Neera, Dorn and Rasaad slot seamlessly into the game.
Especially Neera. She really fits seamlessly into the whole European Middle-Ages D&D trope...
Oh yeah, nothing says European Middle Ages like plumbing, sewers, steampunk mage labs, women holding political office, Japan, genies, Hindu demons, pirates, etc...
Totally popular opinion: Forgotten Realms needs to be purged for violating historical events, records and mythologies. The gorgon sisters already filed a lawsuit, for the D&D cow monster known gorgon inflicts them with inmesurable psychological pain. Not to mentioning the harassment they receive when other entities from ancient Greek call them bovinae themed slurs.
Hold on, by saying that, am I now implying that Jan isn't popular because of the thread title? I guess I should say that Jan sucks in order to imply that Jan sucking is an unpopular opinion? I'm so confused... ?
Edit: I was going to like that comment, but by doing that am I liking that gnomes are the best, or am I really liking that gnomes are the worst? I can't agree with it either because what am I agreeing with? I think I now know how to make a Vulcan's head explode!
When you like someone's opinion or contribution it does not immediately mean that you share that as well. You can simply like a person's enthusiasm for example.
Minsc, Edwin and Jan Jansen never stop being funny.
I'm going to have to disagree with you on Jan. A lot of people actually find him annoying.
I can't reply. I'm allergic!
..
Well, all right. I'm not THAT allergic.
Glad to hear my opinion is unpopular. Lots of people hate Minsc and Edwin too, I hope.
Your opinion isn't even unpopular or close to being unpopular. Minsc is literally the poster boy of Baldur's Gate, everyone loves him. He's the face of Baldur's Gate (love Minsc). Edwin, sure people hate him but he's also one of the most liked party members and he's also the best mage in the game.
I've never actually taken Edwin past the bandit camp, I find him that distasteful. Baeloth might be more evil but he's still got that veneer of entertaining newness on top of his misfortunes being entirely his own fault.
I've never actually taken Edwin past the bandit camp, I find him that distasteful. Baeloth might be more evil but he's still got that veneer of entertaining newness on top of his misfortunes being entirely his own fault.
In general I prefer Sorcerers to Mages. They're lower maintenance, and you don't need to constantly save up money to fill up their spellbooks.
My party composition for my latest complete run - full clear with SCS/Ascension, insane difficulty:
- Fighter/thief (protagonist)
- Fighter (Mazzy)
- Berserker (Korgan)
- Inquisitor (Keldorn)
- Sun Soul Monk (Rasaad)
- Blade (Haer'Dalis - and he never memorized spells)
No, you don't need clerics, druids, or even any sort of spellcasting to kill things and stay alive.
Granted, some party concepts do require the magic. My current run is all about killing with fire, and that means I need spellcasters to deliver the fire and magic to protect the party. I had an Avenger in salamander form as part of my BG1 front line, for example. And in BG2, all six long-term party members have spell slots (a mage, a sorcerer, two druids, a cleric, a paladin)
I think my last playthrough of the entire saga has ended up making Neera my favourite Love Interest party member. I can expand if you want, but right now I have other things to worry about.
That is interesting @HalfOrcBeastmaster . I usually avoid Neera except for her quests because I dislike Wild Mage uncertainty, but I found her ok otherwise. I am finishing BG and about to go into SOD and then BG2 (if I survive!) and am thinking whom to romance, preferably someone different this time.
I usually go with Viconia as I like her story arc, although I really liked the Jahiera romance also. I am thinking Aerie because I run a small party and she is versatile and have never romanced her. But maybe Neera also is an option! Care to elaborate?
I dont like the current weapon specialization rules.
Also dont like the enchantment level to hit rules.
Aaand i really hate protection magical weapon spell
Glint Gardnersonson is the best gnome in these games. And not just that, I actually like him. I find Jan Jansen terribly annoying (as I have mentioned before in this thread) and only took him along once to read through all his exhausting and admittedly occasionally hilarious dialogue, but I really like Glint. He's quite hyper and cleric/thief is a rather odd combination, but he's useful and somehow I can't find his cheerfulness annoying, it makes me smile.
I'm mentioning this because I've read sooooo many posts saying people loved the exploration in BG1 and were disappointed with the supposedly more railroaded BG2.
I just don't understand it. The vaunted exploration in BG1 is terribly overrated and many people view the game with very rose colored glasses. I like the quests around Nashkel, Beregost, Cloakwood and the fishing village, but with very few exceptions (Mutamin's Garden, Shipwreck's Coast, Archaeological Site, Red Canyons, Ulcaster) the rest of the wilderness areas are completely boring visually, storytelling-wise and gamplay-wise. That includes Gullykin and Firewine Bridge, which could have been so much better. The Lighthouse is a nice visual change, but the gameplay there is terrible too.
The only reason to visit any of the other areas is to grind XP if necessary. It's such a waste of time.
