Mod NPC Idea

[Guest Endless Twilight]

I've been thinking about this for a while, and I think it's time to finally take the plunge. I've tried messing with some basic modding tools before, like writing banters, but would like to see if there's any interest in my character idea before sitting down and taking the plunge to seriously learn how to do this:

 

Alexandra Winter, Priestess of Iyachtu Xvim

Race: Half-Elf

Class: Cleric (possibly Fighter/Cleric)

Alignment: Lawful Neutral

Concept:

 

On the shores of the Moonsea, rule by the Zhentarim is all many people have ever known. But for all that the Zhentarim are evil and corrupt, the policies of the priesthood of Bane, and later Iyachtu Xvim, did see orderly, efficient government and harsh but fair justice in many of the small villages. Alexandra Winter hails from one of these villages, born to two half-elves in a placid fishing village on the Moonsea, and she was raised seeing the iron hand of Iyachtu Xvim not as a despotic and tyrannical force, but a strong hand to keep order in the troubled and dangerous north. With opportunities for advancement few in such a tiny village, and not content to spend her life in such a tiny backwater, Alex became an initiate of Iyachtu Xvim, though during her seminary, she favored what she learned of the old god, Bane, slain during the Time of Troubles.

 

It is this interest that has brought Alex to Amn, pursuing the tales of Bhaalspawn on the Sword Coast. Having developed close ties to the older priests who still recall Bane, Alex's goal is to investigate the tales, especially the rumors that Bhaal may be somehow resurrected - if Bhaal can be returned, then so too might Bane. Alex is not affiliated with the Zhentarim proper, but a cloud of suspicion has hung over the young woman as soon as she left the vicinity of the Moonsea.

 

Beliefs:

For all the ill repute of Bane and his successor, Iyachtu Xvim, Alex cleaves to a different interpretation of their doctrine: peace and order are the mandate for all living beings, and it is the duty of the strong to impose order on the weak by any means necessary. Calculated brutality and cruelty are excellent tools for maintaining order, while offering peace and safety in the other hand. It is harsh, yes, but it is also effective and fair. Alex loathes chaos and troublemakers, including the Harpers, but she does view the excesses of the Banite/Xvimite clergy with distaste: brutality with no purpose is simply violence, cruelty without a goal is simple sadism. Those traits are the lot of Cyric, not a civilized god.

 

Personality:

Affable, pleasant, and possessed of a dry wit, Alex has deflected much suspicion with her personality alone, her essentially kind nature being far removed from the typical image of a Dreadmistress of Bane's son. She is confident in her beliefs, and when conversation is struck up, enjoys debating morality and philosophy. Not many people want to get close to her once she reveals her choice of vocation and deity, but Alex's elven blood does run in her private activities - she enjoys poetry and has tried her hand at painting more than once. She is aggressively mediocre at the latter hobby, but that doesn't bother her. As much as Alex approves of brutal methods for instating peace and order, she looks to art and poetry as the lifeblood of a culture once order is established.

 

 

That's the rough concept, but here are a few other things I'm thinking about with her:

 

1. She's supposed to be a cleric, but as she's a half-elf, I'm thinking I'll include an option to have her as a fighter/cleric as well.

 

2. Considering Alex's essentially benevolent nature, I am strongly considering the possibility for a good-aligned Charname to bring her around to a new god and a good alignment, probably serving Tyr or Torm. No idea when or how this would be implemented, my best guesses at the moment are either having the conversion offscreen during the SoA-ToB transition or maybe bringing her to the Order of the Radiant Heart to talk with a cleric there. Alex wouldn't be interested in the temple of Lathander - even if brought around to a new way of thinking, Alex would still view Lathander as a soft god, not one with worthy goals.

 

3. Romance. I've seen how much work romances take, so I'm a little wary of making Alex a romance, but if I do, she would be a romance option for female humans, elves, half-elves, half-orcs, and dwarves. Gnomes and halflings are just too short to appeal to her. Alex would be best suited to a lawful Charname, but wouldn't care about the good/evil axis, though a good-aligned Charname romancing her might have an easier time bringing her to Lawful Good.

 

 

Any thoughts or feedback?

