TMZuk

There's likely to be many features in the game that not everyone will utilize. If crafting unique items is available, then I'd like to see how far I can go with it. If players aren't too bothered by crafting, they don't have to do it. Yeah, but I am bothered by the idea. I find it silly. An adventurer being able to recognize and hack out enough ore in a few minutes... and then being able to smelt it into ingots. You know, that takes either a blast furnace, or - for lower quality results - a bloomery. In both cases a lengthy process that requires a lot of equipment. And then the adventurer is also a weapons-smith and an armourer who is able to produce legendary equipment. Sorry. I know it's a fantasy role playing game, but that just takes to much suspension of disbelief. I pray they leave out crafting. They probably won't, though.

I'm somewhat bemused regarding the dislike of the companions in NWN2. For one thing, I thought Bishop was one of the best companions ever written. Secondly, compared to the mindless drivel that was called companions in NWN, NWN2 was a huge step forward.

I'd like us not to be able to craft weapons, and legendary, named weapons to be something I quest for.

Yes it could, if we stick to silly FRPG tropes. Because in RL it could not. You would not know a silvervein if you saw one. Because you aren't a mining engineer. It takes skill, knowledge and perseverance to find an vein of ore. It's not something anyone just stumble upon. Once more: I'd rather have no crafting, mining, suveying and similar nonsense. You have money in the game for a reason!

I think the repair option is another amusing/annoying trope. Of course, this is a fantasy RPG, but still.... A suit of plate is a costly, difficult item to make, and in fact, it has to be made specificly for the wearer. It takes a long time and a lot of skill. So why is in FRPGs it can be done in twenty minutes? And why is it, it can be repaired in the middle of nowhere, with no anvil, no furnace and what have we? It's as silly as crafting where you mine the raw-materials yourself, smelt them, cast them to ingots, smith the ingots to whatever item, temper it, sharpen it, and put on hilt/handle. All by yourself. Stop it already! That's why there's MONEY in the game. So the protagonist can pay craftsmen to do craftsmens work.

"Saviour" protagonist. Crafting. Political Correctness.

These days where work, girlfriend, children and other small details of life prevents me from playing that often, I play Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd edition exclusively. It's a good system, if not perfect. But which system is?

Well, my all time favourite video-game villain is Jon Irenicus from Baldur's Gate 2. Others... Adam Suttler from V for Vendetta comes to mind. Mr. House from Fallout: New Vegas. Tom Sizemore in Strange Days. ( I don't remember the name of his character. ) Colonel Kurtz from Apocalypse Now.

Probably something as close as possible to a classsic D&D Fighter/Cleric. Most likely female in the first playthrough. Somewhere around Chaotic Neutral in how she perceive the world. Basicly one of three archetypes I usually play.

I'd like them to be independant characters with free will. I ~would~ like some control over their development. It's annoying if you can't use a character you really like, because his or her characteristics happens to overlap the main protagonist's. But otherwise than that, they should do as they please.

For me, what makes or breaks a good RPG is the quality of NPCs and companions. That was one of two reasons why I thought Fallout:NV a far better game than Fallout 3. That is why I've never been able to get into Bethesda's games. And that's why I used to really like Bioware's games. So yes! Make them intriguing, dangerous, treacherous, caring, emotional, lying, loving and larger than life. Anyone remember Bishop from NWN 2? I remember when I did my playthrough with a female protagonist and the bastard betrayed her. And later, in MotB, when they met again and she could spit in his face! Fantastic! That's the sort of emotion I want. Not that it ~has~ to involve betrayal. But strong feelings? Oh yes!

In fact, I belive there should be one more option in this poll: None. I don't like crafting. But it ~has~ to be, then BG2. I play an adventurer, not a miner/smelter/blacksmith/armourer/weaponsmith.