Hello everyone! New to the Baldur's gate here.
DawgSlaya
Member Posts: 2
Hello everyone, let me start by introducing myself a little.
Unfortunately, I was a little young when Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale games first came out, so I didn't really get into them the first time around. (I was about 8 at the time)
Some years after that, I got introduced to D&D from friends in my church. We played following a loose set of 3.5 rules.
I was excited when Neverwinter Nights 2 came out and I enjoyed it very much, despite all the hate it got, it was the only D&D game I've played.
I was reluctant to pick up the older games as they follow older rule sets, but after some convincing from friends, I decided to start playing Baldur's Gate Enhanced Editions. I'm sure the older rules shouldn't be that much of an inconvenience.
So I have 2 questions
1. Is there anything I should know/What should I expect coming into this game having only known 3.5 (and half a campaign worth of 4.0) rules?
2. Are there any must-get mods that everyone have, that make the game a lot better?
I thank you for your responses, and I look forward to reading your/sharing my game experiences.
Unfortunately, I was a little young when Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale games first came out, so I didn't really get into them the first time around. (I was about 8 at the time)
Some years after that, I got introduced to D&D from friends in my church. We played following a loose set of 3.5 rules.
I was excited when Neverwinter Nights 2 came out and I enjoyed it very much, despite all the hate it got, it was the only D&D game I've played.
I was reluctant to pick up the older games as they follow older rule sets, but after some convincing from friends, I decided to start playing Baldur's Gate Enhanced Editions. I'm sure the older rules shouldn't be that much of an inconvenience.
So I have 2 questions
1. Is there anything I should know/What should I expect coming into this game having only known 3.5 (and half a campaign worth of 4.0) rules?
2. Are there any must-get mods that everyone have, that make the game a lot better?
I thank you for your responses, and I look forward to reading your/sharing my game experiences.
5
Comments
Concerning your questions:
1) the rules are quite a bit different, negative AC is better, for instance. If you have any doubt feel free to post in the forums.
2) Yes, both for BG1 and BG2. But I really think you should play the games with no mods at least once to teach yourself the game if nothing else.
2) On first run i just recommend Unfinished Business for BG2EE (i don't know if there is compatible version for EE because Czech version (I am from czech republic, so if there are mods in czech i use them) was converted by one Czech modder.
as for the rules @meagloth sum the basic of them in another thread and I thought it gonna help you too so I hope it will. As for mods there are good mods out there but the other are right, it better to play the first run of the game as it is so you can feel it as free as possible.
@irendie just so you know Unfinished Business for BG2EE is compatible
Also expect to die often because the games to newbies can be brutal.
You cannot expect to win if you set everyone to AI and do a few stuff. You need to micromanage your party and do everything to succeed.
Generally, don't underestimate it. If you're not careful, it will kick your ass and frustrate you.
But if you take the time to learn, you will feel awesome when you outsmart with tactics and careful spell placements the encounters.
Play carefully, save often, take the time to learn the rules and you will succeed.
Just charge in and expect to win, you will fail again and again.
Quick save a lot and pause even when you don't think you need to. Getting the right target focused in the quickest amount of time is crucial in these games. I prefer the non enhanced edition since you can increase play speed by upping the FPS.
SpellholdStudios.net is a great mod site that is still very active. Also probably the main reason you are even playing enhanced editions of Baldur's Gate is because they kept the community alive.
I'd start with vanilla BG.
Enjoy!
Older rules, are arguably better. First of all, you roll dice for getting closer to the perfect stats! You can mostly use charisma as a dump stat, and max (18 or more, if another race has +bonus to a stat) ALL other major (or complimentary) stats of your class. Which means you can build for characters the powerhouses of your dreams! Then, it is the thing about negative AC bonus. The less you have, the better it is for you. Also, the spells (and arcane spellcasters) are very effective, efficient and even exploitable, to give you a very easy time throughout the games. Keep in mind that certain class combinations are very overpowered, and are ideal for solo runs, or a group protagonist. Fighter (or kit) dual to mage, for example, or Ranger (or kit) dual to cleric. And don't forget that dangerous fighter/thief. 1) Icewind Dale 1 is ideal for MULTICLASSING, because it allows you reach maximum level in EACH AND EVERY class (30). 2) Baldur's Gate Saga is ideal for DUAL CLASSING, because you can start your career as a warrior, or even better, a kit, get all HP, weapon proficiency, extra attacks and saving throw bonuses, and then happily dual to a caster at the right level. Dual classing is preferred, because unlike multiclasses, you can choose a kit for initial class, and here, you are NOT allowed to hit max level for all multiclass classes. 3) Some iconic class combos, for making your life easier, are: a) Berserker -> Mage, Berserker -> Cleric, Berserker -> Druid, Kensai or Wizardslayer -> Thief, Cleric -> Ranger, and others. Don't pay heed to that Kensai -> Mage, because in late game you find a certain pair of wonderful gauntlets, it would be a waste being unable to wear them. And, berserker immunities are better anyway, combined with the fact they can wear armor (certain endgame elven chain, ideal for fighter/mages), if they wish. Best level for dual is 13, because there you get an extra half attack as warrior. You can also dual at 9, if you have trouble getting much xp, but keep in mind that most kits (like berserker and kensai) get larger bonuses if you bother getting them all the way to 13. About casters, mages need to hit 28, clerics/druids 38, in order for you to get the maximum number of castable spells. And keep in mind, ranger cleric dual or multiclass, unlocks both cleric and druid spell pool. So it is generally much more preferred making a single ranger to cleric, rather than keep 1 cleric and 1 druid (or variations of them).
You are better of starting with the originals. BG1 had different rules. Most of them, made your life much easier. Some examples are: 1) Spells that summon monsters, spawn a good number of them, which depends on rolled dice. 2) Spells that cause fear/confusion/hold, last longer and are resisted with more difficulty. 3) Weapon categories are great; you invest some points into a single category, but the result is mastery in a vast selection of many different weapons! 4) There are many "errors" that you can use for making your life easier, such as equipping the boots of speed, and a ring of free action, they stuck together. Or equip a twin ring of wizardry (two of them simultaneously (level 1 spells in first game are very useful and powerful, this is grand). Or begin your game by killing the npc named Firebead Elvenhair inside the inn of Winthrop (first game area) and start your adventure at level 2-3. 5) In 2, you can use spells like simulacrum and projected image to clone your character some copies of him/herself; imagine it being a caster, and his copies start firing those damaging spells or summons... 6) The enhanced editions are full of bugs themselves, and unfortunately not only the bad old ones. And they focus themselves towards the MMO pattern; which is giving priority to balance and nerfing of whatever works well, or to be precise, TOO well to be considered intentional, and bugs come second, if they ever come at all. 7) The originals have been revamped; the GoG version of them, for example, works really stable and smoothly. Also, if you bother to install some mods, you can actually turn the originals into something almost identical to the enhanced editions, yourself! But keep in mind that mods, generally, can cause problems, and most mods are concerned themselves also with balance, nerfing, and that sort of thing.
Don't forget to check thoroughly Icewind Dale 1, also! It is really good.