So, I have a rather simple question, as someone that loves using custom portraits. Will BG2:EE use the same portrait dimensions as BG:EE, so I don't have to re-edit and resize all my custom portraits?
When will we finally be getting proper localized versions, with localized sound files ? (IE : French sound files, German sound files and so on) ?
There is going to be an announcement about this soon. We are working with the localization TLs to implement foreign audio files that were present in the original game.
So, I have a rather simple question, as someone that loves using custom portraits. Will BG2:EE use the same portrait dimensions as BG:EE, so I don't have to re-edit and resize all my custom portraits?
BG2EE's portraits use the same dimensions and format as BG1EE's portraits, yes.
I can't find the specific comment, but I do recall there was a remark from you guys at one point indicating you might look into enhancing the story/gameplay in Throne of Bhaal specifically in order to make it less linear. Now that BG2:EE is around the corner (sort of), can you talk about whether you've been able to do something with that idea?
Hey @Dee and @CamDawg, thanks for the thoughtful answers regarding GVAR importing and your attitude regarding implementing mod content. I'm really happy that you take such a conservative approach.
Since this is a Q&A thread, I'll pose this: do you guys plan to do some more interviews / previews / behind the scenes-type-deals before the release? The quote I'm posting below has the ring of truth to it, and I'm worried that if you guys don't put your message out there, some misinformed people are going to hurt your word-of-mouth (forums) sales. Unfortunately, the BG modding community might be too insular and smart for their own good. They don't recognize the value of all the different platforms, and the engine / game fixes, not to mention the production value of professionally made new content (though I really wish you would use higher resolution terrain on your modeled maps for rendering!) and thus seem to be recommending people just 'mod the GoG version', not recognizing that BG2 modding is, compared to, say, Bethesda games, not so simple.
Overhaul (imho) need to do an interview to expand and clarify on what these titles are providing. If they can't discuss it then that's really holding these games back - what are their DLC plans? expansion packs, class additions, etc. It seems there's alot of negative stuff floating about and the company seems to be treading water and squashing bugs. I'm a fan, preordered BG:EE and have yet to play it as I'm waiting on that patch and BG2:EE - that's not a negative thing, as I'm happy with what I've purchased.
I don't think they can change the "get it on GOG with mods" mindset, but abit more info for those potential buyers on the fence couldn't hurt I think. *Shrugs shoulders*
I would think some of the people most receptive to this info would be Rock, Paper, Shotgun, Kotaku, and GameBanshee, in addition to whatever large platform outlets you're undoubtedly planning to talk to (whoever disseminates info on android and apple tablet games). In addition to that, interviews or screenshots released to a representative of the big IE modding forums would do a lot to get the community behind you (G3, SHS, and what is the last one.. CoM?).
Obviously all just IMO.. but I've got a vested interest in this too; I want to see IWD:EE someday ;D
Dear Dee, is there any hope whatsoever of having anything even slightly random in BG2:EE?
For instance:
- A minor quest triggered by drinking in a (random) bar; someone walks up to you and starts talking and there you go. At the moment, drinking in a bar never leads to anything meaningful. - A brawl between two thugs which you will witness (in a random city / town location) and which may or may not trigger a small quest as well, depending on what you do. And maybe, after reacting to this, one of the kids in the street somewhere else may notice you when you pass by and say "Hey! You helped/killed my dad", and that may have its own repercussions...
This sort of stuff would be just lovely, in my view. For me, BG2 is the best game ever, but sometimes it gets a bit annoying that you know where everybody and everyone is, and you know exactly what happens in the places you go.
The world of Ultima V, for instance, had way more unpredictability to it! And that was aeons ago...
Will new areas seen in the trailer of BGEE II be only available if you take those new NPCs from BGEE into your party, or will they be available to any party?
Considering that Blackguards are most often fanatically champions of fell powers (be it evil gods, archdevils, baernaloths, or demon princes), the Temple of Talos is pretty much the only fitting stronghold for such hated and feared, mortal fiends.
However, it's also true that this stronghold extremely limits the roleplay factor for all non-Talassan Blackguard characters as well. I see no reason why a Blackguard of Juiblex for example should be tolerated, much less being welcomed in one of Talos' main temples. Now that's an immersion breaker if I ever saw one.
hmm, you're right that would work better. although blackguards and paladins do not choose their order or deity in bg2, i also can't see this working without some modification.
i doubt blackguards will have satisfying stronghold without some alterations of the content. and i have a feeling this is in the dreaded contract limitation area...
so either a roleplaying-inconvincing fighter stronghold or PC blackguard has to be of talos faith.
I guess that as a champion of evil, the idea of posession of a castle might be interesting from the 'power' point of view. You know, some place to run torture or sacrifices to honor his master. I found it more fitting as it leaves religion aside, but of course, as @shawne pointed out, it might be a little weird for a blackguard to care about a maid having to choose suitors... We'll find out november 15th
Will the new Thief NPC have a special magic item that she comes equipped with? (Dorn's Sword/Rasaad's Boots)
If she does, will it have a bearing/reflect upon the new story she brings? Perhaps one of the artifacts she has found, with a chain, that she wears around her neck for example?
Just to repeat... we're not giving out information on the new NPC just yet. You can ask the questions, but just be aware that we may not be able to answer them -- please don't be offended if they're ignored in favor of other questions.
