NPCs and what to do with them...

Ah, that would explain things. Thanks Kalshane.

 

I've recruted him a few times.
Tho i don't understand the question you ask, i didn't noticed anything strange (nothing special neither, besides being a quite good charcter)

Damned rogues...my jaw dropped when he said "i have enough to retire. Ta ta suckers!" .
I must admite that it was a great detail.

Not at all. An Assassin it's just a rogue with more abilities. If you take one of the charcters and add a few extra abilities (spells in this case, and maybe a poison vial spawning from time to time), they're relatively easy to do. You can change the feats of a warrior, add the sneack attack and spells, and get a Blackguard, etc etc.

But if that means that all of Kalshane's work would be ruined (or he would consider it that way), it doesn't worth it.

Still, KotB it's another matter...

 

Really?
Cool :cool2:

I thougth that wasn't possiblewithout some cheating. No more speaking then. Let's not spoil the surprise

 

It sounds like a poll is a good idea.

 

As a member in good standing of the general public aka unwashed masses, I think this is the best method of handling NPC inventories I have seen over various games and mods - (ToEE w/ or w/o Humble NPCs, BG/BG2, NWN, etc.)

Not so keen on NPC looting, but I do understand the desire to make the NPCs more like autonomous individuals, so I would not object. Though I would wonder how that would affect the quirky NPCs like Spugnoir, for example.

 

I don't like it.

I'd like to see NPCs refusing to part with their signature magic items; Elmo shouldn't give away his magic armor and weapons, Furnook shouldn't give up his ring of invisibility, etc. Maybe you should be able to buy them, but even then the prices should be high.

However, I don't want NPCs taking a share of the gold unless they're actually able to spend it on something. The party is going into dangerous situations all the time; an NPC who carries a load of gold but won't upgrade their inventories makes just as little sense as an NPC who'll let you strip him naked, kick him out and sell his stuff.

Similarly, I'd like to be able to keep moving potions, scrolls and non-signature enchanted items around the party, PCs and NPCs alike. Otherwise equipping NPCs becomes a real pain.

If, however, we can find a way to get NPCs to make buying decisions that make some kind of sense, using their own gold, I'd be OK with them keeping their shares in their packs instead of in the party bank. I'd still want to be able to move items around.

 

No problem.

If you guys got that figured out, bravo. I'd be happy to see it in action.

As far as NPCs go, even with Humble NPCs, I very rarely use them. The NPCs aren't interesting enough, and the weird interface issues they cause (unable to activate doors/ladders/stairs, unable to loot, unable to initiate conversation when ever the NPC is the closet party member to the target and the whole party is selected) make them a far bigger PITA than they're worth.

I'm also with Old Book in saying that the NPCs taking a share of the loot and then hording it is also annoying. You end up spending your share of the money to make the entire party better, including the NPCs, and meanwhile they sit and collect a fat sack of gold.

If you're going to implement something where NPCs won't part with treasured items (at least not without trading for something better), I'm totally cool with that but in that case it would be a good idea to implement something to avoid the party whacking the NPCs and taking their stuff. At least the ones from civilization. If the PCs left town with Elmo, and then come strolling back in a fear hours later waving his axe around with Elmo nowhere to be seen, the populace of Homlett should get suspicious.

 

More an extension of the specific items idea, but:

1) The first time talking with Jaroo, Mel could donate 10 gold to the grove.

2) The first time talking to a scroll seller with Spugnoir in the party, he could purchase an otherwise rare scroll. For him, that could be repeated a few times. Ideally, this should only happen with spells he doesn't already know, but it's still in character either way. "You never know when you'll need another Stinking Cloud."

3) When talking to a barmaid, Elmo could buy a round of beer (annoying, but funny). A dialog option should allow the player to turn this off after the first event.

4) Ronald could purchase magic arrows from the cabinet maker, and scrolls of cure serious wounds from Calmert or Mother Screng.

5) Fruella could buy jewelry from the gem seller.

As a dialog option, it would be nice if PCs were able to ask NPCs to chip in money to pay for Healing or Resurrections.

How the NPC reacts should vary. Mel should be happy to pay to raise a dead PC, but might balk at paying for healing or potions. "But my love, I can heal you! Don't you trust me?" Talking Fruella into paying for anything she isn't using herself should be almost impossible without a high Diplomacy or Intimidate.

Also, much as I hate to say it, NPC crafters should reasonably expect to be paid extra for Crafting magic weapons and items. However, that would be tough to script. Probably better to just take control of level up away from the players, and not allow NPCs to develop crafting feats beyond Scribe Scroll.

 

Thought that might be the case.

Sorry to hear that, but not surprised. What about having him make a one time purchase of a wand or staff? Or offensive spell scrolls, not to learn, but to use?

"Look, you hired me as an expert spell caster, and I'm telling you, there's always a need for more fire balls."