I'm quickly coming to the realization that I will never be able to have all the companions I want. Therefore, I have a few questions that might help me decide. (I currently have Virgil, Magnus, Waroman, Vollinger, Chukka, and Dog, and I just met the Silver Lady, and am back in Tarant preparing to leave for Caladon) This is my first full playthrough, so I am certainly going to hold on to Virgil, as I want the full story as much as possible. For Magnus, I was wondering if he has any interesting stuff happening to him beyond this point. I already have a full set of balanced swords, so I don't really need him for any of his skills. I just got Waroman (traded Gar for him, as I understand Gar doesn't really do much beyond his initial introduction, and his melee skills, while nice, weren't really crucial). I very much enjoy having a giant Lizard Man following me around, but I also understand that he might not be interesting enough to keep around. I like Chukka because he is a highly skilled melee packhorse. I could see leaving him, but not without a proper followup Tank. Perhaps Waroman fills this role? Vollinger I keep around because I know he betrays me at some point. (He's actually really irritating, dying all the time and stealing gold if I don't watch him carefully). I'm wondering if his betrayal is interesting enough to keep him around, or if I should trade up to someone like Sebastian to fill in my evil needs. I like Dog. Pretty sure he can't be traded anyways. The companions I want to get are the following: Raven, Sebastian, Geoffery, and Z'an Al'urin. (I will soon be a Persuasion Master, so I believe I can recruit anyone I like, regardless of alignment) I also have a mild interest in Torian Kel, just because dude was a skeleton when I met him, ya know? I also understand that there are some kinda cool companions towards the end, possibly a Dragon? (the one I found out about in Bellogrims lair) Basically, looking for advice on the usefulness/story interestingness of the different companions I just named. I know there is a similar topic on this board, but I think this is different enough since I am looking for story concerns as well as efficiency. I also know this is a huge post, i really didnt mean it to be. Finally, is there any standard of waiting time, or companions who will wait forever? I left GAr because I kind of thought he'd stick around, but he trucked out. Any info on that is much appreciated. Thanks in advance for any help, it's a big deal for someone with as little time for gaming as I have. one brief addenum: I understand you can get involved in a romance of some kind with Raven? I was wondering if there are any racial/gender/affinity pre-requisites for this (i.e must you be a male elf who is a magick user?)
Virgil is an obvious keeper, simply because he plays such a large role if you let him. Magnus doesn't have much story left in him unless you've still got business to do in the Iron Clan with Loghaire Thunderstone in your party, if memory serves. But you seem past being able to recruit Loghaire, as I think you get only one chance when you speak to him under Randver's Throne Room. Waromon is a walking novelty, and that'll wear thin in the end, but the same is true with Kraka-Tur and Dog. Although, some people dislike having Dog in their party because of his melee mastery, which gives him the tendency to dominate your battles and stunt XP gain. The others are simply odd looking but ordinary companions. It's down to personal taste and how useful you find them. Chukka is a slightly more attractive Sogg, serves the purposes you've noticed and that's the only thing you need to consider (that, and that Half Ogres are awesome, of course). Vollinger...I'd keep him, since you're quite close to the event you mentioned anyway, if I remember rightly. I found the event quite a let down, though. Onto Raven though. A note to bear in mind is that she and Z'an Al'urin can't be in your party at the same time. I believe you're forced to choose between them if you try. The other companions you've mentioned, I'm not overly sure about. Geoffrey is quite simply an evil magicker, easy to recruit if you fancy yourself a bad 'un, but I like his humour. As far as wait times go...there was a chart somewhere I recall, but I can't remember where and can't seem to find it, sadly. Virgil and Dog wait forever...but others, if they disappear, should be easily found where you first encountered them. There may be reaction penalties from letting that happen, but otherwise they should rejoin without much hassle. Oh, and I'd go for Torian Kel - always do with an evil character. If you're evil, he makes a fine companion. Who could argue with having that voice on their side? There's something awesome about skeletons, even ex-skeletons. Shame Stringy Pete can't be coaxed into joining. Anyway, happy gaming. Hope I helped more than I rambled!
I think master persuasion plus epic charisma lets you keep both Z'an Al'urin and Raven in your party, if I am not mistaken.
I've no idea. Marlowe may be able to clarify that for us, if we're lucky. Seems he has the necessary character build for such, at least. This has made me realise how few the times I've gotten to that point of the game are. I've completed it once, yet made more characters than I know how to count...
Yuki is correct; they'll work together for someone with the right build. Amazingly, even a master of persuasion can't convince Magnus to join if the PC has agreed to protect the Schuylers' secret. Stubborn city dwarf!
Thanks for the clarification, Skyfish. The thought's been bugging me, as unimportant stuff always has a habit of doing. Now that I think about it though...Magnus' greatest appeal is that he has a voice. That probably explains why sometimes I just don't bother recruiting him. The attitude doesn't help there though, and the tendency he has to 'life-quench' the player for touching his precious book.
Raven and Loghaire At least once, you should have Raven and Loghaire in your party at the same time. You get a bunch of extra dialogue because they talk to each other a few times. I don't find Loghaire very useful as a follower, but it's neat hearing what he has to say about parts of the plot and the whole elf/dwarf thing. In what you guys call "vanilla" Arcanum, Loghaire will be back in his throne room after you talk him into leaving the Dredge. The big thing there is that he's level 35 so you have to wait a while before he'll join you. Raven will flirt with you if you're an elf, human or half-elf. You can boost her reaction to you by acting like you like it. There's a little dramatic tension there, but it's more of an "adding flavor" thing than some huge romantic subplot. There are a couple of human cities she finds really interesting, so you get some extra dialogue if you ask her questions. Edit: When I finally got around to asking Gar and Magnus if they knew anything about Dernholm, I was pleasantly surprised by their responses. Gar gives you extra backstory on Dernholm and Black Root that is interesting enough to be worth keeping him around at least until you go looking for the mayor's taxes. I had no idea that falling out of the habit of talking to my followers at each new location caused me to miss some stuff.
Re: Raven and Loghaire I got a habit to ask my followers quiestions in new times back in Fallout with Sulik and his visions. In Arcanum that part is a great touch and is often the greatest thig about trying new followers. I have yet to try every single combination, but so far nothing beats Geoffrey's opinion on Shrouded Hills for me. EDIT: Loghaire is an excellent warrior. He alone could beat the crap out of most encounters, yet by that ponit of the game that's not that impressing propably. I alays wanted him to have some more talking after he becomes a follower, since words are his power. He has an incredible voice, and the conversation with him in the Dredge is my second favourite conversation in the whole game, I simply love it. Loghaire is a follower which gives +20 to Feeling Epic.
The thing about Loghaire is that I usually have Sebastian and Raven in my party at that point in the game. Possibly also Franklin Payne. And I always have Dog and Sogg for melee mayhem. I also tend to use ranged attacks as much as possible. Loghaire generally doesn't get to do much fighting. So, I mostly just find myself wishing he knew how to make stuff I want to use.
