Slightly off topic but I liked Gothic 2 as a role-playing game. You became a paladin, you were treated like one, called one, and got quests from your bosses that related to your job. You became a mage (apprentice). Go live in the monastery, sweep the floor and distribute delicious reward food. Only RPG I know where my paladin felt like a freaking paladin.And your character was a person with connections. Old friends from the first game were there, recognized you and gave you breaks when they could. The player isn't everyone's butt monkey for a change.
I'm just going to say that I chose the Skillian Blitz background for a reason.
Viconia: neutral evil or true neutral. Garrus: by-the-book or cowboy cop. I don't see the improvement here. BTW I haven't started BG 2 yet so I don't know how the NPCs act in that, but I loved Garrus because he tried ****ing useful. You found a rigged gambling machine? "I'm running a trace." ...can't remember other examples, but damn. Garrus always gave technical help (and I guess the other science-y JNPCs pitch in too?), Wrex made some fight related remarks ("Smells like an ambush.") Sure, nothing important but it did feel like they are there with you for a reason.
Dunno, but the council doesn't, as I said earlier, I saved the 'Destiny, not the council. Too bad you couldn't tell them that.
IMO NwN 2 has the best 'from nobody to hero' progression ever. Just adding my two cents.