A semi-poll here....

I have never used Skie, Quayle, or Tiax.
I have had Faldorn in my party long enough to take advantage of her Healing spells, then I dump her again.
I have had Eldoth in my party just long enough to realize that he sucks.
One time, I had Alora long enough for her to pick a couple of locks.
I sometimes use Garrick to Identify things for me.
I once had Safana in the party for about five minutes running.
I've used Edwin, but only rarely--I prefer Xzar.
I usually use Jaheira right up until I can get Branwen.

What NPCs have you *never* beaten the game with? What NPCs do you disregard completely?

(To be comprehensive, I played one game where I took Garrick & Jaheira all the way to the end.)

[ 01-14-2003, 03:47 PM: Message edited by: SixOfSpades ]

Well this should be a decent poll Six.

I guess I have pretty much used everybody for just a little bit.

But the ones I have never had for any length of time worth mentioning are.
Skie, Quayle, Faldorn, Eldoth, Alora, Garrick, Xzar, and Montaron.

The thing with Alora, Eldoth, Skie, Quayle, and Tiax is the game is already like 2/3rds over when you get to them.

I have never liked Xzar with his 4HP so will that leaves Montaron out as well.

Faldorn, Garrick, Eldoth I am not a big fan of them either.

The next few times I play I usually toss in one or two NPC's that I have rarely used. I used Tiax once who was OK but it made doing TotSC areas a little difficult because of traps and lock picking was not up to were it could have been if I had taken an earlier theif. I will try to get in a game with Alora and Quayle at some point.

[ 01-14-2003, 04:19 PM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

First off, I love Alora. She is so happy. A little prozac popping woman who just makes you smile, you can't help it. I once managed to wiggle my way into the city of Baldur's Gate when my whole party was about level 3 or 4. (I skipped most areas and used some major cheese to get passed tough fights) Alora, if you can get her early enough, is a good thief.

I had a party where I had both Quayle and Tiax. Never again. Oh so annoying, in such a bad way. Don't bother. Both of them, well, um, to put it kindly, suck. Poor stats, bad personalities, just ick.

I am a big fan of Yeslick, most folks seem to over look him. Yeslick and Xan make a good combo, and, highly effective to boot.

Personally, the least used NPC for me was Edwin. I can't stand him. Xzar was a better mage, at least for my needs, in almost every way. Infact, I hated Eddy and his snotty look down on the monkeys sort of attitude so much, I usually had Imoen stab him in the back with the dagger of venom.

im stuck in my ways the only people i ever really used for any length of time in my party were

montaron
xzar
branwen
jaheira
coran
khalid
xan
imoen

small list i know [img]tongue.gif[/img] and my main char is invariably a pure warrior.

My list is about the same as yours Six. Although I recently started a new game just to have differnt NPCs. Unfortunately, I don't have the time to continue it at the moment.

least used, anyone you can't pick up before chaprter 3 (I like being able to customize the characters and after this point there are too many levels and proficiencies and not being able to set up a really good thief except for Imoen) others are Xan - too depressing, and he can't get some of the better spells (fireball to name just one) Jaheira and Khalid, Khalid needs to grow a pair, and Jaheira annoys me too much to keep her long (at least once you pick up Minsc and Dynaheir) Viconia can be fun, but her MR makes her too hard to heal, it's a pain wasting healing spells on her.

Xzar and Monty are loose cannons and so I tend not to use them. (monty once backstabbed a sleeping woman in the friendly arm, I haven't used him since)

[ 01-15-2003, 02:55 PM: Message edited by: Morgeruat ]

I went out of my way to make sure I tried every NPC at least once during my adventures. I am quite happy to recruit any of them, no matter how bizarre or incompetent they might be. However the following are on my least used list:

Skie - it is just too much trouble to get her to join.
Faldorn - gets killed easily and has little to offer in return. The worst NPC in the game ?
Alora - a good companion, with a happy disposition, but I never need a thief at that point in the game
Khalid - somehow I never have need of him. When I plan a party I rarely bother with the obvious choices.

I have also tried the illusionary NPC's and most of the Dark Side companions, so that covers a very broad spectrum of abilities and attitudes.

PS - Hey Six, isn't it time you gave those small people a chance!

What I like doing is writing the names of all the NPCs (including the Illusionary ones) on slips of paper, then putting them in a bowl and plucking out 5 at random. I've had decent luck so far. (Worst-case Scenario #1: Osprey, Faldorn, Xzar, Garrick, & Eldoth. Worst-case Scenario #2: Tiax, Skie, Quayle, Alora, and Yeslick.)

I *do* use the short folk, the names I listed in my first post are the NPCs that usually aren't wanted in my party. Kagain's the very best Tank in the game, Montaron is a kickass Fighter/Thief (second only to Coran), and Yeslick would whoop Branwen any day, and isn't far behind her as a Cleric. It's a shame that half of the small people are beyond the Cloakwood barrier; as a result, nobody (except you, of course) really uses them. Alora could be my party's Thief if only I could have more control over where she puts her Thieving points; as it is, I prefer using Coran + Imoen to cover all my bases. Quayle's an OK Mage but the very worst Cleric, and Tiax is the 2nd-worst Cleric and the very worst Thief, and is CE to boot. I fail to see the appeal.

My Party tends to be the following
Imoen
Jahera(untill I can get Yeslik)
Khalid(untill I can get Ajantis)
Minsc
Dynaheir
Yeslik
Ajantis

I am an archer so i need the two big guys to give me room to work

Never used to the end:

Xzar (too annoying)
Montaron. (part of the set)
Eldoth + Skie (too much trouble getting)
Safana (when evil I exchange her for Tiax)
Faldorn
Alora - I always use Imoen as thief - IMO she's the best in the game)