D&D General Which BG3 companion?

[haakon1]

My write-up for Karlach as a 3.5e 1st level character arriving accidentally in Greyhawk, sans Tadpole.

Karlach. Chaotic Good Female Tiefling Barbarian 1 (1st level).

Ability Scores: Strength 17 (+3), Dexterity 13 (+1), Constitution 15 (+2), Intelligence 8 (-1), Wisdom 12 (+1), Charisma 10 (+0)
Equipment: Greataxe (+5 To Hit, 1d12+4, 20/3x), +1 Leather Armor (Fire Resistance 5, AC14)
Skills: TBD
Languages: Sword Coast Common, Infernal. Illiterate.
Feat: Weapon Focus (Greataxe)
Special Feature: Fiery hot. When Raging, fire vents from her body. Normally, touching her does 1 hit point of Fire damage per round. When Raging, it becomes 1d4 Fire damage.

Background: Karlach was born the City of Baldur's Gate on the Sword Coast in Faerun. A human orphan, she was a street child who begged and stole to survive. As a teen, she became a bodyguard for an up-and-coming hoodlum Enver Gortash, who was selling black market weapons.
Gortash sold Karlach to Zariel the archdevil, who took Karlach to Avernus, the first layer of Hell, and changed her to a Zariel Tiefling, then replaced her heart with an experimental infernal engine.
Karlach fought in the Blood Wars for Zariel, leading tieflings and devils against demons from the Abyss and devils from other layers of Nine Hells. She helped the people of Elturel during the Descent into Avernus. But in a battle against devils, she was hit with a magic trap that drained her to first level and cast Dismissal on her, sending her back to the Prime Material Plane.
By luck or accident, Karlach ended up in Greyhawk. She does not speak Greyhawk Common and is also illiterate. If she can find someone with the right spells, or knowledge of the language Infernal, she'd be able to communicate. She is driven by a desire to find a fix for the infernal engine before it explodes and to explore the world, finding like-minded travelers and eventually seeking revenge on Gortash and Zariel.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

You're allowed not to call other people and editions stupid

People? No. Editions, rules? Sure. Especially when those rules are anti-inclusive racist stereotypes.

and to view a character's weaknesses as a role-playing opportunity.

But for this character, we know she doesn't have that particular weakness (plenty of others mind). So if your character can't read, they are not Karlach.

 

[Weiley31]

Oh, I see. Boo isn't good enough for your bloody poll.

FOR SHAME I SAY!!!!

 

[Shades of Eternity]

yeah

I want a series where Minsc travels the world butt-kicking for goodness!

After all, he is the fantasy equivalent of The Tick, which makes me a die hard fan.

 

[haakon1]

People? No. Editions, rules? Sure. Especially when those rules are anti-inclusive racist stereotypes.

I’m not interested in fighting with you.

FYI, I will not see your further messages.

 

[J-H]

I keep my games PG, so from what I've heard, none of them.

 

[DrunkonDuty]

I've put off answering this until I had time to give a long, detailed answer. It's now Friday afternoon.

Also, my answer is more about which NPCs I like and why rather than which one's I'd use in a game.

I see three criteria that need to be met.

Sympathetic backstory;
Strong character (not necessarily likeable);
Mechanically fun to play.

Lae'zel is the clear winner. Or, as I call her, Liesl. I always hum a bit of "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" when I pick her to join the active adventurers. Her backstory is basic. But it's better for being simple. She was a child soldier of an evil totalitarian regime. She starts the game heavily brain washed. Her personality is all front. All aggressive certainty of purpose and utter faith in her Queen. And, for those who know the history of the Gith from wider DnD, doomed to be sorely disappointed by her mistress. And she's mechanically fun to play.

The following are in no particular order.

