Now ill write my review of the game I actualy got out of the first village, NWN2: its an obsidian game so obviously the story must start beeing **** at some point, I dont know what was it with these lizard ppl but it totaly sucked I gave up at that point.
the lizard people area was optional one which you could do for extra loot and booty before you got to nwn city.
and give it a try with all expansions and patches it's an excellent game and the MOTB Expansion is imho one of the best plot in pc game ever.
At the start of Inquisition, you can choose to go save Leiliana's people, or leave them to die.
You can choose between joining the mages or templars, which later determines which villains you face.
You can make different choices in all of the companion quests which determine how that character changes.
etc.
The starting choice about the scouts or soldiers is minor one which you can't see the effect of your choices after that moment... it's only change the very minor short path you take to the temple. even the loot is the exact same and the enemies are exact same.
Mage \ Templars are as well pretty dumbed down choice.
I agree that each one have different quest but once you finished it and recruited them what is the effect on the game?
1. the enemies in the catapult phase of the haven siege (very minor).
2. the side quest you get post haven (samason \ calpernia).
3. the main boss fight in the temple of mythal.
no matter which one you choose you still face venatori and red templars no matter where you go.
the dialog and fight of both samson and calpernia in the mythal temple is pretty much the same and even though you can make calpernia face coryfish in some way she still dictator psycho mage which doesn't want to join forces with you so why let her live in first place?
the companion quests are no brainer, bioware games lately took part of the companions as secluded main story section of their games. if in the past you had companion missions pop up as part of your travels and main missions in the game here they are like mini main quests.
so yes you might make choices with your companions to some extent. I never seen companion actually leaves your group unless you kicked him and even as I've tried to be as not very nice as I can they still stayed in the team :X
Where are the glorious moment like in BG1 where you got minsk and Edwin in same group! then they start beating each other.