I'm not too bad with restarting once I actually get going, but I have this weird thing where I just like to make characters. Sometimes I load up the game just to do that. I'll choose the portrait/class, spend a long time rolling, maybe look through a long list of fantasy names until I find something I like. Then I'll just... look at it for a while and start over. I always thought it was kind of crazy, but now reading this I'm sure it's perfectly normal....
I hear you @TheElf ... you create those great characters and then never get to play with them. Only fantasize about playing...and then ... at night ... you can hear those chars calling for you. "Play me! Play me!'
Restarted my Sorcerer (now Dragon Disciple, yay!) a couple times due to various really petty things... now I'm this close to restarting once more because of that horrible metallic screeching sound in eastern Baldur's Gate. I know the patch has fixed it but it doesn't work retroactively sadly. But I really really do not want to do Cloakwood once more
I've never had this problem with BG. I did have it with Civ 4, and before that Star Wars: Rebellion, many many times
civilization is my biggest culprit of restarts. I actually keep restarting in single player until I like the starting area and sometimes until I am alone on an island if I want. I have literally never finished a complete game in civ 5. my second biggest culprit is just any game I put down for a long time. I have problems getting back into the character after months away.
@Kneller - runner-up for "best written chronic restarter confession". As your prize, you will be entitled to BG2EE. Be wary, it's a double-edged sword!
So you see, it's not my fault. It's like this game has been perfectly engineered in a secret government lab to f*ck up my life.
And what kind of prize is BG2EE? After the broken Firebead quest in BGEE, I went back to the GoG version. I mean, if they let something that simple and soon slip through the cracks, then who knows what fresh hell EE has in store for me.
I'm not too bad with restarting once I actually get going, but I have this weird thing where I just like to make characters. Sometimes I load up the game just to do that. I'll choose the portrait/class, spend a long time rolling, maybe look through a long list of fantasy names until I find something I like. Then I'll just... look at it for a while and start over. I always thought it was kind of crazy, but now reading this I'm sure it's perfectly normal....
I do this ALL the time. Three nights ago I was playing around with building a female halfling cleric, mainly because I decided I needed to make someone who would actually say "I've got the world's biggest ouchie!" Somehow, I rolled a 97. A 97! 9. 7. On a halfling cleric. Highest roll ever on any character in 10 years of playing BG. Now I feel like I have to play this character, even though I have four other games in progress.
Do any of you guys write a journal for your adventures? I started doing this to help me stick to one character. It worked, but now I can't play because of writer's block...
Do any of you guys write a journal for your adventures? I started doing this to help me stick to one character. It worked, but now I can't play because of writer's block...
The user journal? Started it for the first time on a dwarven defender and his misadventures with Neera and Safana vying for his affection as he has misgivings about dating tall women. That doesn't mean I haven't combined writing with my BG character before though: http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/22604/veraka-s-saga#latest is my attempt to retell my jester's misadventures through epic verse. This is coming after the fact though, so I guess it wasn't able to help me stay focused on her (though the continued interest I have will probably help push her through BG2:EE).
Do any of you guys write a journal for your adventures? I started doing this to help me stick to one character. It worked, but now I can't play because of writer's block...
The user journal? Started it for the first time on a dwarven defender and his misadventures with Neera and Safana vying for his affection as he has misgivings about dating tall women. That doesn't mean I haven't combined writing with my BG character before though: http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/22604/veraka-s-saga#latest is my attempt to retell my jester's misadventures through epic verse. This is coming after the fact though, so I guess it wasn't able to help me stay focused on her (though the continued interest I have will probably help push her through BG2:EE).
Ah, I don't use the user journal myself. It's just a text file that I make notes in, kind of like what you're doing in that thread (but not in epic verse, that's way beyond my skills). It started off with fragments like "Imoen rescued me. Khalid missing." but it's grown to the point where I've been writing a page for every encounter. One good thing is that it's forced me to be very careful with my characters because if one of them dies I have to write a whole scene for that. It's also hard to make cheese sound good on paper so my playthrough has been more honest than usual. It's definitely enhanced the game for me so I'm glad to see others are doing it too!
Indeed, I was forced to justify to myself why I killed off Montaron and Dynaheir with my jester. As a chaotic neutral character with bad Wisdom, sometimes the answer is she made a poor judgment call, though she still has a reason (not always a good one). Cheesier things than this (weird tactics to kill Driz'zt, etc.) definitely sound very bad when written in story form and they make you reconsider what you're doing. For me, the last time I killed Driz'zt was before they had fixed the pathing problem. ^_^
Given Montaron basically threatening to kill you in your sleep every few minutes, it's not too hard to justify killing him for self-preservation. Dynaheir on the other hand, I guess it depends if you have Edwin and feel like he's more likely to help you achieve your goals?
