Top 10 BG Background Characters
ZaramMaldovar
Member Posts: 2,309
Well, this is the countdown that won out so here we go:
Just so we're clear, my criteria for "background character" is any character that plays little to no important role in the story. I am also excluding important characters from the major quests such as secondary villains like Firkragg but minor characters from those same sidequests are fair game.
Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let us begin
#10: Mad Cleric (BG2)
This guy is just a gem and probably my second favorite follower of Cyric behind our great Lord Tiax (praise be to him). So you're party is wondering around the Docks District and making their way to the Shadow Thief Guildhall for one of one of the quests there when all of the sudden you are meant by a crazed man demanding that you join him in worshipping Cyric. There are a few ways that you can resolve this, most of which end in violence but my personally favorite is tricking the man into believing you already follow Cyric. Just the man's reaction alone is enough to put him on this list, it's so...well I just want you to experience it for yourself.
#9: Oogie Wisham (BG)
It's just...paladins you know? The way they look at you it's like they just...know. This nutcase of a medieval conspiracy theorist can be found on the 2nd floor of one of the Jovial Juggler in Beregost and like most of the NPCs on this list, he is great to waste a minute or two on. Go fuel the flames of his paranoia, you won't be dissapointed
#8: Maple Willow Aspen (BG)
Another gem hidden away in one of Baldur's Gate many taverns, Maple Willow Aspen doesn't provide much in the way of conversation, but just her name alone is noteworthy enough to be on this list. If you DO decide to talk to her however, she does have a few things to say about her parent's odd choice in name.
#7: Reginald "Longtooth" Worthington III (BG)
Ah yes, NPCs. Whether they be companions or persons of no real consequence, one will always find something of noteworthy value in those who chose to divulge another personage in conversation whether it be enlightening or trivial or perhaps somewhere in between one can only discover the truth of the matter by engaging in words with another mutual interested individual for what would one's journey be without the intricacies of a mutually beneficial intercourse of remarks. Wouldn't you agree, dear fellow?
#6: Portalbendarwinden (BG)
This tired old hermit is a hillarious encounter for all players if you bother to find him, but the real reason Portalbendarwinden is on this list is because of what YOU can say to HIM...you guys know what I'm talking about and again I won't spoil for those who haven't had the privileged of talking to this old man themselves. (...AND HIS HAT!)
#5: Viekang (BG2/TOB)
Perhaps the most classic example of a random encounter that Baldur's Gate 2 has to offer (other than a certain unsuccessful assassin who ISN'T on this list) Viekang is....odd to say the least. You first meet him in Trademeet where he teleports away in a bolt of lightning at the first sight of you, giving you very little exposition as to why. After a long enough time that CHARNAME likely forgot about the man, you run into Viekang again when the party reaches Saradush in Throne of Bhaal. Now equipped with knowledge on Viekang's strange abilities and Mellisan's ill fated attempt to "help him" the party can choose to assist him in escaping Saradush. What becomes of him afterwards is a mystery for he does not make a third appearance, though one can assume that he eventually faced a fate that he could not escape from.
It is beginning to get rather dark where I am and I wrote down my list on paper, so I will finish the other half of this list tomorrow. In the meantime feel free to give your thoughts on my list so far.
I look forward to this and more countdowns in the future.
Just so we're clear, my criteria for "background character" is any character that plays little to no important role in the story. I am also excluding important characters from the major quests such as secondary villains like Firkragg but minor characters from those same sidequests are fair game.
Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let us begin
#10: Mad Cleric (BG2)
This guy is just a gem and probably my second favorite follower of Cyric behind our great Lord Tiax (praise be to him). So you're party is wondering around the Docks District and making their way to the Shadow Thief Guildhall for one of one of the quests there when all of the sudden you are meant by a crazed man demanding that you join him in worshipping Cyric. There are a few ways that you can resolve this, most of which end in violence but my personally favorite is tricking the man into believing you already follow Cyric. Just the man's reaction alone is enough to put him on this list, it's so...well I just want you to experience it for yourself.
#9: Oogie Wisham (BG)
It's just...paladins you know? The way they look at you it's like they just...know. This nutcase of a medieval conspiracy theorist can be found on the 2nd floor of one of the Jovial Juggler in Beregost and like most of the NPCs on this list, he is great to waste a minute or two on. Go fuel the flames of his paranoia, you won't be dissapointed
#8: Maple Willow Aspen (BG)
Another gem hidden away in one of Baldur's Gate many taverns, Maple Willow Aspen doesn't provide much in the way of conversation, but just her name alone is noteworthy enough to be on this list. If you DO decide to talk to her however, she does have a few things to say about her parent's odd choice in name.
#7: Reginald "Longtooth" Worthington III (BG)
Ah yes, NPCs. Whether they be companions or persons of no real consequence, one will always find something of noteworthy value in those who chose to divulge another personage in conversation whether it be enlightening or trivial or perhaps somewhere in between one can only discover the truth of the matter by engaging in words with another mutual interested individual for what would one's journey be without the intricacies of a mutually beneficial intercourse of remarks. Wouldn't you agree, dear fellow?
#6: Portalbendarwinden (BG)
This tired old hermit is a hillarious encounter for all players if you bother to find him, but the real reason Portalbendarwinden is on this list is because of what YOU can say to HIM...you guys know what I'm talking about and again I won't spoil for those who haven't had the privileged of talking to this old man themselves. (...AND HIS HAT!)
