Gentlemen, tell me about BG please

RPG Guy (sorta) · Post by **RPG Guy (sorta)** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 6:12 pm

Okay, here's the situation: I dig D&D-based RPGs a lot. But I rarely play them because most variants developed for the genre are garbage and we all know that.

Anyone remember Eye of the Beholder 2? That game got me mad-addicted to the gamestyle back-when but since then, I've played only 2 other variants: Diablo II and Elder Scrolls IV. The reason? Well, when it comes to games like this, I dig making notes/maps and focusing on maxing my character's development through whatever level of exploring or micro-management is necessary. I dig scouring every inch of content and take pleasure in taking the time to do so. NOTE: Oblivion is pretty and does a lot of things well but, in the end, it did NOT meet my expectations for what a good dungeon-crwaler should be.

I'm also the kind of dude who will only consider well-reviewed games. That's just me.

Here's my dilemna: somehow, I missed the BG series completely. Call it the brain fart of the century. I'm 35 now and, frankly, I'm reluctant to go WAY back to 2000/2001 to load up BG & BGII. I'm afraid the graphics will be too horrid for me to stomach. But I hear it's probably the closest thing I'll get to re-living my original EOB2 days.

So help me out please: Would BG/BG2 likely entertain a university-educated, mid-30's fart like me given the gaming standards we've grown accustomed to in 2007? The last thing I want after 350+ hours of Oblivion is another disappointing RPG experience.

Thanks in advance for your comments.

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 6:27 pm

First off, welcome to Game Banshee, and secondly (regarding your title) ... there are plenty of women here who also play and enjoy BG/BG2....

To answer your question, however, YES, YES, and YES.
Many people here are older, well-educated (30 +) and love the BG series.
If you found Oblivion wanting, and are looking for something that has a good story, depth and interesting characters, I really could not recommend the series highly enough. The only game I have ever played that rivals (maybe even exceeds) it is Planescape Torment.
I warn you though...BG2 will spoil you forever, nothing else out there (PS:T excepted) really compares.

RPG Guy (sorta) · Post by **RPG Guy (sorta)** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 6:42 pm

dragon wench wrote:First off, welcome to Game Banshee, and secondly (regarding your title) ... there are plenty of women here who also play and enjoy BG/BG2....

LOL! Good one. Shoulda considered my exposure more carefully upon completing registration...just eager to get some advise on this twisted urge I have to go BACK six years in game development history.

To answer your question, however, YES, YES, and YES.
Many people here are older, well-educated (30 +) and love the BG series.
If you found Oblivion wanting, and are looking for something that has a good story, depth and interesting characters, I really could not recommend the series highly enough. The only game I have ever played that rivals (maybe even exceeds) it is Planescape Torment.
I warn you though...BG2 will spoil you forever, nothing else out there (PS:T excepted) really compares.

Most excellent. So I guess I'm lucky that I have a completely unspoiled understanding of the BG franchise??? All I know about it is a few screenshots and the fact that Gamespot.com gave it a 9.2

Damn, I wish I could sell my BG virginity on EBay!

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 6:55 pm

RPG Guy (sorta) wrote:LOL! Good one. Shoulda considered my exposure more carefully upon completing registration...just eager to get some advise on this twisted urge I have to go BACK six years in game development history.

Most excellent. So I guess I'm lucky that I have a completely unspoiled understanding of the BG franchise??? All I know about it is a few screenshots and the fact that Gamespot.com gave it a 9.2

Damn, I wish I could sell my BG virginity on EBay!

*laughs*
To be honest, and this is a very subjective view, but I generally feel that games in the last six years have gotten worse, not better. Yes, the graphics have become very pretty.... but other than that.....

LMAO! Oh.... If I could wipe my memory of BG2 and play it all over again, totally fresh, I'd be delighted. You should definitely consider yourself fortunate. And were it possible, I'd be willing to bet your BG Virginity would fetch you a high price on EBay :laugh:

I'll stop here because I'm getting off topic. But, if you feel inclined to discuss off topic material and mingle, do stop by Game Banshee's "Speak Your Mind Forum."

