I doubt that I will ever muster the energy to do it: But I've thought to create a mod that populates the world with people from whom you can learn about persons of interest behind all those doors. You can already gather general information about the iron crisis, bandits, impending war with Amn, etc., from talking with folks in taverns, stores, temples, or on the street. But this would be more specifically to point you towards quests. You could also hear tavern rumors to the same effect after buying drinks as a more centralized and more expensive route to the same info. I would make the doors of people who need help unlocked.
It is possible that someone might have "Lost" that shiny stack of coins that I found in that nice person's pockets. I should hold onto it for when i next encounter them. Won't they be so pleased that I 'found' their money? I am sure they meant to give it to me anyway.
well depends how you have been brought up. I for one do not go to every door that I pass and try to open it, never mind having the urge to pick lock it/break in to search for more items, money or someone who needs assistance
Does Firebead even tell you where he lives? If not, there's no explanation for why a Good character would randomly enter his house, not knowing who lives there. But unless you do, you won't get a scroll case, right? n.n
With that said, I'll start randomly entering houses in Baldur's Gate for quests. ^w^ And I only rob bad people.
Seems that there are 2 Levels of Goodness/Rigor being weighed here. One involves what an act would be in the Real World. The other involves how much material can be imaginatively added by Roleplayers so long as they feel it has integrity.
It seems to me no problem to assume that Firebead told Charname about the Safe House and probably several other things beyond the scope of Devs but not alien to their spirit. Another example is assuming that Jaheira-Khalid have also spoken, perhaps several times, with Unshey and heard about the Ogre, enough to know that one of the Belts would be a great prize, which from Jaheira's POV is Fair Game and much more needed by Charname's predicament than Unshey's authorial endeavors...
@tilly Yeah, but you know he comes from Beregost, and I usually think you would ask some locals about his house Sort of the small direction-asking that isnt included in the game?
As far as Firebead, I could easily see Charname actually knowing that he lived in Bergost, but not the exact house. The door is unlocked, so it might very well be the custom that, if the door is open, it is open for guests. All in fun.
It's perfectly fine for adventurers to walk into people's houses and steal all of their stuff, as long as they can prove they are adventurers and at least one person in the town of said house has heard of your deeds.
Everyone knows this, it's in the "Adventurer's Guide to Adventuring".
This is a videogame, everything is there to be looted. If I wanted to roleplay I'd play actual D&D.
Not everyone wants to play it that way
There really aren't that many genuine roleplaying options in most computer games.
So you might as well take advantage of those that appear - like giving up a few odd pieces of loot or a small quest becuase your "good" party isn't going to loot innocents or pick locks on random doors to see whats inside.
It's not like anything you miss out on is going to be a game changer for you or gimp you or your party in any significant way.
This is a videogame, everything is there to be looted. If I wanted to roleplay I'd play actual D&D.
That is totally up to the individual player. I can't even imagine playing with an attitude like that; but that is the beauty of the CRPG, I can play my way, you can play yours.
I really wish they'd added a mechanism for knocking on doors, I do enjoy helping everyone who needs it (well, within reason, I won't help people who want dead bodies delivered or Nymphs murdered!). It is funny sometimes how much rationalizing I have to do to get in certain places, even with the best of intentions.
Sure is a lot of metagaming being described in this thread.
Let us face it, picking the lock of a locked door in the city is certainly a non-lawful act at best (unless, of course, that locked door belongs to you OR one has pre-imminent knowledge that someone is in danger behind that locked door.
A Neutral act at best, most likely Chaotic in nature. Should carry a rep hit if witnessed IMHO (they certainly are not trustworthy...)
Picking the lock of a dwelling with the intent of robbing it, well...that is certainly Chaotic in nature, and I would go so far as to say it is a slightly evil act - it is pre-meditated, after all. Most of what is being described is not "hey, I wonder what is in this building?" but more along the lines of "there is X gold and Y items inside this building, let's go get them!".
I wonder how many would bother to pick the locks if there was no gold or item "reward" inside?
Well, Charname REALLY tries hard not to steal every little thing that glitters... But, honestly, what to do if you are suffering from a REALLY bad case of kleptomania?!?
You know, the observation that it's a video game is well taken. And I endorse the Bob Ross "It's Your World" philosophy to playing Baldur's Gate! That includes a full-on approach in the metagame and powergaming direction. In other words, if zero "roleplaying" is what gives one pleasure for this SP computer game then absolutely enjoy it to the fullest as such. I'm truly not judgmental about that.
