Do you only Advance story character story lines that are in active party

[enricofermi2]

Since you have 4 characters but more than 4 available at camp. Do you only move the story line for people in your active party, or do you character story/dialog just from the camp interactions.

[Moonbane]

You can still pass by areas that is critical to the plot progression of some characters, and they will be rightfully upset about being excluded from it.

Like creche ylek for Lae-zel or the Gauntlet of Shar for Shadowheart.

[rafaelninja13]

I always take companions with me to their specific story line quests. Their story might still progress some if you leave them behind, but you miss out on a ton of interesting story and dialogue, as well as chances to increase your approval with them significantly.

[rkonnertz]

I usually don't recruit more than three characters (excluding Jaheira, Halsin, Minsc, and Minthara)

[NightingaleMuse]

In short, it varies. Many of the quests can be done without the specific companion in your party. The boss in Astarion's questline will even comment on how you just 'stumbled' on the quest in the event you didn't recruit Astarion at all. Certain characters will permanently leave the party if you don't let them join or assist them as requested such as Shadowheart and Halsin in Act 2 and Karlach in Act 1. Others can be persuaded to stick around like Astarion in Act 3 or Laezel in Act 2 if you don't visit the creche AT ALL in Act 1.

Usually the game will give a not so subtle indicator of 'Character X should probably come along'. Fortunately, since companions scale with level ups, you can easily switch them out for their personal quests and then bench them right afterwards.

[id795078477]

Originally posted by Moonbane:

You can still pass by areas that is critical to the plot progression of some characters, and they will be rightfully upset about being excluded from it.

Tbh this never made sense to me. The game tries so hard to make it look as if the party members are "real characters", i.e. not just hirelings or underlings of MC ... only to fall flat when it comes to such critical plot points. I just can't imagine that Lae'zel would sit idly by at the precipices of the Creche (yes, all party members travel with MC - because they're all there in the camp) and then MC is like "oh you know, we're going to the Creche, sit tight here". I'd wager she'd be the first to actually try to go there with or without MC and it would be up to MC to decide if he/she wants to follow Lae'zel there.

It just means that all that "character development" is such a joke. They're just background NPCs, just a crowd to balance the fights if they behave (or rather don't) this way. Heck, if MC would refuse to follow Lae'zel near the Creche I'd expect her to be like "fine, I go alone". Not sure about Shadowheart since she's a bit more of a "good girl" but still.

[Moonbane]

Originally posted by id795078477:

Originally posted by Moonbane:

You can still pass by areas that is critical to the plot progression of some characters, and they will be rightfully upset about being excluded from it.

Tbh this never made sense to me. The game tries so hard to make it look as if the party members are "real characters", i.e. not just hirelings or underlings of MC ... only to fall flat when it comes to such critical plot points. I just can't imagine that Lae'zel would sit idly by at the precipices of the Creche (yes, all party members travel with MC - because they're all there in the camp) and then MC is like "oh you know, we're going to the Creche, sit tight here". I'd wager she'd be the first to actually try to go there with or without MC and it would be up to MC to decide if he/she wants to follow Lae'zel there.

It just means that all that "character development" is such a joke. They're just background NPCs, just a crowd to balance the fights if they behave (or rather don't) this way. Heck, if MC would refuse to follow Lae'zel near the Creche I'd expect her to be like "fine, I go alone". Not sure about Shadowheart since she's a bit more of a "good girl" but still.

You are not making sense at all. If you dont go to visit the creche, at some point lae-zel might actually leave the group if you dont convince her to stay.

[NightingaleMuse]

Originally posted by Moonbane:

Originally posted by id795078477:

Tbh this never made sense to me. The game tries so hard to make it look as if the party members are "real characters", i.e. not just hirelings or underlings of MC ... only to fall flat when it comes to such critical plot points. I just can't imagine that Lae'zel would sit idly by at the precipices of the Creche (yes, all party members travel with MC - because they're all there in the camp) and then MC is like "oh you know, we're going to the Creche, sit tight here". I'd wager she'd be the first to actually try to go there with or without MC and it would be up to MC to decide if he/she wants to follow Lae'zel there.

It just means that all that "character development" is such a joke. They're just background NPCs, just a crowd to balance the fights if they behave (or rather don't) this way. Heck, if MC would refuse to follow Lae'zel near the Creche I'd expect her to be like "fine, I go alone". Not sure about Shadowheart since she's a bit more of a "good girl" but still.

You are not making sense at all. If you dont go to visit the creche, at some point lae-zel might actually leave the group if you dont convince her to stay.

Nah, he's talking about if you actually go to the creche but opt to leave Laezel benched. It makes no sense character-wise for her to stay behind, except maybe if you earned her respect and she trusts your judgment or if you snuck out of the camp with 3 other people and never told her. They could have programmed a situation where Laezel would just show up in the creche and berate you for leaving her behind. She could demand to be in the party and if you don't comply, she could run off ahead of you and maybe she ends up being forced to permanently leave the party considering how githyanki handle the infected.

Still though I'd say this game juggles many of the variables quite well. Even takes into account players who "meta" the game by doing things to divert the standard interaction because they knew it ahead of time from completing a playthrough or watching clips online.

[id795078477]

Originally posted by Moonbane:

Originally posted by id795078477:

Tbh this never made sense to me. The game tries so hard to make it look as if the party members are "real characters", i.e. not just hirelings or underlings of MC ... only to fall flat when it comes to such critical plot points. I just can't imagine that Lae'zel would sit idly by at the precipices of the Creche (yes, all party members travel with MC - because they're all there in the camp) and then MC is like "oh you know, we're going to the Creche, sit tight here". I'd wager she'd be the first to actually try to go there with or without MC and it would be up to MC to decide if he/she wants to follow Lae'zel there.

It just means that all that "character development" is such a joke. They're just background NPCs, just a crowd to balance the fights if they behave (or rather don't) this way. Heck, if MC would refuse to follow Lae'zel near the Creche I'd expect her to be like "fine, I go alone". Not sure about Shadowheart since she's a bit more of a "good girl" but still.

You are not making sense at all. If you dont go to visit the creche, at some point lae-zel might actually leave the group if you dont convince her to stay.

That's called "have read but haven't understood". Fine by me.