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Jan or Imoen

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Hex92
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Jan or Imoen

Post by Hex92 »

I just got to the asylum and I have a full party.
PC-Ranger, Keldorn, Vic, Aerie, Nalia, Jan. Since it looks like I will be abandoning one of them there permanently, which is the better NPC?

Jan has an extra spell for each level since he is specialized, and he is also a 11/12 thief/mage now (I think).

Imoen looks pretty weak. Are her thief skills up to the task? Is there any benefit to bringing her in? At this point I am inclined to let her rot.

Looking for any opinions....

Hex92
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Hazim ibn Gorion
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Post by Hazim ibn Gorion »

You, sir, could not be more wrong. Imoen is a MUCH better choice than Jan. She doesn't have to split her XPs between two classes, so she'll advance much farther as a mage, and that is really useful later on (then again, looks like you've already got lots of good mage power there). As for the thieving skills, Imoen's got the goods in the two skills that are most important, open locks and find traps. Give her the ring of danger sense and she's more than up to the task. Also, her mysterious belt turns out to be one of the most interesting items in the game. Certainly better than anything the turnip tinker can create.
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Yuusuke
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Post by Yuusuke »

You have quite a dilemma on your hands there. Even though Imoen is a far better caster than Jan, you already have Nalia in your party to fill that role. There are some points you need to note when making your choice.

1) Unless you saved up (missed) alot of side quests during Chapter 2 or 3, Imoen's level will be far below that of the rest of the group. And since you finished off all the quests, there are few opportunities for her to catch up.

2) Even though Imoen will not be able to ever fully catch up with the rest of the group in terms of experience and level, it doesn't really make much of a difference. Rest of the game pretty much just involves sending Keldorn in solo to mow down enemies with his Carsomyr and Boots of Speed.

3) From the looks of your party, Jan is your only strong thief, which is a reason to keep him, but keep in mind that Imoen's skills are enough to disarm and pick almost every trap and lock in the game.

4) For roleplaying reasons, it is alot better to bring along Imoen. She is quite vital to the storyline.

Personally, I would dump Nalia and put in Imoen, since they're basically the exact same characters, except Imoen is a much better thief.

[This message has been edited by Yuusuke (edited 12-18-2000).]
"Gentlemen! You can't fight in here! This is the war room!" -Dr. StrangeLove

"Never in my life could I have afforded to be raised!" -Fezhak

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Xandax
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Post by Xandax »

I agree - drop Nailia and take Imoen, and don't think of dropping Jan :-)
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Radek
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Post by Radek »

One note here: Imoen will not have her "cannot die" belt when you regain her in Asylum.
I agree. Imoen is better than Nalia. Give her Tansheron's Bow and ranged script.
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Hex92
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Post by Hex92 »

Now you people are really confusing me Image

Giving up Nalia is not an option since I have her up to a high enough level that she can cast lvl 7 spells.
I may go with Imoen (dumping Jan) and next time through the game, when I go EVIL Image , I will leave Imoen in the dungeon.

Hex92
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Rodion Raskolnikov
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Post by Rodion Raskolnikov »

Although it obviously is much fun to create a party that can really kick ass, I think people should have other concerns when playing. It is in fact possible to finish the game with a lot of different constellations. If it is your first time through, I think you should pay attention to the storyline (and to the fact that Imoen has been with you since you left Candlekeep SO many gameplaying hours ago). To even think of dropping her is outrageous. If you have to choose between her or Jan you should let Jan go. You are loosing some funny comments though (I still laugh every time he burps but I guess that says more about me than it does about Jan)
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Hazim ibn Gorion
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Post by Hazim ibn Gorion »

I second Rodion. If you're playing anything but evil, it seems REALLY screwy from a role playing point of view not to pick up Imoen, even if she sucked (which she doesn't). She was with you all the way on the Sarevok campaign. Hell, she's been your friend since childhood. She's the little sister you take care of like an Italian big brother. Sancho Panza to your Don Quixote...Gilligan to your Skipper...you get the idea.
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getsleepy
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Post by getsleepy »

I think there's a bug with getting Imonen in your party though. I ran thru the game twice now and I got the same problem. I met up with Bohadi and she always said "I don't see that girl with you," and I had Imonen with me in the party?!? Besides, I don't see much difference plot-wise by having Imonen in the party.
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Rodion Raskolnikov
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Post by Rodion Raskolnikov »

Thank you Hazim. And then she is not at all bad looking either (ok, ok - she is your sister - but a really cute one).
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Rodion Raskolnikov
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Post by Rodion Raskolnikov »

You're right Getsleepy - it doesn't mean anything plotwise, but I was thinking of your history together with Imoen (and I guess Hazim was as well).
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Yuusuke
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Post by Yuusuke »

Getsleepy, when Bohdi says, ah I see that the girl is not with you, she is in fact talking about Aerie, not Imoen.

