Character Defense Post *An Irked Jerr*

[Jerr Conner]

I once tried to make a post defending every characters so-called bad qualities. However, I never got to complete it due to the fact that sometimes I get too lazy and need some major inspiration to complete a task. Call that one of my own so-called bad qualites.

Anyway, I've sort of been getting irked lately. Why? Mainly because there seems to be so much hatred toward characters in Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate II. I know that everyone is entitled to their own opinions.

Simply put, I don't think that the people with their opinions really have well-thought-out opinions. Simply put I think that people really just want to latch onto one trait of a person and totally hate them because of this one trait.

What makes it worse, in my opinions, is that these people are fictional; not real.

If it makes me shallow to defend fake non-existing characters, then so be it. If this defense makes me enemies with some people because they can't handle how I view the situation, or they believe I'm insulting them because I tell them my own opinions, then so be it.

Let's just face it, I'm not the type of person to keep reading something and not say anything about it.

Ask all of the bigots I've debated with on other boards I've been too, they'll tell you I annoy them quite a bit. (By the way, in no way am I saying that anyone is bigotted)

You could also go on to argue that I have something in common with these characters, therefore I like them. But if you hate any of these characters and happen to find me a likeable person, then ask yourself if I have something in common with them, why do you like me? (I'd hope that people like me as much as I like them, I've found quite a bit of people enjoyable to talk to here, even if I don't always agree with what they have to say.)

So here goes:

Aerie does whine. However, she has a lot to whine about. She was a slave, she lost a body part, and life just generally sucks for her. I've whined before myself, because my life sucked just as much as hers. Aerie can't fly anymore, that's an incredible gift to lose. Well I haven't been able to walk since I was two, and I still remember what it was like.

I know how Aerie feels because I've been there, and still am sometimes. I'll admit sometimes I still ask why me.

Aerie is just going through her why me phase. If she didn't have people like I did, that could understand, she may have turned out bitter. In fact:

S

P

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L

E

R

If you romance her she doesn't, if you don't she does.

S

P

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D

Anomen brags because he's had a bad childhood. He just deals with his bad childhood differently because it's the only way that seems to work. When we all find something that works, we go with it. I'm pretty sure quite a few people have ooed and aawwed at his stories. I'm also sure that some people haven't, but his defense mechanism still works.

How does this relate to me? I used to brag a lot to gain acceptance.

Anyway, comparing him to Viconia has one major flaw. Viconia is a female drow. Sure, her mother may have treated her bad, but Viconia was raised to believe that if you're a female drow, you are stronger than any male of any race. She's practically a first-class citizen in her society. Add onto that that she's talented and had her way paid, there's not much of a comparison.

Viconia= Training Paid For and accepted, despite her abusive mother
Anomen= Not paid for, had to beg for a sponser, and not accepted right away, plus a drunken father who abused him and his sister

Certain factors make a big difference in the lives of people.

Jaheira may want to get with your character practically when her husband isn't even cold yet, but she just wants to get rid of the pain. Add that you're someone she could fall in love with, and it's more likely she will fall in love with you right away.

Anyone else have a bad thing to say about a character, I'll defend them. I'll just leave you all with this one thing someone once said to me:

Everyone has a different way of dealing with life. It doesn't make them a bad person, nor does it make them a good person. And you (Referring to me) aren't a better person for hating them because of it.

[bloodmage11]

i know what you mean it irkes me too but sometimes they whine like arie who has gone threw alot but you dont want to hear it, perfectly understandable

[bloodmage11]

do you read piers anthony that word mundania...xanth!

[Dundee Slaytern]

Well, I only despise Jaheira in this game. I actually like Anomen, and he does turn for the better when he passes his test. The only problem is that his soundset does not change, so that is a game flaw, not a character flaw. His conversations with others are a whole lot more mature than before his passing of his test.

I have tried out the Jaheira romance, and partied with her before. In the hope that she would become more... well, less caustic. Sadly... pigs had more chance to fly then that happening. She 'mellowed' when you romance her, but she remains pessimistic all the way, even at the final decision at ToB... by all that is holy and good woman! Learn to have some faith in your lover... ...

