Anyone who has played through the game will know that at a certain point three new areas appear on the map... The purpose of one is fairly obvious.. but I have to admit, even though I have played through the game more times than I remember, I have yet to figure out the reason for North Forest and Small Teeth Pass...
I mean, if they were trying to provide random wilderness areas for additional experience after the rescue of Imoen, wouldn't they have at least filled these places up with something challenging? At least, you'd think maybe they would be associated with a quest or two, but as it is they are just filling up world map space..
I'm wondering, has anybody ever come across anything regarding these areas? Were they originally intended for something more, but left out due to time restrictions?
The Enigma of North Forest and Small Teeth Pass(slight spoiler)
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dragon wench
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The Enigma of North Forest and Small Teeth Pass(slight spoiler)
Spoiler
testingtest12
Spoiler
testingtest12
I can't say they were meant for anything originally. The only time I did the Jaheria romance, I had part of the subplot with the Harpers spawn in one of the areas (the area with the lake), but I believe that was just because it was an "outside" area after I had spent a long time in the Underdark.
The North Forest (I think?) has an interesting encounter. The grave battle you have in the middle has a Priest of Cyric, which of interest to any Child of Bhaal I would think, but since there is zero dialogue who knows what the signifigance (if any) of that was or is.
The only thing of remote interest I can say at all in all three area's is a couple of high level spells which are at times difficult to find (last night I passed through them and found blackblade of disaster and mordakins sword) and in the Forest of Tethyr there is the Mana Bow +4.
Maybe some mods do something with these area's?
The North Forest (I think?) has an interesting encounter. The grave battle you have in the middle has a Priest of Cyric, which of interest to any Child of Bhaal I would think, but since there is zero dialogue who knows what the signifigance (if any) of that was or is.
The only thing of remote interest I can say at all in all three area's is a couple of high level spells which are at times difficult to find (last night I passed through them and found blackblade of disaster and mordakins sword) and in the Forest of Tethyr there is the Mana Bow +4.
Maybe some mods do something with these area's?
I think that black isle was going to incorporate some stuff there but they ran out of time (and space?) so it just didn't happen. Just like it looked like the sewers were originally going to be more extensive than they turned out to be. So instead they just put in what they had whent the shipping due date started to loom.
Tact is for people not witty enough to be sarcastic
Also, you get that belt which sets CON to 18 for the day.
One of the mods beefs up the encounters here, but not enough to give those zones a 'worthwhile' feel.
If I was a modder, I would try to revamp these zones completely. They are very much a 'blank canvas'.
In truth, the post-underdark section of SoA is disappointing, and probably rushed. Especially when you compare with the fine tuning and minute details at earlier stages of the game. Thanks Heavens for ToB!
One of the mods beefs up the encounters here, but not enough to give those zones a 'worthwhile' feel.
If I was a modder, I would try to revamp these zones completely. They are very much a 'blank canvas'.
In truth, the post-underdark section of SoA is disappointing, and probably rushed. Especially when you compare with the fine tuning and minute details at earlier stages of the game. Thanks Heavens for ToB!
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dragon wench
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[QUOTE=Iyke]Also, you get that belt which sets CON to 18 for the day.
One of the mods beefs up the encounters here, but not enough to give those zones a 'worthwhile' feel.
If I was a modder, I would try to revamp these zones completely. They are very much a 'blank canvas'.
In truth, the post-underdark section of SoA is disappointing, and probably rushed. Especially when you compare with the fine tuning and minute details at earlier stages of the game. Thanks Heavens for ToB![/QUOTE]
You actually obtain the Girdle of Fortitude near the end of the Unseeing Eye Quest down in the Temple Sewers.
Very true. I seriously wish I had the ability to mod, I'm fine with the creative side of things but practically useless with the technical details...
One of the mods beefs up the encounters here, but not enough to give those zones a 'worthwhile' feel.
If I was a modder, I would try to revamp these zones completely. They are very much a 'blank canvas'.
In truth, the post-underdark section of SoA is disappointing, and probably rushed. Especially when you compare with the fine tuning and minute details at earlier stages of the game. Thanks Heavens for ToB![/QUOTE]
You actually obtain the Girdle of Fortitude near the end of the Unseeing Eye Quest down in the Temple Sewers.
