BG1EE vs BG2EE what are the differences gameplay wise (exccluding story)
Mercilec
Member Posts: 55
I know i know... another guy asking this question 
So as the title says how they differ gameplay wise? which has better AI, monsters' design, more diverse itemisation, areas' design etc.
For example i like when games give me options for build diversity in classes/characters. Either via items, skills or whatever.
I also like more realistic approach to games.
Then comes mods that probably add everything that lets say that BG1EE could be missing? sooo, why play BG1EE and not go straight to BG2EE? (excluding the storyline!). Is the storyline the only thing that really differentiates them?
Plz as honest as it gets!
Thank you!
So as the title says how they differ gameplay wise? which has better AI, monsters' design, more diverse itemisation, areas' design etc.
For example i like when games give me options for build diversity in classes/characters. Either via items, skills or whatever.
I also like more realistic approach to games.
Then comes mods that probably add everything that lets say that BG1EE could be missing? sooo, why play BG1EE and not go straight to BG2EE? (excluding the storyline!). Is the storyline the only thing that really differentiates them?
Plz as honest as it gets!
Thank you!
0
Comments
1. Power level, your party has far fewer abilities and powers in BG1 - such that it results in a pretty different "feel" to the gameplay, low level vs high level gameplay.
2. Setting: BG1's setting is a lot more rural, whereas BG2 tends to be much more urban or high fantasy - you'll visit all sorts of strange and unique places in BG2, whereas in BG1 you'll mostly be in forests, small towns, etc.
3. NPCs, the NPCs in bg1 are more diverse and plentiful than BG2, but they say at a lot less - this disturbs some younger gamers, but some are a fan of less-is-more NPCs lol.
4. Items, due to power level, you'll find many unique items in BG1, but you'll find truly legendary stuff in BG2.
I happen to prefer BG1 because I like low-level gameplay more than high level gameplay in D&D.
In BG1, battles are much more straightforward and can generally can be resolved with a "might makes right" mindset. Generally speaking, you buff up and send your party in to wreck your opponent before they can wreck you. There is some strategy involved (you should ALWAYS aim to eliminate enemy spellcasters first, for example), but because you lack access to some of the more intricate spells, there isn't a whole lot you can do besides focus specific targets. On one hand, this makes the battles easier to understand and far less dependent on proper spell loadout to succeed. On the flip-side, because your characters are weaker and don't have access to much in regard to equipment (most enchanted weapons and armor are just flat damage & THAC0/AC bonuses with no special attributes), you are left to the mercy of the DnD roll system far more often than in BG2. There are numerous battles in BG1 where you either have a very specific party comp/preparation strategy, or you essentially keep resetting until things go your way. Getting screwed by a roll of the D20 is a regular occurrence. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, as it's probably the closer interpretation of an actual DnD game between the two parts of the saga, but it is the reality of BG1.
BG2 on the other hand gives you a much stronger party with better tools at its disposal. The game assumes you know how to use these tools and as a result, pulls no punches when it comes to enemy tactics. Everyone has combat protections. Everyone has magic resistance/spell protections. And every mage, cleric, and druid has a whole litany of nasty spells and strategies designed to ruin your day. This means that going into BG2 expecting to win fights the way you did in its predecessor will lead you to nothing but frustration. I initially quit my first run of BG2:EE because I didn't know how to "mage battle" as they say, which turned every battle with a spellcaster present (which is basically every fight in the game) into a miserable, chaotic slog. However, once you understand the multitude of more advanced spells and strategies BG2 introduces, you'll find that BG2 is far more tactical than BG1. Yes, everything is still tied to a dice roll. However, stronger characters with higher HP and lower THAC0 make landing hits easier and receiving them less fatal. There is also a lot more variety in equipment, with pieces providing special effects in addition to basic bonuses. Couple that with access to a whole slew of essential spells and you've got a game whose combat encounters involve a lot of play and counter-play. Yes, the game is much more dependent on proper spell preparation and knowledge of more advanced systems to succeed. But in exchange, you have much more control of the battle. You don't feel like you're at the mercy of Lady Luck as often. This is why I personally prefer BG2's system of combat.
Other than that, the only major differences I can think of are exploration and approach to Character NPCs.
BG1 has a world that is more or less open from the start, allowing you to essentially pick a direction and go with the exception of a few key areas. BG2 is more linear with most of its maps being tied to specific story quests. Hell, most of the locations on the map aren't accessible until you have a quest that requires you to go there.
As for characters, BG1 has A LOT of them, allowing for numerous party combinations. However, most of the characters are pretty shallow. They have some personality, but there are very few personal quests associated with them and not a lot in the way of character depth either. There are also a lot of "paired companions" that force you to take both a chosen character and their companion, whether you want them both or not. This was done away with in the sequel. BG2 has far fewer potential companions, but each of them is more developed than any of their BG1 counterparts with deep back stories, motivations, side-quests and more.
Bg1 is simpler, for example the difference between a gnoll and an ogre is minimal and superficial. A good tank and/or sleep spell will ko both. In bg2, facing a vampire, umber hulk, mind flayer, beholder, lich, dragon etc. they all require different methods and strategies to survive. In general you need to rely on magic a lot more in bg2. A perfectly rolled fighter can steamroll bg1 with some healing potions. In bg2 the fighter needs ample magical protection (items or spells) to survive, and some spells are mandatory for battles to defeat high level mage enemies, of which there are plenty in bg2. And I mean HIGH level, Davaeorn or even Semaj are rank ameteurs when compared to the mage enemies in bg2.
Nowadays I start purely in bg2. BG1 is a very good game, it is worth a playthrough, or two, or three, no doubt, but I always keep coming back for more bg2.
In BG1 you can get Daryl and Daryl's autograph. This would never happen in BG2.
The game starts with you at level 1 and reflects completely what that actually means, anything can kill you. Now you are free to be an idiot/unlucky and get killed, but you also have the freedom to work your way around that happening.
How you approach the game is up to the player, will you learn from your mistakes or will you give up.
The main plot is secondary in early BG, just staying alive is challenging. Just like it would be in real life. And although there is less variation in areas/monsters/items, the variety is provided by not actually being able to kill much straightforwardly so you have to vary the approach depending on encounter.
So for instance, one group of Hobglobins might look much the same as another, but you will find that one group has far more ability to poison you or adds an ogre. So the previous straightforward fight becomes much more complicated. Have you got enough antidotes/slow poison, can you get to poisoned NPC's quick enough to cure them, can you keep out of the way of the ogre ect.
Both BG and BG2 have "sweet spots" where the level you have reached perfectly matches the encounters you have to face. And at those "sweet spots", they can beat each other in terms of rewarding gameplay.