GameBanshee Forums

Just checking to see if its ok to install the expansion pack for bg2 at the same time as installing the reg. game? Are there any negatives to doing this ?

If you mean Baldur's Gate II-Shadows of Amn as the reg. Game,
I would recommand you do so.

Here is my recommendation. If you are playing Shadows of Amn for the first time, don't install the expansion pack until you have finished the game. Then install the expansion pack and play Throne of Bhaal (or play Shadows of Amn again with the expansion pack installed). If you have already played Shadows of Amn and you want to play it again, then you should install the expansion pack before you start your new game.

If you choose not to do it that way, there won't really any "negatives" per se, but I think it's more fun to play it the way I recommend it. Shadows of Amn is more challenging the first time you play it than it is the second time you play it, and I think it's better to be really familiar with the game before you start using the High Level Abilities and other goodies that come with the expansion pack.

My 2 gold worth...

I think what VonDondu said is about right. As it happened, I first played SoA by itself, then all the way through BG/TotSC -> SoA ->ToB.

I think it would be better to play SoA the first time in a Vanilla install with neither ToB nor any mods. However, please yourself - it's your gaming experience.

I agree, except that I would go further and say that you should play a few times through SoA with various characters and/or parties before installing the expansion. This goes for Mods as well. There is just too much to experience in SoA before going on to bigger things. (But shouldn't this be in the BGII forum?)