Yea Jan is a better thief, largely because of how well his thieving skills are complemented by his mage spells (his items also help quite a bit), but Hexxat gets access to the best standard traps a lot quicker (plus she can lay traps reliably sooner). Also since she is undead she is immune to a number of things that jan isn't immune to. I can't check at the moment but according to playithardcore these include Charm, Panic, Sleep, Level drain, Ability Drain (though not by illithids), Hold, Poison, Poison damage (think cloudkill), and Disease. Sounds about right though I don't know why other mind affecting spells like confusion and feeblemind aren't included.
@Rylorn23 - LOL. Jan is a blast and loads of fun in my mind. I love his stories and the tangents that he goes off on. However, I've always had trouble with his personality fitting in with an EVIL group. However, you also have Jaheira in your group, so I am guessing that you have different views on how those personalities mesh. Then again, I have literally completed BG2 with both Viccy and Keldorn in the group. Granted, I had to reload several times due to fights, but still.
I do agree that the introduction of Hexxat and Dorn are much needed additions to the BG "Evil" lineup. If you want to play a group that will 'split yer gut open', now you can do it. And without the comic relief needed 'just to fill the gap'.
Yeah, I also had some troubles with Jaheira while playing evil. I don't like her personality at all, but her druid spells are best ( like Insect Plague ) and she is good as a fighter with shield. I had a lot of problems finishing the quests with the evil way.
Like:
Druid Grove - When I poison the source, she attacks me
When I attack Drizzt, she leaves the party
Underdark - if I decide kill Goldander Blackenrock for the stone instead of killing the Baalor, she attacks me
I really wish, there were more evil joinable NPC characters in BG2 like in BG1. I did'nt have such problem for creating a "good" evil party in the Baldur's gate 1.
There are many of them in BG1: Xzar - CE necromancer - Not good as Edwin, but he is funny Montaron - NE Fighter/Thief - Only evil thief that I can use and he is companion of Xzar Viconia - NE Cleric - Best cleric in all series with magic resistance Kagain - LE Fighter - Good fighter, who can serve as a tank with gauntles of dexterity Shar - Teel - CE Fighter - Good strength and dexterity, but poor constitution. Can be Dual - class with thief ( if she had 3 points big intelligence, she could be dual - class with mage using two longswords and elven chain ) . Edwin - LE Conjurer - Best mage in all series with two bonus spells. Eldoth - NE Bard - Weaker bard than Garrick ( he is in pair with Skie ) Tiax - CE Cleric/Thief - Weaker cleric than Viconia and weaker thief than Montaron Dorn (EE) - NE Blackguard - Why should I need another blackguard in my party, while I play as a blackguard already? He isn't even worth with his quests. ( Bah! Just die you foolish half-orc, in the name of my master! There can be only one! ) Baeloth (EE) - CE Sorcerer - Not bad character, good as Edwin.
BG2: Korgan - CE Berserker - Powerful fighter for evil parties Viconia - NE Cleric - Member of my party from BG1 Edwind - LE Conjurer - Member of my party from BG1 Sarevok (ToB) - CE Fighter - He is only in ToB, and I really need well balanced party in SoA. Hexxat (EE) - NE ( she didn't even act as evil character ) Thief - She is not even interesting as a Vampire. Jan is better thief than Hexxat. Dorn (EE) - NE Blackguard - Didn't I kill you in the Friendly Arm Inn? Perhaps I will do that again and once! ( Or I will kill you, after I will get the Abyssal Blade from you. Hahaha! )
So BG1 have 10 evil characters and BG2 only 6. That's not really fair.
Does anyone of you know some evil NPC mods, which are already compatible with BG2EE? I know only Kindrek, Tiax, Ninde and Adrian. Are there any more please? Or do I must really wait for some?
Good NPCs in BG2: Imoen (NG) Minsc (CG) Keldron (LG) Mazzy (LG) Valygar(NG) Nalia (CG) Aerie (LG) Rasaad (LG)
So that's 8. When compared to 6 evil characters total in EE (7 in ToB), it wouldn't seem so bad now right? Not realy. Jaheira is basicaly acting NG the whole game(some mods are rightfuly adressing that). Anomen, when upgraded also turns into LG. Sarevok can be redeemed. Viconia can be reedemed. And many neutral other characters rly don't fit into the realy Evil playtrough (Neera and Jan agreeing to murder for profit?).
