I restarted a lot in Vanilla BG1, I always got scared of the mines and never entered them. was around 8 at the time when my dad bought the game, I though (and still do) that BG and BG2 were the best games ever. Since I never entered the mines or went really far, I just restarted a lot. The character I got the most far with was a F/M/C with proficiencies in flails but that used mace instead (I wasn't a smart kid), I don't know how far he went, but he was the one I played the most with. My complete playthrough of BG1 was with the EE however. I did a full run with a Cavalier of SoA-ToB, only one. I tried a lot of the classes, wanting to be abble to get all the strongholds. I only got the palladin, fighter and thief stronghold however, dropping most of the other builds before going far into the game.
I restart a lot in BG1, but i never restart in BG2, the reason is, i consider BG 1 and 2 to be the same game. I just can't play BG2 without playing BG1 with the same character so it means that when if i reach BG2 with a character, i like him enough to do BG2 and won't restart mid-way.
I've beaten BG1 with 2 characters recently, blade and wizard slayer, but the blade's missing one of my favorite spells from BGEE (Wraithform) and my wizard slayer.........well the party is taking longer to get together than I'd like and I got the entire idea for the character based around a very "late game" setup of AotU +5 and Crom Faeyr =/ Plus I can't even think to start DWing yet since I'm Axes +++++ and Warhammers ++ from BGEE.
Don't get me wrong: I have finished both BG1 and BG2+ToB. But not many times. The thing is though, that I played the second (since it's by far my most favorite) countless of times without finishing it.
Now, it's like a disease. I cannot finish it - chapters 2 and 3 of SoA is my favorites and I absolutely hate endings. Going to Suldanesselar is a clear sign of ending approaching because ToB is so short. So I have my blade at level 31 in Watcher's Keep and I'm already thinking about my next character. Then I leave the character and start a new one. I'm right next to Balthazar's monastery and I'm constantly thinking about other combinations of characters, mods, party organization. I just can't stop thinking.
I started yet again with some other mods to spice things up but I fear that I won't be able to finish it.
And the funny thing? I don't regret it in the slightest.
Do any of you have a similar pattern?
OMG, I did the same, I was to kick Balthazars butt , then realized I only have 3-4 big fights to credits so I made a new character.
I have this problem too. I usually have to force myself to finish a game. For many years I never finished baldur's gate but eventually I did. I usually stop playing when I reach an annoying part of the game, for example in BG 1 near the end it becomes very difficult to do side quests.
I think it helps if you play multiplayer and make 6 of your own characters. It reduces the number of choices you have to make in terms of which NPCs and in what order, and it also makes it so you don't feel like you are missing out since you get to experience 6 character builds.
Don't get me wrong: I have finished both BG1 and BG2+ToB. But not many times. The thing is though, that I played the second (since it's by far my most favorite) countless of times without finishing it.
Now, it's like a disease. I cannot finish it - chapters 2 and 3 of SoA is my favorites and I absolutely hate endings. Going to Suldanesselar is a clear sign of ending approaching because ToB is so short. So I have my blade at level 31 in Watcher's Keep and I'm already thinking about my next character. Then I leave the character and start a new one. I'm right next to Balthazar's monastery and I'm constantly thinking about other combinations of characters, mods, party organization. I just can't stop thinking.
I started yet again with some other mods to spice things up but I fear that I won't be able to finish it.
And the funny thing? I don't regret it in the slightest.
Do any of you have a similar pattern?
OMG, I did the same, I was to kick Balthazars butt , then realized I only have 3-4 big fights to credits so I made a new character.
Aw, but fights are the best part! I'm really looking forward to beating the stuffing out of everyone in ToB, though it won't be the same without Ascension. But I have to get through the Underdark first, and I'm seriously tempted to tell Adalon to shove it and just make a break for the surface.
I have this problem too. I usually have to force myself to finish a game. For many years I never finished baldur's gate but eventually I did.
I think it helps if you play multiplayer and make 6 of your own characters. It reduces the number of choices you have to make in terms of which NPCs and in what order, and it also makes it so you don't feel like you are missing out since you get to experience 6 character builds.
@ShadowTiger, I completely agree with that, except that if you min-max stats and classes on six custom characters, they overbalance the game to the point where it gets boring. The boredom is increased by the lack of dialogues and character story development.
I think so because I tried it once. But, I can totally see the six-member custom party as a solution for anyone who wants to play the BG Trilogy as though it were the same as Icewind Dale. It works, especially with the difficulty slider turned up, but it's not for everyone, and it takes away a lot of what is unique and lasting about BG.
One problem I'm noticing on my wizard slayer is simply the point/click nature of it. The amount of thought I put into a given fight on is "oh that person is a caster..............click" and send my entire party after the rest. I really wish that my main character had more to it.