But I have to say that as I experiment more with using playing cards and dice to determine some of the NPCs actions, in combination with making decisions for their actions according what seems obviously in their basic character, I am having a highly 'renewed' experience of playing this game. I'm documenting the experiment here in a way that is perhaps overdone with journaling, but that's just to share an illustration of the concept. Most people will not journal their games as I'm doing, of course. (After I finish the current one I doubt I will either for future games of this type.)
I only say all this because I can attest that I'm finding that this game has remarkable roleplaying potential with just a few very simple modifcations that are borrowed from tabletop.
The thing about roleplaying is that an artificial world, one that gives the PC very few options and the NPCs very few ways to respond to your actions, is outright throwing me away from it. I don't think there's been a single computer game, besides Planescape Torment and Nethack, that has done roleplaying even halfway well.
The thing about roleplaying is that an artificial world, one that gives the PC very few options and the NPCs very few ways to respond to your actions, is outright throwing me away from it. I don't think there's been a single computer game, besides Planescape Torment and Nethack, that has done roleplaying even halfway well.
Give NWN a try, and play in a closed DMed PnP style campaign.
You will find it hard to play anything else after that experience. I truly wish that Wheldrake was still around DMing *sigh*
Incredible experience.
That said, it can hardly be said that such a game is an SP game, so...
You know, the observation that it's a video game is well taken. And I endorse the Bob Ross "It's Your World" philosophy to playing Baldur's Gate! That includes a full-on approach in the metagame and powergaming direction. In other words, if zero "roleplaying" is what gives one pleasure for this SP computer game then absolutely enjoy it to the fullest as such. I'm truly not judgmental about that.
But I have to say that as I experiment more with using playing cards and dice to determine some of the NPCs actions, in combination with making decisions for their actions according what seems obviously in their basic character, I am having a highly 'renewed' experience of playing this game. I'm documenting the experiment here in a way that is perhaps overdone with journaling, but that's just to share an illustration of the concept. Most people will not journal their games as I'm doing, of course. (After I finish the current one I doubt I will either for future games of this type.)
I only say all this because I can attest that I'm finding that this game has remarkable roleplaying potential with just a few very simple modifcations that are borrowed from tabletop.
Would be interested in more details about what kinds of Roleplaying actions you are grafting onto the Computer version. How can you make real adjustments so that your die-results manifest in the "Real" BG happening Onscreen?
@Eadwyn_G8keeper Mainly, as the game progresses there are decisions to be made, and although CHARNAME is the party leader, each party member can be given a mind of his or her own. So I do my best to imagine what each would do.
A good example recently would be when the party walked into Feldepost's the first time:
[spoiler] Marl approaches and tries to taunt the party into a fight. I imagined how each party member would respond. As I conceive of Montaron, I think there's a very strong chance that he would snarl something back at Marl. I drew a card to decide whether Monty would. The answer was yes. So I had Montaron respond then according the the dialogue options I felt fit his character best.
When the fight ensued, I also had characters respond independently according to how I believed they would when Marl started kicking Monty's ass (to my surprise, actually). For some I knew how they would react so I didn't turn a card. For others for which it didn't seem as clear I turned cards.
Here's the excerpt:
We decided also to visit Feldepost’s and see what items may be for sale there as well. Upon entering the establishment we were accosted by a rather large, coarse man who had the look of a farmer and seemed to intent upon taunting us into a fight. (Wait, was this not supposed to be the luxury inn?)
[Montaron reacts by having words in return with Marl? Red card = yes.]
Montaron had words back with the surly fellow. Only moments later they came to blows.
Although Montaon is very tough, the man was huge and able to withstand his frontal sword attacks. With several terrible punches the man was able to knock Montaron nearly unconscious. He seemed intent upon beating Montaron to death.
[Do others intervene? Khalid and Jaheira I assumed would not. Xzar: black card = no, Imoen: black card = no, Oracos: red card = yes.]
Seeing Montaron reel on the brink of losing consciousness, I sprang forward and burst my Fiery Hands spell upon the attacker. Montaron at that moment collapsed in a heap, and I feared him dead. The attacker hit me square in the jaw and I too nearly lost consciousness, but I quickly gulped down a vial of healing potion to keep my wits. Whilst this was happening everyone else in the party lept to my aid. I shot another blast of fire at the man but due to the rage he was in he seemed unfazed by it.
Although Xzar was last join the fight, it was he who plunged his dagger into the man’s side, killing him.
When the man sank to the floor in death, Montaron revived. He had been momentarily knocked out by one of his attacker's vicious blows.
And btw, how each character responded in this fight may factor into other decisions made later on.
