What are the advantages of adding kobolds/trolls to your fiefdom?

[BlackDragon]

Just finished the 'Troll Trouble' quest. After having a chat with the Kobold King, I decided to let him and his critters join my nascent kingdom - largely just because it was a 'chaotic-only' option, and I'm playing as Chaotic Good. Since the game seems to heavily slanted in favor of Lawful alignments, I might as well have what fun I can get with it, right?

Nearly my entire party told me it was a terrible idea (bless you, Octavia! I can always count on you!) despite the majority of them being Chaotic Neutral. (NOT surprised that Val didn't like it - she's definitely the 'more lawful than good' type.)

Aaaand then when I'd made it back to my capital, the recently-arrived Ekundayo immediately told me to go ♥♥♥♥ myself and ran off with all the fancy gear I'd just put on him. Nice. Apparently, you can prevent him from throwing that particular hissy-fit by bringing him along to the attack on the trolls' den, but I was in a bit of a hurry at that point so... didn't.

Now I'm wondering... if the consequences of showing tolerance towards the Kobolds (keeping in mind that it was the TROLLS causing all the trouble, attacking caravans and travelers and whatnot) is that I lose Ekundayo, what are the ADVANTAGES? I mean, I ALSO lose out on the pretty-damn-nifty gear that the kobold-king is wearing... surely there must be SOME long-term gains to be had, right? 'cuz otherwise, I'm halfway inclined to slouch all the way back to my last save before the throne-room fight and just... kill the overly-clever little bastard.

[For_Science!]

My Chaotic Good bard allied with Tartuk's kobolds and never regretted it...and aside from a bit of grumbling, Ekundayo accepted the move. The difference, I suppose, was that she brought Ekin with her to the troll stronghold, and let him have revenge on his old troll nemesis.

So I would say that your character's main mistake wasn't allying with the kobolds; it was not bringing your ally along to what was clearly a climactic moment in his own story.

[BlackDragon]

Originally posted by For_Science!:

My Chaotic Good bard allied with Tartuk's kobolds and never regretted it...and aside from a bit of grumbling, Ekundayo accepted the move. The difference, I suppose, was that she brought Ekin with her to the troll stronghold, and let him have revenge on his old troll nemesis.

So I would say that your character's main mistake wasn't allying with the kobolds; it was not bringing your ally along to what was clearly a climactic moment in his own story.

I am, as previously mentioned, aware of that. But I was simply in too much of a hurry! I'd delayed solving the troll-problem for far too long already due to wasting time upgrading advisers in the Kingdom Management bit. I essentially set out on an expedition to the troll's den, picking up Jubilost and Ekundayo along the way - but while Jubilost stuck around and got to visit the ruin with me, Ekundayo had to return to the capital for healing, and I simply COULD NOT take the time to traipse all the way back there from the Ruined Watchtower, and then BACK again to reach the dwarven ruins... not fixing major issues like the troll-invasion in a timely manner is the kind of thing that can break your entire run, ya know?

So, the question remains. What do I actually get OUT of the kobold alliance? As things stand, it's a simple choice - forge the alliance and lose both Ekundayo and Tartuk's fancy magical gear, or... don't. So there better be something in it for me that's worth the price!

[For_Science!]

Ah, gotcha.

Tartuk and the kobolds do help you from time to time -- most notably in the extended endgame -- and there are kobold buildings that help with Espionage, normally the hardest kingdom stat to boost. (You might get these buildings anyway, if you befriended the Sootscale kobolds earlier, but you won't get as much endgame help from them alone.)

All in all, though, the concrete help you get from the kobolds is probably not worth the loss of a companion. Assuming you were planning to use Ekun at all, of course...but he's a damned good ranged damage source, and has some nice storyline missions too.

EDIT: Octavia, of course, adores kobolds...but if she's been traveling with you, you probably know that.

[BlackDragon]

Originally posted by For_Science!:

Ah, gotcha.

Tartuk and the kobolds do help you from time to time -- most notably in the extended endgame -- and there are kobold buildings that help with Espionage, normally the hardest kingdom stat to boost. (You might get these buildings anyway, if you befriended the Sootscale kobolds earlier, but you won't get as much endgame help from them alone.)

All in all, though, the concrete help you get from the kobolds is probably not worth the loss of a companion. Assuming you were planning to use Ekun at all, of course...but he's a damned good ranged damage source, and has some nice storyline missions too.

EDIT: Octavia, of course, adores kobolds...but if she's been traveling with you, you probably know that.

Yes, I certainly noticed that she was the ONLY one who had a kind word to say about my decision. >_>; I'm honestly a bit surprised. It was a purely 'Chaotic' decision, and yet two of the people who were eager to call me an idiot for it were Chaotic Neutral. (And a third Chaotic Neutral just didn't seem to care one whit.)

I didn't befriend the Sootscales earlier - sided with the Mites instead, partially just because I judged (correctly, from what I hear) that they'd be a much bigger pain to deal with than the kobolds. I wonder if I get any buildings out of that in the long term...

Anyway, I think, in the end, I'll let things stand. I honestly ain't too hot on doing the boss-battle against the kobold and troll kings over - I just BARELY came through it last time, by the skin of my teeth, what with it being at the end of a major dungeon-run and with few spells left over. It hurts to miss his personal quests, but to be honest, I had been wondering how to manage to fit him into my party in the first place. Ranged DPS? I've got several people who can do that, and arguably do so BETTER.

One lingering worry is that losing him doesn't just mean missing out on an active party-member, but also on an adviser/councilor. Not sure what roles he could've taken, or if he'd have been a good choice for any of them, though... supposedly, there are 3 possible choices for each role, and though many of them are mutually exclusive or permanently missable, that does suggest that losing him isn't going to be a fatal blow there either.