil party, hauling around a vampire doesn't seem like a good option. I just feel like it's similar to the chaotic evil is not "Chaotic dumb" analogy. Sure, we have Dorn's quest:
Slaying paladins at a wedding
And certainly that is very evil, but it is justifiable compared to having a vampire walk around at your backs.
I think the best solution would be to give the option to save Clara. Give her a voiceset and leave her as a chaotic neutral thief with no special quest. Those would want a great story have it. Those who want a power-gaming evil thief are happy. Those who just want a vanilla thief or want the cute girl after saving her are happy.
And as the answer to the obvious follow up questions, yes I would pay for it.
I just thought Clara was beautiful, and Hexxat was not. I like beautiful women in my party. Usefulness is secondary. a Clara romance would also help. As it is, i feel like i was tricked into killing a particularly hard (for my level and equipment) enemy for no purpose.
I too was a bit surprised at the lack of a 'keeping Clara alive' option (as in a 'dude don't drink blood when I'm watching' kind of intervention, not a 'hey I prefer the befuddled girl to the totally cool vampire lady' thing) at first but I'm liking Hexxat immensely so far.
And she is not stupid evil, which I like a lot. I normally run evil parties but I don't like evil npcs to be caricatures. Hexxat as she is in the game is subtly manipulative and self serving (so far. I am still some way from the end of her quest) as a really interesting evil party member should be IMO.
The only part that I really disliked about her was the fact that : - The reasons for helping her are pretty vague (Treasure... must get... treasure) and could have done with a slightly better dialog - The part where Clara disappears and is replaced by Hexxatreally needs to be slithgly improved, as it is it's basically "Hey, a vampire just killed that girl. Let's take her into the group". - A minute after "Hey, she's asking for a cloak. Let's give it to her" - And three minute later... "Hey, she just gave me complete control over her by giving me her coffin. Wee, I guess she's one crazy confident vampire"
These items really didn't feel right.
Otherwise, so long Clara, too bad for you.
For someone that state "i will survive at any cost" give her coffin to main char is a bit...out of place?
By the way, the level of non interaction between NPCs and Hexxat is insane. No one care about her, i enter the temple of helm and the watchful eyes of Helm and his followers doesn't detect a vampire amidst them... Keldorn doesn't react to Hexxat unless he enters the party, among thousand of other NPCs that simple don't care about a vampire walking at their side. The pinacle of this insanity is the lack of references in Bodhi's Enclave to Hexxat.
@LiamEster i know you already have a lot of complains about hexxat in hand, but can't a future update include some integration for Hexxat with the environment?
@kamuizin I agree that there should be a little more reactivity in Bodhi's Enclave, definitely. It was something I wanted to add, but we had only so much development time, and I had to make some choices about where we focused our efforts.
Hexxat is incredibly careful about concealing her vampirism, so it doesn't make a whole lot of sense for there to be too much reactivity to it. *More* reactivity is something I definitely want to look at in future patches, though.
What's ironic about this whole thing is that I used to see tons of threads when BG2 was first released that complained about the LACK of a pure thief. Also, she's the only evil thief available, which I think is something else folks used to ask for. Personally, I like having a pure thief. Removing traps and unlocking stuff is a core part of the game, and I like having someone who can do it well before level 20+ without hanging every thief boosting item on them (or ignoring other fun abilities like Detect Illusion).
Also, as several people have mentioned, Hexxat's stats make her quite dangerous with a good old-fashioned pre-emptive backstab. That pesky mage who ALWAYS starts combat by triggering Protection from Magical Weapons, Protection from Normal Missiles, and Spell Turning, then starts taking you apart while he's effectively invulnerable? Have a thief backstab him and watch the chunky goodness! Especially effective in the 'adventuring group' encounters, where it may be hard to get to the mage after combat starts and he buffs his party members to make them even more dangerous. Even if that's the only blow the thief lands that fight, the tactical advantage is significant.
By the way, the level of non interaction between NPCs and Hexxat is insane. No one care about her, i enter the temple of helm and the watchful eyes of Helm and his followers doesn't detect a vampire amidst them... Keldorn doesn't react to Hexxat unless he enters the party, among thousand of other NPCs that simple don't care about a vampire walking at their side. The pinacle of this insanity is the lack of references in Bodhi's Enclave to Hexxat.
@LiamEster i know you already have a lot of complains about hexxat in hand, but can't a future update include some integration for Hexxat with the environment?
Depending on how this is implemented, it could severely limit the character's usefulness. It would be logical to have NPC paladins, clerics of Helm, etc. have a hostile reaction to her, but then you can't complete any of the content in areas where she's persona non grata. Not to mention the Shadow Thieves - shouldn't they consider Hexxat as KoS due to their war with others of her kind?
I'm glad I found this thread. I was wanting to try out Hexxat because I couldnt tell what alignment she was with just the description either at BG2's main webpage, BG2's launcher or her plea for help.
Nalia confronted me first, and I wanted to do her quest first then swing by and do Hexxat but if she is an evil aligned character and having me kill of a 'blank slated NPC' well maybe I will wait on that.
So I prefer a 'Neutral/Good' aligned party cast.....of the 4 new NPCs, did I over miss the description?? Was there an NPC that might be suited?
I did beat Shadows of Amn a few years back so thats a start. I havent beaten ToB at all so that is my goal this time.
But I too would like to be in on the crowd that says "I want a choice".