#5: Viekang (BG2/TOB)
Perhaps the most classic example of a random encounter that Baldur's Gate 2 has to offer (other than a certain unsuccessful assassin who ISN'T on this list) Viekang is....odd to say the least. You first meet him in Trademeet where he teleports away in a bolt of lightning at the first sight of you, giving you very little exposition as to why. After a long enough time that CHARNAME likely forgot about the man, you run into Viekang again when the party reaches Saradush in Throne of Bhaal. Now equipped with knowledge on Viekang's strange abilities and Mellisan's ill fated attempt to "help him" the party can choose to assist him in escaping Saradush. What becomes of him afterwards is a mystery for he does not make a third appearance, though one can assume that he eventually faced a fate that he could not escape from.
It is beginning to get rather dark where I am and I wrote down my list on paper, so I will finish the other half of this list tomorrow. In the meantime feel free to give your thoughts on my list so far.
I look forward to this and more countdowns in the future.
6
Comments
Longtooth, but yes.
And I don't think all of those characters are in the same inn...are they?
Hmm, I just checked and apparently they are.
Especially Salvanas-modNPC dialog like Tashia ("This is going to be a wild ride, Salvanas! Prepare yourself, for this night you shall never forget!" "Er, I think I hear my captain calling! COMING CAPTAIN!").
And Salvanas-Edwina.
Salvanas is great, but not on my list.
Thanks for the feedback though, I almost forgot about him. I'll have to scrounge up a list of honorable mentions when I'm done
*Carbos and yes, those are both hilarious.
Never explains how Shank and Carbos are alive in BG2 though.
Thank you for the suggestion but while the selection of a Top 10 was up for vote, the actual contents of the Top 10 are my own opinions.
I both appreciate and respect your opinion however.
Potentially? Sure, but only as an option if that character did indeed die in BG1
Shank and Carbos are the only two that without question were killed, unless the canon timeline actually dictates that Shank and Carbos never showed up in Candlekeep at all.
In any case
#4: Troll Cook (BG2)
A clever gem hidden away in an optional corridor of Firkragg's dunegon, the Troll Cook wishes only to pursue his craft. The only problem? His craft is you. Seriously though, just the level of sarcasm and politeness makes Troll Cook seem relatively harmless and almost a good guy if it weren't for the fact that he was trying to kill you.
#3: Nuber (SOD)
With the exception of Throne of Bhaal, each chapter of Baldur's Gate has it's own pestering peasant whose curiosity gets the best of the them. What makes Nuber from SOD so great in comparison? Well mostly his refusal to die. Noober and Neeber can both be killed without issue, but if the party kills Nuber they will discover that he will simply continue talking as a ghost. You may kill the ghost if you wish but Nuber will only come back and do something and nobody would've expect...attack you (I mean, can you blame him?) to finish the job you can kill him a third time if you wish, but at this point it's overkill to an absurdly comical degree. So in conclusion, he's Noober but actually competent.
And the good news is, he's not dead for long....I GET TO KILL HIM AGAIN!
#2: Volo (BG/TOB)
Perhaps the most famous background NPC in the entire game, Volo is hidden away from the well trodden path inside the Belching Dragon Tavern of Nashkel and the Tankard Tree of Saradush respectively. Speak to him in Baldur's Gate and he will provide meaningful lore and conversation, speak to him in Throne of Bhaal and he will spin a tale of your own party's exploits that it worth a nice little two minute deversion. Volothamp Geddarm is in my opinion is without question the best canon D&D character stuffed into the background of Baldur's Gate, though there are several (such as Cadderly) that make an apperance.
#1: Mutamin (BG)
In my opinion the great villian that time forgot is none other than the twisted gnomish mage that waits patiently for his next victim just north of Gullykin. When arrive in Mutamin's Garden you'll find the place invested with Basilisks (and a few gnolls, but who cares about them) and eventually you'll come across the mad wizard himself. And this delicious evil and very terrifying experience while by no means an impressive challenge really made it's mark on me. I always look forward to putting an end to this very evil man's existence...if only for the EXP farming (seriously, 7000 xp each for those Greater Basilisks...I need to stop drooling every time I think about that)
So what do you think?
What countdown would like me to do next?
I look forward to making another list in December as well as scrounging up a list of honorable mentions for later.
Thanks for reading
Point Taken.
I HATE the Baldur's Gate Sewers, sue me :P
As far as countdowns, BG movies or cut scenes might be interesting. Although it's a little hard to find some that allow playback off of youtube.
Hmm...that is an interesting thought. I'm sure I can find more than a few of the original cinematics on Youtube.
Why thank you.
Originally I was going to come up with an honorable mentions list, but I've opted out of that simply because there are too many good NPCs for that.
I may eventually do a list of worst NPCs though, but not any time soon.
Oh don't worry pal...he's on the list
Bondari, Nanoc the Barbarian and Tim from TOB have to be included surely?
Such a welcome addition and surprise in TOB where nothing much alleviates the slog through the game.
Damn, I completly forgot about them.
Let's make them #11 then.
Bondari Reloads.
Lol
Baldur's Gate, man. The game when you can battle guy from a jar, because why not.
2. Saerileth
3. Saerileth
4. Saerileth
5. Saerileth
6. Saerileth
7. Saerileth
8. Saerileth
9. Saerileth
10. Habib Khalid Achmed Allafif
Wow...somebody hates an NPC named Saerileth apparently.
Not me, surely.