[Ipsy]

You seem to have put a great deal of thought into this I like the general character concept. Alex sounds like a relatively normal character, which is always a pleasant surprise. I mean, no tragic past, no angst... Overall, I think that Alex sounds like a very interesting character.

 

A couple things, though.

 

1) Priests are generally supposed to match their deity's alignment. Worshipers can be of any alignment, but FR deities are quite picky about the mortals to whom they grant power. There are plenty of LN deities--Helm, Jergal, Kelemvor, Savras, Hoar, and the Red Knight, to name a few. Do you think that any of them would suit her? Hoar is actually an exarch of Bane, if that makes a difference.

 

2) Clerics generally have to prove themselves somehow if they switch deities, generally by undertaking a quest of some sort. So a deity switch probably wouldn't be that simple. Or it just gives you the opportunity to add a quest

 

3) Bane was the "lord of tyranny," and his order was achieved mostly by beating people into submission. Not exactly a nice fellow, really.

 

The clergy of Helm, Kelemvor, Hoar, and Jergal can be lawful good, lawful neutral, or lawful (according to the Forgotten Realms wiki), making alignment changes quite a bit simpler. Also, alignment changes don't have to be offscreen; there are ways to do it in-game.

 

If Alex appreciated the order wrought by the worshipers of Bane/Xvim, perhaps she'd be drawn to a different lawful deity. Plus several lawful deities have benevolent aspects, too:

"Helmites have long been respected and revered for their dedication and purpose, and their pledge to come to the defense of those who call for it."

A worshiper of Hoar (god of poetic justice and retribution) might choose to strike at those who harm the innocent.

 

And "aggressively mediocre"...heh. Great phrase

 

As for the romance, you could always write the banters, interjections and so on, all the material that's considered essential for a mod, and add more content in a future version.

 

Best of luck on this project!

[ericp07]

Looks like a very interesting character concept. By all means, develop, code, and release it!

 

- Eric

[Endless Twilight]

You seem to have put a great deal of thought into this smile.gif I like the general character concept. Alex sounds like a relatively normal character, which is always a pleasant surprise. I mean, no tragic past, no angst... thumbsup.gif Overall, I think that Alex sounds like a very interesting character.

 

Alex does have a little angst (mainly there so that the wraith scene in ToB has something to work with), but it's nothing serious, and the lack of serious angst or a tragic past was deliberate. Alex doesn't even have a problem common to half-elves: as she informs Viconia in a sample banter I wrote between them, you'd have to go back to Alex's great-grandparents to find any actual elves or humans, and she half-jokingly refers to herself as a purebred half-breed.

 

1) Priests are generally supposed to match their deity's alignment. Worshipers can be of any alignment, but FR deities are quite picky about the mortals to whom they grant power. There are plenty of LN deities--Helm, Jergal, Kelemvor, Savras, Hoar, and the Red Knight, to name a few. Do you think that any of them would suit her? Hoar is actually an exarch of Bane, if that makes a difference.

 

Clerics can be within one alignment step of their deity, LG Anomen and TN Viconia for example. The idea behind Alex's backstory is that she's from a place where the church of Bane/Xvim is essentially the state religion.

 

2) Clerics generally have to prove themselves somehow if they switch deities, generally by undertaking a quest of some sort. So a deity switch probably wouldn't be that simple. Or it just gives you the opportunity to add a quest

 

That is what I'm thinking, and why I might leave it as an offscreen SoA-ToB thing, at least at first. I don't want to overwhelm myself with my first foray into modding, unless I take a cop-out by the new church directing Alex to proceed with the main questline (by investigating the corruption of the Cowled Wizards, for example).

 

3) Bane was the "lord of tyranny," and his order was achieved mostly by beating people into submission. Not exactly a nice fellow, really.

 

The clergy of Helm, Kelemvor, Hoar, and Jergal can be lawful good, lawful neutral, or lawful (according to the Forgotten Realms wiki), making alignment changes quite a bit simpler. Also, alignment changes don't have to be offscreen; there are ways to do it in-game.

 

If Alex appreciated the order wrought by the worshipers of Bane/Xvim, perhaps she'd be drawn to a different lawful deity. Plus several lawful deities have benevolent aspects, too:

"Helmites have long been respected and revered for their dedication and purpose, and their pledge to come to the defense of those who call for it."