Pellinore · Post by **Pellinore** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 7:03 pm

RPG Guy....Hey, I am 35 as well and a very old school D&D player and I will tell you that there is no substitute for D&D. Baldur's Gate (I&II) is D&D. You will like it and you will play it over and over. I do suggest that you play the first one before going to BG2.

Andurbal · Post by **Andurbal** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 7:09 pm

RPG Guy (sorta) wrote:I'm reluctant to load up BG & BGII. I'm afraid the graphics will be too horrid for me to stomach.

I'm not a great gamer, and i've only played BG and i'm playing BG2 now for the first time. I can't compare it to other similar games myself, but i've heard a couple of things i can share with u. I've heard very few games can compare with this series. And i've heard that the graphics of more recent games might be a lot or a little better, but that's not what really counts in the enjoyment u get out of these games. The scenario is a much more important factor, for example. And BG rules in this area.

fable · Post by **fable** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 7:18 pm

Here's my dilemna: somehow, I missed the BG series completely. Call it the brain fart of the century. I'm 35 now and, frankly, I'm reluctant to go WAY back to 2000/2001 to load up BG & BGII. I'm afraid the graphics will be too horrid for me to stomach. But I hear it's probably the closest thing I'll get to re-living my original EOB2 days.

Waaay back to 2000/2001, age 35? Listen up, sonny: I'm 55, and I've been reviewing games (well, as a subset of software, which I generally review) since 1978. Of its kind, BG2 is one of the best RPGs around, and the addition of dozens of mods have only increased its value and immersiveness.

Graphics? Don't let the blocky 3D graphics, bad camera angles, and terrible pathing AI throw yo---oh, wait a minute. I was thinking about the KotoR series and NWN2. My bad.

RPG Guy (sorta) · Post by **RPG Guy (sorta)** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 7:22 pm

Pellinore wrote:I do suggest that you play the first one before going to BG2.

Okay. That was important to know. Thankssss dudesss for the commentssss.

Any chance you can upload your BG1 inventory or stats to the BG2 campaign?

That might be sweet depending on how it's implemented.

RPG Guy (sorta) · Post by **RPG Guy (sorta)** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 7:28 pm

fable wrote: Listen up, sonny: I'm 55, and I've been reviewing games (well, as a subset of software, which I generally review) since 1978.

Yes sir. Acknowledged. Thanks for blazing the trail...

Shilpa · Post by **Shilpa** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 7:44 pm

RPG Guy (sorta) wrote:
Here's my dilemna: somehow, I missed the BG series completely. Call it the brain fart of the century. I'm 35 now and, frankly, I'm reluctant to go WAY back to 2000/2001 to load up BG & BGII. I'm afraid the graphics will be too horrid for me to stomach.

In my humble opinion the graphic in BG2 is the best in all 2d games, and FAR better than the cubic-like poor and simple 3d graphic in games nowdays.

BGII has a variety of objects you won't find in any 3d game. All objects and buldings are rich in forms, colors and customisations. The hand made models for furniture can give each building its own style. You'll find a grat varaiety of styles in evry Inn you'll enter, as each one is separatly designed to match the wealth of clients.

The charakters are well designed, and their bodies dont look deformed (for me its a great pain in 3d graphic, how often charakters have diformed bodies.. specialy female models with their sucked in waists, horisontal breast-line and so on... Even in "Dreamfall" the main heroine has brooken wrists...

)

The pain is in rather static animations, and fixed camera angle - but you won't pay much attention to that, belive me

So do not fear the graphic (and when pumped to a high resolution it looks even better)

Pellinore · Post by **Pellinore** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 7:50 pm

Any chance you can upload your BG1 inventory or stats to the BG2 campaign?

That might be sweet depending on how it's implemented.

You can carry your BG1 character into BG2. Don't ask me how as i figured it out by sheer luck. I'm sure one of the more pc-worldly folks here could guide you through that. One of the beauties with Baldur's Gate is that you can guide your character from a meek little 1st level sissy into stupidly powerful epic levels. Its great...I felt sad when I finally beat it. Have fun!

fable · Post by **fable** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 7:55 pm

RPG Guy (sorta) wrote:Yes sir. Acknowledged. Thanks for blazing the trail...

