Why this convulsive need to judge a book by it's cover? Seems to me the OP feel like the companions should be immediately recognizable caricatures rather than characters with their own personalities and agency, lest they be deemed generic.
Let's stop putting the original series on such a pedestal; it was a great game for it's time and we were much less jaded and easily impressed back when we initially played those games. There's little doubt in my mind that the OP would have deemed Khalid and Jaheira as not only generic, but mind-numbingly unimaginative and boring at first glance. Yet their contrasting personalities played off of each other and the dynamic character progression over two games made them/her endearing. The same can be said for Aerie; beyond being a rare form of elf with a tragic background, her personality was exceedingly dull. Annoying even. But she had a dynamic progression throughout the game(s) that lent her depth - at least if involved in love triangle with Jaheira and the player. Minsc filled the role of over the top comic-relief, but was otherwise a static caricature. The other characters didn't really stand out to me and have pretty much been forgotten, except Viconia - a fairly generic evil drow priestess, interesting as much because of *what* she were as *who* she was. She did have a dynamic story progression if you romanced her though. Laz'el though likewise seemingly generic for her race, has an interesting background which ties into the story judging by the opening cinematic reveal trailer. Wyll and Gale being considered interchangeable is probably based on both being human males and full casters. Yet one has a ticking super bomb for a heart (as a ticking tadpole in the brain isn't enough). The other has made a pact with a devil (Raphael anyone?) for his power and is desperate to break free. Shadowheart may seem to play the generic pretty (half) elven maiden trope; but beyond appearances she follows an evil god, and clearly is a wily character who plays her had close to her chest while uncontrollable magic courses through her. This is is anything but generic if you care to look beyond first glance.
Last edited by Seraphael; 21/06/20 03:24 PM.
