POLL: NaliaBuckler!

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If Nalia had been a Level 6 Swashbucckler/Mage with her thief stats distibuted to make her more useful would that make you more likely to include her in your party? Or would it make no difference at all to you?

Poll Information
This poll contains 1 question(s). 20 user(s) have voted.
You may not view the results of this poll without voting.

Poll Results: NaliaBuckler! (20 votes.)

NaliaBuckler! (Choose 1)
* More likely. - 30% (6)
* No difference. - 70% (14)

 

Well, seeing as I normally play thief types anyway, to me Nalia's just a mage with a bow. Granted, the way her skill points are distributed is somewhat annoying as a more "intelligent" use of her available points could have made her capable of handling Traps & Locks competently, rather than the mishmash of abilities she has now. But Nalia's presence in my party is mostly based on her being the only good-aligned mage available until Spellhold, nothing else.

 

She's fine as she is.

 

I dislike her anyway, so I probably wouldn't take her regardless.

 

I agree with Magpie - if I take Nalia along it's for her use as a mage, not a thief. She's a mage that uses a bow. A lot of people don't like Nalia, but honestly, as long as you have either Imoen, Yoshimo or Jan in your party, she is a capable mage. In fact, since you can get her so early on, she'll probably be better than Imoen.

 

Nalia's a good mage. For me, she is the best mage available in the game, because you get her early on, and she can learn spells from every school. And with potions a good thief. There are so many potions available to buy -steal hehe- that I'm never concerned about her not opening a lock or whatnot.
Her only problem is she has no stealth so she can't explore around.
I definitely don't see her as a swashbuckler, form a role play standpoint, it's not her character.
In any case, I prefer her to Imoen for the simple reason she has more STR and can carry more stuff around.
Currently, I have her in my party with Haerdalis the back up mage, and am having no troubles with traps or locks. I have neither Jan, nor Imoen, nor Yoshimo, and my PC is a cleric/ranger.
Potions are key though.

 

I always thought Nalia should have been a fighter mage. She would be much more useful.

 

A very poorly thought-out poll; there's not even an option for less likely (not that I would have selected it). But what most makes this poorly thought-out is that dislike for Nalia is almost never about her skills; it's about her attitude. And skills, no matter how good, can't make up for absolutely hating a character. (Annoyman, anyone?)

 

I did not vote because I like Nalia especially in a good aligned party and she can become an excellent mage with a bow. I certainly don't take her along for her thief skills.

 

I nearly always take Nalia along, I dislike Edwin and never take him, Nalia is the most powerful Mage after Edwin, and she uses a bow!!! I never use her as a thief, I have her at the back of the party using the Tansheron's Short Bow +3 from Trademeet and when it's complete the Gesen bow, while flinging spells as and when necessary. Adding Imoen back in the mix is useful as you have two mages who can fire the bows

 

Nalia earned her slot in my party intially because she made several quests much easier with her unique selection of starting spells. She's also very easy to find. Unlike most people here though one other reason why I take Nalia is that she has thieving skills. While they might not be up to par with say Jan Jansen's, the fact that she's a great Mage with thieving skills (that can be improved upon with a few accesories or potions) is enough. She usually ends up staying in the party with Immy if I decide to take her along.

As far as attitudes go I don't find Nalia to be as annoying as Anomen. Nalia's intentions are different from Anomen's and she's the way she is because she doesn't know any better, and not because she chose to be (inlike Anomen). Personalities like hers are among the most interesting to see develop under the varying conditions that comes with adventuring with a son of Bhaal. Shr could end up a wise and benevolent Archmage or a corrupt and power-hungry Wizard.