Don't call me sir. You see this gerund? Well, it's loaded. So watch out.

As for 2D, I think it is an inherently superior medium for many games, and in only one instance (which I won't spoil for you) does the lack of 3D in BG2 actually work to the game's disadvantage. Otherwise, it loads a lot faster than 3D, has lower system requirements, and plays less sluggishly. Plus, all that memory you save on game use can be put instead into adding mods, which increase game content.

RPG Guy (sorta) · Post by **RPG Guy (sorta)** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 8:55 pm

fable wrote:Don't call me sir. You see this gerund? Well, it's loaded. So watch out.

Yes ser! sor? ...uh sur?

25,000 posts?!?! Holy CRAP! 'Super Moderator' indeed.

Alright folks. I'll buy the game (they must have it packaged with BG2 into a Gold Edition or something by now), give it a whirl and get back to you with a verdict.

Thanks again.

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 10:08 pm

RPG Guy (sorta) wrote:Yes ser! sor? ...uh sur?

25,000 posts?!?! Holy CRAP! 'Super Moderator' indeed.

Alright folks. I'll buy the game (they must have it packaged with BG2 into a Gold Edition or something by now), give it a whirl and get back to you with a verdict.

Thanks again.

We should all go into sales or something, that was awfully easy

I'm pretty sure there is a collector's package or something similar out, but it won't be easy to find... The game is no longer in publication, and therefore not sold regularly in stores or similar. But, you can find the series around, I'd advise an intensive hunt on Google.

Good luck!

fable · Post by **fable** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 10:16 pm

Used from $7. Right here.

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 10:29 pm

And from the same page that Fable listed, [url="http://www.amazon.com/Baldurs-Original-Tales-Sword-Expansion/dp/B00005S8J2/ref=pd_sim_sw_1/002-0418965-0476039"]here[/url] is a set consisting of BG1 and its expansion, Tales of the Sword Coast.

barren · Post by **barren** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 10:50 pm

I've come out of lurking in the shadowy corners of this message board just to recommend baldur's gate 2. For your first foray into the game I highly recommend the banter and flirt packs along with a custom made NPC or two to really reap the benefits of not only the game itself, but the fruits of the communities efforts. You can't go wrong with anything recommended in the stickied mod thread.

Mmmmh... what I wouldn't give to play this game fresh for the first time... whatever you do, don't worry about the decisions you make. Stay true to the character you role play. I promise you'll come back to experience it again and again and again many times over in wildly different ways.

fable · Post by **fable** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 11:02 pm

RPG Guy, you may want to start up a new thread asking for mod recommendations, after first telling us what you really want to get out of your first BG2 walkthrough.

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 11:09 pm

My own 2 cents on mods:

First off, I *really* love many of the mods made for BG2. But... I'd honestly advise going without mods for a first run through the game.
Just download the last patch, and leave it at that. Chances are you'll play this game many times, and that is where mods really shine, they add significantly to the replay value.

Unlike certain titles I could mention, BG2 doesn't need mods to make it playable, the mods only enhance subsequent runs through the game

RPG Guy (sorta) · Post by **RPG Guy (sorta)** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 2:47 am

fable wrote:RPG Guy, you may want to start up a new thread asking for mod recommendations, after first telling us what you really want to get out of your first BG2 walkthrough.

Check this...

Games like this (typically), I'll study the manual first...making notes.

Then I'll plan my character decisions VERY carefully, based on what I think will expose me to the most game-rewarding experience.

Then I'll develop a systematic approach to exploring every inch of the game world, BUT, as I trigger any sub-quest...I'll pursue that sub-quest to its utter conclusion before resuming my exploration strategy.

I'll defer advancing the main quest to facilitate this. The reason being, I want to be the baddest bad-@ss I can by the time I meet the arch-antagonist.

I NEVER RE-LOAD OR FAIL TO ACCEPT THE CONSEQUENCES OF ANY GAME DECISION.

In other words, I'm uber-thorough and will likely only play each chapter once and accept whatever game experience I end up with for what it is.

You only get one chance to see the Matrix for the first time.