Anyone else kill Tarquin?

[Ral]

He was a bit shady to me and I didn't like his attitude, so I ripped him open.

[raubrey]

Originally posted by Zunnoab #931:

Originally posted by raubrey:

My only point is that I don't like Tarquin's behavior.

If people want to turn it into something more, I can't really help that. So while I might not have elucidated enough on RPGs (in subsequent posts) in general, I wasn't talking about that to begin with. It's a game, people get so serious -- and defensive. *sigh*

P.S. I actually like the DOS 2 writers. I wouldn't play this many hours if I didn't.
It has it's holes but is far better than 1 in this regard.
And I love the character development. It doesn't mean companions and NPCs don't get on my nerves though in any given game. Why can't we just have a game where your companions don't ask these crazy things from you and you all go out for drinks or sumpin? :D

It's entirely possible in addition I merged other posts in my head too I admit, when replying. I'm still early in the game (partially into act 2) and I do not like Tarquin thus far but I don't mind such characters existing.

I suppose writing a character that can be liked for being convincingly unlikeable must be difficult. As long as things don't go overboard with one dimensional characters I don't personally mind.

I liked him OK later. I would of probably been OK with his attitude if he wasn't so eager to kill you over a couple questions, ones in your best interest for living longer. It's like he's not only ungrateful (for not being bound to Dallis) but unreasonable. Moody mages...bah.

[Draconiya]

Originally posted by raubrey:

Originally posted by Zunnoab #931:

It's entirely possible in addition I merged other posts in my head too I admit, when replying. I'm still early in the game (partially into act 2) and I do not like Tarquin thus far but I don't mind such characters existing.

I suppose writing a character that can be liked for being convincingly unlikeable must be difficult. As long as things don't go overboard with one dimensional characters I don't personally mind.

I liked him OK later. I would of probably been OK with his attitude if he wasn't so eager to kill you over a couple questions, ones in your best interest for living longer. It's like he's not only ungrateful (for not being bound to Dallis) but unreasonable. Moody mages...bah.

Wait, does he actually initate combat? I've been through that first conversation with Tarquin a couple times, and he was never as rude as people in this thread seem to percieve him to be, nor did he attack me.

[Zunnoab #931]

I vaguely recall he very well may.

[raubrey]

Originally posted by Draconiya:

Originally posted by raubrey:

I liked him OK later. I would of probably been OK with his attitude if he wasn't so eager to kill you over a couple questions, ones in your best interest for living longer. It's like he's not only ungrateful (for not being bound to Dallis) but unreasonable. Moody mages...bah.

Wait, does he actually initate combat? I've been through that first conversation with Tarquin a couple times, and he was never as rude as people in this thread seem to percieve him to be, nor did he attack me.

It's more accurately described that you're forced to either shut-up and quit asking questions or fight him. The dialog options forces the fight -- I say that "he" does, since his persona is tied in with it, but yes, in a manner of speaking. The player doesn't just kill him for giggles in the scenario I describe. Which is a bummer when you learn later that he's tied to achievement/rune frames, quest etc.

Choice and consequence is great, I even took the loss of Petpal with Hannag in stride (didn't even "cheat" per se and remove it prior)...this situation though, I really am not fond of too much.

The thread began quite casually. It's not like I or anyone else who killed him is all worked up over it, but rather some were seemingly put off about one or more opinions.

[Vic20]

People keep talking about how this arrogant dork is Lord of the Necromancers, which is why his attitude sucks, but... Even in my solo-playthrough, he dropped like a bag of hammers. Oooh. Big tough guy. You're a stain on my boot now. How's that working out for you? If I really want your dumb weapon later, I'll install an addon and put it in my inventory.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Syrris]

The collector's edition includes a book with background on various people and places. Tarquin is in there, and his career has essentially been one of thumbing his nose at every authority that he has ever dealt with. It would be entirely out of character for him to NOT act that way when meeting the Godwoken.

[Illuminary]

He starts out as an azz, and ends up one moreso, with a little likeability in the middle. But, I like to keep him alive, use him as a trader, and earn XP from all his quests, and still kill his azz at the end on the ship, so Malady can stare at his blood stain for the remainder of the game. You get all the pluses; quests, trading, and his death for being a tool.

[Museseeker]

Originally posted by Ral:

Originally posted by Blaze:

It's not about being a bad ass, he knew he was more valuable alive than dead to you, that's why he was giving you lip.