Very true. I seriously wish I had the ability to mod, I'm fine with the creative side of things but practically useless with the technical details...
Spoiler
testingtest12
Spoiler
testingtest12
[QUOTE=Iyke]In truth, the post-underdark section of SoA is disappointing, and probably rushed. Especially when you compare with the fine tuning and minute details at earlier stages of the game...[/QUOTE]
I think what happened is that most of the areas were designed, and then the critical plot was dropped on top of them and "made" to fit. As a result, it doesn't hang together all that well.
My main concern is that once you leave the Underdark and start Chapter Six, you're supposed to do one quest as fast as you can and then come back, and that's the end of Chapter Six. Before you know it, you've started Chapter Seven and you're on your way to the end of the game. After what happened to your character in Spellhold, her life is supposed to be in danger, so there's a strong incentive to rush everything. I know better now, but I didn't know any better the first time I played the game. Since I thought I had to rescue Imoen as soon as possible, I also rushed Chapter Two as well as Chapter Six. As a result, I ended up not doing a lot of the major quests. I consider that a serious design flaw, since taking your time and exploring other areas means you need to disregard what the game is telling you.
As it stands, I wouldn't miss the North Forest and Small Teeth Pass. If someone wanted to make a MOD to streamline Chapter Six (in accordance with the main plot), perhaps the few interesting encounters and items you find there could be relocated somewhere else and those maps could be eliminated entirely so that players wouldn't waste their time exploring them.
I think what happened is that most of the areas were designed, and then the critical plot was dropped on top of them and "made" to fit. As a result, it doesn't hang together all that well.
My main concern is that once you leave the Underdark and start Chapter Six, you're supposed to do one quest as fast as you can and then come back, and that's the end of Chapter Six. Before you know it, you've started Chapter Seven and you're on your way to the end of the game. After what happened to your character in Spellhold, her life is supposed to be in danger, so there's a strong incentive to rush everything. I know better now, but I didn't know any better the first time I played the game. Since I thought I had to rescue Imoen as soon as possible, I also rushed Chapter Two as well as Chapter Six. As a result, I ended up not doing a lot of the major quests. I consider that a serious design flaw, since taking your time and exploring other areas means you need to disregard what the game is telling you.
As it stands, I wouldn't miss the North Forest and Small Teeth Pass. If someone wanted to make a MOD to streamline Chapter Six (in accordance with the main plot), perhaps the few interesting encounters and items you find there could be relocated somewhere else and those maps could be eliminated entirely so that players wouldn't waste their time exploring them.
From what I've learned (especially from the Unfinished Buisiness forums) those areas could have been part of the original quest to find the Rynn Lathorne.
In the original incarnation of that quest you don't find the complete Lathorne in Bodhi's lair, but had to find several lenses to re-assemble it (I even think those items are still in the game code), and the missing lenses were located in these now more or less obsolete areas.
In the original incarnation of that quest you don't find the complete Lathorne in Bodhi's lair, but had to find several lenses to re-assemble it (I even think those items are still in the game code), and the missing lenses were located in these now more or less obsolete areas.
There are three kinds of people that no one understands: geniuses, madmen and guys that mumble.
That belt
re: Girdle of Fortitude - Im sure i got that belt from one of these areas! You had to click it for the Constitution bonus, and that would last all day. Perhaps it's because I had the tactics mod installed? Oh well, I've lost all my game-saves now so its a long way to go and check
re: original quest for the Ryn Lanthorne - missing lenses. This would certainly fit with the general spirit of the game, where you find diversions and subquests / subplots at every turn. Not so chapters 6+7.
Remeber in BG1 there were zones like these? Largely empty outdoor areas that exist to fill up world-map space. Theres nothing wrong with doing that in BG2, but such places would be better encountered in chapter 2, when the sense of exploration is still high, like it was in BG1. I wouldnt mind having to cross extra zones on the way to, say, Imnesvale. The minor encounters and extra distance might even have encouraged me to rest outdoors more often. Oh Jaheira
re: Girdle of Fortitude - Im sure i got that belt from one of these areas! You had to click it for the Constitution bonus, and that would last all day. Perhaps it's because I had the tactics mod installed? Oh well, I've lost all my game-saves now so its a long way to go and check
re: original quest for the Ryn Lanthorne - missing lenses. This would certainly fit with the general spirit of the game, where you find diversions and subquests / subplots at every turn. Not so chapters 6+7.
