Can anyone suggest a source which shows the starting weapon specialisations of NPCs?

As you pick up a npc click on them it will give there stats on the right hand side it will give there profencies

Try browsing GameBanshee. I know that in their NPC list for BG2 they show the starting proficiencies, not sure if they do it for BG1 too, but worth a look.

That information is also located here:
http://www.gamespot.com/features/bal...ompanions.html

The annoying thing is, I think the weapon profs. for the NPCs aren't even consistent. Once I picked up Shar-Teel at Level 2, and she had Large Sword++, Small Sword+, and Missile+. But the next time I got her, also at Level 2, she had Large Sword++ Small Sword++. Maybe somewhere, deep in the Infinity Engine code, there's something that determines NPCs' weapon proficiencies, the same as it makes their experience level match yours.

(I also hate that none of the Evil characters put anything into Bow, except Eldoth.)

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by SixOfSpades:
(I also hate that none of the Evil characters put anything into Bow, except Eldoth.)<hr></blockquote>


But think on it, Six. An evil char with a bow---he/she'd plink you full of arrows just to see if a human really could resemble swiss cheese and live! If you really want to 'adapt' this weapons proficiency, you could always do a little sleight of hand with the magical Gatekeeper.

Yeah, but it's not really worth my while to 'cheat' something that small. I'd rather use Gatekeeper & Shadowkeeper to do more interesting things, like making a Montaron NPC to take into BG2. Besides, I suppose I should learn to like Crossbows anyway. (Although I never did: Even in my Evil game, I made my guys use Bows even if they didn't have any profs. with the weapon.)

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by SixOfSpades:
(Although I never did: Even in my Evil game, I made my guys use Bows even if they didn't have any profs. with the weapon.)<hr></blockquote>

Now that is truely EVIL! :D

NPC: But I don't know how to use this stick with a piece of string attached!
SIX: I don't care! It's that or nuthin!
NPC: But there's a bunch of Kobolds coming!
SIX: Then you'd better hurry up and learn how to use it then!
NPC: *starts throwing arrows at kobolds*
SIX: Not like that! Like this!
NPC: But they're too clo....
SIX: *hits the quickload button* :D

[ 03-06-2002: Message edited by: Downunda ]</p>

The evil guys obviously neglect the distance weapons,
because they want to be right there to see the light
go out of their victim's eyes.

It's a wonderful feeling when my tank piles into a fight and
has Coran, Kivan and Imoen all pounding arrows into my opponent.

[img]smile.gif[/img]

Hee, hee.....nice description, Downunda. [img]smile.gif[/img]

The Evil characters do know ranged weapons, they just don't know Bow. Kagain has * in Missile, Montaron has **, and Shar-Teel usually has *. I wasn't being mean to my Evil NPCs by not giving them the Crossbows they wanted, I just dislike Crossbows for their (relatively) poor ammo selection and slow rate of fire. Besides, all I had to do was have Shar-Teel take Bow after she Dualed, give Kagain that bitchin' Throwing Axe, and put Monty's 2 new stars into Bow. Not a problem. And it doesn't even matter WHAT your THAC0 with the thing is when you're using Arrows of Detonation. :D