”The new renderer opens up a number of amazing things, such as new UI layouts which were previously not possible. The new render system for the new fonts is brilliant.”
Except new render system , does it still have any plan to enhance graphic effects? such like weather , spell , water effects.
Will the Jaheira romance be fixed? (I believe that originally a key conversation trigger was time-dependent, and thus easy to miss, even if one had selected all the 'correct' conversation options previously.)
Will the Jaheira romance be fixed? (I believe that originally a key conversation trigger was time-dependent, and thus easy to miss, even if one had selected all the 'correct' conversation options previously.)
And what about other party banter. AFAIR you sometimes had to wait literally hours to have a conversation triggered, very troublesome. Will any way be given to trigger it by hand? Like in newer Bioware games - manually triggered talk with party characters?
is there any way to make characters use "huge" size portrait instead of "large" on statistics screen? large is still kind of small and huge has no function other than ending sequence.
Will Salvanas, the wannabe smooth-talking elf in the Copper Coronet, attempt unsuccessfully to hit on the 2 new female NPCs? (Neera and unspecified thief-type lass)
Thank you for your hard work so far and apologies if this question has already been asked. I have a question regarding stuttering of the game. While the game is running fine for me most of the time (my specifications can be found at the bottom of this post), it happens occasionally that it noticeably slows down – the most glaring example would be sewers beneath the city of Baldur's Gate where the game is stuttering pretty badly and the reason for that is probably a large number of carrion crawlers.
So, my question is: is this stuttering a matter of proper hardware suitable for the game or does the game slows down occasionally (for example, when lots of spells were cast or there are lots of enemies in one location) on all modern computers and nothing can be done about it?
My specifications: Laptop Samsung r580 Processor: Intel Core i5 CPU RAM: 4,00 GB Video card: NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M System: Windows 7, 64-bit
Comments
So, have you guys been able to do anything with ToB in order to make it longer, higher quality, and/or less linear?
Since this is a Q&A thread, I'll pose this: do you guys plan to do some more interviews / previews / behind the scenes-type-deals before the release? The quote I'm posting below has the ring of truth to it, and I'm worried that if you guys don't put your message out there, some misinformed people are going to hurt your word-of-mouth (forums) sales. Unfortunately, the BG modding community might be too insular and smart for their own good. They don't recognize the value of all the different platforms, and the engine / game fixes, not to mention the production value of professionally made new content (though I really wish you would use higher resolution terrain on your modeled maps for rendering!) and thus seem to be recommending people just 'mod the GoG version', not recognizing that BG2 modding is, compared to, say, Bethesda games, not so simple. I would think some of the people most receptive to this info would be Rock, Paper, Shotgun, Kotaku, and GameBanshee, in addition to whatever large platform outlets you're undoubtedly planning to talk to (whoever disseminates info on android and apple tablet games). In addition to that, interviews or screenshots released to a representative of the big IE modding forums would do a lot to get the community behind you (G3, SHS, and what is the last one.. CoM?).
Obviously all just IMO.. but I've got a vested interest in this too; I want to see IWD:EE someday ;D
For instance:
- A minor quest triggered by drinking in a (random) bar; someone walks up to you and starts talking and there you go. At the moment, drinking in a bar never leads to anything meaningful.
- A brawl between two thugs which you will witness (in a random city / town location) and which may or may not trigger a small quest as well, depending on what you do. And maybe, after reacting to this, one of the kids in the street somewhere else may notice you when you pass by and say "Hey! You helped/killed my dad", and that may have its own repercussions...
This sort of stuff would be just lovely, in my view. For me, BG2 is the best game ever, but sometimes it gets a bit annoying that you know where everybody and everyone is, and you know exactly what happens in the places you go.
The world of Ultima V, for instance, had way more unpredictability to it! And that was aeons ago...
However, it's also true that this stronghold extremely limits the roleplay factor for all non-Talassan Blackguard characters as well. I see no reason why a Blackguard of Juiblex for example should be tolerated, much less being welcomed in one of Talos' main temples. Now that's an immersion breaker if I ever saw one.
i doubt blackguards will have satisfying stronghold without some alterations of the content. and i have a feeling this is in the dreaded contract limitation area...
so either a roleplaying-inconvincing fighter stronghold or PC blackguard has to be of talos faith.
If she does, will it have a bearing/reflect upon the new story she brings? Perhaps one of the artifacts she has found, with a chain, that she wears around her neck for example?
Except new render system , does it still have any plan to enhance graphic effects? such like weather , spell , water effects.
Thank you for your hard work so far and apologies if this question has already been asked.
I have a question regarding stuttering of the game. While the game is running fine for me most of the time (my specifications can be found at the bottom of this post), it happens occasionally that it noticeably slows down – the most glaring example would be sewers beneath the city of Baldur's Gate where the game is stuttering pretty badly and the reason for that is probably a large number of carrion crawlers.
So, my question is: is this stuttering a matter of proper hardware suitable for the game or does the game slows down occasionally (for example, when lots of spells were cast or there are lots of enemies in one location) on all modern computers and nothing can be done about it?
My specifications:
Laptop Samsung r580
Processor: Intel Core i5 CPU
RAM: 4,00 GB
Video card: NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M
System: Windows 7, 64-bit