I would say she had a lot of potential that wasn't fully realized (like she was never given a real chance to be shown standing up to abusers and slavers - it was tacked into her epilogue. And not enough made of her gnomish connections; like followers of Baervan are supposed to play pranks on their friends so she could have been grown into a more light hearted and whimsical character). But she was, if not chronologically, in every other way the youngest character in BG2 so it would be great to bring her back as still the same big hearted and determined core character, but grown in manu other ways. Despite that all the OG romances have their fans (to be honest I never really cared for Aerie's; I always thought she would have been better written as a little sister type while Imoen can't be around).
I know, you are a big Aerie fan, since two third of your art seems to involve around her, but I think, it was a good decision. SHe wasn't very popular compared to other characters from BG 1 &2 and as I said, Jaheira and Minsc are by far the stronger choices here.
I am a big fan, yes. That is fair (but part of the reason I have so much fanart of her is that she gets requested a lot as well). I don't really know why though; she's cute, but there are lots of cute characters in video games, yet for some reason she sticks with me. Maybe because I'm autistic? I don't think she is necessarily (although there is possibly room for her to be written that way), but she is an outsider even though its not immediately obvious to look at her that she is. But I am also a writer so I'm interested in the story as well, although I'm not saying she should replace Jaheira; just be a great addition to Minsc's quest and in general. The only problem with a Mazzy return is that Halflings don't typically live that long (well similar lifespans to Half-Elves IIRC, so like Jaheira she'd be not as spry as she used to be) and her deal was wanting to be a paladin, which wasn't strictly allowed by the rules then, but now any halfling can be. In fact one of my playthroughs is a Halfling Paladin in honor of her.
And since this thread is about those two: I love, when you meet Jaheiras family - so much fun. ANd being able to convince Rion to help the refugees in Rivington is nice.
And I do like, that you can summon Boo instead of just hear him squeaking in the background like in the first two games. He is so cute.
I do like Minscs recruiting quest from finding the harper doppelgangers in Wyrms Crossing to meeting Nine Finger Keene to to the bank encounter (and yes, I rob those vaults blind) - and especially Minscs and Nine Fingers dialogue in the end.
I found it a bit strange when she heckled the clown in the circus at first, but then I realized she's older and more mellow and likely spent more time with kids than she had when we knew her in BG 1+2.
