Baldur's Gate II + Expansion, what do I need to know?

Frapple · 19 Apr 2008 at 11:22

Always wanted to play it because of how epic people make it sound so picked it up the other day with the expansion. Installed and patched, started the game asked if I wanted to play SoA or ToB, I picked SoA, as that's the original, and I wanted to start from the beginning. Right?

Picked up some armour at the start when you get released from the cages, stuck the heavy looking stuff on the warrior guy, the studded leather on my swashbuckler and the leather on the rogue.

Gave my char and the rogue a sword in each hand, off I went the rogue said I can't die here and disappeared, then my healer (druid?) died and I soon followed suit, started again from a previous save and got a lot further this time.

In some sort of library now, I don't need all these books do I? Giving em a read anyway, the Dragon Cost would make an excellent game, if it was done like Thief 3.

Any general tips/hints? Only ever played about 1/2 of KOTOR and NWN2, not really clued up on the whole D&D rules thing, saving throws and the effect armour has on magic etc.

Thanks =D

Richdog · 19 Apr 2008 at 11:25

It would require people to type huge posts to explain all the D&D stuff to you, best that you just read the material for yourself and gain an understanding that way http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ba...avclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1B3GGGL_enGB261GB261

Surfer · 19 Apr 2008 at 11:41

sorcerors place for all the juicy stuff (hints, guides, mods, tools etc) for all infinity engine games.

bayo000 · 19 Apr 2008 at 12:24

pick up the 1st one and play that b4 you play this, as the characters that you start with in 2nd one are all from 1st so you'll have better understanding of the plot/game
I never actualy got into bg2

but i couldnt get enuff of the 1st one.

Frapple · 19 Apr 2008 at 13:29

you can play the first one with the bgII engine can you not?

Richdog · 19 Apr 2008 at 13:35

Frapple said:
you can play the first one with the bgII engine can you not?

Ooh really? Didn't know that!

EDIT - Good info here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldur's_Gate_series

In the January 2008 issue of PC Gamer UK, the editor claims that he knows that Baldur's Gate III is indeed being worked on.

If they make it like NWN as opposed to the originals though i'll cry...

CrowK · 19 Apr 2008 at 13:53

Frapple said:
you can play the first one with the bgII engine can you not?

Yep, BG tutu mod, is what you're looking for.

AD&D is easy to learn, tough to master.

Start off with the basics:

Remember that while it appears to a regular real time game, it's actually a real-time/turn-based, ie gameplay is divided into 6 second rounds. These are the basis for the number of attacks you can perform per round and the duration of spells and effects.

A couple of other basics you should know:
Figure out how THAC0 and AC work as well, don't just throw on a load of armour and dual wield swords. Dual-wielding has massive penalty at the start, avoid it unless you have two points in dual-wield style.

Check the manual/guides to see how your stat affect bonuses etc

What makes BG great, apart from epic story, characters etc, is that there is not just hordes of enemies thrown at you. Each area usually has a few areas with weak guards (like the goblins and mephits near the start) and one or two 'encounters' with either a single tough enemy (like the guardian in the centre of the first dungeon) or a party much like your own (like the duegar at the north end of the first dungeon), who can throw just as many skills spells and abilities at you as you can at them.

Encounters may require a few reloads to figure what works. eg A fear spell can be devastating early in the game, especially when an enemy mage casts it at your tank/meatbag, but protection from fear can neutralize the threat.

Lunatic Dreyfus · 19 Apr 2008 at 17:53

I liked to make my player charcter a monk. They were a bit ropey at the lower levels, but at certain point the monk became a fire and forget weapon. Unbalanced?! Never.

I adore BG2, but I've never finished the expansion.

Richdog said:
Ooh really? Didn't know that!

EDIT - Good info here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldur's_Gate_series

If they make it like NWN as opposed to the originals though i'll cry...

I doubt it'll ever happen. I hope it does, but I don't see it.

AbsenceJam · 19 Apr 2008 at 18:28

Use the pause key in battles, you just can't get by without it. Pause issue commands, unpause, repeat.

bushmins · 19 Apr 2008 at 18:33

NWN never had the emersion of BG. Definatally a game worth buying and keeping.

Im keeping my eyes out for a cheap laptop so i can play it where every i want... except underwater obviously...

Anyone read the Baldurs gate books? Any good?

DampCat · 19 Apr 2008 at 18:33

Oooh swashbuckler. Good choice! Become seriously overpowered late game

Welshy · 19 Apr 2008 at 20:33

BG2 is just too big. It was so big, I actually got a little overwhelmed and bored personally. Far too complicated for my liking.

Briton · 20 Apr 2008 at 11:47

Welshy said:
BG2 is just too big. It was so big, I actually got a little overwhelmed and bored personally. Far too complicated for my liking.

Epic is the word your looking for.

A superb game, my favourite of all time I'd say.

Richdog · 20 Apr 2008 at 11:48

Welshy said:
BG2 is just too big. It was so big, I actually got a little overwhelmed and bored personally. Far too complicated for my liking.

It was a lot easier to play through than the original BG and TOSC expansion... more linear and well put together. Probably the best RPG I ever played.

Frapple · 20 Apr 2008 at 16:53

Welshy said:
BG2 is just too big. It was so big, I actually got a little overwhelmed and bored personally. Far too complicated for my liking.

That's how I feel at the moment, guess D&D isn't really my thing, I'll play it till I get bored though, hopefully the story will suck me in, and I'll get used to all these crazy rules.

Lunatic Dreyfus · 20 Apr 2008 at 18:09

bushmins said:
*snip*
Anyone read the Baldurs gate books? Any good?

I read the BG2 novel based on Shadows of Amn. Quite frankly it was one of the worst books I've ever read.

Really.

Even if you get the book offered to you free, ask for a discount.

Ethics · 22 Apr 2008 at 12:12

Lunatic Dreyfus said:
I read the BG2 novel based on Shadows of Amn. Quite frankly it was one of the worst books I've ever read. Really.

Even if you get the book offered to you free, ask for a discount.

The other forgotten realms, particuly those centreing around Drizzt written by R A Salvatore are excellent fantasy novels.

bushmins · 22 Apr 2008 at 13:11

Ethics said:
The other forgotten realms, particuly those centreing around Drizzt written by R A Salvatore are excellent fantasy novels.

I actually spend the last 8 months reading through all his Drizzt books, now im onto the Cleric series.
Um... and keeping it on topic you get to see Drizzt in BG1 or 2.

Squink · 22 Apr 2008 at 14:26

Frapple said:
That's how I feel at the moment, guess D&D isn't really my thing, I'll play it till I get bored though, hopefully the story will suck me in, and I'll get used to all these crazy rules.

While it may be blasphemy for some, I'd suggest you may want to go through the early few hours with the help of one of the online guides. Some of them will offer you good suggestions of what to choose and why. Unfortunately the AD&D rules aren't something you pick up immediately and it's my opinion that you have to understand them in order to fully enjoy the games.

Frapple · 26 Apr 2008 at 17:34

Restarted as a fighter, when can I dual class? Loving it so far, much better than have two thief classes in the group, had a good half a day on it. I'm inside the castle that was invaded by trolls, got killed by the first snakeman mage so decided to save it there and quit till I've had some food.

What do I need to complete the mace? Found one mace head so far, but several doors have been magically locked or have failed to be picked.

Great game, can see why everyone loves it.