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I searched the forum for 'conversation', but none of the posts dealt with my 'problem/question'.

I'm currently playing Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale side by side, and I have the same problem in both. Maybe I'm just doing something wrong. I always wanted to play BG because I heard all over the place that the RP-factor of the game is better than most of what's available today, so hence I figured that I'd actually have conversations with my party companions. Aside from the starting conversations when I picked them up, though, there haven't been any instances where they actually talked to me, though, not counting the odd interjection when someone wants me to get to their quest faster. So how DO I talk to them? I've seen and tried just about everything with the 'conversation' button on the UI, but no matter on whom, with whom or how I click, I cannot initialize conversation. The only verbal responses I ever get from my companions are random, like Minsc yelling "Go for the eyes, Boo!" ( which made me love him from the start, really ) or Jaheira complaining when I stand around in one spot too long.

...which brings me to a second question. Once out of Candlekeep, I picked up the mad mage and Montaron, and they urged me to investigate Nashkel. Then I picked up Jaheira and Khalid, and they urged me to investigate Nashkel. THEN I picked up Kaigan, who doesn't seem to care either way, and later Minsc, who wants me to rescue Dinasomething. Now, I'm only human (heh), and I'm *trying* to get things done. However, I also want to explore the area. Ever so often, someone starts complaining that I'm not getting to this or that quest quickly enough even when I'm on the way there. I finally got so fed up with Xvan (sp?) that I ditched him and Montaron in Nashkel, picking up Minsc and Branwen instead, and Xvan (sp?) said he was glad to be rid of me because of my 'dallying' and 'carelessness' toward 'his' interest.

While that doesn't overly bother me, I'd still like to know if I'm supposed to be racing through the different areas on the way to finishing everyone's quest. Do I actually collect negative 'points' with someone if I, gasp, make a detour somewhere, and can companions actually leave me if I take too long to get something done?

Ningengirai wrote:I searched the forum for 'conversation', but none of the posts dealt with my 'problem/question'.

I'm currently playing Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale side by side, and I have the same problem in both. Maybe I'm just doing something wrong. I always wanted to play BG because I heard all over the place that the RP-factor of the game is better than most of what's available today, so hence I figured that I'd actually have conversations with my party companions. Aside from the starting conversations when I picked them up, though, there haven't been any instances where they actually talked to me, though, not counting the odd interjection when someone wants me to get to their quest faster. So how DO I talk to them? I've seen and tried just about everything with the 'conversation' button on the UI, but no matter on whom, with whom or how I click, I cannot initialize conversation. The only verbal responses I ever get from my companions are random, like Minsc yelling "Go for the eyes, Boo!" ( which made me love him from the start, really ) or Jaheira complaining when I stand around in one spot too long.

...which brings me to a second question. Once out of Candlekeep, I picked up the mad mage and Montaron, and they urged me to investigate Nashkel. Then I picked up Jaheira and Khalid, and they urged me to investigate Nashkel. THEN I picked up Kaigan, who doesn't seem to care either way, and later Minsc, who wants me to rescue Dinasomething. Now, I'm only human (heh), and I'm *trying* to get things done. However, I also want to explore the area. Ever so often, someone starts complaining that I'm not getting to this or that quest quickly enough even when I'm on the way there. I finally got so fed up with Xvan (sp?) that I ditched him and Montaron in Nashkel, picking up Minsc and Branwen instead, and Xvan (sp?) said he was glad to be rid of me because of my 'dallying' and 'carelessness' toward 'his' interest.

While that doesn't overly bother me, I'd still like to know if I'm supposed to be racing through the different areas on the way to finishing everyone's quest. Do I actually collect negative 'points' with someone if I, gasp, make a detour somewhere, and can companions actually leave me if I take too long to get something done?

The answer to your last question is yes.They may also leave you if your reputation gets too far out of kilter with their alignment. I haven't much experience with Kaigan, so I can't be sure he'll leave if your rep gets up to 19 or 20, but as most evil characters will eventually tire of being with a goody two shoes it's likely. Get too dastardly of course and the good guys like Minsk the Mad will start complaining, even Jaheira will eventually get stroppy if you rep gets too low.

So if I am reading your post correctly, you currently have Kaigan (Lawful Evil Fighter), Jaheira and Khaled (Neutral[Good] Fighter/Druid and chaotic good Fighter), Minsc (good but insane 'ranger'), Branwen (Neutral Cleric) and your own character (alignment? Class?). You really do have to have a thief in the party in this game, so if your character isn't a thief you need to get one. (Why did you dump Imoen?). You also have a bit of a problem with Minsc, because he really will insist on rescuing Dynaheir. Once you do rescue her, then you have both of them in the party or none, same applies to Jaheira and Khaled, you can't have one without the other, unless one gets killed of course.