The game lacks the possibility to bring some NPCs down to the evil path, thus giving evil players more party choices.
@Arizael: Your count is off - five Evil NPCs in BG2:EE (Dorn, Korgan, Hexxat, Viconia and Edwin) plus Sarevok in ToB.
I agree with your other points, though: for all that Jan and Neera are Chaotic Neutral, they don't really fit into the mold of an evil party the way that Safana or Faldorn would. And yes, the game certainly could have used at least one character who could be converted from Good/Neutral to Evil.
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Level drain, Ability Drain (though not by illithids), Hold, Poison, Poison damage (think cloudkill), and Disease. Sounds about right though I don't know why other mind affecting spells like confusion and feeblemind aren't included.
I do agree that the introduction of Hexxat and Dorn are much needed additions to the BG "Evil" lineup. If you want to play a group that will 'split yer gut open', now you can do it. And without the comic relief needed 'just to fill the gap'.
Like:
Druid Grove - When I poison the source, she attacks me
When I attack Drizzt, she leaves the party
Underdark - if I decide kill Goldander Blackenrock for the stone instead of killing the Baalor, she attacks me
I really wish, there were more evil joinable NPC characters in BG2 like in BG1. I did'nt have such problem for creating a "good" evil party in the Baldur's gate 1.
There are many of them in BG1:
Xzar - CE necromancer - Not good as Edwin, but he is funny
Montaron - NE Fighter/Thief - Only evil thief that I can use and he is companion of Xzar
Viconia - NE Cleric - Best cleric in all series with magic resistance
Kagain - LE Fighter - Good fighter, who can serve as a tank with gauntles of dexterity
Shar - Teel - CE Fighter - Good strength and dexterity, but poor constitution. Can be Dual - class with thief ( if she had 3 points big intelligence, she could be dual - class with mage using two longswords and elven chain ) .
Edwin - LE Conjurer - Best mage in all series with two bonus spells.
Eldoth - NE Bard - Weaker bard than Garrick ( he is in pair with Skie )
Tiax - CE Cleric/Thief - Weaker cleric than Viconia and weaker thief than Montaron
Dorn (EE) - NE Blackguard - Why should I need another blackguard in my party, while I play as a blackguard already? He isn't even worth with his quests. ( Bah! Just die you foolish half-orc, in the name of my master! There can be only one! )
Baeloth (EE) - CE Sorcerer - Not bad character, good as Edwin.
BG2:
Korgan - CE Berserker - Powerful fighter for evil parties
Viconia - NE Cleric - Member of my party from BG1
Edwind - LE Conjurer - Member of my party from BG1
Sarevok (ToB) - CE Fighter - He is only in ToB, and I really need well balanced party in SoA.
Hexxat (EE) - NE ( she didn't even act as evil character ) Thief - She is not even interesting as a Vampire. Jan is better thief than Hexxat.
Dorn (EE) - NE Blackguard - Didn't I kill you in the Friendly Arm Inn? Perhaps I will do that again and once! ( Or I will kill you, after I will get the Abyssal Blade from you. Hahaha! )
So BG1 have 10 evil characters and BG2 only 6. That's not really fair.
Does anyone of you know some evil NPC mods, which are already compatible with BG2EE? I know only Kindrek, Tiax, Ninde and Adrian. Are there any more please? Or do I must really wait for some?
Good NPCs in BG2:
Imoen (NG)
Minsc (CG)
Keldron (LG)
Mazzy (LG)
Valygar(NG)
Nalia (CG)
Aerie (LG)
Rasaad (LG)
So that's 8. When compared to 6 evil characters total in EE (7 in ToB), it wouldn't seem so bad now right? Not realy. Jaheira is basicaly acting NG the whole game(some mods are rightfuly adressing that). Anomen, when upgraded also turns into LG. Sarevok can be redeemed. Viconia can be reedemed. And many neutral other characters rly don't fit into the realy Evil playtrough (Neera and Jan agreeing to murder for profit?).
The game lacks the possibility to bring some NPCs down to the evil path, thus giving evil players more party choices.
I agree with your other points, though: for all that Jan and Neera are Chaotic Neutral, they don't really fit into the mold of an evil party the way that Safana or Faldorn would. And yes, the game certainly could have used at least one character who could be converted from Good/Neutral to Evil.