Baldur's Gate Etc

[crimson]

Hi there

I have a few questions. What are the controls for the Baldur's Gate games? The reason I ask is that I have some coordination problems and need to use a mouse to fight like you do in NWN and Titan Quest and Dungeon Siege, so I am looking for games that have those kinds of controls.

What are these games like? Are they anything like the games I just mentioned?
Do you have to play these games online? I ask because at the moment I do not have a broadband connection.

What about the Icewind series? Does anyone know what the controls are for that and is the game like anything I have mentioned?

Thanks for your time. I appreciate it.

[mr_sir]

The Baldur's Gate games and the Icewind Dale games both use the Infinity Engine (just slightly different versions depend on which game you play in each series) so they are very similar in terms of how you play the game. I'll list some key features to give you an idea of what they are like:

- Both are mainly single player and are played without an internet connection, although there is a multiplayer option which allows you to play over the internet or a network.
- They are based on AD&D rules just like NWN
- You control your party using the mouse - in fact the only keyboard keys that I actually use are the SPACE to pause the game and TAB to highlight doors and containers etc.
- You can pause the games anytime, either by clicking on the pause icon using the mouse or pressing SPACE, including in combat, and so you can take your time deciding which spell to use and so on. You can give the commands to your party then just unpause and let them carry them out.
- They are set in the same world as NWN
- They are "2.5D" rather than 3D, in the sense that you look down from an isometric viewpoint and the camera is fixed unlike with NWN
- The storylines are far more absorbing and well written than those of NWN and the quests are far more diverse
- You control an entire party, rather than just one character
- In the Baldur's Gate series you have a wide choice of NPCs that can join your party, each with their own skills and personality, as well as loves and hatreds for other NPCs and so on. They also banter with your character and each other throughout the games, have their own quests and so on, and are a lot more "real" and in depth than the henchman in NWN (and you have complete control over their actions once they join your party)
- In the Icewind Dale series you create an initial party of up to 6 which you then use for the entire adventure

Hope this answers some of your questions. If you have any more then feel free to ask. I would highly recommend these games as all four (BG1 + expansion, BG2 + expansion, IWD1 + expansion and IWD2) are some of my favourite games of all time I also enjoy NWN and while it has somethings extra (like more feats and so on), it largely doesn't even get close to competing with the Baldur's Gate games as far as gameplay, story and replayability.

Lastly, if you use a program called BGTutu (you will find lots of info about this on these forums) and own both of the BG games (1&2, with or without expansions) then you can play BG1 using the newer version of the infinity engine that is used by BG2. (While BG1 is definately a lot of fun without Tutu, Tutu makes it more fun for me, although other players find that they prefer BG1 exactly as it was intended to be played. Its just a matter of preference really).

[CFM]

Just to add a little to Mr Sir's fine post, regarding the Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale sagas, which all use a version of the BioInfinity game engine:

The games use a viewpoint similar to Titan's Quest and Diablo, with story and character times a hundred.

Most mouse-clicked interface buttons can also be performed using the keyboard (which can be customized), but the vast majority (if not 100%) of the gameplay can be done using only a mouse. Either mouse & keyboard, or just mouse, the gameplay is flexible to suit your preference. And with the pause button (spacebar), you can also manipulate the pace of the action to suit your preference.

You play the game controlling a party consisting up to 6 characters.

In the Icewind Dale games, you create all the characters in your party.

In the Baldur's Gate games, you start by creating one character, the "protagonist", which the story will revolve around. During the game, you'll encounter NPCs that will ask to join your party. Each has a distinct personality and flavor (and sometimes agenda). You can create your entire party (ala Icewind Dale), or even have a combination of created characters and joinable NPCs, but the joinable NPCs are one of the highlights of the Baldur's Gate saga (especially BG2).

Alternately, you could try it solo with one dude, or the games have multiplayer capability. For example, there could be six players, with each controlling a character. Or two players, with Player1 controlling character #1, #2, #4, and #6, and Player2 controlling character #3 and #5. Or two players controlling a two player party, with Player1 controlling character #1 and Player2 controlling character #2. Or any combination of up to 6 players, controlling up to 6 characters, in an up to 6 character party.

When purchasing the games, buy each games' expansions. Worth it for many reasons.

When installing the main games and their corresponding expansions, install each expansions' patch too (the main games are patched by it's corresponding expansions). Worth it for many reasons. BioWare: Welcome to BioWare

Icewind Dale 2 uses the 3rd Edition D&D rules, ala NWN. Icewind Dale 1, as well as Baldur's Gate 1 & 2, uses the 2nd Edition AD&D rules. They are rather different. Any questions, ask. I for one have nothing better to do on my lunchbreak.

Because with my zealous,
I'm insanely jealous,
of your BioInfinity
game engine virginity.
Have fun.

[crimson]

Thank you so much for the replies ppl. You have helped a great deal, I thank you for that. I have another ???? I have a slow dialup connection so is there anyway to get a hold of playable demo's of these games without having to download?, as like I said before I don't want to waste my money on something I cannot play.

Thank you so much.

[BlueSky]

Don't know about demos, but one can find a few videos of game play on either Google Video or YouTube. These can give you an idea of the gameplay.

[crimson]

ok thanks, I will try that.