Before I go any further, I should get input on this. But my initial or gut feeling is to go with the thieves. I dunno...I kinda think she's creeepy. So the first thing I did was see the sights a little, check out the Kopper Kettle and left for the D'Asturian estate...I mean on the rich guilty liberal girl's quest. And made a brief stop at Trademeet on the way back, didn't really do anything but kill some animals (have to talk to that guy about them again...) and find out a little of what the genies are up to. Then when I walk in the gate everybody wants everything all at once and before I barely do anything but attend (what is her NAME) Dad's funeral the thieves are offering a cut rate and Bodhi wants me to become EVERYBODY'S enemy in one swell foop. And then *POOF* it's Chap. 3 and I haven't done ANYTHING yet! I don't HAVE to do things in a certain order I hope 'cause I have tag ends hanging out all over the place already. And one more thing isn't there a search function for keywords or subjects in the forum here? Without looking at EVERY SINGLE PAGE to find some specific info? I haven't been in the Slaver thing yet or the weird dome but I did find the poor kid's bear...See?
Talk to you later real soon,
Kethec (the Nonplussed)

Generally( note, generally), parties that are good-aligned will take the Shadow Thieves. Evil parties will join Bodhi. Neutral parties join the Shadow Thieves too.

The missions do not have to be completed in any order. The search function is being repared at the moment.

Between the two factions, the shadow theives are the lesser of the two evils.

Actually, the good-evil thing always puzzled me for a bit. A good-aligned character would only have to be slightly gullible/naive to side with Bodhi. It's only later in the game that you find out how evil she is, so it sounds to me like avoiding her in the beginning going ahead on the plot.
Also, it's not as if the Shadow Thieves are such a bunch of goody two shoes... at least Bodhi has an excuse for acting evil...

SPOILER AHEAD:

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I always side with Bodhi. You will have to fight her anyway later in the game, so in terms of XP and items, it's much smarter. You get the XP and items of Aran Linvail c.s. and will get the XP and items for Bodhi and her gang later on anyway.

I'm agreeing here .. i kinda like the phrase:
Keep your friends close, and your enemies even closer [img]smile.gif[/img]

I don't give a crap about alignment, I always side with Bodhi. Unless I am a thief, of course, but siding with her in the beginning and going against the Shadow Thieves is a lot easier than going against her, because of her certain race.

Vampires are not that tough or scary... ...

They are actually quite easy when your average party level is 11-12. Remember, you have the Amulet of Power and several kickass summons. Plus the fact you can wantonly cast spells without fear of persecution.

I side with the Shadow Thieves when I am playing good parties, because I have faith in thieves' honour. Bodhi, on the other hand, is just oozing with evilness. I was already hesitant to accept her during my first run-through of the game.

I agree, Dundee Slaytern...and also, if you have the Mace of Disruption (which you can get in the tomb) and then leave and upgrade it with the Illithium, you have yet another "level drain" blocker. Also, Azuredge (throwing axe) is a fantastic weapon against undead if you have someone with prof in axe. (Usually I give 1 prof point in axe to Minsc and let him wield Azuredge...those vamps fall from a distance!)

And even if you do get drained a level or two, there are restoration scrolls and spells, or you can always leave, visit a temple, and return.

-Sazerac

But that has nothing to do with whom you side with, does it? You can get the Mace in both cases, you fight the vamps in both cases.
All I'm saying is, side with Linvail and you'll miss out on the XP of killing him, and some minor items. Side with Bodhi and you get to kill her anyway. [img]smile.gif[/img]

I was doing it from a roleplaying perspective.

Sureeee, I can side with Bodhi even if I have Keldorn and Minsc in my party, but it would not feel right. For me at least.

~~WEIRD_VOICE]

"I'm a powergaming roleplayer!"

True, hence my point about it being plausible for naive/gullible good characters to fall for Bodhi's lies.
You can roleplay almost anything convincingly - the most obvious option isn't always the best one... I think it's much more fun to try and explain seemingly alignment-contradictory actions. But each to their own [img]smile.gif[/img]

I fell thatunless you are playing with a lawful good party (in witch case neither is a good option), you should crave for xp. I disagree with what is said earlier about xp.