For me more of the cheese is when you do things specifically to lower rep to keep certain party members, like picking pocket in plain sight then running away, or when you rob people's houses immediately after doing a quest for them. Yup, just found your son and gave you 100 gold, now I'm going to pick the lock on your door while you watch and then rob all your items. These things are harder to do if you are trying to RP, and just saying you are crazy isn't an answer.
Do any of you guys write a journal for your adventures? I started doing this to help me stick to one character. It worked, but now I can't play because of writer's block...
@Time4Tiddy Indeed. Veraka kept her reputation hovering around average by executing the occasional NPC that she felt needed to die (when you have the option to let them live and spare them). Some of those NPCs don't give a reputation hit, some do. She could be surprisingly stone cold in terms of forgiveness and mercy.
She ended up not resurrecting Dynaheir after the group's rest was interrupted by xvarts and one got a lucky stab in on her. Of course, Veraka was also a bit jealous of Dynaheir and the attention Minsc paid to her so that weighted her decision... Veraka is not a nice lady per se, she just manages to *not quite* be downright evil.
@LordRumfish Approved. I always manage to wander into that tavern in BG with an evil party member right around the time I need to drop my rep "naturally" - it's not my fault if that dumb paladin attacks me first!
@LordRumfish Totally agree. Many NPCs have slept soundly because of the mountain of writing I'd have to do to explain away their deaths
For troublesome party members, I'd claim them as unfortunate accidents in a dangerous line of work (maybe Monty got bloodthirsty and charged into a fight) or leave them in an inn. It's also tricky to justify booting some characters who need your help. I want Neera's gem bag, but I don't want her around. And Aerie and Nalia didn't seem to understand why I had to free up a spot in the party...
@Time4Tiddy I think a few accidents while stealing are plausible. Not the murder sort of "accident", but things like opening a chest you're not supposed to and getting spotted. Maybe Imoen got curious as to what was inside and decided to take a peek, not that she'd ever dream of taking what's not hers, no sir! Look, since we're obviously innocent, we'll save you the trouble of arresting us and RUN FOR IT!
I think a few accidents while stealing are plausible. Not the murder sort of "accident", but things like opening a chest you're not supposed to and getting spotted. Maybe Imoen got curious as to what was inside and decided to take a peek, not that she'd ever dream of taking what's not hers, no sir! Look, since we're obviously innocent, we'll save you the trouble of arresting us and RUN FOR IT!
Regarding the reputation thing, I created a script that allows me to set my reputation back to whatever level I want at the press of a button. While it could be abused I find it stops me performing strange/inconsistent actions purely for the sake of keeping my party together. I wish there was an option to turn reputation off altogether as it seems like a terribly implemented mechanic to me. This still doesn't prevent me spending all my time re-rolling new characters though.
@csuzw - Well...I don't have problems with role playing evil acts. See...my CHARNAME is ultimately going to become a god and a power to reckon. He needs to occasionally remind the folks that he is not to be trifled with.
You see...you do good things and people will try to abuse it, con you and think you are a pushover. (Saemon Havarian) You do only evil acts and the police force will be on your tail all the time. (Flaming Fist) So...what is the solution then? Do acts of good in the most evil way possible... (Like the quest for Ramazith and Ragefast, where you kill Ragefast, then Ramazith (for being a douche) and the SIren as well in the end (she would die anyway, you are just relieving her of a slow death) ...see? I'm helping! )
Hi, my name is WebShaman, and I am not a chronic restarter! You all need to get some help, you sickos! *glares*
I am a never-ender! *puffs out chest proudly*
That's right, I don't finish the game! Why should I? You can't make me! Just...can't...finish! Got to keep playing!! Playing! PLAYINGGGGG!!!!
So I don't know this...this Sarevok fellow - end boss, all that! So what?
I am certain that there is some hidden away area, stowed away somewhere in the game, just..waiting for me to find it! Got to keep looking!
I don't even know *sob* what the new patches have really brought to the game! I have never restarted!! I cannot stop!
As for cheating, well! Hmmm...is this the cheating therapy thread? Or the Chronic Restarter therapy thread? Or both? The I-can't-stop-playing, chonic restarting, cheaters-go-to-the-Hells therapy thread!!!??
Now, where is that last save? There are so many! Where are you...scroll, scroll.
