I just checked out the attribute points of all the RPC you can hire, and apparently some of them are more powerful than they are supposed to be.

Just for comparison, your characters at creation have a 360 to 375 attribute points (their base stats plus 60), depending on the class you choose (375 for Human, 370 for Hobbit, the rest have 360 or 365).
If you now calculate the starting attributes the RPCs would have had (i.e. subtracting 6 points per level-up), you end up at the following numbers:


Myles: 382
Vi: 399
Sparkle: 370
Madras: 389
RFS-81: 384
Urq: 389
Tantris: 360
Drazic: 362
Saxx: 389
Glumph: 360
Rodan Lewarx: 370
Sexus: 360


So, obviously the game designers didn't really pay attention to this matter here (or they didn't care), but some things stand out:

- The Higardi (is this supposed to be equivalent to Human?) have very high attributes, with Vi Domina being the most powerful RPC in terms of stat points at a given level
- Trinnies probably have around 370 starting attributes (not certain though), with Madras being somewhat overpowered.
- Urq is a damn powerful Mook (Mook have 360 starting stats)
- It's save to say the T'Rang, the Umpani and the Rapax have 360 starting stats each, but Saxx is quite the guy (similiar to Urq)
- No idea what Androids might have as starting attributes.


Now you could argue that those (for the lack of a better word) overpowered characters have visited some sort of Trynton fountain a couple of times (Saxx and Urq must have visited something like that almost 6 times), but it's still remarkable.

Looks like it might be worth it to actively incorporate RPCs. You could even think of starting with a smaller party and supplement it by deliberately hiring RPCs...

I am pretty sure you are still limited to 2 RPGs.

One other thing I noticed is that, unless there is someone I am forgetting, there is a severe lace of female RPCs; as far a I can tell, there seems to be only 1. It's worth noting, however, that that particular RPC is vital to the plot (and actually appeared in Wizardry 7 as well).

Sparkel is female and Vi is not needed for the plot but you are rewarded with extra talk if you bring her along.

Myles with Int 40 and Pie 30 also breaks the minimum attribute points rule
which makes him a more effective dmg dealer since the 15 points for Pie flow in,
although Int should get some love or buff it with Brilliant Helm, improves combat, L&T and learning in general.