GameBanshee Forums

Hi everyone.

While thinking about my current Baldur's Gate game, I started to get an urge to finally play Planescape: Torment and Icewind Dale, games that I have heard a lot (even own, thanks to GOG) but never actually played.

So I was thinking that, instead of finishing the Baldur's Gate saga first, I would play all the major Black Isle D&D games in a chronological order.

That means I would:

Finish the current Baldur's Gate game (released in 1998)
Take a trip to Sigil and play Planescape: Torment (1999)
Stop by the lands of winter for Icewind Dale (June, 2000)
Travel to Amn in order to finish Baldur's Gate II and Throne of Bhaal (September, 2000)
Finally, going back to the north for Icewind Dale II (2002).

What do you think? Is it a good idea? Am I missing some great game? (Not a NWN fan)

One of my all time favourite games is Wizardry 8 if you can get it, far better then the dungeon crawl that is Icewind Dale.

Very interesting idea....
Though, unless you are absolutely dedicated to following your timeline.. might I suggest:
1. Icewind Dale series
2. Baldur's Gate 1
3. Baldur's Gate 2 & Throne of Bhaal
4. Planescape Torment

Or, alternatively, you could reverse 3 and 4 on my list (though it would make slightly less sense). The reason I suggest this is, as Galraen alludes, the IWD series is not in the same league as the other titles mentioned.
The IWD games are not bad, as such; by today's standards they are, in fact, fairly interesting and challenging from a combat perspective. You have to put a lot of thought into your party composition and battles tend to require a fair amount of strategy, especially in IWD 2. It's just that the IWD games don't shine as brightly as the others.. so you will enjoy them, but I definitely suggest playing them first.
Personally, I much prefer IWD1 over IWD2, but that is quite subjective. (more atmospheric IMO)

Of course, this also depends, to some degree, on your preferences. IWD, as mentioned, places most of its emphasis on combat, while PS:T places the majority of its focus on an amazing narrative. The BG series falls somewhere in between with BG1 somewhat closer to IWD in (sub)genre (in my view anyway).

I really like the idea =D

Started doing the same thing recently as well.
1. Icewind Dale 2
2. Baldurs Gate series
3. Planescape
4. Icewind Dale 1

Really missed the old d&d games <3

And if anyone is interested, I'm streaming the whole trip over the next weeks ;
WhitestarStream (At Icewind 2 atm, chapter 3).