LOL perhaps a poll for this would be helpful??
PS. Of the 4 new NPCs; again...was there that might be appropriate for me that I over missed by information provided? I play a Good/Neutral Party Cast....mainly cause my main character is Paladin lol Thanks
@enneract The "folks with the resources" made their decision already, and that's why Hexxat functions as she does. You're much better off betting on the modding community than hoping Overhaul changes the entire scenario they wrote.
When my good party finally gets to all this--strangely enough I haven't actually *played* the game yet...at all--I will simply edit creatures and/or dialogs so that I get to keep Clara. Simple. Why should I wait for someone else to do it?
@kamuizin Hexxat was from conception to final release, always meant to be a lesbian. It was a very clearcut design decision.
@LiamEsler: Next, you guys just need to add a character that is "omnisexual", ala Captain Jack Harkness. That would make for some interesting character dialog...
The alternative, though, of just a quick patch to let you keep Clara... pass.
An option to keep Clara would at least make it easier for modders to create banters, dialogues, even a romance for her. Quests would probably take more work, so all in all, a full fledged DLC would still be the BEST option here. Especially since I loved Clara's voice and it would be a shame to not get any more dialogue to hear.
The existing voice work for Clara is inadequate, even if you are just considering her as a 'one day NPC'. Her command soundset would be inappropriate for someone who is no longer a thrall. I love the modding community, and they do great work - but this is a great opportunity for the folks with the resources to integrate the content fully to actually do that.
Good point well made, I must say. Kind of a shame though. Well, still, a mod for Clara would be better than nothing. But you're right, the DLC path would be best.
I am unhappy she isnt romanceble by male. Poor execution
Having a character be a lesbian isn't "poor execution."
Having Hexxat non romanceble ruins the fun for me and many others. Such a small thing to piss off so many. Just take a look at the forum. Poor execution
I am unhappy she isnt romanceble by male. Poor execution
Having a character be a lesbian isn't "poor execution."
Having Hexxat non romanceble ruins the fun for me and many others. Such a small thing to piss off so many. Just take a look at the forum. Poor execution
I'm not mad. My only Male Pc at this point is an Undead Hunter and if Hexxat was to romance him I don't see it working out too well. I mean she's a vampire and thats a creature he's trained his whole life to legitimately hate and kill. It would have never work out. Although I'm anxious to see her romance via female pc, but I don't want to start a new game.
Comments
I would love to save Clara at the cost of killing Hexxat. Even if she becomes just a blank slate NPC, as Hexxat said her character was. If we wanted a great story, we got it. But even for an evil party, hauling around a vampire doesn't seem like a good option. I just feel like it's similar to the chaotic evil is not "Chaotic dumb" analogy. Sure, we have Dorn's quest:
And certainly that is very evil, but it is justifiable compared to having a vampire walk around at your backs.
I think the best solution would be to give the option to save Clara. Give her a voiceset and leave her as a chaotic neutral thief with no special quest. Those would want a great story have it. Those who want a power-gaming evil thief are happy. Those who just want a vanilla thief or want the cute girl after saving her are happy.
And as the answer to the obvious follow up questions, yes I would pay for it.
Bro, do you even have faith? I'm immune to level drain and can turn undead. I'll party with a vampire all DAY.
And she is not stupid evil, which I like a lot. I normally run evil parties but I don't like evil npcs to be caricatures. Hexxat as she is in the game is subtly manipulative and self serving (so far. I am still some way from the end of her quest) as a really interesting evil party member should be IMO.
Good job devs!
@LiamEster i know you already have a lot of complains about hexxat in hand, but can't a future update include some integration for Hexxat with the environment?
Hexxat is incredibly careful about concealing her vampirism, so it doesn't make a whole lot of sense for there to be too much reactivity to it. *More* reactivity is something I definitely want to look at in future patches, though.
Also, as several people have mentioned, Hexxat's stats make her quite dangerous with a good old-fashioned pre-emptive backstab. That pesky mage who ALWAYS starts combat by triggering Protection from Magical Weapons, Protection from Normal Missiles, and Spell Turning, then starts taking you apart while he's effectively invulnerable? Have a thief backstab him and watch the chunky goodness! Especially effective in the 'adventuring group' encounters, where it may be hard to get to the mage after combat starts and he buffs his party members to make them even more dangerous. Even if that's the only blow the thief lands that fight, the tactical advantage is significant.
Nalia confronted me first, and I wanted to do her quest first then swing by and do Hexxat but if she is an evil aligned character and having me kill of a 'blank slated NPC' well maybe I will wait on that.
So I prefer a 'Neutral/Good' aligned party cast.....of the 4 new NPCs, did I over miss the description?? Was there an NPC that might be suited?
I did beat Shadows of Amn a few years back so thats a start. I havent beaten ToB at all so that is my goal this time.
But I too would like to be in on the crowd that says "I want a choice".
LOL perhaps a poll for this would be helpful??
PS. Of the 4 new NPCs; again...was there that might be appropriate for me that I over missed by information provided? I play a Good/Neutral Party Cast....mainly cause my main character is Paladin lol Thanks
1) kick her out
2) pass a 16+ Charisma check
3) pay 2,500 gold
The bribe isn't ideal, but it prevents players from being stuck with no faction.
A shiny new female thief with a romance...lets limit it...
The comments and topics have been ruthless in turn.
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