Full Custom Companions (Hirelings)
🟡 Updated this year⚠️ Install Order · 2 steps
Install in this order, then this mod last — most mods fail to load without their framework and dependencies in place.
Preview
🔍 Analysis
- 👍 1.3% endorsement rate — high engagement, a strong quality signal
- 🏆 #2 of 87 Companions mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
By popular demand there is now a slimmed down version of this mod available via the in-game mod manager.
This version does not require the Script Extender but its functionality is reduced as a result.
Please see the mod.io page for more details.
Description
Bored of the same old hirelings offered by Withers? With this mod you can create fully customized companions or duplicate NPCs to add to your party.
Check the sticky post(s) in the comments thread for latest information.
This mod REQUIRES Norbyte's Baldur's Gate 3 Script Extender, which you must install first or else the mod will do nothing.
What It Can Do
-
[]Create fully custom party members without the need to run multiple copies of the game.[/]
[]Companions can be of any race, including races added by mods.[/]
[]Duplicate NPCs and add them to your party as full members.[/]
[]You can order Companions to wait at camp, recruit them again, and dismiss them permanently.[/]
[]Companions will appear in party cutscenes and behave mostly like real party members. They work like hirelings, not multiplayer characters, and should not block camp events or prevent you from sleeping.[/]
[]You can pick a spot in camp to which they will return when idle.[/]
[]Companions can be infected with tadpoles to unlock Illithid Powers and can become Half-Illithid.[/]
What It Doesn't Do
-
[]NPCs duplicated with this mod are not removed or hidden. You will have to make your own arrangements to remove the original if necessary. ;)[/]
[]Duplicated NPCs can equip gear but their appearance may not change. A limited number can be made to show equipped gear by way of a command spell.[/]
[]Voices are not copied over to duplicated NPCs; you must instead select one of the regular Tav voices.[/]
[]No story participation, but that's no worse than Withers' hirelings.[/]
Installation
LaughingLeader's BG3 Mod Manager is strongly recommended! Vortex might also work but is untested by me.
If you are determined to install manually, place the .pak file in "%LOCALAPPDATA%\Larian Studios\Baldur's Gate 3\Mods" and edit "%LOCALAPPDATA%\Larian Studios\Baldur's Gate 3\PlayerProfiles\Public\modsettings.lsx accordingly. See here for more details, but I have never tested this and would urge you to use the mod manager instead.
<node id="ModOrder">
<children>
<node id="Module">
<attribute id="UUID" value="a6b6aaa8-88bd-11ee-908e-13034502ea2b" type="FixedString" />
</node>
</children>
</node>
<node id="M
-
[]NPCs duplicated with this mod are not removed or hidden. You will have to make your own arrangements to remove the original if necessary. ;)[/]
Full Custom Companions (Hirelings) lets you create fully customized companions or duplicate existing NPCs to add to your party. With 3,293 endorsements and 258,148 downloads, it's a popular tool for players who want tailored party members. Last updated December 2025, it remains actively maintained.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Huge community trust (3,293 endorsements) — this is a proven mod.
- Massive download count (258k) means tons of players use it.
- Recent update (Dec 2025) shows the author is still supporting it.
⚠️ Cons
For players who want to hand-craft their ideal party members or clone favorite NPCs. Perfect for roleplayers and completionists who want unique companions. Skip if you prefer vanilla companions or want a mod with detailed documentation.
💡 Beginner Tips
- Check the mod's forum posts for user-made guides on customization.
- If you're using a mod manager, install manually to avoid conflicts.
- Test in a new save to ensure companions work before adding to your main playthrough.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- Baldurs Gate 3 Mods
- Author
- adriant1978
- Version
- 2.2.2.1
- Downloads
- 258,148
- Endorsements
- 3,293
- Category
- Companions
- Created
- 12/6/2023
- Updated
- 12/27/2025
🧩 Commonly Used Together
Users add these mods to the same collections — a real compatibility signal, not an AI guess.
🔧 How to Install Baldurs Gate 3 Mods
Download from Nexus.
📖 Full step-by-step install guide for Baldurs Gate 3 →
Visit the official mod page for specific installation instructions for this mod.
🎮 Need cheat codes or console commands? Check ur gaming wiki for Baldurs Gate 3 commands, item IDs, and more.
Keep browsing — more Baldurs Gate 3 mods await