Heh, you raise some really good points, Kryllith. Actually, I was thinking about you when I mentioned the BR games, since I remember your playing them quite a bit (along with a post-apocalypse game I can't remember). Your description definitely makes me want to give them a spin. You're right, non-combat skills never played much role in the other gold box games. I don't even recall related skills like haggling and the like. I still think Fall Out had the most interesting skill system.

I knew about the hireling thing, but I never felt right about doing it. Seems like there was a hero who'd join the party for 1/3 the gold who had a magic broadsword (or maybe a two-handed sword?) At any rate, I never liked hirelings and still resist it even today, preferring to go it alone rather than buddy up with a "henchman" in NWN. To my mind, the only game that ever did the henchmen thing right was Chrono Trigger.

What I find most lame about the items is that they really don't do anything but raise a stat or two. I think a magic item ought to do more. Hordes of the Underdark had some interesting items--there was a claw that worked a bit like the gravity gun in Half-Life 2, and a ring that'd let you see hidden chests and doorways. Both very neat. I really like it when an item gives you a new ability rather than just raising a stat.

I always found the talking weapons in Baldur's Gate II and Hordes the most interesting. :-)