Best Recruitable NPC / Sidekick In The History of CRPG's?

[luj1]

Arcanum's dog.

When buffed with Hands of Stone, Agility of Fire, Haste and Timestop (or was it Mass Haste?) it can almost kill the final boss in 1 turn

 

[Bocian]

6 ) Gobbet from Shadowrun: Hong Kong
7 ) Aerie from Baldur's Gate 2

17 ) Eiger from Shadowrun: Dragonfall

lol

 

[Harry Easter]

Annah-of-the-Shadows. She could've been just a stereotypical rough-talking sweet-hearted tsundere woman of questionable reputation, but she was written with relatable flaws, insecurities, opinions about things - well, she was just awesome. I know that I'm in minority here, but I always preferred Annah to FFG.

You and me buddy. Anna was the best.

 

[IncendiaryDevice]

Deekin in Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark.

 

[v1rus]

There is something irresistibly tasty about Geoffrey Tarrelond-Ashe and his so-overdone-evil-guy voice acting.

That aside, Kotor 2 has a pretty great cast, with a really developed inter-party relationship. For some reason, I always had a special sweet spot for Bao-Dur. Something about him constantly calling you "general" is so

These choices are more of a "favorite" kind tho.

 

[Jason Liang]

6 ) Gobbet from Shadowrun: Hong Kong
7 ) Aerie from Baldur's Gate 2

17 ) Eiger from Shadowrun: Dragonfall

lol

I LOVE Eiger but she has no character development.

Aerie at least gets knocked up.

Eiger's solo mission is the most disappointing part of Dragonfall.

 

[aweigh]

 

[Circuit the Short]

Disgusting.

 

[Lady_Error]

From recent games, I like Mirke, the constantly drunk female pirate in Deadfire a lot. She is comedy gold and has the perfect VO.

 

[vota DC]

It's between Mad Dog, Conrad, Steroid and Gus Tarballs.

Mad Dog's: "Sure they look like I'm the crazy man, but they are the crazy ones! One day, I will kill them all.." - makes me think of the Codex for some reason.

First two are recruitable NPC but Steroid and Gus can exists only as playable characters.
Same for Haywire other character of same game with great quotes.

 

[Darth Canoli]

"Justice is not blind for i am her eyes !"

 

[Serus]

It's between Mad Dog, Conrad, Steroid and Gus Tarballs.

Mad Dog's: "Sure they look like I'm the crazy man, but they are the crazy ones! One day, I will kill them all.." - makes me think of the Codex for some reason.

First two are recruitable NPC but Steroid and Gus can exists only as playable characters.
Same for Haywire other character of same game with great quotes.

Meh, let's not be so anal about it. You don't create them, they have "personalities" on their own, even their own agenda of sorts (likes and dislikes of other mercenaries that might even result in leaving your employ). That's good enough to qualify in my book, if not as NPCs then as "sidekicks" mentioned in the title. And they are very memorable - for me at least.

 

[Polanski]

Nok-Nok

 

[TT1]

1) Morte
2) Edwin
3) Lemina (Lunar Eternal Blue)

 

[Barbalos]

I may say Dakkon. I liked how he was deeply troubled after the events before the game, and you could either lead him out of his disillusionment, or entrap him. He wasn't overly complicated, and was 'smart' but not smart enough to regain his faith without you.

I'm sure I'm forgetting some other characters though.

 

[TT1]

Chrono Trigger has a lot of amazing companions. Chrono Cross, Lunar, Phantasy Star, etc. In general, JRPGs have better companions than western rpgs.

 

[PorkBarrellGuy]

Chrono Trigger has a lot of amazing companions. In general, JRPGs have better companions than western rpgs.

Varies wildly from JRPG to JRPG, and it usually is a tradeoff with the MC being a boring-ass blank slate of some sort. Still, if we're including things like JRPGs, I'll toss in perhaps Alys from Phantasy Star IV or Celes from FFVI

 

[Werdna's Revenge]

I think the party members from Ishar need a shout out. Buncha conniving bastards.

 

[aweigh]

i mean, if we're going to include JRPGs then there's no point in even continuing talking about CRPGs: JRPG companions will always win.

 

[PorkBarrellGuy]

i mean, if we're going to include JRPGs then there's no point in even continuing talking about CRPGs: JRPG companions will always win.

JRPGs aren't all great for companions. You have ones that are almost as irrelevant as they are uninteresting in JRPGs. Gau, possibly Setzer, Quina, things like that.

 

[Tigranes]

Outside PST, a write-in vote for Miltiades

You may say, but he's not a recruitable NPC!

My friend, you do not recruit Miltiades, he recruits YOU

 

[TheEntitledOne]

I don't think anyone mentioned Glory from Dragonfall yet. Mostly for her fucked up backstory.

And to keep a note of weaboery:

But the absolute best one is Calvin Barkmore.

Ian is pretty memorable

Spoiler

Most dependable guy no doubt.

 

[Erebus]

I would have loved more lore on FFG.

Fall from Grace is my favorite CRPG companion and I think it's actually for the best that we're not told everything about her.

Modern CRPGs have a tendency to make companions tell us everything about themselves, in the belief that it makes them more interesting. But I think it's a mistake. What's told in details is not necessarily more eloquent than what is merely suggested. And leaving things unsaid can really strike the imagination.

For instance : Fall from Grace is a succubus (chaotic evil by nature), but her alignment is lawful neutral and she behaves pretty much as if she were lawful good. Her personality owes a lot to the time she spent as a slave to the baatezu. Ravel points out that going against your true nature is extremely painful, and Grace admits it if you ask her about it. But she doesn't go into details. She doesn't explain how exactly her original nature conflicts with the personality she's developed. And I think it's better that way, because explanations and details would add nothing useful, and would hinder the player's imagination.

 

[Bruma Hobo]

Blanca Alegría

 

[Saduj]

Saduj from Ultima V.