I am just going through maps which i have previously explored and in Peldsvale, south of the bandit camp i have come across Visconia the drow whom i had saved from persecution earler on in my gaming experience. I must confess I have never once in all of the times i have played the game added her to my party as i found the loss of not just one but two reputation points a bit off-putting.

I seek the insight of somebody who has actually used her before and who has a sound knowledge of her capabilities as a cleric.

I have never used her in a party before, and I'm not sure what her stats are exactly. However, if you are running a neutral or evil party she might be a nice addition since I believe she's a Cleric. As for the reputation deduction that she brings, you shouldn't let that dictate your decision. I mean you only need to donate a few hundred gold pieces at the local church in order to make up for that rep loss. Go ahead and give her a try.

She is a drow and peoples don't like drows in FR world.
Maybe that is that.

She's a decent enough Cleric--Branwen has better STR, CON and WIS, but Viconia's DEX can make her deadly with a Sling. And she naturally has 50% Magic Resistance, pure gold against spellcasters.

The Rep drop is negligible, considering all the Reputation flying around. Don't get used to it--Rep quests are much more difficult to come by in BG2.

Viconia is a no-go area unless you're evil, i never wanted her, i've tried her once but she is CRAP, *AND* she tries to have romance with you!!! A DROW???? now way, the only drow i like is Drizzt!

I've never worried too much about mixing NPC's with opposite alignments, I do it all the time. When I used an 'all female' party I played through the early Chapters with Jaheira, Branwen and Viconia in my team, so I was able to compare their abilities. There was not much to choose between them but when the time came to get rid of one of them (to bring in Safana if I remember correctly) then it was Viconia who got the boot. I think it was her lack of strength that tipped the balance, she can only just carry her own armour, let alone anything else.

lol...and yet you like Tiax? [img]smile.gif[/img]

Of course, the solution to a low STR is to simply give them a lighter suit of armor--I can think of 3 really lightweight armors in BG1 that still grant a good AC. Also, Viconia has no use whatsoever for the Gauntlets you find in Chapter 3--might as well give her the Gauntlets from Chapter 5.

Well Six, you soon saw through my dual standards. You're quite right to say that Viconia can use the lightweight armour - the green set is pretty good for Clerics but I would have to wait a while to afford it, because using the hidden set is a bit too cheesy.
I do think it's a waste to have Clerics stand at the back and throw rocks, I'd much rather have them get stuck in alongside the glamour boys in the front rank. That's why I like Tiax, he can get involved in the rough and tumble - he doesn't even have a spare weapon slot for a sling. But then again he does need those Gauntlets and a good Psychiatrist! Actually at the moment I have a party with no Fighters, instead I have 2 Clerics in the front line, which makes a nice change. Well, my character is actually a Thief (100% traps) dueled to Cleric, which can make for quite a useful combination - a bit like Tiax only without his 'attitude'.

Umm... i didn't think you could have romances in BG1, i know you can have one with her on BG2.

I think that was from BG2.