/vr/ - Retro Games

[Anonymous No.2057818]

About to play this for the first time, what am I in for?

I got about 6 hours into Icewind Dale 1 then decided to read up on the other d&d games. BG2 seemed way more appealing so I said fuck ID and got BG2EE. I'm kind of bummed that BG2 doesn't let you create your whole party, it was super fun creating those characters. I spent a good 90 minutes making my party in ID. The lack of a story didn't keep me engaged though. Are there any other games like that that let you create a whole custom party?

[Anonymous No.2057830]

Here's a little secret between you and me, anon.

You can create a full custom party in Baldur's Gate. Start a game in "multiplayer" and assign all characters to yourself. I wouldn't recommend playing a full party as you'll be locked out of some content. Some NPCs have extensive story lines, unique gear, or are just fucking amazing. But if you wanted to do 3-4 custom characters, it could work.

As for what you're in for, one of the longest, most consistently quality RPGs ever developed. I honestly and shocked every time I remember it is by Bioware, as they haven't made anything even half as good ever again. There are so many possible party configurations and character builds that I never get tired of it. I've played the game through in its entirety at least 5-6 times.

[Anonymous No.2057831]

>>2057818
Why don't you play the first one before?

Also, you can create you're hole party in BG's I&II if you like. But it's not the most recommendable thing for a first playtrough.

[Anonymous No.2057835]

>>2057831
I've been reading all over that BG2 is far superior and you don't need to play the 1st one to understand the 2nd one.
>>2057830
I'll probably just use the NPCs, how many are there?

[Anonymous No.2057838]

>>2057835
You should play the first one, BG2 being far superior it's really debatable and the story of 1 it's much better.

[Anonymous No.2057839]

>>2057838
but I already had the ending spoiled for me

[Anonymous No.2057841]

>>2057839
God damm anon, then you did it wrong.

[Anonymous No.2057842]

>>2057835
BG 1 has its charms, though it is even less story driven than Icewind Dale is. The thing that makes 2 more interesting to me is the higher levels means more tactical options, which means more replay value.

There's just under 20 recruitables, I think. Any walkthrough should have them listed. You shouldn't use a walkthrough, but looking up the characters is fine because party composition is so important.

Good "good" aligned NPCs: Minsc (ranger), Anomen (fighter-cleric), Aerie (mage-cleric)

Good neutral NPCs: Jan (mage-thief), Jaheira (fighter-druid)

Good evil NPCs: Korgan (fighter), Edwin (mage)

Having a thief is pretty much mandatory. I recommend Jan if you aren't playing a multiclass thief yourself. All other thief NPCs suck at being a thief unless you have the EE with Hexxat. Also, Edwin is hands down the best wizard in the game. Don't use him with good NPCs, though; they fight.

[Anonymous No.2057843]

>>2057841
>>2057842
>though it is even less story driven than Icewind Dale is.

I just don't even know any more.

[Anonymous No.2057846]

>>2057843
Baldur's Gate's story doesn't even get going until you actually reach Baldur's Gate, which is about 75% into the game. Until then, you just kind of explore and stumble on to stuff. Where did you ever hear that Baldur's Gate 1 is a story driven game?

[Anonymous No.2057849]

>>2057846
All over the internet. Icewind Dale is literally just plot device followed by a long ass dungeon then the boring plot takes me to somewhere else then I do another dungeon and repeat.

[Anonymous No.2057854]

>>2057849
BG1 and 2 have very different feels and game design.

[Anonymous No.2057863]

>>2057842

Dude, what? No. Not even. Baldur's Gate has more plot in a sidequest to return a ring you stumble upon from some dead hobgoblin than the entirety of Icewind Dale.

Icewind Dale exists solely to murder enemies.

[Anonymous No.2057864]

Not trying to give you the wrong impression or anything, just that BG1 is not a story driven game at all. As in, there's no way that anyone's who ever played it could even have that impression.

2 feels like the perfect combination of a complex combat system, interesting dungeons, and a cool story. It has better dungeons than IWD, a game that's nothing but dungeons, while also having a compelling story and compelling NPC companions.

[Anonymous No.2057870]

>>2057864
As long as it is atmospheric and engaging ill be happy.
>>2057863
this is what I've been hearing.

[Anonymous No.2057871]

>>2057863
I played through all of both games only about a month ago. This isn't true, there's mini-stories in most of the IWD dungeons. The problem with the game is that the dungeons are pretty meh compared to the glory that is Baldur's Gate 2 and it is really easy compared to it, as well.

I LIKE dungeons, but the fact that BG 2 manages to do them better while also have a really good story makes IWD seem really mediocre in comparison. Baldur's Gate 2 also has a ton of side content, optional areas, and areas connection to NPCs storylines.

[Anonymous No.2057885]

Off the top of my head, I believe that Jaheira has the longest and most interesting storyline of any recruitable NPC. Something to keep in mind, even though fighter-druid is an awfully awkward class. Summon insect swarms all day, I suppose. She has a romance option if your character is male, but I've never done it. This game was unfortunately the start of those things, but it is actually not very hard to fail them.

[Anonymous No.2057887]

>>2057885
>if your character is male
The good days when video games didn't allow faggotry.

[Anonymous No.2057908]

>>2057864
>Not trying to give you the wrong impression or anything, just that BG1 is not a story driven game at all. As in, there's no way that anyone's who ever played it could even have that impression.

Really? I could've sworn that some fuckers wanted me to clear out a mine, a bandit-infested forest or three, then another mine before I could head into the city of Baldur's Gate.

[Anonymous No.2057916]

>>2057908
Same could be said about anything in IWD.

BG 1 = not very story driven
BG 2 = much more story driven, with tons of side stories

[Anonymous No.2057917]

>>2057908
isn't the city named Baldur?

and the game is bout getting into the gate

[Anonymous No.2057932]

>>2057917
You're a fag.
City is called Baldur's Gate and was named after hero named Balduran.

[Anonymous No.2057935]

>>2057916
Much fairer assessment than the numpty I responded to originally, thanks.

[Anonymous No.2057939]

>>2057917
no, faggot.

[Anonymous No.2057943]

>>2057932
>>2057939
okay

[Anonymous No.2057949]

>>2057818
You're in for a D&D adventure.

>>2057835
>BG2 is far superior
debatable
>you don't need to play the 1st one to understand the 2nd one.
The second game somewhat relies on the fact that you know who these people are and know their stories, so you care. Playing BG2 before 1st is a mistake IMO.


Regarding the first game however...

EE was developed by the third party and has some actual downgrades, by adding highly unnecesary stuff, and trying to fix what was never broken in the first place.
some (not all) of the questionable stuff they did:
>Altering some CG animations that didn't age well with static animated images of questionable value
>adding fanfic-tier romance to the BG1 that not only gives BG1->BG2 transition inconsistency, but is also worse than romances added by the modders to the original
>It's not AD&D anymore, and has classes/kits/spells/parameters it was not balanced for, which throws the balance out of the window
>it litters the first half of the game with magical loot that has no right to be there, which throws the balance off even further
>raised levelcap for additional content (of questionable quality)

latter three points make the game a cakewalk it's not supposed to be. Get original on GOG.

[Anonymous No.2058019]

>>2057949
>latter three points make the game a cakewalk it's not supposed to be

Pretty impressive given that the original was equip ranged weapons to win.