Bodhi or the thieves?

[Dundee Slaytern]

I was doing it from a roleplaying perspective.

Sureeee, I can side with Bodhi even if I have Keldorn and Minsc in my party, but it would not feel right. For me at least.

~~WEIRD_VOICE]

"I'm a powergaming roleplayer!"

[Melusine]

True, hence my point about it being plausible for naive/gullible good characters to fall for Bodhi's lies.
You can roleplay almost anything convincingly - the most obvious option isn't always the best one... I think it's much more fun to try and explain seemingly alignment-contradictory actions. But each to their own [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Ctenas]

I fell thatunless you are playing with a lawful good party (in witch case neither is a good option), you should crave for xp. I disagree with what is said earlier about xp.

Wehen you join the thieves, you got to destroy the vamps and vice-versa. There are more Shadow Thieves to kill tham vampires, but each vamp is worth 8500 (forget about the vamp master and the Aran guy - they are worth the same amount of xp - 14000). There is No way that there are as many thieves to match this amount os xp (each 1400xp). The itens you can get in each guild does not change with you decision (Mace of disruption, ring of pickpocket, etc). The only thing useful you lose joining the thieves is Aran´s elven chain + 1 (AC 4). If I´m right it does not impairs magic skills.

It does not make sense to say that if you join the vamps you get to destroy both guilds (in terms of xp), because if you join the thieves you get to destroy the vamps twice

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

depends if you wanna leave a 'power void' in Althkata. lol; for one game I decided to 'side' with Bohdi knowing full well, I'd take her out later... as it happens, the docks district was left without a significant orginization for some time, since I took the harpers out as well... well its up to you I guess... depends on how much you hate thieves.

[SixOfSpades]

Actually, you can still max out your EXP by taking out both parties if you side with the Thieves, as well. Both Keldorn and Jaheira (possibly others) express resentment at working with the Shadow Thieves, especially once they get a load of Booter. So, in my Everybody's-as-close-to-Lawful-Good-as-Possible game, once we got back there in Chapter 6, we went and cleaned house--killed 'em all without cheating, and Arkanis Gath be damned.

(There's a simple spell that protects you from most of the damage he deals, and lasts long enough for a Tank to keep him busy, while you kill the other Thieves and lock Arkanis behind a door. I think Keldorn is strong enough to hold a door shut, don't you?)

[Kethec the Nonplussed]

Thanks an awful lot folks. I reckon this time (the first) I'll think Bodhi is just way too creepy and accept the lesser of two evils. Hey! What if I reject ALL of 'em!!! Ha Ha!! Yeah!! I never liked 'em anyway so to Hades with 'em!! Or would that put paid to me right there? MAYBE I don't HAVE to have any of them. I don't like them and don't want to work with or for ANY of them. There MUST be other ways!
T'anks,
Kethec the Nonplussed

[Indemaijinj]

If you play a babarian main character vampires are a lark. It's just before i'm hanging out at night in the streets just thump vampires.

[Willard]

Originally posted by Kethec the Nonplussed: Thanks an awful lot folks. I reckon this time (the first) I'll think Bodhi is just way too creepy and accept the lesser of two evils. Hey! What if I reject ALL of 'em!!! Ha Ha!! Yeah!! I never liked 'em anyway so to Hades with 'em!! Or would that put paid to me right there? MAYBE I don't HAVE to have any of them. I don't like them and don't want to work with or for ANY of them. There MUST be other ways! T'anks, Kethec the Nonplussed

There is no other way, Kethic. You have to side with one of them, if you don't you cannot continue on in the game plot.

[Radek]

Bodhi:
1. You get Rifthome Axe (a +3 perpetual throwing axe) and Aran's equipment (Elven Chain Mail +1, etc.)
2. You get everything you would get siding with Aran - including the Mace of Protection, Mae'Var's treasures or Renald Bloodscalp's reward. You also get Aran Linvail's compensation for your payment (Amulet of Power, etc.) as a part of Aran's equipment.
3. You must do Mae'Var's quest first - before you go to inform Bodhi that you are with her. Because the Bodhi's offer is timed (about 30 days after obtaining the invitation), you have to be fast with Mae'Var.
4. The "Thieve's Guild" quest is, IMHO, much more difficult than the "Bodhi's Lair" quest.
5. The night streets of Akathla will be free of vampires. More precisely, the vampires will not attack you.
6. You will not be attacked by vampires after arriving to the Asylum.
7. A thief protagonist cannot side with Bodhi.

Aran Linvail:
1. You lose all items listed in (1) at Bodhi.
2. You have enough time for Mae'Var.
3. You will be attacked by vampires in the Akathla streets during nights.
4. You will be attacked by vampires after arriving to the Asylum.
5. "Bodhi's lair" quest is easier than the "Thieves Guild" quest.

Evilness: Bodhi's quests are not too evil. For example, Edwin's quests - which you are forced to do during the Mae'Var quest - are far more evil. Bodhi herself is evil? Yes, she is and she is your enemy. But where do we know from that Aran Linvail is not evil? He is a thief, therefore, an evil element by nature.

Summary: Siding with Aran Linvail is inferior to siding with Bodhi. There is no reason for siding with Aran Linvail unless your protagonist is a thief or unless you love to be attacked by vampires and to waste your money in temples for healing level drains (if you haven't Viconia in your party, if your protagonist isn't a priest or if you don't have a custom party with a priest).

[philip]

Originally posted by Radek: Bodhi: There is no reason for siding with Aran Linvail unless your protagonist is a thief or unless you love to be attacked by vampires and to waste your money in temples for healing level drains (if you haven't Viconia in your party, if your protagonist isn't a priest or if you don't have a custom party with a priest).

Viconia isnt the only one who can cast a restoration spell
Anomen can cast it (lesser restoration which is good enough for the level drains) right from the start
if you haste your characters when you see the vampires you will not have that much leveldrained party members