any disadvantages for working w/ bohdi??

[TaSSaDaR]

Hey, seen 'em fighting thieves in the streets at night? Level-draining ability made me suspicious (from the RP point of view, in fact mage was my 2nd char, and I knew everything already), and the fact that Bodhi wanted me to meet her at the graveyard at night made me absolutely sure about their race. Heh, they are nasty...

[Grojlach]

Originally posted by TaSSaDaR: Hey, seen 'em fighting thieves in the streets at night? Level-draining ability made me suspicious (from the RP point of view, in fact mage was my 2nd char, and I knew everything already), and the fact that Bodhi wanted me to meet her at the graveyard at night made me absolutely sure about their race. Heh, they are nasty...

True, but that's not what I call 'right away' in the game. If you immediately leave to some of the quests outside of Atkathla, there's a good chance you won't meet them until Bodhi makes her offer. And of course your character could realize there's something fishy about meeting her at night at the graveyard, but if he's a bit gullible (low wisdom), it's certainly possible that your good mage ends up working for evil vampires from a neutral roleplaying perspective. There are clues, but it doesn't mean that good characters shouldn't side with Bodhi under any circumstances just because you know from later experiences that she's the bad guy in the story. I'm just trying to point out that it's possible that good characters end up working for her without being criticized for lousy roleplaying afterwards. And, from a certain perspective, siding with thieves also sounds "evil"... For good characters without too much insight in Bodhi's true agenda and identity it's more the lesser of two evils than anything else.

[ 09-23-2002, 08:44 AM: Message edited by: Grojlach ]

[TaSSaDaR]

Yeah, good characters may side with her, but I do not like her attitude after all. Remember how she speaks to you after you pay her? 'You will work for me' things really annoyed my mage, so I declined and went to join thieves. They show more respect to you, and even give something back (no spoilers!) But indeed, the way a good char would probably take is wiping all both the vampires and thieves, cleaning the city of plague of thievery, confronting the Conseal Of Six, and, finally, finding a non-corrupted official who would make you go and continue the plot (still no spoiling!) I liked BGI when I confronted Sarevok in the Duchal Palace, and recieved aid from an official who was going to tear my head off a moment before. Sometimes being lawful is interesting and satisfying...

[Indemaijinj]

Originally posted by LennonCook: The only disadvantage is that you get the Amulette of Power a Chapter later. [img]smile.gif[/img]

And that is not a big disadvantage since you don't have to worry about vampires as long.

[TaSSaDaR]

Never a vampire hit me... The main thing about the AoP is the reduced casting time [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Dundee Slaytern]

Originally posted by Grojlach: Actually, doing the Mae'Var quests for Renal Bloodscalp automatically made it impossible for me to go for Bodhi's offer. Not sure if it was supposed to be that way...

Was your PC a Thief? Thieves are not allowed to join Bodhi.

[LennonCook]

Also, the clues provided are the exact reason why some good characters could side with her from a roleplaying perspective.
An undead hunter for example would want to eliminate them, and so would infiltrate their organisation under the guise of an 'ally'.

Oh, and something I just remembered, not sure why noone else has pointed this out yet;

MAJOR SPOILER
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In Chapter 6, you can get the Shadow thieves help in the Battle with Bhodi. This probably doesn`t matter to experienced players, but because of it, a first-timer should probably side with the thieves. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Radek]

Some remarks about Bodhi.
1. Every party can side with Bodhi. Even a custom party of all LG can. Evilness? And the tieves aren't evil?? The only exception is a thief protagonist. In this case, you will not be even offered to side with Bodhi. The reason is clear - Renald Bloodscalp will be your boss later.
2. Bodhi's quests. The quests are not too evil. Even the do-gooders will not be disgusted too much. For example, every Edwin's quest is far far far ... far more evil than any of the Bodhi's quests.
3. What do you loose siding with Bodhi. Only the help of the Thieves guild during the final fight against Bodhi. Nothing else.
4. What do you gain siding with Bodhi. Some very useful items as it was mentionoed above. Also, the "Bodhi path" is more challenging than the "Aran path". Moreover, you will not be attacked by vampires in Akathla.
5. WARNING! If you plan to side with Bodhi, then
a) You must not enter the house of the thief doing "Coo..." (sorry, I cannot remember the name right now) after getting Bodhi's invitation! Entering the house is considered selecting Aran automatically! After entering the house for any reason, Bodhi will not appear any more in the Gaveyard and Aran will be waiting for you! Among others, Arledrian's shop is taboo for you. Therefore, buy/steal everythig useful from Arledrian early in the game.
b) The Bodhi's offer seems to be timed. You have about 30 days for appearing in the Graveyard with the money.
6. After accepting Bodhi's offer, the thieves HQ map changes, Renald Bloodscalp is removed from the game, and Mae'Var's guild becomes hostile - including Gorth. Therefore:
a) You must finish Mea'Var quest first - before you go to Bodhi - otherwise you lose Edwin, Mae'Var's equipment, and Renald's reward.
b) You must steal/buy everything useful from Gorth and from the black market in the thieves HQ before you go to Bodhi. After meeting Bodhi, both shops are lost for you.

[TaSSaDaR]

You said that all Bodhi's quests are playable with a LG party. And (minor spoiler)
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what about killing the noble and planting ST things into the fountain? Trully evil quest! And what about exterminating crowds of thieves? they are human beings, not some undead monsters like Bodhi and her kin! By the way, It is believed that ST occupy places in the Conseal Of Six, so killing them all may be recognised as an open revolt against the government of Athkala! Seen any Lawful Good character raising a revolt???

You can loot all the cool items from Bodhi's dungeon both siding with her and attacking her. Just do the same - (spoilers!)
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Look in the pool of blood to get the Mace Of Disruption. Loot the room with 3-4 blood bassins to get the Ashen Scale and whatever else. The items do not disappear if you attack her.

[DJG]

Ah, but they do!

All of the items you gain in earlier chapters are gainable in the game if you side with Aran, but you get them later.

If you side with Linvael, then you attack Bodhi's guild and can get the Mace. And the Ashen Scales are available later in Chapter 6, I can't remember whether they are there in Chapter 3 if you are with Aran.