NWN 2 - Fresh Start

simulacrum · Post by **simulacrum** » Sat Sep 25, 2010 1:58 pm

The game has been sitting on my shelf since it first came out as my rig at the time was not up to the task. I am considering giving it a go now to help soothe the high-fantasy itch I developed recently (I pretty much squeezed DA dry and lost interest on it...for now).

So, after taking a look around the web, I understand that the expansion Mask of the Betrayer is considered to be the highpoint of the experience offered by this game but seeing that I don't own this one yet, would you recommend getting started on the main campaign and install MOTB after I am finished with it (it is quite possible that I will get it by then)? Or does the expansion have an impact on the main campaign as well (classes, variables, items or whatnot) changing/adding stuff that are not addressed by the official patches that have been out?

In a nutshell: is it a good idea to install and start playing the original (patched, of course) and then jump on the expansion later on or does it pay to be patient until I have that one available as well? What do you guys think?

Gartar · Post by **Gartar** » Sat Sep 25, 2010 2:55 pm

What I would do if I didn't want to play any of the classes that got added in MOTB is just start playing now and then continue in MOTB when you get it, if you really want to play any of the classes that got added in MOTB I would just wait. MOTB campaign is allot better imo but it continues the journey of your NWN2 character so always good to just be able to jump right in to it when you get it if you have completed NWN2 by then, but it may be worth waiting I guess, since it could be nice to have it all just be one big story without a break

Scottg · Post by **Scottg** » Sat Sep 25, 2010 4:05 pm

..you can get MOTB really cheap. (..see Amazon.)

..you can even get SOZ pretty cheap.

..considering the hassles with patching and video drivers..

My recommendation is just purchasing both (provided you like it), installing both, do the full patching (via disc), and finally downloading the latest video drivers for your card and installing that.

Saves on potential hassle, provides additional game-play, provides several different classes and feats, a few extra spells, significantly improved AI instructions (SOZ), and shouldn't cost more than half the price you paid originally for NWN2 (in total for both campaigns).

Note: To find out if you like it or not consider playing the tutorial section up until the point you meet Khelgar. (..which is about 3% of the game.) Try different classes as well (.i.e. melee-type and caster-type).

simulacrum · Post by **simulacrum** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 4:44 am

Right..Thanks for your replies, it seems that starting with both of them installed is the stronger consensus so I will probably wait a bit until I am able to do that.

Now to look for another way to satisfy my appetite for "traditional" RPGing... Hmm, maybe it's time for that Arcanum attempt I've been putting off for a couple of years now..

Oh, and Scottg, I am fairly certain that I am going to like NWN2 since I put a vast ammount of hours on its predecessor and its expansions/ fan-made mods. And what excellent mods some of those were! Boy, now that was a (rather unimpressive) game with amazing support from its community..

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 5:06 am

simulacrum wrote:Right..Thanks for your replies, it seems that starting with both of them installed is the stronger consensus so I will probably wait a bit until I am able to do that.

Now to look for another way to satisfy my appetite for "traditional" RPGing... Hmm, maybe it's time for that Arcanum attempt I've been putting off for a couple of years now..

Oh, and Scottg, I am fairly certain that I am going to like NWN2 since I put a vast ammount of hours on its predecessor and its expansions/ fan-made mods. And what excellent mods some of those were! Boy, now that was a (rather unimpressive) game with amazing support from its community..

Brace yourself, for NWN2 is even less impressive and has less support from its community.

SoZ is very nice tho, i must admit

candesco · Post by **candesco** » Tue Sep 28, 2010 6:40 am

Stworca wrote:Brace yourself, for NWN2 is even less impressive and has less support from its community.

SoZ is very nice tho, i must admit

Says you. The thing of that it's impressive or not is a personal thing. Some may find it impressive, others don't. You don't find it impressive, so that's your opinion and which you have the right to find that. I enjoyed NWN2 myself much and find it at some points even better then nwn1.
About support; more and more hakpacks and other kind of modules are released.
There is also an adventurepack released called Mysteries of Westgate, which is made by Ossian studios (not a real developer, but some modders which have teamed up) Maybe the amount of modules and packs are not so much as with NWN1, but it grows slowly.

I think i install NWN 2 myself also too. Being a while since the last time.
To the TS: as said it's better to purchase the both expansions, as they introduce not only new quests, but also add new things and classes.