Remeber in BG1 there were zones like these? Largely empty outdoor areas that exist to fill up world-map space. Theres nothing wrong with doing that in BG2, but such places would be better encountered in chapter 2, when the sense of exploration is still high, like it was in BG1. I wouldnt mind having to cross extra zones on the way to, say, Imnesvale. The minor encounters and extra distance might even have encouraged me to rest outdoors more often. Oh Jaheira
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dragon wench
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@Iyke,
It may be one of the tactics mods you have installed... Every time I have played this game through I have found the Girdle of Fortitude (highlight)
after the final battle with Gaal and the Unseeing Eye Cultists; Gael drops it I believe
Either that or I'm losing my mind... Always a strong possibility..
note: by Girdle of Fortitude I do mean the belt that you click on for 8 hours worth of a constitution set to 18.
Regarding the empty areas, I think the reason those in BG1 worked is because if you explored them at low/medium level, there was the very real danger of getting your posterior served to you on a platter. Plus they were actually quite big, and took a litle bit of time to explore. The two areas in BG2 are tiny, and in the case of the one you can't even explore the whole map...
I agree with others who have said the two areas should have been available before rescuing Imoen, with perhaps one or two seriously challenging battles, like maybe an additional dragon or something.
It may be one of the tactics mods you have installed... Every time I have played this game through I have found the Girdle of Fortitude (highlight)
after the final battle with Gaal and the Unseeing Eye Cultists; Gael drops it I believe
Either that or I'm losing my mind... Always a strong possibility..
note: by Girdle of Fortitude I do mean the belt that you click on for 8 hours worth of a constitution set to 18.
Regarding the empty areas, I think the reason those in BG1 worked is because if you explored them at low/medium level, there was the very real danger of getting your posterior served to you on a platter. Plus they were actually quite big, and took a litle bit of time to explore. The two areas in BG2 are tiny, and in the case of the one you can't even explore the whole map...
I agree with others who have said the two areas should have been available before rescuing Imoen, with perhaps one or two seriously challenging battles, like maybe an additional dragon or something.
Spoiler
testingtest12
Spoiler
testingtest12
[QUOTE=Numinor]The Tactics Mod improves the followers of Cyric party in thr North Forest and adds 3 (yes, 3 ) Dragons to the Small Teeth Pass.[/QUOTE]
Be very careful with those dragons. They wiped me out everytime until I set the difficulty to weak. There's no time to buff and there's a nasty Red that blasts you from far, far away.
) Dragons to the Small Teeth Pass.[/QUOTE]Be very careful with those dragons. They wiped me out everytime until I set the difficulty to weak. There's no time to buff and there's a nasty Red that blasts you from far, far away.
[QUOTE=Numinor]From what I've learned (especially from the Unfinished Buisiness forums) those areas could have been part of the original quest to find the Rynn Lathorne.
In the original incarnation of that quest you don't find the complete Lathorne in Bodhi's lair, but had to find several lenses to re-assemble it (I even think those items are still in the game code), and the missing lenses were located in these now more or less obsolete areas.[/QUOTE]
Yes. It was one of the many game quests that were dropped last-minute. I wished that there had been forest areas in the game in general as well, simply because that was what was fun in BG1 for me and was lacked in it's predacessor.
In the original incarnation of that quest you don't find the complete Lathorne in Bodhi's lair, but had to find several lenses to re-assemble it (I even think those items are still in the game code), and the missing lenses were located in these now more or less obsolete areas.[/QUOTE]
Yes. It was one of the many game quests that were dropped last-minute. I wished that there had been forest areas in the game in general as well, simply because that was what was fun in BG1 for me and was lacked in it's predacessor.
"There are worse things in the world than serving the whims of a deadly sex goddess." - Zevran
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FireLighter
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True, but i always got confused as to which one links to this quest, etc. So I was a little relieved when there were all LABELED areas.
"To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting."
-Sun Tzu, the Art of War
-Sun Tzu, the Art of War