So it was suggested that this thread be resurrected because of discussions of Helia the potential companion and Astarion. So I've decides to take the suggestion to discuss why I'm against Helia as a potential companion.
So to start out, I love werewolves, I like them more than vampires. But I think she'd just be too much. It would cross the line to being ridiculous on top of everything else going on. Just a gnome bard would be a great idea in my opinion. Making her a werewolf feels like overcomplicating her. Have her be a deep gnome and tie into the whole revolution. Simple, interesting. But the thing I realized about making her a werewolf is, what would she offer that Astarion doesn't? We have him as the monster who sees the tadpole as a way out. Helia having the same situation would be dull. And if she's not conflicted about the curse and is fine with it? Well then what? The tadpole is disrupting an equilibrium she's developed? Sure, but that's the kind of thing that doesn't carry as much weight if we didn't know her before.
So basically, I think not only is her being a werewolf just over the top in my opinion, but her just being a regular gnome offers more of a potential hook in my opinion.
