This will only get worse when Minsc, Karlach and Helia are all shoehorned into Act 1 as well. Unless Larian plans to make complete alternate Act 1 paths for these characters then 6-8 tadpoled people will be casually hanging around the crash site for vague reasons.
At the pace of romance I imagine they'll be dry humping the PC the moment they meet to stay level.
Halsin was originally intended to be a Dekhard Cain type old man until he was redesigned to be swole. Due to the massive positive reaction to his character I predict he will be a companion some time down the road.[/spoiler]
I can see why. I personally think that introducing and getting a possible companion in the way Halsin's quest unfolds is great. He is obviously someone important, knowledgable, and powerful. This is conveyed through the arc in the game world. When you find him you are seeking his help and when you wrap things up you like the character but there isn't any overt indication he wants to join you since he is independent and has responsibilities. If he were to join your party it would be extremely gratifying to have such a companion because you already know them in a sense. It was a situation where you both needed each other for help, unlike the other companions who would have surely perished in some embarrassing way without you (and also have the nerve to say that PC might not be useless). The background for those other companions/PC is in text and there is no in game impression to show you who they are. The worst offenders are stuck in embarassing situations, scold the PC, give a lot of 'tude. Are they supposed to be impressive/powerful independent characters? Because the impression you get of them is completely the opposite.
Gale was originally intended to be introduced in Baldur's Gate but the devs liked his VA so much they moved him up to Act 1. I agree with you on Wyll, but I think it is meant to be conveyed that his carefree attitude is irrational because he is banking on aid from Mizora, whereas Shadowheart and Lae'Zel's whining is seen as rational.
Yes, that's what I mean about his dark side. Also Lae and Shadow are not carefree, but their char desc, paint them as non-whiny headstrong do what I want types. This is another example of what I mean by conflicting character lore/desc and the version you experience in game.
Please no. I understand what you are going for but in practice this would make Lae'Zel a character I would consistently shoot on sight. The approval system needs an overhaul for sure, but it needs to be nuanced and to measure positive and negative approval separately like in Tyanny / F:NV, but to be made even more punishing.
Well, after the first playthrough I left her in the cage or killed her every time on subsequent playthroughs. Did two evil plays and still I think she is so annoying with pettiness and narcissism out of this world that no evil or good could put up with her. I understand why you would be against such a thing, and this is a personal peeve of mine. I just would love to see the consequences of who the companions are play out in game alongside the PC, in short I just want a much more reactive world to play in. Now my suggestion is not to put some insane restriction on time and actions and nor an immediate absolute reaction. Rather prodding and eventually bad reaction. TBH I just don't think it makes sense to even want to have good relation with a character, as you put it, you'd shoot on sight. That should be reflected in the game since taking a character like that out with you should mean you have to deal with that actual character and problems. Or do you take her along to those irrelevant side trails everywhere and when u do you turn to her, tell her u hate her guts and you've wanted to kill her since u met and blow a kiss and then continue?
I'm on the fence whether or not I should embarrass myself by writing a diatribe on the value of monogamy or to just chalk this one up to poorly implemented design. Not only are all the characters playersexual but they all make advances on you at the same time. In my first playthrough I could have had a gay orgy with Wyll, Astarion and Gale if the game had that option. These moments need to be spread out more across the Act or even removed entirely in exchange for scenes like the one with Shadowheart.
Or you know, just could even consider delaying those to the later portion of the game where you have considerable investment in that companion? As it is right now, some of the characters go from wont-say-shit-even-if-you-tortured-me-at-a-blacksite attitude to spilling their inner most desires and secrets in about 10 conversations.
