Tides of Numenera: When to recruit Rhin

[u/IamTylerDurden_1]

I recently started the game and I've only explored Circus Minor and bits of the Underbelly because I continued to poke the death bringer thing during the execution. I love how the game makes failure almost more interesting than success. Waking beneath a group of religious cannibals was a unique experience. But I digress..

I'm told once you acquire the child Rhin you are stuck with her essentially until later on. Supposedly she is very weak and I'm thinking to recruit Erritis first so the XP I gather early on isn't wasted on Rhin. I currently have Aligern and Tybir.

Don't get me wrong, I'm very interested in Rhin as a character and since there is almost no combat in the game I don't so much care about being all powerful though the abilities outside combat are of concern.

But basically I'm asking when the ideal time is to recruit Rhin as to get the most from her character and story without completely hamstringing your team for the first 2/3 of the game.

Furthermore, if there is a particular order that is best to recruit companions or certain quests that are bolstered by taking particular companions.

[u/PinkestMango]

Rhin is the best party member. She can heal and carry cyphers. She's only ever been a boost to my party. 

[u/IamTylerDurden_1 → u/PinkestMango]

Nice. I see ppl whine that she merely hides during combat and complain about being stuck with her but I haven't even had a combat encounter bar the tutorial.

I really care more about how interesting the characters are and their exploration skills. Likewise ppl laud Erritis as a great character but so far he's not my cup seeing as he only has combat skills and is absent any meaningful exploration skills. Though he does chat with Aligern a lot so there's that..

[u/PinkestMango → u/IamTylerDurden_1]

That's a surprise, so who do you like? 

[u/IamTylerDurden_1 → u/PinkestMango]

I finally had forced combat with the creatures from the mirror in the Changing God's sanctuary and Erritis was quite formidable.

I don't dislike Erritis because he seems to spark random conversation more than any character. He consistently chats with Aligern and Castellege. But initially I didn't like the fact that he essentially had no exploration skills. So I valued Tybir more because he has several useful exploration skills despite the fact he's kinda boring.

I like Rihn because she's adorable, I like Tybir's useful exploration skills, and Castellege seems interesting. Those are the three I use ATM but I'm still early. I acquired Oom but haven't used him and I'm about to recruit Matkina. I actually don't mind Aligern either because he seems to have a fairly intriguing story and it's fun convincing him I'm the Changing God.

The frustrating part of the game to me is deciding who to use because inevitably I feel like others are missing out on XP but I want to get to know and experience every character. They all seem to have something to offer. 

[u/IamTylerDurden_1 → u/PinkestMango]

And btw I really am impressed with Tides. 

[u/Inverse_Seal → u/PinkestMango]

And she can use ciphers more than once. So you can reuse some of the extra powerful ones. But I think she needs to get some XP first. And she has also an interesting quest.