Karlach is awesome. The nicest rage-aholic you could ever hope to meet. I love the little dance she does when the party is hanging around not doing much. Her back story is overwritten. Like, a lot. She's a former senior enforcer of an Arch Duke of Hell, who's on the run. Before that she was the chief enforcer of a underworld figure who sold her into slavery. She's a whath level barbarian when you meet her? Maybe 3rd? I mean... sure. But I'll give that it's a sympathetic backstory. Mechanically, I just don't find her as fun to play as Liesl. Love chatting to her though. And we always prioritise getting her heart fixed up as opportunities arise.

Shadowhart. Another child soldier. Also doomed to disappointment. (I swear, you'd think the developers didn't have much faith in totalitarian regimes to treat their child soldiers well.) And a strong peronsality. I like her a lot. Like Liesl, she's all front. It's no wonder those two don't get on. But mechancially... meh. I used her a lot on our first play through. Mostly she'd throw out a bless then hang back sniping. Useful, but not exciting.

Asterion has a good backstory. Yeah, he's a monster but his choices were... literally non-existent. Again, kinda low level for all that he's done, but maybe people who act solely according to another's will don't get XP. That gripe aside, he's great fun. Mechancially lots of fun; I love a bit of sneak and snipe. And such a bitch. Love him. Sneer at me more, please!

Wyll is fine. His backstory is very "tragic rich kid" which always rubs me the wrong way. But he's a likeable fellow. And his story does provide plenty of hooks. If we didn't have Wyll, we wouldn't have Mizora hanging around. And I love Mizora, she's almost as hateable as Raphael. Mechanically, I can't get into warlocks. sorry.

Halsin. So I learned recently that there's a popular mod that changes his name to "Daddy Halsin." Clearly some people are digging on him. For me... he's ok. Decent backstory, I find druids fun to play. Compared to my fave NPCs his personality is kinda... mild. And, like Jaheira, he never quite feels like he's part of the group.

Jaheira is cool. Another strong personality. Fun to play. She's a better version of Halsin. She does feel like she's only barely tolerating being part of the group. Someone above said it's like "adventuring with Bea Arthur." And I love that energy. It's weird, but with Halsin I find his detachment a minus, with Jaheira it's fun. Just goes to show it's not what you do, it's how you do it.

Minsc. Oh, Minsc. I spent so much of the game looking forward to getting you in the group. But he joins the group so late in the piece. Also, he needs a character redesign. I don't remember much about his stats from previous editions of BG. But the way he's portrayed in BG3 he needs to be a barbarian. Or at least a fighter. Maybe a strength based monk. Not a dex based ranger. (Yeah, I know I can redesign him. Probably will on this current play through.) But he's lots of fun to talk to. And of course with Minsc comes Boo. Boo doesn't say much but his presence is palpable.

Gale. Hate this guy. His backstory is "I gas lit my girl friend and tried to steal some of her actual self. So she put a bomb in my chest. Please feel sorry for me." Eff you, guy. And he's so greasily ingratiating. Most punchable face in BG 3, and that includes Raphael. Mechancially wizards are fine. But I find he frequently just sits back and snipes with cantrips.

Minty. Okay, upthread is the first time I've heard her called this. Love it for her. Alas, haven't gotten her to join us on either play through. Full disclosure, in our first play through she caught a bad case of dead. But we left her alive this time. Still didn't join us.

Scratch and Baby Owlbear are of course essential companions. Always take time out for scratchies when in camp.

But, hang on, what's this about I can get a cat? I want a cat. Please tell me it's Their Majesty from the Last Light Inn. Or the Winged Cat. Both are cool.

 

[haakon1]

I keep my games PG, so from what I've heard, none of them.

They can be run PG, but I hear you.

 

[Mistwell]

I think Wyll is awesome. Yes, I fully understand I am in the vast minority in that opinion and I am fine with that.

 

[Gradine]

I keep my games PG, so from what I've heard, none of them.

I will say, I romanced Shadowheart and apart from a sex scene that would seem tame compared to 90's R-rated flicks, there's nothing really not-PG about her, or her arc.

Some of the others though, yeah, they be thirsty