NPC Specific Items - Good or Bad?

[Kinslayer]

I'd like some opinions and reasons on NPC specific items. I've recently added Jan, Haer'Dalis and Valygar to my party(I know they're not the greatest characters but I've never used any of them). Basically, I've got some pretty cool weapons/armour stored away in my stronghold and don't know whether to keep their specific weapons or give them other ones. How good do you think Haer'Dalis weapons are? Should I get rid of Jan's bracers for some others? All opinions welcomed!

[Drawde1]

Just look at the stats for the items and compare them to the ones you've found/bought - for example Keldorn's sword is better than the Blade of Chaos or (arguably) Lilarcor but inferior to the Holy Avenger. It also depends what you're using the character for, e.g if you are using Jan mainly as a thief then keep his gauntlets, otherwise give him Bracers of Defence.

[trux]

I can't remember what Valygar's special item is (isn't it armor or something?) but I never really use him anyway. I remember that I usually change his armor for something better whenever doing the Planar Sphere quest.

Keldorn's sword (Hallowed Redemer) serves him fine until you get the Carsoymr or Holy Avenger.

Haer'Dalis' little short swords SUCK! Haer'dalis SUCKS! If you're gonna keep him at least give him some new swords.

Edwin's necklace, though it has no stats and appears to do nothing actually gives him an extra spell memorization slot per level.

Imoen's belt - well, no one knows what this does but it disappears on her return so it doesn't matter.

Nalia's ring is good. Fire resistance and stuff.

Jan's got lots of nifty little things, so you shouldn't feel too bad about changing his bracers to bracers of defense or something else.

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trux

[Tancred]

Originally posted by trux: Imoen's belt - well, no one knows what this does but it disappears on her return so it doesn't matter.

Imoen's belt actually casts a powerful spell upon her - Plot Immunity! If she dies during the first chapter, she returns to life. Because, well, if she does die in the first chapter the rest of the story is a little screwed, to say the least.

[Amergin]

edwin's necklace actually gives him two extra spells per level, not including his bonus spell for being a specialist mage. it's unremovable anyway, as is nalia's ring.

several npc's in the game have items that have the "minimum 1 hit point" ability, meaning that they can't be killed. imoen's belt in irenicus' dungeon is one of those.

valygar's armor is the best armor he could wear and still use stealth.

i dumped haerdalis very quickly the only time i let him join as he started hitting on aerie not more than 5 minutes with us. his swords are part of his chaotic idiom, but they are easily replaced by better ones.

[Nolek Psyphon]

I have just discovered that Keldorn's armour (Firecam Full-Plate Armor) can be worn by monks. This doesn't improve AC of high level monks but the +1 saving throws and free action are very useful.

[JimJ]

I loved Haer'dalis swords. The poison ability and the loss of dexterity is very useful. Problem with Haer'dalis is his Thac0 is high, fix that with offensive spin. He is very potent with this ability. Make sure you max out his slots in dual wielding.

[Memnoch]

HaerDalis becomes a lot more powerful if you take him into ToB. The Use Any Item ability and the Enhanced Bard song will make him a lot more relevant and a more viable utility NPC.

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[Darkon Blackblood]

the best armor valygar can wear is black dragon scale

[Avatar]

Shadow Dragon Scale you mean?

the Chaos sword is way to powerful, dual weld it with the Answerer in ToB and watch the oponents AC climb sky high!