(Note: When it comes to fighting the standard enemies, the party does work as a team for the sake of mutual survival. But here Montaron basically got himself into a fight on his own. So the party's reaction was roleplayed.) [/spoiler]
Interesting. Using a Deck of Cards for generating many different probability outcomes sounds great. I am not familiar with PnP game proceedures but could easily tailor my own Chart for Saves that interest me. Examples might include Team Formation choices. Route choices---example: do I proceed to Ankheg Nest via Brun's House & Field or from a point due South on Main road [which is Ankheg free]..and why.
There is so much to imagine here considering that Party has already recovered Tenya's Bowl etc. Are the Ankhegs immensely dangerous monsters heretofore unheard of but threatening instant death--in which case they seem kinda stupid trying to find Nathan for Brun. Perhaps they have heard rumors that the Ankheg's have amassed a huge hoard of Treasure in addition to the kind of Harvest Value Gerde's dialog seems to suggest as common knowledge.
No wonder I seem to enjoy the game more when I have the Voice Volume set to near Zero...
Comments
Better check them all just in case.
It seems to me no problem to assume that Firebead told Charname about the Safe House and probably several other things beyond the scope of Devs but not alien to their spirit. Another example is assuming that Jaheira-Khalid have also spoken, perhaps several times, with Unshey and heard about the Ogre, enough to know that one of the Belts would be a great prize, which from Jaheira's POV is Fair Game and much more needed by Charname's predicament than Unshey's authorial endeavors...
Yeah, but you know he comes from Beregost, and I usually think you would ask some locals about his house
Everyone knows this, it's in the "Adventurer's Guide to Adventuring".
simply opening doors has nothing to do with the good/evil axis
but it is a chaotic behaviour
It's not like anything you miss out on is going to be a game changer for you or gimp you or your party in any significant way.
I really wish they'd added a mechanism for knocking on doors, I do enjoy helping everyone who needs it (well, within reason, I won't help people who want dead bodies delivered or Nymphs murdered!). It is funny sometimes how much rationalizing I have to do to get in certain places, even with the best of intentions.
Let us face it, picking the lock of a locked door in the city is certainly a non-lawful act at best (unless, of course, that locked door belongs to you OR one has pre-imminent knowledge that someone is in danger behind that locked door.
A Neutral act at best, most likely Chaotic in nature. Should carry a rep hit if witnessed IMHO (they certainly are not trustworthy...)
Picking the lock of a dwelling with the intent of robbing it, well...that is certainly Chaotic in nature, and I would go so far as to say it is a slightly evil act - it is pre-meditated, after all. Most of what is being described is not "hey, I wonder what is in this building?" but more along the lines of "there is X gold and Y items inside this building, let's go get them!".
I wonder how many would bother to pick the locks if there was no gold or item "reward" inside?
But I have to say that as I experiment more with using playing cards and dice to determine some of the NPCs actions, in combination with making decisions for their actions according what seems obviously in their basic character, I am having a highly 'renewed' experience of playing this game. I'm documenting the experiment here in a way that is perhaps overdone with journaling, but that's just to share an illustration of the concept. Most people will not journal their games as I'm doing, of course. (After I finish the current one I doubt I will either for future games of this type.)
I only say all this because I can attest that I'm finding that this game has remarkable roleplaying potential with just a few very simple modifcations that are borrowed from tabletop.
You will find it hard to play anything else after that experience. I truly wish that Wheldrake was still around DMing *sigh*
Incredible experience.
That said, it can hardly be said that such a game is an SP game, so...
A good example recently would be when the party walked into Feldepost's the first time:
[spoiler]
Marl approaches and tries to taunt the party into a fight. I imagined how each party member would respond. As I conceive of Montaron, I think there's a very strong chance that he would snarl something back at Marl. I drew a card to decide whether Monty would. The answer was yes. So I had Montaron respond then according the the dialogue options I felt fit his character best.
When the fight ensued, I also had characters respond independently according to how I believed they would when Marl started kicking Monty's ass (to my surprise, actually). For some I knew how they would react so I didn't turn a card. For others for which it didn't seem as clear I turned cards.
Here's the excerpt: And btw, how each character responded in this fight may factor into other decisions made later on.
(Note: When it comes to fighting the standard enemies, the party does work as a team for the sake of mutual survival. But here Montaron basically got himself into a fight on his own. So the party's reaction was roleplayed.)
[/spoiler]
There is so much to imagine here considering that Party has already recovered Tenya's Bowl etc. Are the Ankhegs immensely dangerous monsters heretofore unheard of but threatening instant death--in which case they seem kinda stupid trying to find Nathan for Brun. Perhaps they have heard rumors that the Ankheg's have amassed a huge hoard of Treasure in addition to the kind of Harvest Value Gerde's dialog seems to suggest as common knowledge.
No wonder I seem to enjoy the game more when I have the Voice Volume set to near Zero...