A worshiper of Hoar (god of poetic justice and retribution) might choose to strike at those who harm the innocent.

 

Alex is from a land ruled by the Zhentarim with an iron fist. Bane/Xvim is a popular and powerful deity in the land, and Alex's decision to join the priesthood didn't have many options for where to go.

 

Bear in mind that despite Alex being an essentially decent and kind-hearted person, she does have a ruthless edge to her, and she does fully support the idea of achieving order by conquering everyone who disagrees. Even if she converts to LG, she'll still have a hard edge to her beliefs - hence my remark that she'd consider Lathander far too soft and weak a god. Converting her to LG would mostly involve bringing her to accept that mercy, justice, and righteousness are far more effective tools than brutality, cruelty, and subjugation.

 

I think a better summation of Alex's beliefs and attitudes is that she believes in wearing a velvet glove over your iron fist.

 

And "aggressively mediocre"...heh. Great phrase smile.gif

 

As mentioned, Alex has a dry sense of humor, and doesn't shy from self-deprecating humor. She loves painting, but is terrible at it and she knows it. And please don't ask her to sing. She couldn't carry a tune in a purse seine, to borrow a metaphor from her upbringing.

 

As for the romance, you could always write the banters, interjections and so on, all the material that's considered essential for a mod, and add more content in a future version.

 

That is something to consider, yes, along with the possibility of her having a quest associated with her alignment shift. Alex will very specifically not mind romancing a dwarf or half-orc, by the way. Half-orcs are common around the Moonsea and she doesn't find them hideous, and she has great admiration for dwarven society and culture, so distinct from the often messy and chaotic human and elf civilizations.

 

Best of luck on this project!

 

I haven't started, beyond writing a banter or two with every Bioware NPC, because while I enjoy writing, coding gives me great pause, and I want to know if there's much interest in the idea, as I know I'll have to ask for help when I inevitably mess up my coding or have to figure out how to code certain things.

[Guest Guest]

I really like the sound of Alex. You've clearly given her a lot of thought, and I think she would be unique and extremely interesting companion. I know what you mean about coding - but everyone in the IE community is extremely friendly and helpful. Best of luck!

[Sister Vigilante]

Now, this one is interesting.

 

Personally, I think the alignment is fine; but I wouldn't be afraid of making the character unlikeable, and go more with neutral-leaning-evil than neutral-leaning-good; and although you could have the PC convert her to Torm, it doesn't seem absolutely necessary.

 

All Lawful alignments I think are badly represented in the game: Edwin's an opportunist who sells out his employer, Keldorn a stereotypical Paladin (with a dash of fatherly gravitas for interest), and Anomen's Lawful Neutral seems to mean "thinks he's Lawful Good but doesn't realize he can be a jerk sometimes," given how he's always talking about righteousness.

 

I think the reason is that all fantasy, and Baldur's Gate in particular, tends to lean toward Chaotic Good; because that's the mindset of a child (not that intelligent adults can't hold the view, but many children do). When you have crazy fantasy powers, there's the temptation to challenge all existing codes, secular and religious. You rarely get rewarded for obeying the law. In Baldur's Gate I, when the Flaming Fist can actually beat you up, you feel the pressure of the law more acutely; but the time you reach ToB, it's a cartoony farce where you can't help being a law onto yourself. A character with a clearly-defined lawful philosophy, who doesn't cringe from, well, occasionally making the player cringe, would be a breath of fresh air...I know you already have the character mapped out; that's just my take.

[Endless Twilight]

Personally, I think the alignment is fine; but I wouldn't be afraid of making the character unlikeable, and go more with neutral-leaning-evil than neutral-leaning-good; and although you could have the PC convert her to Torm, it doesn't seem absolutely necessary.

 

She's conceived of from the beginning, in my mind, that she's neutral but has good inclinations, but it's in the context of her preferring to conceal an iron fist in a velvet glove. She'll still retain that iron fist if converted to Torm's faith, and I'm thinking that only some of her banters will change based on the alignment shift.