 

One man's poorly thought-out poll is another man's idea of simplicity. It made no sense to include an less likely option for an improve NPC option. I am sure there may be someone somewhere who may have picked that option but I do not see it as a likely option being viable enough to include it. As for the dislike for Nalia being about her attitude. I can honestly say I started out tolerating her and in time grew to like her. I think she is a great mage and the fact that she can use a bow is cool as is her STR. score and I like her far beter than Imoen, but she is a THIEF-Mage after all. I just think that the added bonuses of a Swashbucckler (THIEF) AND 50 more skill points would make a good NPC into a superb choice. For me I think that a dual class should have some viability in it's first class. It isn't that I poorly thought-out the question I guess I gave people to much credit for being imaginative thinkers.
As to "Annoyman" I think that the people who dislike him for his attitude are impatient. given time to take his test, pass or fail, he becomes, at least for me, a very viable and likeable NPC. But, in conclusion, I think it is a very simple, straightforward poll in which the reader should be able to ascertain wheather or not they like Nalia and if this improvement would influence thier opinion in a positive manner or not at all. again I saw no need for a less likely option for an improved NPC option that adds a little more spice to the NPC, a No difference option covers the negative response just fine. Unless you just want to be analytical about it. And I don't, I like it to be open to some interpretation.

[ August 09, 2006, 06:36: Message edited by: Bassil Warbone ]

 

She's worthlees as a thief...but alright as a mage. She just needs to be gagged and she would be the perfect NPC!

I think I see where this is going, but if you're going to change her kit, you need to change her entire soundset to make her more desirable as an NPC.

 

Honestly Kitrax, the longer I keep her the less annoying she becomes to me. I guess its the seeing her go from a spoiled rich kid to being a road-hardend adventuer. I like Nalia and I would take her even if she were a single class Mage. But I like to see a dual class bring a little extra to the table. Nalia can not use the rings of Danger Sense, Lock Picks, or the mercykiller if you have her useing a ring of Wizardry or Acuity because the D'Arnisse Signet Ring can not be removed and if you remove one of the mage rings you loose the extra spells they grant. and who wants to pack a 1,000 potions of thievery or perception around. I am simply wonderig how many people feel as I do.

[ August 09, 2006, 08:57: Message edited by: Bassil Warbone ]

 

Hokay, Bassil Warbone, based on your explanation I went back and voted 'no difference'.

 

Thank you ever so much Nakia. And I mean that sincerely. I hate to sound (or look if you prefer) like a ranting lunatic, but......

 

To Basil:

Honestly carrying 5 potions of thieving, 5 potions of perception, and 5 potions of mind focusing only takes up 3 slots, which isn't that much when you think about it. Plus, because those potions last for hours on end, you'll need to restock quite seldomly.

So Nalia as your thief is definitely feasible, plus you can always carry a few knock scrolls around in a scroll case just if you needed them.

If for you a thief is one to open locks and detect traps, then Nalia -be it drugged up on potions- can handle the job with ease.

However, if you need your thief to explore in the shadows and backstab people then Nalia is not the mone for that.

But remember, Nalia is not a true thief and should not be considered in that way. She's a great mage that can open locks and traps with good success, and can use bows (quite effeciently thanks to her high DEX). Also, thanks to her family ring and if you specialize in one hand combat, she can have good AC for a Mage, making her that more effective.

Personnally, I prefer her to Jan because of the fact she can learn more varied spells. Although Jan has his advantages, as well.

The thing is, ALL the NPC have their pros and cons, but in the end are quite balanced in my opinion.

 

To Brettoni: It isn't that Idon't think Nalia as your thief is definitely feasible. I use Nalia all the time. With my plaing style you would be surprised at how fast 5 potions of thieving, 5 potions of perception, and 5 potions of mind focusing turns in to 20 potions of thieving, 20 potions of perception, and 20 potions of mind focusing. And when I have a ton of other stuff to carry like ammo, scrolls, stealth boosting equipment, and so on. It gets tiresome to completly depend on potions.

No, but she could be a great THIEF-Mage instead of just a Great Mage with reativly little change.

I have been playing this game since the day it came out and I have always enjoyed all of the NPCs and even the most weak looking or most hated of them are very playable and can be use to great success by anyone willing to work with them. It isn't that I am down on Nalia, I just like to pose an idea and see what others think about it. As good as all of the NPCs are they all could use a little change after 6 years of play and never using a MOD so I just like to see if my ideas for small changes have any appeal . Post like "depends on whether it will make the game more enjoyable for you." or "ALL the NPC have their pros and cons" or "She's fine as she is" really aren't that fun to read or ponder. The boards, at least to me have alwas ben a place of ideas and imagination not a place where ideas are stomped on as being poorly thought out or useless. anyway I guess I have ranted enough.....