Is Viconia's alignment deserved?

[Quecty]

Just wondering if anybody thinks that Neutral Evil isn't really a fitting alignment for Viconia.I know that your reputation drops if you accept her into the party,but that's only because she is a Drow Elf (no loss of reputation in the case of Edwin or Korgan).Any thoughts on this?

[ElvenKing]

The whole Drow thing makes it hard not to consider Viconia of evil alignment, plus just listen to some of her stories if you're character's romancing her. She's definitely no angel! However, I've always thought of her as more Lawful Evil than Neutral Evil. Personally, I think Bioware messed up with Edwin and Viconia's alignments and got them backwards. Viconia is more Lawful Evil, while self-centered, arrogant Edwin is definitely Neutral Evil. If you look at the definitions for all alignments in the manual you'll see what I mean.
ElvenKing

[velvetfreak]

Yes, I think NE fits. She's got a cruel streak as evidenced by her banter with other NPCs - particularly Aerie - And is also a determinist in philosophy, she believes in survival of the fittest and might-by-right. Aside from her "issues" (eg. "the stink of the rivvin"), she is basically a mean bitch.

[Vendetta]

I always thought Viconia trys to act more evil than she really is.
The way she defends the beggar in the Government district from the Guard, how she refused to sacrifice the baby and the better side of her personality we (rarely) see while romancing her don't really fit into my view of an "evil" character...
But she is definitely a bitch

[xFedaykin]

I remember reading that in the coming expansion, they're might put a quest that'll change Viconia's alignment to neutral good, or chaotic good.

[Orland]

Honestly, I agree with the Lawful Evil assessment of Viconia, but there is a reason for her being Neutral Evil. Lawful Evil Characters are bound by the laws of their society. Viconia selfishly chose her beliefs therefore getting her kick out of Drow Society and made an outcast, which is why she is neutral evil, that and as pointed out she acts more evil than she is. I would not be suprised if she changes alignments later (might happen in ToB), if of course, the rest of Faerun leaves her alone and doesn't try to kill her.

But that's my opinion.

[Vendetta]

Originally posted by xFedaykin:
<STRONG>I remember reading that in the coming expansion, they're might put a quest that'll change Viconia's alignment to neutral good, or chaotic good.</STRONG>

I don't think I could swallow Viconia as a "Good" character from what I've seen in BG2...
Chaotic Neutral, perhaps, but not good.

[velvetfreak]

@Vendetta, I agree, the romances will become completely unbalanced LOL! Everyone will want to pursue Viconia, poor Jaheira and Aerie will be abandoned...

[jennabard]

viconia defending the begger in the govt district? i've never heard a peep from her in this scene

and what's the story about her protecting a child?

[Quecty]

Regarding Elvenking's comment about Viconia being no angel,I totally agree.The story about her revenge on the farmers is an example,but considering the fact that,even though it's more implied than stated,they raped her while she was unconscious,what else should she have done?Going to the local law enforcement was never an option : they'd have just locked her up or executed her.So apart from taking the law into her own hands,the only other option was to leave them unpunished for what they did.

[Manveru]

I don't know if everyone knows my feelings for Drows and Viconia but my opinion is :

She should be chaotic evil - I hate her, It is the pleasure to burn her in Government district - not mentioning this moral improving crusades when Manveru, his party and several Pit fiends make desolation in the whole Ust'Nasha Mwhahahahahaha.

[xFedaykin]

I think there's plenty of basis for changing Viconia into a chaotic good character.

From some of the conversations the romance plot with Viconia reveals, there is more good in her than what she initially lets on.

There's her revulsion of some of the Drow's horrible ways, the love for her brother who died protecting her, and her desire to lead a peaceful, solitary life, away from the evils of drow and surfacer laws and politics.

Most of the "crimes" she committed on the surface were always because of ill-treatment. She was forced to become a Calim****e's slave, she was tortured raped and buried alive by a bunch of drunken farmers, and when you found her, she was about to be burned alive for simply being what she is.

Her ill-temper, racist remarks and casual regard for death and murder is a result of her upbringing in the drow world, but its implied that she was yearned for something far more peaceful.

Though she might not regret the murder of the farmers who raped her, my chaotic good ranger also does not regret the deaths of countless people and creatures who I considered were evil.

[Krimmy]

Hey Manveru I feel the same way about Anomen



Only there's no way for me to see him burn at the stake

I wonder how many times you'll be able to summon a NPC...methinks if there isn't a maximum amount, Anomen is going to be feeling mighty low

[moriveth]

IIRC, Viconia told the tale of killing the farmers and exactly what she did to them with a certain amount of relish--and certainly no regret. Torture is a little more than simply killing someone.

She's quite vicious to other party members and both does and advocates some pretty cruel actions. Really, you don't see many of the more positive aspects to her character except in the romance, but I think she could convincingly be turned into a neutral (good would be a stretch) character as the romance is continued in ToB--and thinking about it, this might have been intended from the start.

Anyway, it's pointless to quibble about the label slapped on the NPCs; any interesting character isn't going to be so easily categorized. It's a *good* thing that BG2 doesn't have the NPCs fit their alignments very well--it gets in the way of nuanced characterization.

[Quecty]

Regarding the romance choices for male PC's,I would probably go with Viconia,the reason being the protaganist,a Child of Bhaal,could identify being the object of fear and distrust,simply because of what he is.I found the Jaheira romance somewhat uncomfortable,seeing as it takes place so soon after Khalid's death.The PC,by this time,would have adventured quite a bit with Khalid,and would consider him a good friend.