 

I think the reason is that all fantasy, and Baldur's Gate in particular, tends to lean toward Chaotic Good; because that's the mindset of a child (not that intelligent adults can't hold the view, but many children do). When you have crazy fantasy powers, there's the temptation to challenge all existing codes, secular and religious. You rarely get rewarded for obeying the law. In Baldur's Gate I, when the Flaming Fist can actually beat you up, you feel the pressure of the law more acutely; but the time you reach ToB, it's a cartoony farce where you can't help being a law onto yourself. A character with a clearly-defined lawful philosophy, who doesn't cringe from, well, occasionally making the player cringe, would be a breath of fresh air...I know you already have the character mapped out; that's just my take.

 

In one of the banter ideas I've written, Alex quotes Homer: There are no compacts between lions and men, and wolves and lambs have no concord. She very much believes that it is better to execute an innocent than let a guilty man go free, and makes no bones about the fact.

 

As it is, I've done more thinking about how to handle Alex's conversion to LG, and I'm thinking it will be based on a point system - based on what Charname says and does, Alex will be influenced, and I am thinking that at least Keldorn might also chip in a little. Alex does get along well with Keldorn, and he might prove an influence her towards a gentler way of thinking. In other words, if Charname talks and acts like a hero, Alex will begin to re-evaluate herself and her beliefs. I'd like to note that I am hoping to establish this as being firmly Alex's choice, and she will not be looking for Charname's approval (well, maybe if she's being romanced...).

 

Speaking of which, your comment about Edwin is very true - I've been thinking about and sketching out how Alex regards the Bioware cast, and she does seem to lean towards liking the good members of the party. She respects Keldorn, and Minsc makes her laugh, while in turn she despises Korgan and Edwin badly rubs her the wrong way. Though, on the other hand, Alex does not make for good company with Aerie, Nalia, or Jaheira.

 

 

I'm still unsure of whether to completely take the plunge on this or not, but I think I may start writing her as a fairly bare-bones NPC to begin with, without the alignment change, romance, or possible quest, or at least sit down and start seriously writing banters to firm up my grasp of Alex's personality.

[Endless Twilight]

Finally got the regional splatbook for the Moonsea region, and so I will be changing some of parts of Alex's backstory from what I posted.

 

Also, I think I may change Alex's name. Still sorting out some aspects of her character beyond the initial concept.

[ericp07]

Finally got the regional splatbook for the Moonsea region, and so I will be changing some of parts of Alex's backstory from what I posted.

 

Also, I think I may change Alex's name. Still sorting out some aspects of her character beyond the initial concept.

 

FRCS and Races of the Wild are excellent resources, too, in case you don't already have those. As for naming, if nothing in the game books feels right, it's always fun to create names from Sindarin Elvish

 

Happy modding,

Eric

[Endless Twilight]

FRCS and Races of the Wild are excellent resources, too, in case you don't already have those. As for naming, if nothing in the game books feels right, it's always fun to create names from Sindarin Elvish

 

I have them, but I prefer older English names and the like, though Mysteries of the Moonsea specifies a generally Russian/Norse vibe for the region, and it's been a treasure trove of information with about a quarter of the book dedicated to Zhentil Keep and the surrounding areas.

 

As it is, I'm specifically thinking of renaming Alex to Naomi, if a Hebrew name isn't too jarring.

[ericp07]

FRCS and Races of the Wild are excellent resources, too, in case you don't already have those. As for naming, if nothing in the game books feels right, it's always fun to create names from Sindarin Elvish

 

I have them, but I prefer older English names and the like, though Mysteries of the Moonsea specifies a generally Russian/Norse vibe for the region, and it's been a treasure trove of information with about a quarter of the book dedicated to Zhentil Keep and the surrounding areas.

 

As it is, I'm specifically thinking of renaming Alex to Naomi, if a Hebrew name isn't too jarring.

 

Is your copy of Mysteries of the Moonsea in .pdf, or in print? I don't have it, but would love to add it to my collection

 

- E

[Endless Twilight]

PDF, but I'm not sure if sharing the PDF's is legal or not.

 

Anywho, if anyone's interested, here's a couple of banter sketches for Alex/Naomi, for a rough idea of her personality in practice:

 

Minsc: Boo is troubled. He has heard nasty things about this "Xvim" of yours, but he thinks you are a nice person.

