NPC discussion

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 5:18 pm

Input wanted:

Which are your favourite NPCs? Why is that, how do you use them, what equipement have you opted for? What attributes, skills and powers do you max out?

Which party combo to choose? For a melee PC and a force-using PC respectively? And for the extremely balanced PC?

Any NPCs you just can't stand? Why? Are there any real loosers in the group?

Now folks, let's kick it - make this thread a permanent first-pager!

fable · Post by **fable** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 5:30 pm

Good topic.

My favorite party NPC? HK-47. The combination of scholarly anthropologist and gleefully dark assassin makes a winning combination, IMO, a little like the delightful figure of the helpful but dark mage Melniboe in Fletcher Pratt's wonderful novel, The Well of the Unicorn. The actor's earnest, emotional delivery of the lines only helps. Mind, I don't like HK-47 in a party. I'd much rather have Mission, if I need a ranged fighter, because of her numerous skills; and I'd rather have three melee types, if it comes to that. But HK-47 has great dialog and a fine performance.

T3-M4 is my least favorite. No conversation, just skills and a bit of blasting. Bah.

Party combos? Bastila and Canderous on outdoor missions. Bastila and Mission on indoor ones.
SPOILER...
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After Bastila subcumbs to the Dark Side, I go for some mixture of Juhani, Canderous, Jolee and Mission. Ranged fighting is really pretty underpowered in KotoR compared to the effects of Force powers (which is where I count lightsaber throwing) or master flurry, IMO.

Kaitsuburi · Post by **Kaitsuburi** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 6:23 pm

I don't play Zaalbar the Wookie (weak defense) or T3-M4 (well...) but almost everyone else has found a place in my party at some point

I like Bastilla, naturally, Canderous, Jolee.

My most-often used combo (with a soldier-type character) is probably Bastilla/Jolee and later Juhani/Jolee. Three Jedi are, as has been pointed out many times, unstoppable

An upgraded HK-47 or Canderous sometimes make it in with good ranged weapons, but in the games I've played so far, I've mostly stuck with Jedi.

Funniest/coolest NPC? I have to agree with fable here, HK-47 is nothing short of hilarious.

Bioware have set up the NPCs in a very convenient way ~~ they all gain experience as you progress (so in fact you have no disadvantages for leaving someone behind except for not having them in battle or not activating side quests), you have unified inventory system, etc.

Cheers,

-katsuburi

Brachaesnethar · Post by **Brachaesnethar** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 9:08 pm

HK's got the best dialogue hands-down, but being unable to Force Heal him is a detriment. Of course, he's immune to mind powers, which could come in handy occassionally....

TM is the worst by far (no dialogue, nothing special otherwise).

Zalbaar may be an efficient melee guy but is sorely lacking in the dialogue department and a Jedi melee's better (or at least seems to, to me).

I usually used two Jedi with my PC, but sometimes I'd bring out Canderous or Carth, just to hear their dialogue: they both have some pretty extensive "reaction" lines of dialogue and if there are no serious fights they do well enough at range.

My favorite is when, as you face the Matale / Sandrals, you mention that this will only end in bloodshed, and then Canderous pipes up and says something like, "Finally, someone says what we're all thinking!". Heh heh.

But if HK didn't get beat up so badly, I'd use him at every chance for the dialogue.

Armisael · Post by **Armisael** » Fri Dec 26, 2003 1:12 am

I'm a HK-47 fan as well. I equip him with Jamah Hogra's carbine. I like Jolee, too, as well as Canderous.

For least favourite character, I'd say T3, except there's so little to like or dislike about T3 that he doesn't really seem to qualify as a character at all. I find both Juhani and Carth irritating, and to a lesser extent, Bastila as well.

My characters are almost always balanced fighters/force users, and my favourite party is a combination of Bastila/Jolee and HK-47/Canderous.

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Fri Dec 26, 2003 7:33 am

I haven't progressed so far in the game, but I must say that I as well love HK-47 for his dialogues. Who would belive a droid to have such a character! (T3 on the other hand...) My one problem with HK is the healing

Zaalbar looks pretty good on the paper, but doesn't he take to much damage? I've managed to raise his Dex somewhat but he's still in need of constant healing and in the fights where there is no time to heal he is soon on the ground... Advice?

T3 versus Mission anyone? The result of a dialogue competition is obvious, but apart from that?

Anyone using Canderous in melee? Decent Str and lots of VPs but low Dex so why should he stay behind?

Who's the best ranged fighter: Carth, Canderous or HK?

Kaitsuburi · Post by **Kaitsuburi** » Fri Dec 26, 2003 10:01 pm

Originally posted by Astafas
Who's the best ranged fighter: Carth, Canderous or HK?

I like Canderous early on, but once you get a fully upgraded / quest memory unlocked HK-47, the latter wins out for me. Superhigh defense, mind immunity, shield disruptors and nifty skills. Great with an upgraded rifle. Can't be Jedi-healed, but with proper shielding and all those construction kits, it's not that bad.

Now, has someone had an enemy Sith try the stun/destroy droid against HK-47? If I were them, that's what I'd do

-kaitsuburi