How have your opinions changed about NPCs (both old and new)
booinyoureyes
Member Posts: 6,164
Sup fools!
Been thinking how my view on the characters have evolved over time, and how often my initial attitudes toward certain characters have changed after playing through their story.
Most notably the first time I played I was just like "Wow, this Anomen guy is a rule douche!"... but then later I played a female paladin and did the romance and ended up greatly enjoying it, finding him the most realistic character in the series.
Similarly I thought Jan was the most annoying guy ever when I was younger, but now find him absolutely hilarious!
On the other hand, I initially thought Korgan was a cool typically irritable dwarf, and would be a joy to have along. After a while though, I just thought he was too one dimensional and never really shows much during the course of the story.
I know many say that Minsc's antic grow stale after a couple playthroughs, and while he is still my favorite character due to finding him amusing, I understand exactly what everyone is talking about when it comes to him (though having Boo goes a long way)
Of the new EE characters my first thought was that I would enjoy Dorn and Hexxat the most, but ended up actually enjoying Neera quite a bit after initially finding her voice very annoying and now think that Rasaad is among the most awesome characters in the game.
How have your opinions grown over time? Any character surprise you? Any disappoint you? I (and I'm sure many others) would like to know!
Been thinking how my view on the characters have evolved over time, and how often my initial attitudes toward certain characters have changed after playing through their story.
Most notably the first time I played I was just like "Wow, this Anomen guy is a rule douche!"... but then later I played a female paladin and did the romance and ended up greatly enjoying it, finding him the most realistic character in the series.
Similarly I thought Jan was the most annoying guy ever when I was younger, but now find him absolutely hilarious!
On the other hand, I initially thought Korgan was a cool typically irritable dwarf, and would be a joy to have along. After a while though, I just thought he was too one dimensional and never really shows much during the course of the story.
I know many say that Minsc's antic grow stale after a couple playthroughs, and while he is still my favorite character due to finding him amusing, I understand exactly what everyone is talking about when it comes to him (though having Boo goes a long way)
Of the new EE characters my first thought was that I would enjoy Dorn and Hexxat the most, but ended up actually enjoying Neera quite a bit after initially finding her voice very annoying and now think that Rasaad is among the most awesome characters in the game.
How have your opinions grown over time? Any character surprise you? Any disappoint you? I (and I'm sure many others) would like to know!
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Comments
One that I almost killed all the times was because he had betrayed Yoshimo, I only took him twice, the first time in a F/M solo run because I needed a thief for Spellhold, well, WRONG CHOICE!! I always liked him as an NPC and wished to save him (anyway I got angry and killed him a pair of times before taking him again to Spellhold, reading the dialogue and realizing that he had been charmed, then I always wanted to help him. The second time it was to check the dialog :P I've missed.
I always found Korgan a bloody idiot, until I started using him in my evil run (Rasaad leaved because I've sided with Bodhi and that's very easy to explain, and I had an empty slot them... and needed a good fighter, so), he's funny and and maybe a little more evil than I expected but he had some very funny banters. He is a real killer with Axes, he does not deal the insane amount of damage my Fighter PC deals (she deals a max damage per round of 88 slashing IIRC) but he is a very good frontliner anyway.
As for Minsc, I was just thinking about this today in fact... do I actually -need- Minsc? I've always been taking him along since I like having one big dumb meatshield strong frontline warrior in the party and I always let Keldorn go at the conclusion of his quest, but surely Korgan can fill his role. And Korgan doesn't have 50 second monologues every time you click something like Minsc does. Sure, Minsc is fun, but the aforementioned thing really gets old. I'm unsure whether or not Korgan eventually conflicts with any of my other party members though so I could even just use a warrior I make myself. Seeing as I've seen Minsc's banters many times, I wouldn't exactly be missing out on all that much.
Everyone else I still feel pretty much the same way about as I always have. I think the companion NPCs in Baldur's Gate are great overall. I dislike some, sure, but that doesn't make them badly made. The fact that the douche Anomen can evoke such loathing when he isn't even real mean it's good writing. The companions are incredibly flat in the first game of course, but what's there is still okay I think.
@Silverstar
I agree a lot about Neera being far better in the second game compared to the first (though I liked her then too). I do like Aerie, Anomen and Imoen though, so I tend to favor a lot of characters that others find annoying.
Also "sup fool?" is a somewhat common greeting in the states, and the one I usually use when I see my boys back home. It is not meant to be an insult, and I also use "como estas, bitches?" from the Anchor Man movies (the only part I found funny)
@CrevsDaak
Totally agree about Yoshimo! Yoshimo was always my favorite NPC, even with the betrayal. He's just way cool and the story makes me sad, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Yoshimo has more swag than anyone in the game.