Without giving up too much away, Aerie has a part in this encounter with Bohdi.
"Gentlemen! You can't fight in here! This is the war room!" -Dr. StrangeLove

"Never in my life could I have afforded to be raised!" -Fezhak

"I don't want to meet someone who shares my interests. I hate my interests." - Steve Buscemi Ghost World
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flinfman
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Post by flinfman »

Okay Yuusuke, I give. What is the deal with Aeire and Bodhi? I went through the game with Aerie, didn't romance her though which may play some part in it, but when I met up with Bodhi nothing happened with her and Aerie. I do know that something... unnatural (hint, hint, wink, wink) happens supposedly between them but I'm not sure what and/or how to trigger this. Do I have to be romancing the whiny one?
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Yuusuke
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Post by Yuusuke »

Well this only happens with your second and final encounter with Bohdi, in chapter 6. It's nothing lesbianic if that's what you're hinting at. Spoiler coming up...
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Bohdi kills her, turns her into a vampire. You have to go through a wild goose chase to get save her. I'm pretty sure you have to be romancing her to get this event, but who knows. Because I've only gone thru the game three times, and only once was she in my party, and romanced.
"Gentlemen! You can't fight in here! This is the war room!" -Dr. StrangeLove

"Never in my life could I have afforded to be raised!" -Fezhak

"I don't want to meet someone who shares my interests. I hate my interests." - Steve Buscemi Ghost World
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Lucian
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Post by Lucian »

after what i have seen in shadowkeeper, there is a body for each of the 4 possible lovers...my take is that the reverse vampire quest can happen for them all, if you have finished the romance by this point..it being the final declaration of love that you save your love from undeath
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Yuusuke
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Post by Yuusuke »

I went throught the game with Viconia romance also and I was able to boink her before the Bohdi encounter, and there was no vampirism curse for her.

Shadowkeeper shows alot of items and other things that aren't in the game. And I've never heard of anyone speaking of any other vampirism quest for anyone else besides Aerie. It might be something they put in the game at first, then decided to take it out. Dunno.

Also another possible explanation for Bodhi saying that the girl is not with you could be if you have Imoen really far back in the hallway and you only sent a scout to go into Bohdi's room first, then she will not realize Imoen's presence.
"Gentlemen! You can't fight in here! This is the war room!" -Dr. StrangeLove

"Never in my life could I have afforded to be raised!" -Fezhak

"I don't want to meet someone who shares my interests. I hate my interests." - Steve Buscemi Ghost World
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The_Pope
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Post by The_Pope »

Doods, if I'm not mistaking, Imoen has advanced in level by the time you find her. It's like she's a totally new NPC, one that's adapted to your own level. I didn't really look into it, but I'm quite sure about this.


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Weasel
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Post by Weasel »

Nope she's still at a low level.At least compared to the rest of my party.

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(I would betray the world before i let the world betray me.) Cao Cao 192 a.d.
"Vile and evil, yes. But, That's Weasel" From BS's book, MD 20/20: Fine Wines of Rocky Flop.
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Yuusuke
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Post by Yuusuke »

No, in all my games, she was way behind everyone else by the time she joined. The game probably does boost her level, but if you've powergamed your way thru every quest in chapter 2 and 3, Imoen will still be behind everyone else.

[This message has been edited by Yuusuke (edited 12-18-2000).]
"Gentlemen! You can't fight in here! This is the war room!" -Dr. StrangeLove

"Never in my life could I have afforded to be raised!" -Fezhak

"I don't want to meet someone who shares my interests. I hate my interests." - Steve Buscemi Ghost World
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flinfman
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Post by flinfman »

Yuusuke, if I was hinting at anything erotic I wouldn't be posting on this board Image. But thanks though about that; on my next run through I think I'll try for Aeire's heart, if only to get the chance to stake it later, heh heh heh.

But I'm discovering that none of the romances really end well; Viconia's ended rather abruptly thanks to that punk-ass Keldorn and his Holier-than-thou sword Carsomyr (note the heavy sarcasm) and I never got the chance to sleep with Jaheria but I've heard that it's possible, I just don't know how. But with the Aerie-as-vampire sub-quest, is that when you get to explore that temple of Ogama in the docks district?
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