Importance of Imoen to story?

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A widely unknown fact (or so it seems) is that when Imoen, gets proficient in long swords, scimitars and 2 weapon style and the Angurvadle for 22 strength, and improve hastes her self by the time she's level 25-30 she can actually make a decent melee character with protections, I've seen her with Thac0s of as low as -3 without tensors, so don't discount her as a fighter, at the very least she makes effective melee bait but can still defend herself, and with spells, items (cloak, boots of elvenkind, shadow armour and others) you can make her a fair back stabber, she even has a good HP when compared to Jan or Aerie.

Shes more Mage then anything else though and anyone that thinks she's not a good theif either, don't give her a chance and an item or potion or they just don't like the fact she can't use thief traps, but mages can easily replicate the traps with their spells anyway, considering all this the only more versatile NPC is Jan and possibly Jaheira, but she's a better spellcaster then both of them and as mages get more powerful so does their importance

 

@Aces:

He said from a roleplaying point of view. You don't dump your friends in real-life either because someone who's better at your mutual hobby, football, comes along. Imoen is good enough to be obviously handy in the party. Even if she was a whole lot weaker, from a roleplaying point of view she'd still be under the threat of being killed by someone hungry for her power, or another bhaalspawn. And any "normal" character who would be bound to her by friendship since childhood, and/or because she was your sister, would definitely want to protect her.

Note also that from a roleplaying point of view, I know of no adventure where teammates were picked up only for power. Realistically such a motivation is a suicide, as most power usually belong to those who watch out for themselves only.

@Casey

You can make just about any character in the game a "decent melee character" by using the right items and spells on them. The point is that while they would become decent in melee, they would lose in what they're really good at... and at the same time those true melee characters would be nothing but normal / good because of the loss of items that they should have. Sure, when you're past the point where each class has their optimal items and placed in a situation where you no longer have the items required for some remaining characters, then you can make calculations on what's the best middleground between the character's natural abilities, and the new ones granted by the items. Such as, if there are no mage items to boost the powers of a mage, but there are so powerful melee items the mage can use but no-one else really needs anymore. Then if the character gets stronger in overall with the items, than without, you could start making plans towards using them.

Very rarely though you can do that much good by using a character for something they were not born to do.

 

I find Imoen a very interesting character in the game, apart from her seeming knack of getting herself into a sticky situation.

But there are obviously better thieves and mage NPCs in the game. I suggest using Jan or my favourite NPC, Edwin. Edwin has a good selection of spells that dwarfs Imoen. And don't rule out Haer'dalis and the ever resourceful Nalia out of the equation.

If you are out to complete the tale in a good way, take her. The rest, if you don't her, take Edwin!

 

I've completed the entire game with Imoen as my only thief and, without any potions or items, I found that she could disarm any trap that is disarmable and that she was able to pick any lock that can be opened. I fail to see how that makes her a crappy thief.

 

You tell 'em Rastor! Imoen is me lil' sis! She rox. Basically, shes a mage that can wield a bow competently and can pick locks and disarm traps no problem. Can't fault it.

(btw Rastor, hows the Kitanya mod coming along? )

 

I always think Imoen is a competent thief and she's a decent Yoshimo-replacement for her opening locks ability. The few times she fails, I just use the Knock spell.

 

I always keep Imoen after I rescue her. Not only is she intesting, she's CHARNAME's sister and best friend. And, really, she did follow CHARNAME out of Candlekeep, so in away, CHARNAME is responsible for her being out there.

My party is usually:
CHARNAME (almost always a drow mage/thief now that I have the subrace mod installed)
Imoen
Valygar
Mazzy
Whoever I am romancing
NPC Mod installed

 

My typical Character is anything I can get away with (Fighter, Thief, Cleric, depends on my mood when its made) of NG alignment, so I take Imoen out of Roleplaying principal. That, and I find her more interesting than Nalia.

Admittedly off-topic:
Ryu, I couldnt help but see the words 'sub-race mod' in there. You dont by any chance have an URL to that, do you?

 

Cant let Imoen stay back.

off all persons, she is the one i like the most (well she and keldorn hehe).