I am at the point in the game where I need to choose who to drop so that I can take Vhailor (I've never picked him up before, so I really want to use him for the remainder of the game). I currently have all of the NPCs available up to this point except for Ignus. I'm most interested in keeping those characters that have plot interactions after escaping Curst prison. My initial thoughts are to leave Nordom (as much as I love him and this my first time having him in the party as well). The reason being, he doesn't seem to have many opportunities for interaction like the others do.

Any thoughts on this? Is there anything really cool that I'll miss out on because I swapped my favorite Modron out?

Nordom has a special ending -- just as Annah, Falls-from-Grace, Morte, and Dak'kon have. He does have the best banter with Morte -- the 'pillows' conversation comes to mind.

No special ending for Vhailor, then?

Only if you're evil. But then, he doesn't need to be in your party for that.

The special endings are just short movies (about a minute each). You get those while destroying the cannons in the fortress.

Okay. I may have to use the tome of cheats to get Nordom back. I plan on running through the game again soon as an evil-doer. I realized just how much of a <insert your favorite expletive for a not-nice-person here> TNO can be when I got to the pillar of skulls. You can put Morte back!

Yes, you can, but I wouldn't do that. You can give Annah or Fall-from-Grace too. The game is not exactly fun playing as evil.

Tch. It's fun as hell (literally :evil: ) to play as evil!
Morte is kind of a requirement for any playthrough. Tried going without him once and it really screws things up mid-game.
He can't get kidnapped in the Lower Ward if he's not there, which means you've got to find that part of the main plot on your own. And I don't remember it being easy to find the alternate path. :grr:
Beyond that...I'd say play twice to have everyone. Maybe even three times to make sure you get every NPC combo possible. ;)

Fel, yeah, I had heard that playing as an evil character was fun. I think it's a good idea to play it through a few more times to experience everything. The game is fun enough to play through several more times. I'm just a little miffed that the game is almost over and I can barely use 7th level mage spells. I didn't spend too much time as a fighter, I thought.

Well, you can always level in the Undercity. The worms and blade-arms are worth a fair bit of XP.

Larval Worms and Trelons galore!

Plus you get Glabrezu later on I believe.

If you put Morte in the Pillar of Skulls you can TRY and get him out afterwards but need a high dex I believe it is. 15 minimum, can't remember though right now.

You can't rescue Annah or Fall-From-Grace though.

I rarely play with Vhailor or Ignus, myself, they just seem very distant and reluctant travellers to me, sure Dak'kon isn't exactly along for fun but he seems more inclined to be a team member than the other two. Nordom is just cute ^_^

After you play through with Fall-From-Grace once there isn't much she adds except for some information and the 'Baatorian Scent' from Morte. Unless you're desperate for a Priestess.

I don't believe Vhailor adds a significant amount beyond a little more of your past and a bit at the end if you're evil. Pretty good fighter, but my latest run through my character had 25 con and tattoos improving regeneration so he wasn't required except to drain me of blood charms.

Ignus just is a bit creepy o_o again, like Vhailor I don't think he does much, just a bit of "oh ho ho! I know you!" along with a bit of burnination at the end, or through the game if yuo try and learn spells from him.

Morte. Enough said.

Annah is pretty awesome, you need her for the story at first and for second she's just good to have along, a lot of interaction along the way and generally useful as a thief and fighter, no other thieves apart from TNO and while the traps and locks are infrequent and often can be bypassed they give a little bit of EXP to thieve (iirc)

Nordom is quite cute, I find him amusing anyway, but maybe I just have a thing for insane boxes, WHO KNOWS! Storywise he doesn't add much except for he seems to latch to TNO as a bit of a mentor and follows his lead frequently, you can influence him based on class/level/intelligence to improve him. Only ranged fighter of much worth and some pretty funny bolts and lenses make him quite versatile. If only to dash for an area transition to spare the rest of the party :p Otherwise you don't miss anything storywise.

Dak'kon adds a lot of value to the game he is the most obviously tormented as aside from his internal torments that you can discover and exploit/try to release him from, there is the social aspect from every Gith you encounter, everyone has a harsh word for poor old Dak'kon!

If you put Morte in the Pillar of Skulls you can TRY and get him out afterwards but need a high dex I believe it is. 15 minimum, can't remember though right now.

You don't need high dex for getting Morte out again. Even 9 is sufficient.