NPCs neccessary?

[Igor]

I never bothered to go back and pick either of them up from the school, and I seem to be doing fine. Does anybody find them absolutely vital?

[Dolphin]

Greta and Alwan are not really necessary. They give opinions at different times in the game, but nothing you need to know. Only one will stay with you, and even the one who chooses to stay may leave if you do certain things.

 

They are good early on if you are dying a lot, as a lackey that reincarnates endlessly can come in handy. If you are doing well on your own you'll advance faster if you don't have to share the experience points.

[Student of Trinity]

They're kind of fun, and since you get to control them, they are at least potentially worth their cost in experience sharing. If you pick them up, remember to upgrade their abilities when they gain levels! Unlike with your creations, it won't cost you any essence when you upgrade Alwan and Greta, and it keeps them quite competitive as you advance through the game.

 

You certainly don't need them; I played one game without them fine. But now I'm bringing Greta along, for a different experience on the second game, and she's okay. I started out with Alwan too, but after he got blown away by one of the four big Spawners on Harmony, I didn't bother to go back and get him. I'm looking forward to playing an uber-loyalist Guardian next time, with Alwan as my wingman.

[shell]

At the start of the game I only picked up Greta, but then she left me when she saw how loyal I was becoming. I was able to finish just fine without her, thank you very much!

[VCH]

The whole XP sharing thing was the reason I did not take either along. If the XP system had been better perhaps I would have. Although, I actually did take Greta with me until leaving the rebel Island. Stupid slag though she was too good for me.

[Student of Trinity]

Playing without either NPC, as a strictly singleton Agent who never shared a single experience point with anyone, and went out of her way quite a bit to grub up every point available, I hit Gull Island at level 30. Now as a Shaper who has never had fewer than four in his party, who kept both NPC through most of Harmony, I am about to enter the Creator's Hall on Dhonal's Isle, with Greta and some Ur-glaahks and Drayks. I'm at level 28.

 

In other words, the experience sharing factor is very minor. Greta is currently level 22, with Strength and Dexterity maxed out, and nearly 300 hit points. She always strikes first, and her Searers are very respectable. She is definitely worth far more than two more levels with my Shaper.

 

The bottom line is that the NPCs are definitely not necessary, but definitely do pull their weight. The powergamer's choice would probably be to pick just one of them, to maximize their experience by the endgame. But it's sort of fun when the two bicker.

[Dolphin]

I always preferred Greta to Alwan, as she has both magic and melee attacks. I would have liked it if Alwan had javelins at least.

[Harlequin]

Regardless of there combat abillitys, I think that their oppinions and personalitys add to the game.

[VCH]

I don't think Jeff explained how having either along affects the XP system. I was scared off by not gaining levels. Anybody play a guardian traveling alone? That's what I used.

[Student of Trinity]

How'd that work out? Did high Parry eventually make you nearly untouchable, as in G2?

[VCH]

Yes pretty much. As a guardian your endurance and parry reach up to around 20 so nothing really does any damage. Although I did have a problem dealing out damage. Gf3 has a serious lack of high powered melee weapons. I had 3 extra action points which when hasted gave me 16. But even that only allowed for my pitiful melee attacks to finish off an opponent. In some ways it was more realistic. Slowing is the greatest danger for a single guardian. The Rothogroth were ****ing terrible. I had to hit and run every time I came across one. Even Glaahks were annoying. Unlike G1 and G2 a guardian will not crush all opponents in one hit. Magic attacks on mass are also a hazard. Servile Cultists ahhh, stop running away from me!

[Dolphin]

A brief test with a level one Shaper and Greta:

 

PC starts with 0 experience.

Greta starts with 3100 experience.

 

Killing a low level creature in South End gave a total of 120 experience.

 

PC received 112 experience points for said creature - new total is 112.

Greta received 9 experience points for said creature - new total is 3109.

 

PC got roughly 93% and Greta got roughly 7% The same portions are given no matter who killed the creature.

Note this is for one creation (in this case Greta)

 

I really hope I didn't screw up the elementary math.

[VCH]

I ended at level 40 after taking Greta along until the docks leaving the second Island. What levels have others reached?

[Aoslare]

The thing to keep in mind:

 

Experience penalties from having allies are constant (it will always be 8% per creature, or whatever it is)

 

However, experience penalties from gaining levels are exponential. Ever notice how the 32 points (or whatever) you got for killing a Fyora quickly drops to 16, 8, eventually 1? 1 or 2 levels can make a drastic difference in the amount of experience you get.

 

The net result is that singleton players will always have more experience than full parties -- but only by a little; they will constantly hover just slightly ahead.

 

I don't know if this was Jeff's intent, but there's no real game mechanic incentive to run solo. (The incentive there, I suppose, is that it's less hassle to move your party around, and often easier to keep 1 player alive than a full party of 8.)

[Khoth]

The only time I've done it without help is when I was playing without killing anything, and I thought I needed every experience point there was all to myself. If I was to do it again, I'd take a helper as a meatshield.

[Learned Noremac]

Additionally, having them alters your ending slightly(well with Greta it did. I have yet to try with Alwan)

[VCH]

How does it alter the ending?

[Dolphin]

There is a small commentary on the NPC that joined you. It's similar to the way they comment throughout the game. It adds their personality, but doesn't really effect the story.