I just started TOB, and just got back from my first day in Saradush (haven't completed the main quest yet here) and I'm trying to get Cespanar's attention, but he too busy to talk even though he is looking right at me and saying "Shiny Ones!" and what a good servant he is (he is so good he won't even talk to me when I approach!). :rolleyes:

And it also takes awhile for NPC's to talk back to me. Like NPC's needed to solve quests (the little boys near Arcana Archives for example).

Is there a patch to fix this? Or do other people experience these same problems?

That's a known bug. The patch should fix it. You can get it here at sp:
http://www.sorcerers.net/Games/BG2/index_misc.htm

Thanks Diebysteel! It worked like a charm!