I can see how that stuff would be nice for a tabletop DnD campaign, and it's arguably more "realistic" than Athkatla being stuffed full of magic everywhere, but it doesn't translate well to a computer game. This stuff may have been nice when the game was released, but to still hold it up as objectively good today makes no sense whatsoever.
I also don't think some of the shitting on later Bioware games and the EEs is justified when it holding up BG1 specifically at the standard. There are all kinds of silly and light-hearted dialogues, as well as jarring fourth wall breaking and real life references/in-jokes. But those are seemingly never criticized. Rose colored glasses again.
I wholeheartedly agree with you, with the reservation that I like the more pastoral setting of BG1 compared to the more cosmopolitan setting of BG2. That and I'm a sucker for low-level adventures.
@SBlack Well that's certainly an unpopular opinion.
With mods some of the areas are even better.
If you are wanting boring areas however some mods such as "The Secret of Bonehill" have vast areas with nothing of interest. That mod is in serious need of some additions in the empty areas.
Comments
Oh yeah, nothing says European Middle Ages like plumbing, sewers, steampunk mage labs, women holding political office, Japan, genies, Hindu demons, pirates, etc...
If you give him one of the strength belts, he can wield Carsomyr. At least he could before the EE, I don't know if he can now.
Wait, how is that unpopular? Jan Jansen rocks!
Hold on, by saying that, am I now implying that Jan isn't popular because of the thread title? I guess I should say that Jan sucks in order to imply that Jan sucking is an unpopular opinion? I'm so confused... ?
Edit: I was going to like that comment, but by doing that am I liking that gnomes are the best, or am I really liking that gnomes are the worst? I can't agree with it either because what am I agreeing with? I think I now know how to make a Vulcan's head explode!
Liking someone's enthusiasm, ugh. I'm sure we can all agree that that's an unpopular opinion
because grobnar might be the most annoying character i have ever seen in an rpg.
Not unpopular!!
I wouldn't say everyone... Ahem. @Me. Pfft.
In general I prefer Sorcerers to Mages. They're lower maintenance, and you don't need to constantly save up money to fill up their spellbooks.
Thieves are largely unnecessary outside of Durlag's Tower.
You don't need a cleric or a druid, ever.
The best class is a fighter.
Can I get an 'Amen' on this?!
- Fighter/thief (protagonist)
- Fighter (Mazzy)
- Berserker (Korgan)
- Inquisitor (Keldorn)
- Sun Soul Monk (Rasaad)
- Blade (Haer'Dalis - and he never memorized spells)
No, you don't need clerics, druids, or even any sort of spellcasting to kill things and stay alive.
Granted, some party concepts do require the magic. My current run is all about killing with fire, and that means I need spellcasters to deliver the fire and magic to protect the party. I had an Avenger in salamander form as part of my BG1 front line, for example. And in BG2, all six long-term party members have spell slots (a mage, a sorcerer, two druids, a cleric, a paladin)
I usually go with Viconia as I like her story arc, although I really liked the Jahiera romance also. I am thinking Aerie because I run a small party and she is versatile and have never romanced her. But maybe Neera also is an option! Care to elaborate?
Also dont like the enchantment level to hit rules.
Aaand i really hate protection magical weapon spell
Ranged weapons are at their best in Throne of Bhaal.
Monks are good from start to finish.
Unkitted thieves are great.
If you do the Kirinhale quest with a Good/Neutral party for that sweet 4K XP you are going to hell.
BG1 has a better story than BG2.
Specialist Mage (3-5) -> Fighter dual is the most powerful class.
I just don't understand it. The vaunted exploration in BG1 is terribly overrated and many people view the game with very rose colored glasses. I like the quests around Nashkel, Beregost, Cloakwood and the fishing village, but with very few exceptions (Mutamin's Garden, Shipwreck's Coast, Archaeological Site, Red Canyons, Ulcaster) the rest of the wilderness areas are completely boring visually, storytelling-wise and gamplay-wise. That includes Gullykin and Firewine Bridge, which could have been so much better. The Lighthouse is a nice visual change, but the gameplay there is terrible too.
The only reason to visit any of the other areas is to grind XP if necessary. It's such a waste of time.
I can see how that stuff would be nice for a tabletop DnD campaign, and it's arguably more "realistic" than Athkatla being stuffed full of magic everywhere, but it doesn't translate well to a computer game. This stuff may have been nice when the game was released, but to still hold it up as objectively good today makes no sense whatsoever.
I also don't think some of the shitting on later Bioware games and the EEs is justified when it holding up BG1 specifically at the standard. There are all kinds of silly and light-hearted dialogues, as well as jarring fourth wall breaking and real life references/in-jokes. But those are seemingly never criticized. Rose colored glasses again.
With mods some of the areas are even better.
If you are wanting boring areas however some mods such as "The Secret of Bonehill" have vast areas with nothing of interest. That mod is in serious need of some additions in the empty areas.