NPCs you'd like to see.

[InsanityRequiem]

With how things have been given to us and all the details said so for about the world of PoE, what NPCs would you think might or would possibly like to see in the world?

 

I've got two so far that I'd like to see.

 

Necromancer Healer - Sounds like an oxymoron right? Well, this necromancer would use his/her spells to reanimate the dead in the name of study, science, and health. Not only would he/she study how the newly corpsed person died, but if the death happened by a disease or illness, study and find means to create means to protect and heal those who haven't been afflicted by said illness/disease. It'd totally fit with Obsidian's big multi-layered characters.

 

Madness Inflicted Person - Yeah, somewhat cliched, but I would definitely enjoy any interactions with a potentially crazy/mad character who'd know things about your character or revelations that no one else would know in the game. Heck, could have an entire scenario in which this mad character proclaims to be a prophet for his/her divine being and you either can be a part or against it. And take part in a potential plot by same mad character to wipe out the ruling class/entire population of a town or city either by joining in or fighting against the character. Or just go screw it and leave everything alone.

 

 

What are your random character ideas you'd like to see/think might be in the game already?

 

[Tamerlane]

Weedlord Sephiroth Do'Urden420 (original character; do not steal) or I want my money back, Obsidian.

 

For real, though, I agree about the necromancy/healing connection being interesting but never exploited. What is a resurrection spell but a really expensive zombie maker?

Edited December 15, 2013 by Tamerlane

[Walsingham]

I assume you're not talking about a cartoon mad guy? As we've discussed in Way Off Topic on this forum, there's far too many lazy stereotypes about mental illness.

 

I'd like to see smart ordinary people. Folks with simple ambitions, but not simple minds.

[Zaccaro]

I'd like to see about three:

 

Nature's Reaper, this is an alternate class feature from D&D times. It's a druid obsessed with death and the natural cycle it is. He or she follows the autumn of all life and as such destroys those too weak to continue and siphons the life left in them. I would so love that kind of depth, this character practically writes itself, I think.

 

Religious extremist Knight in shining armor, yeah, I'm sorry I couldn't come up with a smaller title but it's mostly because English isn't my first language. This one is more of a tip of the hat towards Planescape: Torment and it's fantastic character Vhailor. I love me some references and this one would just knock my socks off.

 

Mordenkainen: I don't think I need to say more than: a tip of the hat to the original.

[Kjaamor]

On the madness side of things, it would be nice if maybe there could be some depictions of characters with mental health issues that;

 

a) Didn't automatically make them violent towards everyone around them.

 

2) Didn't have the "good" quest ending where you euthanize a person with mental health issues.

 

Honestly, I get so sick of the way mental health is written and it seems particularly bad within video games. It's one of those topics where the "research" (such as it is) is for writers to look up other writers inaccurate bollocks and then regurgitate that.

 

Even if you don't find tarring people with mental health problems with a horrible and inaccurate brush incredibly offensive, at least try and strive beyond what is currently there for the purposes of good writing.

[Justinian]

Serial soul stealer/killer with multiple personality disorder leading us on a merry detective chase.

[anameforobsidian]

An amoral Dr. Frankenstein-like cipher that's trying to make a soul.

An Orlan druid with a poison theme.  Poison's wells, drives animals insane, makes evil thorn-bushes, etc.

An animat that keeps falling apart.  He allows you to open more conversation options with mechanics.

A vithrak jailer who works for you.

An Aumua bandit who attacks from the marsh and drowns his victims.

A vithrak merchant who will give you an item that allows you to capture souls from people you kill and sell them.

An amoral arms merchant that will pay you to escort them to conflicts.

A talking bog.  It has to be convinced to stop eating children or killed.

A soulless dragon.

A druid that's way too into bees.  Constantly talks about bees and delivers huge blocks of text about bees.  Villagers tolerate him because their crops are pollinated.

