POLL: exp VS items

[D*Ranged]

Shadow thieves VS Bodhi: Shadow thieves will net u more exp (or so many have pointed out), or Bodhi and more items (as sum1 pointed out), what will u choose?

[Zornelis]

Difficult, I think it depends how high your party is in exp....

But I think it doesn't really matter which way you go, you want exp. as well as items so it's your choice...

[eb]

Hmm.. i don´t think you can get Mace of Disrutption if you go with Bodhi. Havent tested but i recall someone who said that.

[Russ]

D*ranged,

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The roleplaying answer:
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I would generally suggest working with the Shadow Thieves if you're using the "standard" npc group. If you're an evil necromantic type, then perhaps the vampires would be better. As well, it's not likely for Minsc, who has figured out that he can live with gnolls so long as they keep their hardware to themselves, to put up with vampires, who, after being associated with the guy who killed Dynaheir, are starting to really irritate him....

Generally, it'd be odd for any good-or-neutral-aligned human to align himself with a group of giant undead ticks, (Steakley has that one, you know, that's all a vampire is, but a human being turned into a tick) especially a group of giant, undead, murderous ones.

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The rollplaying answer
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This game is absolutely crammed with fantastic items. I am not a powergamer of any stripe, and my problem with magic items is never that I lack them, but instead which of the five really good weapons and gear is it really better to part with.... so even there I would err on the side of exp.

[Azred]

At worst, the Shadow Thieves will consider you an enemy and try to deal with you in the appropriate manner. This is simply business.

At worst, Bodhi will consider you to be a tasty snack and deal with you in the appropriate manner. This is personal.

Thus, most sane people would never choose to side with Bodhi....

[Phantom of might and magic]

You CAN get mace from the blood pool even easier and faster than when ur with shadows thieves. BTW what items you get from bodhi??? I didnt get jack only from dead shadow thieves hehe.

[J'aran]

I might be wrong on this, but don't you miss out on the Amulet of Power if you side with Bodhi? I wouldn't want to miss that necklace for the world, it's the best in the whole game, including ToB.

[Nifft the Nimble]

D*Ranged,

That's IMHO a false dichotomy. You get both items AND exp by siding with Bodhi. The shadow thieves may not individually be worth as much as a vampire, but there are a LOT more of them. Most of the exp seems to come from finishing the quests (in both paths), and you'll definitely get that either way.

Role play any way you want: destroying either the Shadow Thieves or the Vampires is a worthy goal for any honorable person; looting their lair of its enviable horde is a rational goal for any selfish being.

If you're low level, IMHO killing the Shadow Thieves is easier.

Hope that helps, though I fear I've just muddied the waters.

-- Nifft

[Nifft the Nimble]

quote:

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Originally posted by J'aran:
I might be wrong on this, but don't you miss out on the Amulet of Power if you side with Bodhi? I wouldn't want to miss that necklace for the world, it's the best in the whole game, including ToB.

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J'aran, you DO get the amulet if you join with Bodhi. It's just that you have to pry it out of the cold, dead hands of a certain Shadow Master...

-- Nifft

[Micah Foehammer]

Without going into plot details, my decision would always be colored in future games by what I know NOW about Bodhi. I can more easily rationalize siding with the thieves, than I could with Bodhi - experience and items notwithstanding.

Also, I hardly ever play evil characters ... and maybe its easier for my good alignment characters to side with the shadow thieves instead of Bodhi - who just reeks of evil.