So, I finished Chapter II on the 21st, exactly a month after starting the game and I have to say, I enjoyed the second chapter much more than the first. The trial segment was pretty cool with many different avenues of defense to get yourself acquitted depending on what you found for evidence. Really enjoyed the amount of reactivity to my class that came out in this chapter. I'm playing a bard, so having the option to give rousing performances to influence persuasion checks is nice attention to detail, as well as a few quests tailored to the class in the Blacklake District. It actually feels like my character has become an important man in Neverwinter after all the service he's rendered to the city even to the point of being rewarded with his own fiefdom. I found myself spending hours in Crossroad Keep, making repairs and improvements. The extensive time I've spent in Crusader Kings II continues to serve me well in my efforts to Make Neverwinter Great Again.
That aside, thankfully the character quests started to pick up again. Made some progress with the OG three, and even some of the new additions. It's pretty clear the game expects you to not see it all in one run, but since I doubt I'll ever play this again, I've been min-maxing the influence system as best I can. Still, I feel like my original perception was wrong in one regard relating to the companions. Certain of them that I liked, I no longer really care much about. More than ever, I feel at least a third of these do not have any reason to exist. Casavir, Bishop, Qara, Grobnar (though I do find his traits amusing), The Construct. Most of these characters really could have been consolidated into your other companions. The "quirky tinkerer bard" could have been given to Khelgar's character to replace the monk storyline which went nowhere really, or at least the road it traveled could have been taken by any class choice. Making him an aloof, clumsy bard could have complimented the lesson of needing a higher purpose just as well as the drunken brawler dwarf stereotype. That would eliminate the "need" for Grobnar. Casavir seems to be there purely as a romance interest for good female pcs, Bishop for evil ones. Both are too bland and have no real quests tied to them. Both could have been condensed to one Fallen Paladin with a redemption arc for good female player characters, or a further descent into depravity for evil players. Qara I still see no point in existing. Her personality is awful and the only purpose she serves is to be an object of derision for the much more interesting caster companion Sand. The Construct I have never used and will never use. It's just a droid sans any personality whatsoever.
Lackluster party additions notwithstanding, I liked the addition of Shandra who was like my squire throughout the whole of the act, lots of jealousy from Elanee's character at the way my PC was favoring her, and I was pretty dismayed at the conclusion of Act II which I won't spoil. I had a feeling it would turn out that way but I was hoping it wouldn't. Quite tragic, not quite up to par with KotOR, KotOR II or the Witcher but close enough. More than I was expecting from the OC at any rate. The new Cleric companion I'm not sold one way or the other with yet. Haven't had her long enough, but at least the voice actress is decent. We'll see how Act III treats her.
Game is still piss easy, aside from the end fight of the act which randomly required the True Sight spell, despite no other fight in the game needing it so far. Took me a try to figure out why the hell I couldn't order my party to attack. Thought the game bugged out on me.
Gonna be taking a break from the game for a few months as things are about to get busy for me during the autumn. Will update probably in December/January once I finish the game.