I actually didn't like the movie all that much (its rare that I enjoy a pure comedy... I like comedy, but I tend to laugh more at humorous moments in movies that are not necessarily "comedies")
Rush Hour is the best "pure" comedy series for me Clearly you want even MORE minimalism you naughty raccoon you!
... what? Stop looking at me like that.
maybe as ive grown up my sensibilities have changed or perhaps its because of the fetish I developed for short girls with hairy feet whatever the reason it will forever be a mystery
I also like Aerie more I used to think she was a bit of a whiner but when you actually think about what she goes through she's surprisingly well adjusted and her traits are completely understandable considering from her perspective she is physically disabled and disfigured
I think she's really cool now, and I grew to have an appreciation for her voice. The voice acting is wonderful for her, plus her quest is kinda neat. I like her character... its pretty lame that they wont let her be a paladin. I think its cool how she gets along with Keldorn as well. Also love how she's unafraid to tell off evil characters, and doesn't even pretend to be friendly toward people she doesn't like. Pretty awesome.
I remeber when I had a 2 hours debate with the english teacher about this XD
@Silverstar I completely agree with you, the greatest enhancement in BG2:EE was adding the BG1 inventory anations for female Elves, they didn't had boobs at all (really talking I miss the BG2 inventory animations, they were cool).
Edit1: I missed much more my female PC's boobs in BG2.
Edit2: I still joking.
Never tried Mazzy, now that I think of it. I guess I will have to give her a chance, seeing the posts here
Mazzy is Jennifer Hale who is amazing as Sheperd in Mass Effect and Bastila in KOTOR and I took her specifically for that, while Yoshimo is Maurice LaMarsh (Kif in futurama) and they're both pretty great just to hear the stuff they say.
It's not just David Warner who is famous!
Before: Annoying, pointlessly evil, totally unlikable.
Now: Best damn thing since a strong swig of Dwarven Ale.
Jaheira:
Before: Kind of annoying and preachy/passive aggressive, but kinda hot too.
Now: Kind of annoying and preachy/passive aggressive (but in a better way), oh, and kind of hot too.
Hmm, perhaps I will post more later
Before: Booooring and no competition vs. Jaheira.
Now: Still booooring and still no competition for Jaheira
For my favorite npcs ever id rank these the highest by far:
Korgan 10/10. He is so funny and has depth (he will never harm children and does not like slavery yet needs little excuse to hack away and HE finds it funny when he does)
Aerie 10/10 great romance
Keldorn 10/10 (what an ending he has, matches any blockbuster)
10/10 Canderous (kotr)
Never again.
In time, I realized that, first of all, all BG2 romance options whine to you. A lot. And second, Anomen is a product of a horrible upbringing and reflects that, and is more a damaged guy who needs emotional care and love more then anything.
I still don't romance him, mind: I think he needs therapy more then romance (same with Aerie, Viconia, and maybe even Jaheira, honestly). But now I like him and use him for what he's worth.
My opinions of the original haven't changed in a while. With the new NPC's, I really liked Neera at first, but she's gone down in my estimation. Although that's not so much because of Neera herself admittedly; I just really hated that hippy guy in her quest.
Probably. I imagine Anomen is pretty open to anything that might get him some fem!CHARNAME attention. >.>
I'm trying to think of other characters. I used to think Aerie obnoxious, too, but now I think of her like Anomen- in need of therapy more then a romance, but a decent person at heart. Jaheira I've gone back and forth on a few times, due to how quickly she starts hitting on the male CHARNAME after Khalid's death... but now I just play fem!Charname's, and don't have to worry about it.
Nalia is an interesting case. I really liked her in SOA, then really disliked her after she got all arrogant and snotty in TOB. Now I'm pretty much indifferent to her. She's a girl who thinks she's suffered far more then she actually has, but she truly does mean good in the world. I'm not sure that leads to acting like a little witch to the Bhaalspawn in TOB, but... grief does very weird things to beings, as I am surely aware of.
And Valygar, I've always liked, never found boring. I feel a need to point that out.
1. Minsc. (I just don't find him amusing anymore. Sorry Boo!)
2. Aerie. (I never really liked her, but now I find her intolerable. I find even her voice unpleasant.)
My impressions have gone from 'bad' to 'good' for:
1. Anomen. (I used to find him annoying. Now I find him amusing. Especially the snarky CN version!)
2. Haer'Dalis. (I always liked his personality. But now I know how to play a blade semi-properly.)
3. Jaheira. (I used to find her bossiness annoying. Now I'm fine with it.)
4. Rasaad. (I like his personality in BGEE, but he wouldn't stop dying. Now he's better in both BGEE and BG2EE.)
5. Neera. (She is a bit grating in BGEE, but quite fun in BG2EE.)
My views of the other original NPCs haven't really changed (Cernd is still bland and useless; Valygar is still cool; Mazzy rocks; etc.). I haven't played Dorn or Hexxat in BG2EE yet (but I like Dorn in BGEE).