Release Date: Spring 2020 (Current Progress: 6%)
An exiled elf who is torn between finding redemption and falling to the enticing whispers of Shadow magic. A noble aasimar who greatly desires to help the world's issues and ignore her personal issues from within. The old dwarf cleric who doesn't know the meaning of the word retirement, pressing on with a bad leg. A devout Lorekeeper whose records the present, and ignores the past that is catching up to her. And a halfling warrior that really should keep his mouth shut every once in while, but what can he say? He's just too fun to stay quiet.
These five NPCS are all included together in one mod for you to bring along in your adventures. Each includes their own quests, with a relationship system that is responsive to your overall decision in quests, while giving their own (Sometimes clashing) opinions, remarks, and banters that helps the party feel like a (dysfunctional) family.
Characters:
Q: When will this mod be complete?
A: Somewhere between March and June. I'm aiming for at least a semi-complete if not complete version to be released in Early Spring for bug testing, and then a true release version after some test review comes back.
Q: Will it be EE compatible upon release?
A: Yes.
Q: Where will the NPCs be located?
A: Emily is in the Mithrest Inn and Helga the Seven Vales in the Promenade. Vienxay is also in the Promenade's exterior. Kale is outside the Copper Coronet, and Recorder is in the Temple of Oghma in the Docks District.
Q: How many quests are there total?
A: Each NPC has one major quest tied to themself. Some are spanned out in segments, possibly extending into ToB, while others can be completed in a single chapter if so desired. They each are also a different style: Kale's for example requires a bit of detective sleuthing, while Helga's involves classic gladiator-arena style battling.
Q: What is the content rating of the mod?
A: Recorder has the darkest storyline, but no quest or romance content should exceed T presently, unless people don't mind more mature rated content.
Q: Will they conflict with other party members?
A: For the SoA portion, Vienxay and Valygar will not get along at all unless she is True Neutral, but the player can de-escalate conflict or just let it happen. Emily will refuse to be in a party with Dorn and will eventually leave if he stays, and will conflict with Hexxat. Recorder and Helga will also conflict with Hexxat, the former leaving, the latter picking a fight (Unless the PC puts a stop to it). Kale on the other hand, will get along with everyone. In ToB, there are no conflicts, though they won't be happy to work with the person they don't get along with either.
Q: Will there be Romance?
A: Everyone except Helga will have a romance, so long as the PC has enough approval with the desired NPC (Explained below). For Emily the PC will need to be any Tall race, for Kale any Short, for Recorder any Short Male, for Vienxay any Tall Male. Additionaly, and only for Kale, he will have a semi-romantic dialogue branch with Mazzy in ToB depending on if certain choices were made in his quest in Shadows of Amn, and he isn't romancing the PC. Romance conflicts will happen at different stages for each NPC.
Q: What is Approval?
A: Approval is the relationship system that measures the NPC's happiness with the player's actions. This is determined by quest decisions and responses during conversation. It's not always as simple as happy with good action, unhappy with evil, law and chaos is taken into effect as well, as well as violent or peaceful solution. It will be impossible to make every NPC happy because of this. A high approval bestows the NPC a +1 bonus to their luck.
Q: Will there be Flirts?
A: Yes.
Q: Where can I learn more about the kits used by the NPCs?
A: Skitias-Stories has more information on the kits used in BG1, which will also be used in BG2. You can also check the support page in BG:EE mods for each NPC.
Q: Do I have to use these NPCs with eachother, or can I take some/one of them?
A: They are designed to have the option of mixing them with other NPCs. So you could put Vienxay in with Wilson and she will say how far she's fallen to be in a party with a bear, if you were inclined to be so cruel. (In fact, Team Make Vienxay miserable would include Valygar, Wilson, Mazzy, and Jan.) Their content is richest when played with their counterparts however, so I recommend it be tried once that way.
Q: Will there be multiple epilogues?
A: Yes. They vary depending on if a romance was pursued, and what choices were made in their personal quests and in your own quest.
Q: Will there be crossmod?
A: If I get permission (Where possible.), then yes. I've played very few BG2 NPC Mods so I'll probably post a question asking for suggestions on a few to try out that would be good crossmod choices. Presently if I get permission it will be for Sirene, Petsy, and Yvette.