Once you have a thief in tow, then I'd recommend sorting out the mines as soon as possible, then rescue Dynaheir.

Finally, to answer your first question, interactive dialog with party members is very limited in BG, apart from complimenting or complaining there is very little else. BG 2, Shadows of Amn, which you can import your BG character into (plus a few companions) is much better at conversations, and even has romance.

I'm currently, or rather was, playing a Human CG Ranger.

I'd dumped Imoen because it was either dumping her and not taking Minsc, or dumping one of the already on-board couples ( Jaheira/Khalid, Montaron, Xvan/Xvar/whatever ). However, now that I've read through a couple of the posts here and learned that I can also break up the 'couples', and have since figured out how to install Tales of the Sword Coast without completely messing up my game, I'm going to start a new game.

I guess my main problem/concern is that I don't like being rushed, and if I want to explore an entire map, I'd like to do it without having someone yowling in my ear the whole time. I'll try to get the quests done as quickly as possible on my second go-through, hoping that everyone will just shut up once I've catered to their needs.

As far as parties are concerned, I'm aiming for a CG or thereabouts party, at least for my first go through the entire game. My thing is... I don't like to read walkthroughs or even post on forums until I'm absolutely stuck or at a point in the game where I don't know if my next actions will seriously hinder me later. I don't know, it sort of deducts from the whole exploration thing.

Maybe I'm just doing something wrong. I always wanted to play BG because I heard all over the place that the RP-factor of the game is better than most of what's available today, so hence I figured that I'd actually have conversations with my party companions.

You can have plenty of dialogue in BG1, including talking to your companions, listening to their banters and 6 romances with all the trimmings (flirts, conflicts etc) if you use TUTU+BG1NPC mods

Ningengirai wrote:I'm currently playing Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale side by side, and I have the same problem in both. Maybe I'm just doing something wrong. I always wanted to play BG because I heard all over the place that the RP-factor of the game is better than most of what's available today, so hence I figured that I'd actually have conversations with my party companions. Aside from the starting conversations when I picked them up, though, there haven't been any instances where they actually talked to me, though, not counting the odd interjection when someone wants me to get to their quest faster. So how DO I talk to them?

What you have heard all over the place has given you the wrong impression. You cannot start conversations with your party members. In Baldur's Gate, your party members will hardly ever start conversations themselves. In Icewind Dale, they will never have anything to say to you. However, they do repeat the same battlecries over and over ("Go for the eyes, Boo!"), and they say certain things when you click on them ("Again you disturb me!"), which despite their limited nature can give you a good idea of what your companions are like. Occasionally, certain party members will talk to each other (they mostly say the same things over and over), and a couple of them will fight each other, but don't expect a lot of interaction.

The reason why people say these games are great for roleplaying is because you have the ability to create and play your own character practically any way you desire within the confines of D&D rules. But the interaction between characters leaves a lot to be desired.

Technically, dialogues among your party members are triggered by scripts and timers. For example, when you recruited Minsc, he said he wanted to rescue his companion Dynaheir. You have about 10 days to rescue her before he gets angry and leaves the group. Generally speaking, the game doesn't keep track of any of your actions or dialogue choices, other than the effect they might have on your Reputation. Once you move on, you have a clean slate for all practical purposes.

One thing I like about Baldur's Gate is that you can talk to hundreds of NPCs outside your party. For example, in one of the wilderness areas, you might across an old hermit who will give you funny answers if you ask him for "sage advice". But once you talk to them, they usually don't have anything else to say, so you might as well find someone else to talk to.

In most games like this, you are supposed to look for clues that will tell you what you need to do to progress through the game. When Gorion told you to look for Khalid and Jaheira at the Friendly Arm Inn, that was a clue. Since Gorion recommended them, you know they are suitable for a Good-aligned party, if that's what you want to play. When Xvar and Montaron urged you to investigate the Nashkel Mines, that was a clue. A man you might have met right before you met Xvar and Montaron was supposed to tell you that they are unsavory characters, which was intended to help you make a decision about whether to let them into your party. As you can see, they are suitable for an Evil-aligned party, if that's what you want to play. Branwen told you that a mage named Tranzig turned her to stone. So keep an eye out for a mage named Tranzig--you might meet him.

I hope I'm not spoiling anything by telling you this, but the game is divided into chapters. When you first start the game, you're in Chapter One (as you can see in your journal). When you reach Nashkel (which is actually quite an accomplishment for a first-time player), I think Chapter Two begins. When you talk to the mayor, he gives you a quest which you must finish if you want to finish the game. When you finish that quest, you will have enough information to proceed to the next major quest. Eventually, you will complete several of the chapters and you will gradually develop a clearer idea of what you need to do.

