Which of those followers should I take? I'm at the Umpani Base and currently have Vi (Myles left earlier. I don't need him much anyway), so it's a toss-up between Sparkle and Saxx. This is my party:

Draconian Fighter
Felpurr Samurai
Human Ninja
Gnome Gadgeteer
Elven Alchemist
Mook Psychic

My Mook has nearly 100 Sense and I always turns Search on so Sparkle isn't required much. My question is, is Sparkle a good fighter, or will Saxx's instruments make up for her fighting skills?

Unless you want to play the bard character for the novelty of using the instruments, you don't need either character (or even Vi). Your party has most everything covered on its own.

The only NPC worth taking along in the long run is the metal man from the mines -- he's very loyal. He'll also siphon off experience though...

Definitely retain Vi. she's a good fighter with polearm. I prefer RFS-81 though, he's the best rpc.

I'm only on my second time through the game but this time I took along a Ninja instead of a bard and let me say, I'm really missing my bard right now. Though the fast healing that the bard has is absolutely no use in combat, resting takes noticably longer without the bard.

Vi, Sparkle and Sax don't want to go to Rapax Castle. Only RFS, android extraordinaire, seems up for the task. He's not much for water adventures, tho. Understandable. He gets VERY good later when his stats are pumped, many instant kills. I use him with a polearm for range. I currently have a Dracon Lord, Gnome Bard (formerly a Samuri, that was a mistake, took me 8 level ups to switch her, did result in a Bard with 54 in critical strike), a Human Rouge, and an Elven Bishop. I added Sparkle recently but am about to drop her. I do like Scouts, almost as good fighters as Rouges. Bards are great once they have their stamina, levels and instruments together. As good as a Bishop and they can fight well. One more thing: I lost Vi in this latest game! I droped her off in Arnika and she was not at Heli's when I returned. Bad girl! I may or may not go looking for her...she'll probably show up anyway at the final battle (her stats always are unrelated to what I pumped up anyway, she gains a hundred or 2 HP).

Actually RFS will go anywhere except the Rapax Away Camp. Currently I have him swimming and he is not complaining. RFS is the only RPC I would take. I did finish the first game with both Vi and RFS and a party of 6. My second time through I am playing a 4 person party with just RFS and I am finding it much easier as I level up faster.

Well I took Vi and put her up front. She was a good fighter, but since she was good with maces, I turn her into a priest. It was kinda stupid I thought, at first, but she makes good priest. I mean, really! She starts with high divine skills and stuff. Well, at least, now she doesn't steal my kills. Just statistic spells and HOLAA!!!

Good move! The main thing your party lacked was Priest spells, and the Priest is excellent with a Mace (or flail, when you get good ones) and a shield. There are extended reach ones, too!

By portal, you can get Vi into Rapax castle and underwater areas, and you will need her Priest skills in those areas also, even tho she will be Hexed. Also, you will need the patience of a saint to listen to her whinning. You might consider turning the sound off on your computer when in those regions... seriously. Once you reach the Peak, she will be fine.

Be sure to max intelligence and get Powercast. You don't have to, but it will make her a *lot* more powerfull.

As a side note, Tantris (the T'Rang Samurai) will also willingly go to the rift with your party (in addition to RFS), but he (she? it?) will not willingly go to the peak.

Good luck!

I only use the savant trooper NPC as well. Dig the criticles, even if he does moan when i try to go to rapax away camp.

I always take the trinny gadgeteer for about 2 minutes... just enough time to slap together two doubleshot crossbows.

Vi is good, but my parties usually have lots of magic.

Saxx... i think everyone just pick pockets him for his intrument ;) I found Sparkle to be absolutely useless (same class as Myles IMHO)

Number 1 rule of NPCs... Dont be scared to boot their a$$es out the door when the time comes. But know that they dont always go back to their original spots.
My first game i dropped Sparkle off with Bela and she stayed there for the rest of the game [img]smile.gif[/img]

Sparkle was just two annoyin, and Saxx starts out at a higher level and comes with his cool 'soulful sax', so you get more bang for the buck with him. Plus, he's more fun to listen to when he talks, and says some funny things. He was great for the early game, and with Saxx I actually had two bards in my party, which was quite useful. But, Saxx doesn't like to go a lot of places, and after I got the android, I switched back and forth for awhile between the two but eventually said goodbye to Saxx and have kept the android ever since. And I have Vi in my party too.