I'm debating if I should start my blade (who's beaten BGEE and evil), pick my dwarven fighter/cleric in BGEE back up (especially since I'd do spellhold a LOT sooner since you get Imoen back at level 11, when the rest of my party was like 14 or 15), or doing an Elven or Human Fighter/Mage
My chronic restartitis is worse than ever. I started at the beginning of Christmas break with one run in BG2EE with a character that I imported from BGEE. I now have five runs going, three in BG2EE and two in BGEE. Sigh. I have never even been to the EE versions of Trademeet, Imnesvale, and Windspear Hills. Dorn and Rasaad? Who are they?
I've been restarting BG:EE repeatedly for the past year, getting no further than the Friendly Arm Inn every single time. Most of my time is spent creating characters and creating the portraits for them. I think I have a problem...
My chronic restartitis is worse than ever. I started at the beginning of Christmas break with one run in BG2EE with a character that I imported from BGEE. I now have five runs going, three in BG2EE and two in BGEE. Sigh. I have never even been to the EE versions of Trademeet, Imnesvale, and Windspear Hills. Dorn and Rasaad? Who are they?
Oh well, something to look forward to, I guess.
This is why I look at chronic restart-again-ism as a complimentary buff rather than a curse - I played the original BG2 with countless characters for almost a year and a half before finishing the game the first time and I'm talking about 20 + playhours a week more often than not (sometimes considerably more) - even today after dabbling with it on and off for over a decade there are still areas of the later game I am relatively unfamiliar with and thus portions of the game remain quite fresh and exciting for me even after all these years -
I see no downside to this - especially since I really enjoy the process of creating characters and themed parties regardless of how far into the game I take them before another bright idea takes me back to the drawing board.
I might dabble with a new party today just to honor this awesome tradition.. ;-)
I've finished a few games. Started more than a few (cough), but reading some comments here is making me feel a lot better Can't quite put my finger on why, but much more likely to finish 1 than 2. Maybe just simpler / easier to manage at a lower level as I'm not expert in using high level magic.
A period of about 6 years I would start up a game and just not even get past Beregost. It wasn't until these editions did I force myself past Beregost and then complete 2 games.
@ReadingRambo, LOL. I avoid that problem by deleting the "edited 001" save every time I save an edited game. There's no way you could remember what you Keepered in more than two or three of those, anyway. I never let my save list have more than about a dozen original saved runs or more than one or two Keepered "editied" saves.
I also date them, either "Class January 2014", or "Charname January 2014", or "Charname 010514", if I need an exact date due to multiple rolls within a month. (01 - January, 05 - the fifth - 14 - 2014 equals "010514".)
Gone are the days where I finished countless BG runs. I rolled a dozen EE characters, 6 of them are stuck in limbo, 4 fighters type died of boredom from a severe point-and-click syndrome. Only 2 made it to the end game: One remained mortal, last seen in a less than a respectable company giving chase after Saemon Havarian, the other ascended to godhood, mainly to escape paying alimony to Aerie.
I do the same. After restarting several times with stalker /assassin Mage/cleric I finally decided on a fighter/mage/theif so i can do a bit of everything myself. Hope this will keep me rerolling again and again
Comments
I did a full run with a Cavalier of SoA-ToB, only one. I tried a lot of the classes, wanting to be abble to get all the strongholds. I only got the palladin, fighter and thief stronghold however, dropping most of the other builds before going far into the game.
I've beaten BG1 with 2 characters recently, blade and wizard slayer, but the blade's missing one of my favorite spells from BGEE (Wraithform) and my wizard slayer.........well the party is taking longer to get together than I'd like and I got the entire idea for the character based around a very "late game" setup of AotU +5 and Crom Faeyr =/ Plus I can't even think to start DWing yet since I'm Axes +++++ and Warhammers ++ from BGEE.
Thank god for bards!!!!
I think it helps if you play multiplayer and make 6 of your own characters. It reduces the number of choices you have to make in terms of which NPCs and in what order, and it also makes it so you don't feel like you are missing out since you get to experience 6 character builds.
I think so because I tried it once. But, I can totally see the six-member custom party as a solution for anyone who wants to play the BG Trilogy as though it were the same as Icewind Dale. It works, especially with the difficulty slider turned up, but it's not for everyone, and it takes away a lot of what is unique and lasting about BG.
I'm debating if I should start my blade (who's beaten BGEE and evil), pick my dwarven fighter/cleric in BGEE back up (especially since I'd do spellhold a LOT sooner since you get Imoen back at level 11, when the rest of my party was like 14 or 15), or doing an Elven or Human Fighter/Mage
Oh well, something to look forward to, I guess.
I see no downside to this - especially since I really enjoy the process of creating characters and themed parties regardless of how far into the game I take them before another bright idea takes me back to the drawing board.
I might dabble with a new party today just to honor this awesome tradition.. ;-)
Can't quite put my finger on why, but much more likely to finish 1 than 2. Maybe just simpler / easier to manage at a lower level as I'm not expert in using high level magic.
I also date them, either "Class January 2014", or "Charname January 2014", or "Charname 010514", if I need an exact date due to multiple rolls within a month. (01 - January, 05 - the fifth - 14 - 2014 equals "010514".)