Any other quests are considered to be "sidequests" if they don't have an impact on the major plot. Sidequests are worth doing because they give you a chance to get more experience and find powerful items. They're also fun most of the time. Some of the NPCs you talk to (in the hotels in Beregost, for instance) will tell you about some of the sidequests. For example, there's an old haunted magic school nearby, and there are several ruins where other adventurers have tried unsuccessfully to find riches and glory--maybe you can be the first one to succeed.

Ningengirai wrote:Maybe I'm just doing something wrong. I always wanted to play BG because I heard all over the place that the RP-factor of the game is better than most of what's available today, so hence I figured that I'd actually have conversations with my party companions.

It's also possible that you heard people referring to BG2, which does focus a lot on party dialogue.
As stated though, for plenty of party banter you can install BG Tutu/BG1 NPC mods, which uses the BG2 engine... I'm not sure if you need to also install BG2 for that to work, however.

Domi_Ash wrote:You can have plenty of dialogue in BG1, including talking to your companions, listening to their banters and 6 romances with all the trimmings (flirts, conflicts etc) if you use TUTU+BG1NPC mods

Thanks, but I think I'll try to finish the game the "normal" way first before I try any of the mods. Trying to figure out how to install TotSC already broke half my brain.

VonDondu wrote:What you have heard all over the place has given you the wrong impression. <SNIP> ...first one to succeed.

Thanks, that was a lot of useful information. I'm honestly a little bit disappointed - I've recently played NWN2 and on almost every forum I went to, people ( including myself ) were complaining about the lack of meaningful companion interaction and drawing comparisons to BG and BG2. To me, anything that includes "RP" in the title should have at least some kind of interaction with the people you travel with, other than the odd interjection. Now that I am playing BG, I don't really see why there's a comparison at all. Maybe playing BG2 will change that, though, I'm keeping that door open.

Still, the game is a lot of fun. I'm just hoping that I won't be feeling rushed all the time.

dragon wench wrote:It's also possible that you heard people referring to BG2, which does focus a lot on party dialogue.

Most likely, yes, though I distinctly remember some glowing defenders of the wonderful party interaction in BG1 specifically. I guess the past is, after all, always seen through rose-tinted glasses.

There are a few instances where you can get quite an interesting conversation. If you have a low charisma, Khalid/Jaheira and Xzar/Montaron get into an arguement and actually start fighting each other. If your charisma is high however, Xzar and Montaron just leave when they get cheesed off with you.

Ningengirai wrote:I'm currently, or rather was, playing a Human CG Ranger.

I'd dumped Imoen because it was either dumping her and not taking Minsc, or dumping one of the already on-board couples ( Jaheira/Khalid, Montaron, Xvan/Xvar/whatever ). However, now that I've read through a couple of the posts here and learned that I can also break up the 'couples', and have since figured out how to install Tales of the Sword Coast without completely messing up my game, I'm going to start a new game.

I guess my main problem/concern is that I don't like being rushed, and if I want to explore an entire map, I'd like to do it without having someone yowling in my ear the whole time. I'll try to get the quests done as quickly as possible on my second go-through, hoping that everyone will just shut up once I've catered to their needs.

As far as parties are concerned, I'm aiming for a CG or thereabouts party, at least for my first go through the entire game. My thing is... I don't like to read walkthroughs or even post on forums until I'm absolutely stuck or at a point in the game where I don't know if my next actions will seriously hinder me later. I don't know, it sort of deducts from the whole exploration thing.

At the risk of giving a slight spoiler, the following joinable characters don't have their own agenda, Imoen (NG Thief who can be multi classed into a mage), Branwen, Ajantis (LG Paladin), Garrick (Chaotic Neutral Bard), Kivan (CG Ranger, has agenda[kill bandits] but has never complained when I've had him). There are also two evil characters without agendas Viconia (NE Drow Cleric) and Shar-Teel (CE Fighter), Viconia is well worth the aggro IMO, especially in BG2 if you have a male protagonist.

Woops, almost forgot, Jaheira and Khaled won't wait at the Friendly Arm Inn forever, they will leave at a certain point in the game, (possibly triggered by doing the Mines without them) never to be seen again, until BG 2 anyway.

You cannot start conversations with your party members.

Unless you have mods. More modern mods make an extensive use of the player-initiated dialogues. Romanced characters get boat-load of flirts through these menues, and not-romanced get occasional dialogue or simple conversations or discussions about what's going on in each area.

Even traditionally conversation-empty IWD is falling to modders' desire to have talkative NPCs.

I am sorry about being a bit inane, but I am a great enthusiast of making NPCs talk and be more "alive". I was active in BG1NPC project creation and now am working with pitbull's determination on a similar mod for IWD2 (only it introduces all custom characters. My goal is to have *every* NPC as developped as Jaheira in BG2 or Juhani in KOTOR1 and have a multitude of inter-NPC subplots, romantic and otherwise)