A druid that starts fires to maintain a savannah ecosystem, settlers are a bit unhappy about this.

A power-hungry chanter that thinks that if you learn all the words of power you will become a god.

[Tamerlane]

On the madness side of things, it would be nice if maybe there could be some depictions of characters with mental health issues that;

 

a) Didn't automatically make them violent towards everyone around them.

 

2) Didn't have the "good" quest ending where you euthanize a person with mental health issues.

 

Honestly, I get so sick of the way mental health is written and it seems particularly bad within video games. It's one of those topics where the "research" (such as it is) is for writers to look up other writers inaccurate bollocks and then regurgitate that.

 

Even if you don't find tarring people with mental health problems with a horrible and inaccurate brush incredibly offensive, at least try and strive beyond what is currently there for the purposes of good writing.

Yeah, even setting aside the pervasive ugliness of the "violent madman" archetype, it's just so god damn lazy. It's right up there with "They were mind controlled the whole time!" (looking at you, Bioware and Blizzard) and "Eh, orcs are just evil, I guess?" in terms of zero-****ing-effort writing.

 

Why is this villain doing what they're doing? Is he trying to assassinate the queen so that he can get someone more easily manipulated on the throne? Is she trying to open up that portal to hell to retrieve the soul of a loved one? Are they forcing their prisoners into barbaric fights to to the death in an effort to impress their even crueler masters?

 

Nah bro, they just crazy. Don't worry about it. There was probably some tentacle-faced monster involved at some point. Those are popular, right?

Edited December 15, 2013 by Tamerlane

[Monte Carlo]

Falstaffian-Drunken Master archetype, wise but flawed, drunk but perceptive, violent but regretful.

[Sensuki]

Cows.

 

Actually not joking.

[BillyCorgan]

- A man waiting for someone to give him money to make his project possible !

- A man who try to be perfect like me... without any success of course. 

- A mad scientist not so crazy

- A simply guy satisfied to be a war hero and wanting to join us. If accepted all he can do is to slow us... 

- A singer without any song but a lot of speach !

etc...

Edited December 15, 2013 by BillyCorgan

[mur'phon]

A prissoner people believe knows who is going to carry out a bombing. If tortured, he/she will say what he/she thinks you want to hear, leading to the wrong person being executed and the bomb going off. Turns out he/she didn't know anything/didn't think you'd believe the truth/misslead you.
 

[Walsingham]

Falstaffian-Drunken Master archetype, wise but flawed, drunk but perceptive, violent but regretful.

 

 

I completely agree.

[JFSOCC]

Just characters with real motivations and problems.

 

Some tropes are ok, some are nice if they are subverted. I generally like my kick-ass girls. Not frail, talk back, don't take your bull****. Basically Jessica Alba in the first season of Dark Angel. (Which can't really be beat anyway, she's perfection )

[CaptainMace]

I'm fond of talk-a-lot characters (like Jan Jansen from bg2) and funny ones (like pretty much all of bg1).

[Silent Winter]

A kindly old innkeeper who mentions that times have been hard - you can help him out with a donation if you like...

 

...of course, if you do then he gets a good look at your coinpurse and he sneaks into your room in the middle of the night (especially if you're paying for the most expensive room) and tries to rip you off.

%chance, based on your detect skills, to catch him in the act - in which case a fight ensues, if you kill him then your name is mud around town (though perhaps you can beat him down to surrender, but never again stay in the same inn).

[Wintersong]

Cows.

 

Actually not joking.

Are we talking the equivalent of KoDT's "Chelsie the Magic Cow"?

[Messier-31]

It's easier for me to tell which nps's I don't wanna see: monks.

 

Okay, let's say a douchy character like Saemon Havarian would be fun

Edited December 16, 2013 by Messier-31

[neo6874]

Religious extremist Knight in shining armor, yeah, I'm sorry I couldn't come up with a smaller title...

 

"Paladin" fits the bill right there .