Viconia is sort of... well, stereotypical? She starts off as this overbearing and overconfident lady, who deems herself as superior to everybody else. Drow upbringing? I suppose so, but if you pursue the good/romance path with her, her mask begins to crack and the vulnerability that she has hidden underneath starts to show, until she begins to rely on the PC for support.

[bloodmage11]

can you help me dundee slaytern im in cant beat 4 mind flayers and 2 umberhulks i havent played in a month because im stuck so if you could please help...

[Jerr Conner]

Originally posted by bloodmage11: do you read piers anthony that word mundania...xanth!

Yea.

[Jerr Conner]

Originally posted by bloodmage11: i know what you mean it irkes me too but sometimes they whine like arie who has gone threw alot but you dont want to hear it, perfectly understandable

No one may want to hear it, but it'll still be there.

Aerie needs her ranting, it's the only way she could adequately feel a little better without having to keep it all in and be some bigger nutcase.

[Jerr Conner]

Originally posted by Dundee Slaytern: Well, I only despise Jaheira in this game. I actually like Anomen, and he does turn for the better when he passes his test. The only problem is that his soundset does not change, so that is a game flaw, not a character flaw. His conversations with others are a whole lot more mature than before his passing of his test. I have tried out the Jaheira romance, and partied with her before. In the hope that she would become more... well, less caustic. Sadly... pigs had more chance to fly then that happening. She 'mellowed' when you romance her, but she remains pessimistic all the way, even at the final decision at ToB... by all that is holy and good woman! Learn to have some faith in your lover... ... Viconia is sort of... well, stereotypical? She starts off as this overbearing and overconfident lady, who deems herself as superior to everybody else. Drow upbringing? I suppose so, but if you pursue the good/romance path with her, her mask begins to crack and the vulnerability that she has hidden underneath starts to show, until she begins to rely on the PC for support.

I can explain Jaheira's pessimism in one word, destiny.

She's heard the prophecy of Aulando, it's more than likely that the last Bhaalspawn will be a god. She's afraid that no matter your intentions, destiny will ultimately rip you apart from her.

Vici's drow upbringing just gave her a different way of dealing with her own vulnerability. Other than that, she does have a lot of pressure, having to be this big dont-need-a-man woman while really being want-a-relationship-with-a-man woman.

[Dundee Slaytern]

Jaheira showed faith when we smacked her Harper 'friends' around, why the change of heart towards the end? Sometimes I wish there was an option where my PC could tell her, we make our own destiny, screw what the Gods say!

[Jerr Conner]

Originally posted by Dundee Slaytern: Jaheira showed faith when we smacked her Harper 'friends' around, why the change of heart towards the end? Sometimes I wish there was an option where my PC could tell her, we make our own destiny, screw what the Gods say!

The Reviane Fight had a choice.

If you were of a good alignment and a good profession, then you could tell Jaheira that there was no need for a fight.

If the opposite, Reviane would attack either way, even if you had a good alignment it was the profession that matters.

The Dermin fight and Galvery fight had no choices, for these reasons:

Both were false Harpers. Galvery only wanted a seat of power, therefore he was a traitor. As for Dermin, he admits that he was in on Galvery's scheme for the money, therefore he wasn't the person that Jaheira thought he was.

Galvery was also never Jaheira's friend.

It also depends on the choices you make. After the Dermin fight, Jaheira is shaken. If you tell her sometimes you have no bloody choice, she laughs only because you make her laugh and if you make her laugh your a good friend and she made the right choice to help you.

If you choose some cliche'd qoute from some famous dude in Faerun history, you sound like that psychopathic guy from Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (The one with the cattle prod who keeps making qoutes as well). Psychopathic makes you sound evil, and she falters and doesn't know if she chose right or not.

Also, she chose to help you and avenge Khalid from the very begginning, a very big oath she made. Helping the Harpers kill you, especially someone she knows isn't evil, betrays all of her ideals and that oath she made to you and Khalid. Plus, they attacked first, not her.

Out of all the Harpers, her two true friends were Reviane and Eliminster.

Her faith was in your ability to be good, and she kept that faith.