So in a sense you gimped yourself for killing him.

And I'd do it again too.

Is every stupid character going to be glib, sarcastic and arrogant around me, especially if they already know I'm Godwoken? Dumb dumb dumb. Cliche writing.

I wouldn't blame hte writing as much as Id blame that the game's mechanic design . I hate games that let players become murder hobos. I like the old ultima days where if you did something that would be stupid (especially if we were playing a real role playing game) then you should face the consequences.

I'd program something that says an npc becomes a level 99 tank if a pc decides to kill it, because the only reason the pc is killing the npc is because the pc is metagaming and realize that the npc is not statted for combat and in a real role playing game, (and life) you don't kill random people cause their a smart ass to you

[Roman Mithman]

I agree that Tarquin's reaction is unreasonable. Given his story (or lack of it), it would be totally stupid to trust this guy when he could sabotage you at any moment. All the writers needed to do was allow an option to beat some manners into him to show him he has absolutely zero leverage and no room to negotiate and so that he spills his guts (figuratively) or something. There is not enough realistic fleeing and begging for mercy in this game. Or else Tarquin can show he is apathetic and doesn't care if he dies. Also I want the option to rip that copper wire back from his shrivelling hands with my own telekinesis powers. XD I just finished giving him a much needed pounding knowing that I'm going to reload and pretend I'm giving him a chance to change his tune.

[Innominatus]

Originally posted by Coin:

OP is roleplaying a moron, what's a big deal.

LMAO true true

[Yojo0o]

Ma, come quick! They're bumping threads from 2017 again!

[tlenz]

I feel like the first encounter with Tarquin is proving to be something of a personality test in this thread.

It never OCCURRED to me to kill a guy who was an obvious prisoner of the folks that just tried to kill me (and successfully killed most of the folks on my side). At a bare minimum, you're looking at a "the enemy of my enemy is my ally" scenario.

And leaving aside that, he was perhaps moderately indifferent to me whilst sitting at a table fooling with his projects. So your response to freeing someone from brutal captors is, "if he doesn't kiss my ass, I'll kill him"?

Uhh, not ONLY is that transparently short-sighted (it is clear that he has great skills that maybe could be brought to bear for your side), it is incredibly narcissistic.

Which is great....DOS2 allows you to go all over the place. But if that's my call on Tarquin, it isn't because I'm roleplaying a reasonable person. Its probably going to be part of my psychotic murderhobo playthrough.

[Ed1749]

How do people even find threads this old. Uh, lets see... ♥♥♥♥♥♥ virtue signal time... Hot Take! Murdering people because they're slightly rude? Bad! Dont even know how people manage to kill passive npcs this often, DOS2 gets really clunky when you're throwing the first punch.

[Aether]

Funny to see an old thread active but I'm going through Act 2 now as well, at Ryker's graveyard, and thought to see what others think about Tarquin. Some weird high horse morality in this thread?

Murder-hoboing is not the problem, but a symptom. An incompleteness in RPing options means that there is no way to out-snark or out-reason a frequently condescending character that still asks you for help. No way to progress relations or character development such that they actually show respect. You have to wait until deeper into story progress for things to change, rather than talking with them there and then.

e.g. Tarquin getting kicked out of Ryker's grave yard, asking you for help with Surrey's tomb, then acting superior despite wanting yourself is just funny (in the sad sense) and immersion breaking.
Some dialogue:
T: "Ah - you again. Any luck in old Surrey's tomb?"
You: \*Shake your head. Nothing yet, you're afraid.\*
T: "Oh, goodness. The disappointment is clouding your handsome face. Take a few deep breaths and give it another go. A welcome constitutional, I find."
You: End Conversation.

If anyone in real life reacted like that, you'd immediately call them out verbally, and they might apologise/change their tone, or you stop helping him. There is no such RP option that would result in anything positive. You can't tell him to amicably leave and part ways either (because you might not want to tell him to get lost and he betrays you later). You can't even take them down to low health and have them surrender, with the agreement to not act so condescending when asking for help.

Roleplaying a good person that defends themself in conversation is pretty popular, and there's not enough options for that, so people get annoyed and kill the NPC. This isn't some sort of litmus test for how emotionally secure/good the player is in real life, as some are suggesting here either.

[Yojo0o]

Originally posted by Yojo0o:

Ma, come quick! They're bumping threads from 2017 again!