Baldur's Gate Reputation (Part II)

Reputation Baldur's Gate

The previous post covered an example of reactivity as it pertains to role-playing choices. In this post, I cover reputational reactivity.

Reputational Reactivity

By "reputational reactivity", I mean reactivity that is based exclusively on our reputation score, ranging from 1 (the most despicable individual imaginable) to 20 (an out-and-out hero). Reputation - which receives a one-off Charisma modification in chargen - affects which Bhaalspawn powers we gain after each chapter's dream sequence as well as how certain NPCs perceive us, and how happy our Baldur's Gate Companions are during the adventure. Thus, I will provide examples of each in this write-up; to wit:

• Reputational reactivity as it pertains to Bhaalspawn powers 
• ... as it pertains to how characters perceive us
• ... as it pertains to companion happiness 

Our reputation is most commonly changed through quest resolutions. Do something noble, it goes up. Stab someone in the back, it goes down. While exceptions exist, this is pretty cut and dried in Baldur's Gate.

Because Baldur's Gate paves the way for heroes more than it does villains, there are many more increase opportunities than decrease ones (quest-wise).

As noted in my prime retrospective, reputation can also be increased at-will by means of temple donation (up to a max of 18), and decreased at-will through theft in front of a witness or through the calculated murder of NPCs.

By rights, by the time we reach the city of Baldur's Gate, our Good-aligned CHARNAME - assuming he or she is thorough in actually doing good - would flaunt a reputation score in excess of 50 (a hero-saint of angelic proportions), but the cap is 20.

Dreams of Gorion and Candlekeep

Reputational Reactivity as it Pertains to Bhaalspawn Powers

For information on this interesting form of reactibity, please refer to Bhaalspawn Abilities Baldur's Gate.

Reputation Reactivity as it Pertains to How Characters Perceive Us

At the city's harbor, at the beginning of Chapter Five, a high-ranking Harper mage of Lawful Good alignment, going by the name of Entillis Fullsom, approaches and greets us. If our reputation is decent, Entillis offers advice, encouragement, and hints at our dark heritage.

If, however, we have a low reputation:

That's right. Entillis will seek to slay us right then and there. It doesn't matter if fellow Harpers, Jaheira or Khalid, are in the party or not. This guy means business and won't compromise his principles, true to his alignment.

But Entillis does react to Jaheira's presence if our reputation is decent:

And if Jaheira is dead but Khalid is in the party, he acknowledges that:

Reputational Reactivity as it Pertains to Companion Happiness

More deeply considered by players, and more often cause for concern, this one relates to the alignment of the companion (or companion duo) in question. For example, Good-aligned companions will begin to complain if our reputation starts to drop, and may leave the party forever - or even try to kill us - if our reputation plummets, whereas Evil-aligned ones will complain if our reputation starts to rise, and may leave the party if it soars.

• Good Companions Baldur's Gate
• Evil Companions Baldur's Gate
• Neutral Companions Baldur's Gate

Disgruntled Evil companions will not attack, but Ajantis will definitely unsheathe his sword and start waving it around, as will Minsc.

As with companion banter in general, some of the remarks by companions are voiceset-only, others voiced dialogue. When reputation begins to plummet, the following voiced complaints trigger repeatedly - sort of like alarm bells going off. Take the example of Khalid and Jaheira:

• Gorion would have none of this! 'Tis shameful!
• I'll not have a part in t-this! Change your course, lest I be forced to s-stop you!
• I will not allow this! It's-it's... utterly evil! 

• I don't like the way this group is turning out. Better leadership might help.
• Decide you well your next move! I'll not allow this to continue!
• You have shown your true nature, and we are henceforth enemies!

These can be summarized as unhappy, unhappier, and unhappiest (breaking-point/leaving). So, at the point of the third, it's basically over. Along with whatever items are on their person, Khalid and Jaheira will leave our party and express their disappointment in us:

As a rule, if Evil companions are disbanded while our rep is remotely positive, they will leave the game-world forever, never to be seen or heard from again. The same goes for the good guys if disbanded by a Charname of ill-repute. Of course, they will certainly have a few choice words to say before storming off in a huff. For Xzar and Monty, it amounts to a death threat:

Thus, if we want to temporarily eject companions, and want to keep open the option of enlisting their services later in the campaign, we want to make sure they are happy enough with our performance, first.

It would have been cool if there actually was an on-rest assassination attempt on Charname by this dastardly duo of Zhentarim, but it wasn't to be. Xzar could have said "I've come back for my ashtray - and to eat your liver with a nice Chianti and some fava beans."

On a cheerier note, when they're happy:

Comaraderie. Adventure. And Steel on Steel. The stuff of legends! Right, Boo? 

*squeak* *squeak*

This is only voiced. There are no instances I know of in Baldur's Gate whereby a companion enters into dialogue with us in order to confide in us or tell us how happy they are, and how pleased they are with our actions. I guess that when people are happy, they just get on with the job.

As mentioned above, this form of reputational reactivity is very, very important and impacting. Why? Because it affects our Baldur's Gate party composition, and most players want to maintain a party the members of which cover the crucial bases of adventuring (tank, scout, healer, bombardier, disabler etc.). If our only mage and only thief suddenly leave, we can find ourselves up the creek and without a paddle - especially if we're new to the game and don't have foreknowledge of where replacements can readily be found. As a result, most people just roll with a good-aligned party and max out their reputation for the advantages conferred, but it is entirely possible to roll with a mixed bag by avoiding the extremes of heroism and villainy. This will also keep the Neutrals from complaining. Of course, with mixed bags other forms of reactivity may come into play - ones which are out of our control - such as personality clashes, factional disputes and general alignment incompatibilities, but these I lay to the side for coverage in a future post.

***

While certainly valid, I don't intend to post coverage on reputational reactivity as it pertains to store prices because it's pretty basic, boring and well-known. But for the benefit of those who don't know, the higher our rep the lower the prices we get from merchants (+charisma). And if our rep is too low reputable merchants won't even deal with us. A high rep when trading can noticeably increase wealth accumulation and itemization progression. And, in turn, power progression.

cRPG Blog	1. Reactivity Baldur's Gate	4. Factional Rivalry Baldur's Gate
cRPG Reactivity	2. Reputation Baldur's Gate	5. Personality Clashes Baldur's Gate
Baldur's Gate 1	3. Reaction Baldur's Gate	6. Companions Baldur's Gate