Skip BG1:EE and just play BG2:EE? Please Help!
suddenly_human
Member Posts: 22
Skip BG1:EE? Opinions Please!
Folks I really need your help. A friend bought BG1:EE a few months ago in a Steam sale but hasn’t played it yet. Now that BG2:EE has been released he has been ‘advised’ by one of his friends not to bother with BG1 and just start straight into BG2 because it is ‘easier’ to learn for someone that hasn’t played that type of rpg. I’ve tried to tell him that this is not the case especially since both games now share the same variant of the engine and interface.
It’s my contention that it is much simpler to start with BG1 and start a character from level 1 where you can pick up the basics at a slower pace than starting at a much higher level with no knowledge of class, abilities or DnD rules.
My main argument however is that as an rpg by missing out on the first chapter of the saga you are spoiling the true beauty of the series – the engaging story. I was met with the retort that “I wouldn't question her rpg knowledge”
Can I please have some opinions on this? Am I right or am I wrong?
Folks I really need your help. A friend bought BG1:EE a few months ago in a Steam sale but hasn’t played it yet. Now that BG2:EE has been released he has been ‘advised’ by one of his friends not to bother with BG1 and just start straight into BG2 because it is ‘easier’ to learn for someone that hasn’t played that type of rpg. I’ve tried to tell him that this is not the case especially since both games now share the same variant of the engine and interface.
It’s my contention that it is much simpler to start with BG1 and start a character from level 1 where you can pick up the basics at a slower pace than starting at a much higher level with no knowledge of class, abilities or DnD rules.
My main argument however is that as an rpg by missing out on the first chapter of the saga you are spoiling the true beauty of the series – the engaging story. I was met with the retort that “I wouldn't question her rpg knowledge”
Can I please have some opinions on this? Am I right or am I wrong?
- Skip BG1:EE and just play BG2:EE? Please Help!129 votes
- Definitely not! Start with BG1 and follow the story through?84.50%
- Skip BG2 as it’s better and easier?15.50%
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Comments
Still, if it's their first time with BG start at the start most definitely.
The only reason I'd recommend BG2 first is if the person in question can't stand the fragility of being low level, or if they get bored with the less extensive character interaction.
For example:
In BG1 you can use normal weapons for quite a while, until you finally face enemys where you need more then just brute force. Here you can learn when to shield, when to crowd control and when to use what weaponry or in which sequence you can strip an enemy caster of it's defences.
In BG2 a lot of quests will confront you with enemys where you need a special weapon or tactic to defeat it. And that's right after the Prologue. If you are not familiar with the animations which gives you a hint what to use, then you will most likely face death more then usual.
* Tutors: The first and foremost reason to start with BG:EE instead of BG2:EE is that the first zone is full of helpful "how to play the game" tutors. These folks teach you how to talk with people, how to complete quests, etc. Yes, there is a tutorial, but it doesn't cover EVERYTHING.
* Candlekeep was designed as an introduction to how to play. Along the same line as the Tutors above, the entire Candlekeep zone was designed as an intro to playing the games. Without candlekeep you are going to be thrown into unfamiliar territory fast.
* BG2:EE is more Difficult to Play than BG:EE: And I'm not talking about encounter difficulty. The very first room past where you start in BG2:EE requires you to click an object that isn't immediately obvious to click and that doesn't show up with the tab key. Talk about a frustrating opening for a new player being killed by infinite Mephits while having NO idea what the hell to do and no explanation on how to do it. BG2:EE, right or wrong, has some expectations of your capabilities in a CRPG...BG:EE does not have those same expectations.
* New Characters (Neera, Dorn, etc.): Your friend will be asking questions like "who the hell is this Neera Chick and why did she just appear out of no where and tell me to come help her" when she runs across her for the first time. While the game DOES take into account that you haven't met these people before the STORY of Neera being pursued by the Red Wizards and their hatred / fear / whatever of wild magic is not obvious. Why is Neera even getting involved when that wizard in the red robe asks that little girl to come with him? Why is it so important? THAT is the kind of thing that she'll miss out on. Same thing with people like Jaheria and Minsc. Even breaking Minsc out of his cage at the start of the game somewhat relies upon your understanding of his instability which you get from playing BG:EE.
* One of the LARGEST reasons why I would suggest BG:EE first is the shear number of story spoilers you're going to get starting out in BG2:EE. Hell the biggest reveal in BG
* Level Differences: As has been said many times above, BG is built around low level characters...BG2 is built around High Level characters. Explain to me just how your D&D Inexperienced friend is going to manage to pass a fight with a Lich? I'm here to tell you that spells already get A LOT more complex in this game...and trying to take down a Contingency triggered mage is going to be nothing more than an act in frustration as your friend dies over and over and over again as they try this and that different combination. Level 1 through 10 is there to get you used to what a character can do and what kinds of things you might encounter later. You don't start a new player at level 10 with no handholding and expect them to play properly...it just won't happen.
* Missing Equipment (Carried Over): The final reason I would recommend against starting with BG2:EE (and the least compelling) is the carried over equipment that you get from BG. Keep in mind that importing a BG game with certain pieces of equipment (like the golden pantaloons) in your inventory allows those items to appear in the BG2:EE game...without the import, those items will not appear.
BG is a series of 3 games...BG, BG2 and BG2:ToB. Would you pick up a trilogy and start reading on book 2? What's your friend's objection to playing one of the best games ever produced? (The Orginal BG) Especially since it's been updated with a new renderer and new graphics and new characters and new items and new...
Really? If your friend is so interested in skipping BG, why not just start on ToB...why bother with BG2 Either? Or better yet, just tell them the ending so they can get some piece of mind and rest at night and not have to play the games at all.
I actually left Minsc behind because I thought he was a deranged idiot. Now, it'd be unthinkable to leave Minsc and Boo in such a place, now that I've gotten to know and love them and realise that Boo is no ordinary hamster!
I haven't played BG1 in its entirety but I got up to chapter...4, I think? Spent around 10 hours on it, and while it's a good enough game, there has been none of the storyline of BG2 in it whatsoever, and I can't see the storyline going anywhere near the whole Bhallspawn thing. I could be corrected, however.
I would say skip to BG2. You start off at level 7/8, where you won't get insta-killed by gibberlings, and the setting is a lot darker, richer and cooler. I assume most of the replies above were from people who played BG1 when they were younger...suffice that to say, I never did.
Then again, I've already played through the entire game maybe 50 times before so now I just enjoy it as a sandbox with custom solo or party builds.
Furthermore a lot of people really enjoy low-level play and the gritty setting of the first game. While BGII feels large-scope and epic BG1 feels small-scope, dirty and gritty. They are different games.
And there are just far too many options for a beginner jumping straight into BG2. A character has all these abilities, how does a caster even decide which spells to memorise. let alone which to use for a particular encounter? If you start at the beginning you pick up abilities as you go and learn how and when to use them: this technique works against spellcasters, that one against brute strength enemies etc, and you can hone your skills against opposition that's not overwhelming. Sure, there are frustrations: being poisoned to death by hobgoblin archers and the like, but learning how to overcome them is a huge part of the fun.
Starting with BG2 is like watching 'Breaking Bad' but missing out the first couple of seasons because "who's interested in a wimpy school-teacher?"
Being weak is a big part of the journey.
However, there are some gameplay benefits to playing through BG1, such as starting BG2 at higher level and hidden in the game are books that increase your characters stats getting you a permanent +1 to all your stats except wisdom which'll you get 2 of...
@Kaltzor, you missed a book.