Wehen you join the thieves, you got to destroy the vamps and vice-versa. There are more Shadow Thieves to kill tham vampires, but each vamp is worth 8500 (forget about the vamp master and the Aran guy - they are worth the same amount of xp - 14000). There is No way that there are as many thieves to match this amount os xp (each 1400xp). The itens you can get in each guild does not change with you decision (Mace of disruption, ring of pickpocket, etc). The only thing useful you lose joining the thieves is Aran´s elven chain + 1 (AC 4). If I´m right it does not impairs magic skills.

It does not make sense to say that if you join the vamps you get to destroy both guilds (in terms of xp), because if you join the thieves you get to destroy the vamps twice

depends if you wanna leave a 'power void' in Althkata. lol; for one game I decided to 'side' with Bohdi knowing full well, I'd take her out later... as it happens, the docks district was left without a significant orginization for some time, since I took the harpers out as well... well its up to you I guess... depends on how much you hate thieves.

Actually, you can still max out your EXP by taking out both parties if you side with the Thieves, as well. Both Keldorn and Jaheira (possibly others) express resentment at working with the Shadow Thieves, especially once they get a load of Booter. So, in my Everybody's-as-close-to-Lawful-Good-as-Possible game, once we got back there in Chapter 6, we went and cleaned house--killed 'em all without cheating, and Arkanis Gath be damned.

(There's a simple spell that protects you from most of the damage he deals, and lasts long enough for a Tank to keep him busy, while you kill the other Thieves and lock Arkanis behind a door. I think Keldorn is strong enough to hold a door shut, don't you?)

Thanks an awful lot folks. I reckon this time (the first) I'll think Bodhi is just way too creepy and accept the lesser of two evils. Hey! What if I reject ALL of 'em!!! Ha Ha!! Yeah!! I never liked 'em anyway so to Hades with 'em!! Or would that put paid to me right there? MAYBE I don't HAVE to have any of them. I don't like them and don't want to work with or for ANY of them. There MUST be other ways!
T'anks,
Kethec the Nonplussed

If you play a babarian main character vampires are a lark. It's just before i'm hanging out at night in the streets just thump vampires.

There is no other way, Kethic. You have to side with one of them, if you don't you cannot continue on in the game plot.

Bodhi:
1. You get Rifthome Axe (a +3 perpetual throwing axe) and Aran's equipment (Elven Chain Mail +1, etc.)
2. You get everything you would get siding with Aran - including the Mace of Protection, Mae'Var's treasures or Renald Bloodscalp's reward. You also get Aran Linvail's compensation for your payment (Amulet of Power, etc.) as a part of Aran's equipment.
3. You must do Mae'Var's quest first - before you go to inform Bodhi that you are with her. Because the Bodhi's offer is timed (about 30 days after obtaining the invitation), you have to be fast with Mae'Var.
4. The "Thieve's Guild" quest is, IMHO, much more difficult than the "Bodhi's Lair" quest.
5. The night streets of Akathla will be free of vampires. More precisely, the vampires will not attack you.
6. You will not be attacked by vampires after arriving to the Asylum.
7. A thief protagonist cannot side with Bodhi.

Aran Linvail:
1. You lose all items listed in (1) at Bodhi.
2. You have enough time for Mae'Var.
3. You will be attacked by vampires in the Akathla streets during nights.
4. You will be attacked by vampires after arriving to the Asylum.
5. "Bodhi's lair" quest is easier than the "Thieves Guild" quest.

Evilness: Bodhi's quests are not too evil. For example, Edwin's quests - which you are forced to do during the Mae'Var quest - are far more evil. Bodhi herself is evil? Yes, she is and she is your enemy. But where do we know from that Aran Linvail is not evil? He is a thief, therefore, an evil element by nature.

Summary: Siding with Aran Linvail is inferior to siding with Bodhi. There is no reason for siding with Aran Linvail unless your protagonist is a thief or unless you love to be attacked by vampires and to waste your money in temples for healing level drains (if you haven't Viconia in your party, if your protagonist isn't a priest or if you don't have a custom party with a priest).

Viconia isnt the only one who can cast a restoration spell
Anomen can cast it (lesser restoration which is good enough for the level drains) right from the start
if you haste your characters when you see the vampires you will not have that much leveldrained party members

Not to mention that you can also use summons to chew them out... ...

True you miss XP on killin him, but the thieves are better. But am i the only one who knows that you can get a ring of protection +2 AND the amulet of power from him if you just ask for extra supplies befor you go to the Asylum. Vampires are hard to beat in the beginning, but once you get to 12 they are really easy.