ToB companions question

[Sarsben]

Short version: does Mazzy have any new quests or other good content in ToB and/or how vital is it to bring along Sarevok?

Longer version: BG2 is one of my favorite games and I've played through it a couple times ages ago, but never played ToB. For my current playthrough, which will also be my first time playing the expansion and using a character imported from the first game, I'm mostly using my original party members (Minsc, Jaheira, Imoen, Aerie), and planning to stick with them in ToB for story reasons and out of personal preferences.

I already know about Sarevok being the new companion in ToB, and I can see him being an interesting addition from a narrative standpoint. However, I'm pretty loathe to dismiss anybody after getting attached to whatever party I end up using for most of the game. Mazzy is probably the one I'd drop for Sarevok, because we don't go back to BG1 and they're both fighters. Would I be missing any worthwhile new quests, events, or development for her in the expansion? How much does having Sarevok along add to the experience? Could I reasonably ditch him for my first go through, and maybe save him for a more evil future playthrough?

[Tasi]

I have not played with Mazzy through ToB so it is partially blind guess from my side, but Sarevok has lots to say and I would feel I am missing a lot by not adding him to party.

[ÄmJii]

Nah, Mazzy doesn't have any ToB quests. She's still a decent Good aligned Fighter, her Saving Throws are far above others because of Shorty Saves bonuses.

From mechanic standpoint, ToB-companion shares similarities with Minsc: They're both strong brutes who focus on 2hander swords, except Mr. ToB is simply better imho. Neither of them have ToB-related quests, but the latter (obviously) brings more dialogue content in the game AND party interactions, especially with BG1 companions, often shedding some light to his prior motives... it's interesting stuff really.

As for "saving him for evil playthrough", he doesn't have any conflicts with any companions, not even the Lawful Good aligned ones, so feel free to pick him up in any playthrough you want.

[red255]

Sarevok has a 5% chance of dealing 200 damage or something with his harbringer assault.

Sarevok has some interesting dialog per se, especially with imoen and maybe Jan.

but the only party members with extensive extra quests in ToB were the added party members (dorn, Rasaad, hexxat and Neera)

Dorn's quest triggers after having him in the party for 2 weeks. rewards some powerful light armor and well, a quest of somewhat epic proportions where you raid the heavens, and fight a pair of dragons at the end. traveling the world map.

Rasaad's quest triggers before the final city I think at the Oasis. leaving the oasis on the world map usually. reward is a number of things, I remember a monk only necklace that grants righteous magic once per day I used on my fighter thief. (Kensai thief dual actually)

Hexxats quest triggers in the tavern in the final city. I don't recall much in the way of nifty rewards except XP and a bonus dungeon.

Neera's quest triggers soon after leaving the sieged city, walk up near the merchant in the clearing outside saradush. get to visit thay and buy some stuff like an additional bag of holding to go with your other bags of holding.

but neera, rasaad and hexxat you can just swap into your party do their quest then swap them out. or ...chose the end where your companion gets killed off.

[Sarsben]

Okay, thanks to all for the input. I probably will just give Mazzy the boot once I hit ToB, as much as I'm liking her as a party member right now. And realistically speaking, it may be a while before I replay the game again after this playthrough, so I'd rather get a more optimal ToB story experience in terms of party composition on my first go through.

I am using Jan as my pre-Spellhold thief this time (I've used Yoshimo in the past), and the ending of his companion quest seemed to suggest there would be some follow up. I looked into this a bit online, just to make sure I wasn't leaving any of his quest unfinished before leaving for Spellhold, and I think I read something about his personal quest getting some sort of follow up in ToB? Has anyone seen this?

[red255]

Again there are no personal NPC quests in ToB aside from the 4 NPC added by beamdog.

ToB is a linear slog with very little in the way of sidequests.

the companions you take, if you are in a romance theres some additional romance dialog, mostly dealing with whether or not you'll leave them to become a god.

and when you reach the end of the game there is an epilogue of text for what happens to the 5 NPC in your party.

Jan Jansen's personal quest is the sick niece and the hidden in the sewers. when you come back from spellhold you might view it as a conclusion to deal with the hidden flayer base in Amn but thats still in SoA.

yoshimo's questline concludes in spellhold. with a nice XP bonus for bringing an item to the temple of illmater.

[Tasi]

Originally posted by red255:

if you are in a romance theres some additional romance dialog, mostly dealing with ...

Please, recosider to use formating for Spoiler text

[Hoop]

I always take Sarevok along. He's a very tough warrior and adds a lot of fun dialog to the game.

Never done anything with Mazzy. Maybe if the game allowed you to "Throw the halfling" I'd do it.

Edwin is another one you should take along.