NPCs acting independently?

Communard

Just had a thought after playing the early chapters of a new BG1 game: would it not be more logical to have some of the NPCs do things of their own accord rather than simply wait around or vanish if you spurn them? The ones I'm mainly thinking about are Xzar, Montatron, Khalid and Jahiera. The Zhents and the Harpers both want their agents to investigate the trouble in Nashkel, and it seems rather odd that they would abandon this task. I've thought of a couple of ways to include them as a minor story point:

-In chapter two, have either group staying in one of the rooms at the Naskel Inn. If both groups are not in the party there could perhaps be a scripted confrontation between them, with the PC having the option to intervene or remain neutral.

-When the Nashkel Mines are completed, the ones that are not in the PC's party (or dead) are found imprisoned in the same area as Xan.

This would do a couple of things: It would emphasise that the Iron Crisis is important to a lot of groups and that the PC is being watched, and it would give a more satisfying conclusion to those NPCs who the PC doesn't neccessarily want to bring along. You could probably do some similar ones for other NPCs with clear motivations (Perhaps we find Kivan imprisoned in the Bandit Camp after trying to kill Tazok?).

sirthaddaeus

Not a bad idea I think! But, correct me if I am wrong, isnt there already confrontation between Khalid/Jahiera and Xzar/Montatron if both are in party already?

sarevok57

@sirthaddaeus there is actually, one time i was just minding my own business and the montaron said something about smellin a harper or some such so the 4 of them all had purple circles and fought to the death so if you all 4 of them in your group, save often so if they do fight just reload

AzL0n

@communard

Fantastic idea. I don't know if this kind of thing is allowed for them to do but I sure hope it is. It's important to feel like you're in a world that is in constant motion. You don't want to feel like you're the only one moving in the story and that everything resolves around you like a Truman show. Also I would add that you could meet Eldoth in Baldur's gate if you didn't bring him along in Cloakwood, maybe he would be preparing for his scheme.