GameBanshee Forums

Yes, actually. The release date is set sometime in Fall 2003. I'll dig up a more exact date when I find one

Is it just me, or is it actually 3ed AD&D (the k20 system it's called, I believe)? The FAQ on the site mentiones feats, multiple attacks and descending attack bonuses, and from what it looks like - it'll play just like the Infinity engine games (most notably Icewind Dale 2, but with much better 3D graphics and story).

Well, considering that AD&D is the most easily recognized d20 system out there, it only makes sense that Bioware, who has made the most successful AD&D games to date, would use a similar system,s taking good points and the such. So, you're not wrong in saying that there are similarities. As for playing like Infinity Engine, thats sort've a closed generalization, as the only similarity to the IE is the fact you have multiple people in a party at once. I think what happening (I'll check on this) is that Bioware is using sort've an upped version of the Aurora Engine, and tweaked it so it's not so outdated.

Anyway, as I said earlier, I'll continue pulling up whatever I can on the game, and post it in here.

Originally posted by Aegis
Yes, actually. The release date is set sometime in Fall 2003. I'll dig up a more exact date when I find one

Current release date is June/July for the Xbox version, and September/October for the PC version.

Think: BG2 in a 3D environment, with more of everything you had before. I'm not sure anything new will be added beyond that--not that anything else is needed in the way of features.

Well, there has been some talk about an aspect of the game which allows you to control the flight of certain vehicles, with a seperate perspective and all. I'm still looking for some validation of that, but like everything else, I'll keep you guys posted.

So, having parties (like IWD or BG2) is a definite "yes"?

Originally posted by Nightmare
So, having parties (like IWD or BG2) is a definite "yes"?

It looks like it so far.

Definitely: it's part of the plan. I remember being told early in the cycle that you could have up to three NPCs in your party at a time, but more could stay on your ship, allowing you to trade off as-needed. And the devs made a big deal how the attitude and remarks you got with certain NPCs in your party would differ from those of having other members in your group.

The only thing I regret is that Minsc couldn't be part of it.

But is Boo, the space hamster, a viable candidate for NPC.

@Ned: I'll be sure to ask them if I get the interview.

Originally posted by Ned Flanders
But is Boo, the space hamster, a viable candidate for NPC.

I like the way you think.

On the topic of NPCs, I wonder if Bioware is going to reuse any of the major voices from BG2? The actor who portrayed Jan Jansen was used extensively in IWD and IWD2--in fact, you could actually choose his voice for one of your characters, which became a little weirdly recursive when you encountered an important gnome character who also used that voice.

I know we're veering off topic here but....

I also think the woman who voiced Aerie also played the voice of the narrator in IWD2. During the scene following the fell wood, I was certain she was going to start babbling about the avariel through sobs of sorrow.

getting back on topic...

I think it is safe to say a few of the people will be reused. According to the imdb , it seems a lot of these of voice over personas are rehashed across several video games. I don't know why video games make it into the imdb, but they do.

You can bet on whoever provided the voice for the character who did nothing but grunt in IWD1 (sadly missed in IWD2), will be around to provide wookie voice overs and cries of rancor hunger pangs.