I feel your pain. My restarting is of the painful, meticulous kind. Even if I'm progressing through BG2 or even ToB.. even if I am just about to import from BG1 into BG2 when I feel the urge to restart, I have to go back all the way to Candlekeep and start anew from there; doing every sidequest, talking to every NPC, killing every enemy and opening almost every container. Nothing else is permitted.
Wow. I do the same thing. It's like a perfectionistic ritual. Starting a new character in BG2 never felt authentic to me, so, like you, I always started a new one in BG and would play it all over again (doing every side quest, etc.) and then import my character to BG2 where, of course, I must open every container, do every possible quest/encounter, explore empty areas, and talk to nearly every NPC.
I'm sure I'll continue the same behavior throughout BG2EE as well. By then, the developers will probably have all of the bugs ironed out of BGEE--yet another reason to start over!
Wow. I do the same thing. It's like a perfectionistic ritual. Starting a new character in BG2 never felt authentic to me, so, like you, I always started a new one in BG and would play it all over again (doing every side quest, etc.) and then import my character to BG2 where, of course, I must open every container, do every possible quest/encounter, explore empty areas, and talk to nearly every NPC.
A ritual.... It actually is one, of a sort. A zen thing, if you like. I am happy not to be the only one not feeling just right if I don't go through the whole process. Quick, someone write a thesis on our relationship to the games we love.
Comments
"Play me! Play me!'
so many pre chapter 2 restarts it makes this thread seem mediocre
And what kind of prize is BG2EE? After the broken Firebead quest in BGEE, I went back to the GoG version. I mean, if they let something that simple and soon slip through the cracks, then who knows what fresh hell EE has in store for me.
I'm still working through the old hell...
For me more of the cheese is when you do things specifically to lower rep to keep certain party members, like picking pocket in plain sight then running away, or when you rob people's houses immediately after doing a quest for them. Yup, just found your son and gave you 100 gold, now I'm going to pick the lock on your door while you watch and then rob all your items. These things are harder to do if you are trying to RP, and just saying you are crazy isn't an answer.
I would be more inclined to write on the journal if it carried over to BG2 Hilarious
She ended up not resurrecting Dynaheir after the group's rest was interrupted by xvarts and one got a lucky stab in on her. Of course, Veraka was also a bit jealous of Dynaheir and the attention Minsc paid to her so that weighted her decision... Veraka is not a nice lady per se, she just manages to *not quite* be downright evil.
For troublesome party members, I'd claim them as unfortunate accidents in a dangerous line of work (maybe Monty got bloodthirsty and charged into a fight) or leave them in an inn. It's also tricky to justify booting some characters who need your help. I want Neera's gem bag, but I don't want her around. And Aerie and Nalia didn't seem to understand why I had to free up a spot in the party...
@Time4Tiddy
I think a few accidents while stealing are plausible. Not the murder sort of "accident", but things like opening a chest you're not supposed to and getting spotted. Maybe Imoen got curious as to what was inside and decided to take a peek, not that she'd ever dream of taking what's not hers, no sir! Look, since we're obviously innocent, we'll save you the trouble of arresting us and RUN FOR IT!
You see...you do good things and people will try to abuse it, con you and think you are a pushover. (Saemon Havarian)
You do only evil acts and the police force will be on your tail all the time. (Flaming Fist)
So...what is the solution then?
Do acts of good in the most evil way possible...
(Like the quest for Ramazith and Ragefast, where you kill Ragefast, then Ramazith (for being a douche) and the SIren as well in the end (she would die anyway, you are just relieving her of a slow death) ...see? I'm helping! )
I am a never-ender! *puffs out chest proudly*
That's right, I don't finish the game! Why should I? You can't make me! Just...can't...finish! Got to keep playing!! Playing! PLAYINGGGGG!!!!
So I don't know this...this Sarevok fellow - end boss, all that! So what?
I am certain that there is some hidden away area, stowed away somewhere in the game, just..waiting for me to find it! Got to keep looking!
I don't even know *sob* what the new patches have really brought to the game! I have never restarted!! I cannot stop!
As for cheating, well! Hmmm...is this the cheating therapy thread? Or the Chronic Restarter therapy thread? Or both? The I-can't-stop-playing, chonic restarting, cheaters-go-to-the-Hells therapy thread!!!??
Now, where is that last save? There are so many! Where are you...scroll, scroll.
I'm sure I'll continue the same behavior throughout BG2EE as well. By then, the developers will probably have all of the bugs ironed out of BGEE--yet another reason to start over!
I am happy not to be the only one not feeling just right if I don't go through the whole process. Quick, someone write a thesis on our relationship to the games we love.