B-tier is fine with me, as long as there's some decent variety.
In BG1 practically every area you visited had least 1 NPC trying to crash the party.
Without even wandering off the beaten path, you were bound to run into a dozen hangers-on by the time of the Bandit interlude. Just walking the main highways or stopping by the taverns. Wander a little further and you'd run into a Kivan or Shar Teel or whoever. Often times they were just thrown at us as "maybes" along the way, without needing to be anything particularly special or stand out. Just trapped in a mine or some such. Pretty much exactly like Halsin lol
IIRC in Baldur's Gate I they didn't expect people to reload when characters they liked died, so the army of replacements for the last (class here) that died weren't needed-one of the reasons the roster for Baldur's Gate II was so much drastically smaller.
I personally like Halsin because he seems ambiable, grounded and if I'm being vain, has a nice voice and bucks stereotypical elf appearance; he's not a scrawny beanpole prettyboy like Astarion or (possibly) Tav or any other elven NPC, he looks like a confident f&*%ing gigachad that could knock out a bear in one punch.
I also like that Halsin is unique for an elf. He's like Legolas magically crossed with Beorne from the LOTR series.
I like the idea of him being a party member, but if so not just a camp member. Really makes no sense him leaving the grove and then doing nothing but sit in your camp.
The skeleton guy, I get. He's been sent by some mysterious master to ensure you continue your quest. So whoever sent him ordered him to sell resurrection to you for a price.
Halsin, though, is leaving HIS grove. He's lived there over a 100 years. He was there when Moonhaven was destroyed and when the Dark Justiciars were defeated. He is now leaving AFTER the grove was almost destroyed by Kagha. For what? To sit at your camp and be Master Yoda in Empire Strikes Back... just to guide you? No. Makes no sense. If he comes with, he should be playable.
But again, he should be at least level 10. HE'S an ARCHDRUID!!! He should NOT be some level 4 baby druid. And so, we have a balance issue if he is playable, BECAUSE HE'S AN ARCHDRUID!!!
For those who don't know RPGs, Levels 1-5 are really novice levels. 6-10 are regulars. 11-15 are veterans and 16-20 are masters. I cannot accept Halsin, a renowned Healer, as anything less than 1 step away from veteran.
