I am about to be done with the game. What should be next? Suggestions, please.
foma_mgppu
Member Posts: 115
I am considering the Black Pits or BG:EE2
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Despite frustrating fights, and general repeatability it really has some well written story..
..and if goes about BP or BG2:EE - then Black Pits I assume
@Rodrian Good point. I was thinking about IWD too...
The Black Pits is a completely separate story, unrelated to the story of the main character who leaves Candlekeep at the start of the game. While you can run your character through both, it will feel a little disjointed, and again you will have a character too-well developed for one of the games. Exploring the games with overpowered characters can be fun, but I do not recommend it for your first play through.
If you are looking for the idea of what game to play next, rather than how to continue playing the same character, my advice is still the same - BG2EE is a great game, especially when played as a continuation of the first. However, I would not rule out starting up a brand new party-of-six if you want to try the Black Pits, or trying one of the more recent games in a similar style, recommend by others on this thread.
@Twenty Yeah, I have it in my Steam library sitting long ago since Divinity: Original Sin first came out. Never had the chance to try it, though. I probably will @ some point, cause I am really interested in it.
@GreenWarlock It is indeed my first playthrough of BG1, let alone all of the add-ons to it. I've played BG since it first came out in late 90s several times, but never got past the city of BG. So, what I originally planned taking on BG:EE is a full play through with a same char if not ALL games on D&D (Like Demon Stome, Temple of elemental Evil etc.), but, at least classics like BG1,2; IWD1,2:NWN1,2. I just can not settle as how and in what order do BG:EE, Black pits, BG2:EE and whether I shoud wait for Siege of Dragonspear or no.
As for owerpowered characters, I am a completionist by nature and I've left no stone unturned in BG:EE (I am almost through) I have CharName, F8; Khalid, F8; Branwen, Cl 8; Jaheira F7, D9; Imoen Th10; Neera, M9, I've screwed up couple of times, exp wise (like letting Drizzt live out of RPG reasons), but I've tried really hard not to miss any exp. So it is OK if my party be a bit OP when I start BG2:EE.
And, yes, I know my PC and party are lame, but it's the first time (almost), so come on.
Myself, I would probably want to complete the story of the child of Bhaal and just straight into BG2, although if you want to jump out and play another story, many of the other games you list are stand-alone, tell their own story (no import), and very different experiences. I really enjoyed NWN2, which is another full-party experience with bit more detail in the characters that join you. Neverwinter Nights before it was mostly a tool-set with a basic campaign to show show what might be possible. Perhaps a little harsh, but the real value in that game is the huge world of community mods. Unlike the modding community that grew around Balder's Gate, which was an enthusiastic hack on someone else's product, NWN was designed and advertised from day 1 to host community content, so really is an integral part of the experience.
For best guidance on what to try next, what are the things you most enjoyed about BG? BG2 really improves on many of the aspects of the first game, and brings much more fleshed out stories for the NPCs. In BGEE you get a flavor of that with the 3 Beamdog NPCs, Neera, Dorn, and Rasaad. Black Pits focuses almost entirely on game mechanics and combat, and becomes more interesting in Black Pits 2 (which I am yet to complete) which has much more interesting fights, and tells more of a story. You can easily finish the first Black Pits in a day though, less once you have played it a few times.
Ice Wind Dale is another good game if you liked the game mechanics of BG, but were frustrated at playing someone else's party rather than designing your own. NWN series are good if you want to play with the 3rd edition set of rules, and a more 'modern' 3rd person perspective on the game - although consensus seems to be that the graphics did not age anywhere near as well as the BG series, as the early days of 3d graphics were much more primitive than the lush world of pre-tendedered 2d art.
If you want to immerse yourself in a rich story, with expansive text descriptions of the world around you contributing as much (if not more) to the story as the BG-style visuals and game engine, pick up a copy of Planescape: Torment from GoG. My mistake with this game was thinking it was treating it exactly like a BG sequel, when in fact the game mechanics take a back seat to telling a much more interesting story - come for the story, and don't worry as much about the stats-gaming (which is still fun, but the wrong focus to 'get' the game).
You could always jump back to the classic gold-box series if you wanted to try turn-based (no pseudo-real time) 1st edition gameplay, straight out of the 80s!
And if you want a modern interpretation of the party-based isometric party game, Pillars of Eternity gets great reviews (not played it myself).
Firstly about the XP cap. For this playthrough I set it to 500.000 for each class, so, I would not miss any EXP that otherwise just goes to waste in my opinion. 161.000 just is not enough for me.
Then about the games themselves.
I played BG2 back in the days, and completed it. In ToB I was stuck at some dragon near the end and rage qiut
I also completed the first NWN and liked it VERY much. I messed a little with some of the first add-on and never laid my hands on the second one. NWN2 I played just the tutorial and little bit after. Killed some monsters in a fortress or temple in the swamps.
About IWD I am not totally shure. I completed the first one for sure and the Heart of Winter add-on. Second add-on went past me and IWD2 I do not recall of completing.
Planescape: Torment I almost completed, but somehow messed up my char and rage quit because of this (got the bad "perk" or whatever, don't remember clearly. Blood tear or blood-something. There was like a fork in how your PC would progress depending of what you've done in the game. I am not shure, it eludes my mind.)
My thoughts and feels about all those games are as follows:
BG1,2: Nice combination of interesting storytelling and fights. Fights are not as hard in BG1 tjan they are in BG2.
NWN1: Good all around. Little rough on the edges with its story, but OK.
IWD: MASSIVELY combat heavy, not so much for the story, but not bad with it nonetheless.
Planescape: Torment: OVERWHELMINLY and breathtakingly gorgeous setting and story. As you mentioned not so heavy on char stats or loot, but it is not needed. Very nice PC development idea, though, when you are starting without any particular class (or, more accurately you start as a fighter, and can do whatever afterwards). I definately would be replaying Plabescape: Torment, because when I played it I was not so good at English (not that I am very good at it now, that is
What do I want after all? I'd probably go with BG2EE after BG1EE, maybe take my PC into the Black Pits. Then, I presume IWD1EE,2 and then... I do not know. I'll write here and ask in a couple of years by then
EDIT: For Pillars of Eternity I am eager to try it, but as with other probably 200+ good games on Steam and GOG it would be some time from now when I try them. Ahh, that stupid, stupid damn-ass job, that we HAVE to do. I'd be much happier if I was paid for playing computer games at my leisure.
If you like character interactions, IWDNPC gives IWDEE a more BG-like feel.
EDIT: Wrong! My party are nearing 200.000 exp a piece now, and I am not through Durlag's Tower yet. There are some werewolves and Balduran-something IIRC. So, that's why I did so.
@shaldon I am thinking of doing a solo run after this one too
@AstroBryGuy Actually, I am not very fond of party-chatter. It is ok in small doses, but it is disturbing when your party does not know when to shut up. Other NPC are excluded, of course. I love to chat with a bystander. Or with a cow, or a squirell. Does not matter. I mean in games, not IRL.