NPC Advice

[Father Francis]

I have just finished killing the Rattkin Breeders and am get ready to go back an visit Madras and then head towards the swamps. My question is which NPC do you advise I take with me? I currently have Miles & Vi. I know that I could ask Madras to join me and have read that RFS-81 will be coming up soon. I do have a Bard for lockpicking & trap skills, although they are less than half of Miles skills. Please give me your suggestions. Thanks in advance.

[Tal'Missra]

Hi! I've found that I like playing much better without NPC's. You get more attack experiance and experiance points in general this way. I have started over twice before the party I have now, and while it is a little slower going, I'm enjoying it much more. I especially didn't like getting to rely on them, only for them to turn around and say they would not enter a particular area.

Though if I had to pick I would recomend Madras, simply because the gadegts are kinda cool.

Tal'Missra

[Pyrates]

Hi Father Francis!

The trouble with most NPC's is that they leave you when you go to certain areas. Only the robot will visit almost all of them with you, so many people choose him over others. He became an invaluable fighter for me also. Vi also goes to quite a lot areas, but not everywhere. You can force her in, I guess (haven't yet completed the game) you will be happy to have her in the end, since she seems to have some relation to the story... Myles is funny, but he rarely goes somewhere without his Mum, my advice: drop him asap.


Never forget your towel, cheers
Philipp

Edit: Well, about playing without NPC's: The experience isn't lost, but of course your party will level a little bit slower. But on the other hand, I enjoy NPC's pretty much, especially the robot is really funny, and Vi complaining about having to go where she didn't want to... couldn't miss that

[ 02-25-2002: Message edited by: Pyrates ]

[Loredweller]

Just MHO, but having bard and somebody able to cast Knock/Divine is enough to replace Myles by Madras and then by RFS. Madras is of great support in battle - if you've found gadgets enough - to allow your spellcasters wait for books and to heap points for high level spells. For example, you'd have a long way to the Eye for Eye spell, Madras can cast it very soon - you definitely should have one gadget already and may find right merchant very easy for the second. However, with your spelcasters growing (and with the scope of merchants growing as well), you might have spells enough to live without Madras and take RFS instead as front line fighter.
There is another reason, too, but it is already SPOILER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Vi and RFS are NPC having the minimum of restrictions for areas they would willingly go. You can lead them almost everywhere - Ascension Peak including. It is not so with other NPC.
HTH,
L.

[ 02-25-2002: Message edited by: Loredweller ]

[Nightowl2]

No question here, RFS is the only NPC I ever take (aside from people who need to be rescued). The others all have too many important places they refuse to enter. You can force them in, but they're mainly just dead weight (being hexed the whole time you're there), and eat up experience for doing not a lot.

RFS comes with decent stats and reasonable skills, though no magic (he's basically a non-psionic monk), and his ranged combat will need work. His only forbidden area is the Rapax Away camp, and you'll probably want that extra slot for something anyway.

Vi is not necessary to the party, even the endgame. I did take her there once, and it was interesting. However, I've finished without her and there is really no difference.

If you want the most experience for your characters, go with only your originals. If you want a reliable NPC, take RFS.

Nightowl2

[Gimli]

If you have a ranger and not a Gadgeteer in your party, then consider Madras for a while to allow him to merge light crossbows for you, double and triple shots are nasty! You'll have to keep him using gadgets to raise his engineering skill.

IMHO, I always like to have 8 sharacters in the party. RFS-81 goes almost anywhere, so if I lose one character I take him in their place. My reasoning is that you actually want to level slowly in this game. The more you have to do in between levels, the higher your skill levels will be because of the practice. And since the random monster generator engine in the game generates mosters relative to your level, you don't want high level characters with low skills, you want it the other way around. Plus the RPCs add some spice to the game, more role playing depth. Enjoy!