Dame Aylin... (Potential spoilers)

[IlluminaZero]

Here I am in chapter 3 again and I can't help but wonder - How is she not a permanent companion at this point?

There is an argument for Chapter 1 bias however Jaheira and Minsc kinda throw a wrench in that. (Legacy privilege + marketing I suppose)

I've heard that Ketheric was originally intended to be recruitable and it was cut in development. Is there any such history with Dame Aylin? (And I suppose Isobel as well)

[Minnzy]

I honestly think a lot of NPC's should have been companions. I've not hidden I find the companions the worst part of the game and personally I think many NPC's are more interesting. Alyin and Isobel being two of those.

I've heard or seen nothing about any intention of them being scraped in that regard though

[belgix]

Originally posted by IlluminaZero:

Here I am in chapter 3 again and I can't help but wonder - How is she not a permanent companion at this point?

And she will never be because Dame Aylin is a NPC. Her purpose in Act 3 is for a quest and at the end, you may have her (with Isobel) as one of your allies in the final battle.

[Sentient_Toaster]

One could argue that her motives have nothing to do with your main mission of solving the ceremorphosis problem and defeating the Absolute. She wants to be freed, to wreak bloody vengeance upon those who captured and tormented her, and to reunite with her lover. Helping you, or anybody else for that matter, isn't really on her to-do list.

[GriffinPilgrim]

Mechanically speaking, she'd be OP. She cannot die so basically at that point you've won the game, since you can't lose until every party member is dead.
Lorewise Selune might be concerned about too much divine intervention.

[seeker1]

With the Legends of Faerun mod, you can get her and Isobel's help (as summonable NPCs) any time you want. Of course, you shouldn't use it before you actually meet them, but, heck, the mod theoretically could summon them in Act 1. Now, they still aren't full companions, they are about as 'interactive' as Alfira, but the summoned Aylin has more paladin abilities than the "GYA" Aylin normally does.

I agree there's a hint there could have been more to her storyline after you face Lorroakan, but that seems to have been cut.

BTW, the makers of the Keep Alfira mod have already given her her own tent in your camp, but Larian has still kept Halsin homeless (if you recruit Minthara). LOL. They also figured out how to code her to show up in the epilogue.

[Psychotic_Frog]

Originally posted by Sentient_Toaster:

One could argue that her motives have nothing to do with your main mission of solving the ceremorphosis problem and defeating the Absolute. She wants to be freed, to wreak bloody vengeance upon those who captured and tormented her, and to reunite with her lover. Helping you, or anybody else for that matter, isn't really on her to-do list.

She does want to help, you can summon her at the last fight. 100% should have been a companion, but would be game-breaking. Same as LoTR and the Eagles, why not send the immortal being to do the job lmao.