Naomi: As a poet once said: There are no compacts between lions and men, and wolves and lambs have no concord.

Minsc: People are not wolves or lambs. We stand on two feet. And don't have as much hair.

Naomi: Metaphor.

Minsc: What is a metaphor? Is it something Boo can nibble on?

Naomi: The strong rule. The weak are ruled over.

Minsc: Minsc is confused. Boo says we are very strong, so do you say we should rule?

Naomi: Haha! Maybe you should, Minsc. Maybe you should.

 

Naomi: Interesting. Reports indicated there were two half-elf Harpers traveling with <CHARNAME>. A married couple, to be precise.

Jaheira: If you intend only to mock me, Xvimlar, I will strike you down where you stand.

Naomi: I was going to offer my sympathies, actually.

Jaheira: What?

Naomi: I'm assuming you loved your husband. I'm sorry for your loss, and perhaps when this is over, we can give your husband a proper burial and funeral rites.

Jaheira: I... why would a priestess of Xvim offer me kindness?

Naomi: Because you deserve kindness. Even Harper scum should still enjoy some dignity.

Jaheira: A Xvimlar offering a Harper kindness. What is Toril coming to?

Naomi: I can always go all 'Rar, I'm a power-mad sadistic tyrant!' like your typical Xvimlar if you really want me to.

Jaheira: That will not be necessary. Thank you, Naomi. I think.

[ericp07]

PDF, but I'm not sure if sharing the PDF's is legal or not.

 

Anywho, if anyone's interested, here's a couple of banter sketches for Alex/Naomi, for a rough idea of her personality in practice:

 

Minsc: Boo is troubled. He has heard nasty things about this "Xvim" of yours, but he thinks you are a nice person.

Naomi: As a poet once said: There are no compacts between lions and men, and wolves and lambs have no concord.

Minsc: People are not wolves or lambs. We stand on two feet. And don't have as much hair.

Naomi: Metaphor.

Minsc: What is a metaphor? Is it something Boo can nibble on?

Naomi: The strong rule. The weak are ruled over.

Minsc: Minsc is confused. Boo says we are very strong, so do you say we should rule?

Naomi: Haha! Maybe you should, Minsc. Maybe you should.

 

Naomi: Interesting. Reports indicated there were two half-elf Harpers traveling with <CHARNAME>. A married couple, to be precise.

Jaheira: If you intend only to mock me, Xvimlar, I will strike you down where you stand.

Naomi: I was going to offer my sympathies, actually.

Jaheira: What?

Naomi: I'm assuming you loved your husband. I'm sorry for your loss, and perhaps when this is over, we can give your husband a proper burial and funeral rites.

Jaheira: I... why would a priestess of Xvim offer me kindness?

Naomi: Because you deserve kindness. Even Harper scum should still enjoy some dignity.

Jaheira: A Xvimlar offering a Harper kindness. What is Toril coming to?

Naomi: I can always go all 'Rar, I'm a power-mad sadistic tyrant!' like your typical Xvimlar if you really want me to.

Jaheira: That will not be necessary. Thank you, Naomi. I think.

 

Very entertaining Thanks for sharing that!

 

- E

[Ipsy]

I like the banters. Fun and light-hearted, yet they address deeper issues. Nice

 

Personally, the name "Naomi" sounds rather out of place to me. Perhaps try this name generator for something. Keep in mind that there's already a ton of "A" and "K" names, though.

[Endless Twilight]

I like the banters. Fun and light-hearted, yet they address deeper issues. Nice

 

Naomi tries to stay on the lighter side, usually, but some NPC's do get her harsher side going, especially Nalia. For reference there, Naomi comes from a region where slavery is legal, and she doesn't see a problem with it. It's the excesses of the Lawful Evil doctrine that she has problems with. Her comment about being able to go 'rar, I'm evil!' is a good example of how she feels about most Xvimlar.

 

Personally, the name "Naomi" sounds rather out of place to me. Perhaps try this name generator for something. Keep in mind that there's already a ton of "A" and "K" names, though.

 

I like the name and don't think it's too out of place, with Sarah and Nathaniel already clocking in Hebrew names in the mod NPC community.