I know you can grab NPCs at different levels, but what determines that level?

Is it Protagonist XP?

Is it Protagonist level?

Is it party level?

I ask because I want to grab Coran on as low a level as possible, so I can have as much influence over his Thief Skills and proficiencies as I can.

TIA

This site...
http://www.dudleyville.com/bg1/good.htm
gives levels the NPC's can be at upon aquisition. But since Coran is in the Cloakwood, he will be fairly advanced by the time you get to him. There is a mod which allows you to get all NPC's early in the game, though.

Thanks for that link, but what determines which level the NPC will be at when you get him/her?

Also, with that NPC mod, can Coran get *** with Bows (it shouldn't be possible for a multiclassed character)?

I can say for sure that it's not XP but actual level that counts. You can have 1000000xp but be only level 1 and you'll meet the lowest level version. So you can try and not level up to get lowest level Coran. Might prove difficult to play though.

I'm not sure if it's protagonist level or whole party level that counts though.

According to the Dudleyville website, you can get Coran at L3(PC at L3 or less) or L5(PC at L4 or above). But I am getting the impression you want more control of his stats. I recommend that you CLUA him into the game, then modify his stats via the CLUA console, or the Gatekeeper program.

I don't want to cheat.

What?!?! You're kidding right? To paraphrase Pontius Pilate..."what is cheating?". There's a theory that sez any form of modding is 'cheating'. Anyway,,if you don't like Coran at L3 or L5 stats..I don't quite know what you can do,, and not 'cheat'.
What is your goal? Do you want to raise Coran from a L1 noob?

Really, I think what you might like is the "all NPC's at the beginning" mod. It makes all NPC's available early in the game, except for quest NPC's(Dynaheir,Xan,Yeslick and Skie). Coran is available at the Friendly Arm Inn as soon as you can get there. However this mod is no longer available online, to my knowledge. I have a copy and can email it to you..if you desire. The mod is only 117kb large, so it would be a small attachment. If you would like this mod then PM me with an addy, and I'll send it to you.

You can CLUA a recruitable NPC into the game, and they will talk to you just as they would normally--meaning, it's quite possible to create and recruit Coran while you're still in Candlekeep. The only problem is, if you try to Save the game, or travel from one map area to another, with a CLUA'd NPC in your party, the game immediately crashes. This could be something of a drawback to some people.

You can CLUA a recruitable NPC into the game, and they will talk to you just as they would normally--meaning, it's quite possible to create and recruit Coran while you're still in Candlekeep. The only problem is, if you try to Save the game, or travel from one map area to another, with a CLUA'd NPC in your party, the game immediately crashes. This could be something of a drawback to some people. </font>[/QUOTE]My bad. That shows you how many times I've CLUA'd an NPC into a game,,,none. Well Klorox, I guess your options are...
1. Wait till you get to Coran in The Cloakwood..then modify his thieving stats
with Gatekeeper. Or,,
2. Use the "All NPC's at the beginning" mod.

Good gaming!

As Iunderstand it, there is a slight drawback to using this mod to get Coran. You can get Coran at the Friendly Arm alright, but Coran has a quest that he requires you to do, or he will walk. Which means that whenever you pick him up you will have 10 (I think) days to kill a wyvern and take the head to the Beregost Temple.

AFAIK the only wyverns are in Cloakwood, after the Druids map, so you need to get there, kill a wyvern and get back to Beregost in 10 days. If you pick up Coran as soon as you get the the FAI that means you'll have to get through the Nashkell mines, Bandit Camp and much of Cloakwood in 10 days. I'm pretty sure this is possible, but you'll really have to hurry.

Or yuo could CLUA in a wyvern. But you still have to kill it, and at level 1 that isn't so easy.

I think your best bet is to leave your PC at level 3 (or level 2/1 if multiclassed) until you pick up Coran in Cloakwood. As soon as you get him you can do all your level ups.