Baldur's Gate Series

[Magus]

Posted By: Magus Jul 28, 2004 - 06:05 am

Has anybody here played the Baldur's Gate series? It's an AD&D rpg game where you are the child of the god of murder. It's an awsome series, the best I've ever played. Excellent plotting, characters and graphics. I give it an A+. I also like how you can make custom parties. My first time through BG2 my party was entirely customized. My first time through BG2:TOB I hade Serevok and an entirely customized party. What do the rest of you think?


Posted By: Talon_Sinnah Jul 28, 2004 - 05:21 pm

Never played it but sounds as if I need to.


Posted By: Aldan Aug 01, 2004 - 11:44 pm

Yep. BG1, BG1:TotSC, BG2 & BG2:ToB. Lots of fun characters (I really liked Xan *grin*), a pretty solid storyline and method of moving the plot along, and I liked the world-affecting-yet-not way they did this...
I haven't tried any of the PS or Xbox BG games, though, since those just seem to be games created to milk the cash cow.


Posted By: Magus Aug 02, 2004 - 05:29 am

The only one I didn't play was TOTSC. I actually started playing SOA first. There I made a completely customized party of ll of my "heroes" from other games I've played. There was Shabel-Grah: the necromancer, Templara: the sorceres, Lord Brio: the fighter, Cheesor the Mad: the skald (bard) and I can't remember the other one. But the mc was not from any other game, he was made special just for this one. He was Jacatour: the half-orc kensai.

In TOB I completely restructered the party. Shabel-Grah duel classed into a cleric ondce he could cast level nine spells (built him up quickly by giving him experience at the first town). I don't remember this party so well (ie names) but I had a Cavelier (intelligence was 3 but all other stats were maxed), a cleric (very nice having two in one party, let me tell you), Reejo Reemer (a wild mage who I later traded for Sertido: my friend's mc, a monk), and I kept Jacatour and Shabel-Grah. The only NPC I brought into my party was Serevok and he was Awsome!

I played BG with a different mc. He was Magus, a fighter dueled later into a mage. My friend and I liked the idea of a mage with a fighter's stats. In there I gave way to using NPC's. I used Jahera, Khalid, Imoen, Xann and Kaigan. Next time I'll make another custom party for BG. It's always better with your own characters, I think. But NPC's do add something to the game.


Posted By: Magus Dec 20, 2004 - 09:43 am

My sister came home and started a new game for herself. She told me that she couldn't take burn it and take a copy to school because she'd get even less homework done then she does now. And she already stays up 'til 2 in the morning doing homework.


Posted By: Gnollslayer Jan 16, 2005 - 03:32 pm

I liked the games, and played through everything except Throne of Bhaal.

Icewind Dale used the same engine, and was almost as good. Icewind Dale II doesn't have enough story-line to keep me going.

Neverwinter Nights is also good, but the story takes too long to get going. And then it ends in a stupid way.


Posted By: Magus Jan 18, 2005 - 02:07 pm

Yeah, next game I get will be Icewind Dale. A friend of mine, another BG nut like me, said I'd like it.


Posted By: Aldan Jan 18, 2005 - 05:54 pm

Plus they have an expansion for ID1 as well as a second, smaller followup to that expansion... The expansion's called Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter, and the followup is called Trials of the Luremaster. You can probably find the Tales addition for free (that's how I got it), and I know that it requires Heart of Winter to be installed to use it...


Posted By: D.R. Jan 27, 2005 - 09:37 am

ya i ove the baldurs gate series, the game rocked. I liked BG2 a lil more, because there were a few dragons that you can fight. I loved my main character to, called him rick james, i ended up screwin around to much, kept havin to rick james townspeople and such (they eye balled me) so my paladin became super evil > haven't had a chance to finish the game after that.

You play the baldurs gate games that were on PS2, i played and beat both of those, i liked them very much and would advise you to play them if u haven't. But if i were to name one reason why i liked any baldurs gate game, its because they had they greatest fighter in each game, Drizzt! Respek!


Posted By: Magus Jan 27, 2005 - 06:03 pm

I don't have a PS2, so I guess I won't have the opportunity to play that version of the game.

I remember there was a glitch with my game where after I killed the silvery dragon in the Underdark I still coulnd't leave. I searched all over the place and it wasn't there. I went and looked it up online, flipped through a book at Game Stop and even consoled my friend who know the game even better then I do. It was just gone. And MAN did that suck!


Posted By: Baron Mar 18, 2005 - 03:12 am

Forgotten Realms rocks - from BG1-BG2 (inc expansions) to ID1/ID2 and Neverwinter Nights series - all are excellent and well worth a play by all fantasy lovers.


Posted By: Raining_Blood Mar 24, 2005 - 05:30 pm

neverwinter nights isnt very good for single player... at least with the default campaign.

i heard baldur's gate 3 is being developed.


Posted By: Magus Mar 24, 2005 - 05:57 pm



Nice!

[jimm2]

i can tell you really want this one to be continued...

[Magus]

It's by far the best game I've ever played. But, honestly, I'm a bit worried on how they can carry this storyline over to a new game. They seemed to do a good job finishing it off with the last game and giving it closure, considering that you're the only Bhaal-Spawn left.

Hmmm...

[aldan]

Personally, I have the feeling that they're going to use the area from BG 1 & 2, but will come up with a completely new storyline. It would be pretty tough to continue the original game... I mean, really there isn't much that would be tough to confront after a few more levels of ability for someone with the abilities of the Spawn...

[aldan]

By the way, have any of you created the "Big Metal Unit"? It's an easter egg in the BG series, made from keeping the Golden Pantaloons from the first game, then combining it with the Silver Pantaloons and the Copper Pantalets from BG2 (and maybe ToB, but not sure). I have heard about it, but don't know just what is created... but the name is sure funny, especially considering what clothing articles it's made from!!

[Magus]

I haven't myself, but Jimm2 has.

Most. Hilarious. Thing. Ever.

[Magus]

By the way, the other day I made a new game in Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn. It will be fun I think.

I again am doing this with an entirely custom made party. I already have three characters and the next three will most likely be a wild mage, a Priest of Talos (Or maybe Lathander) and either another pirest, another mage or a monk. I haven't entirely decided. But, so far, here is the party:

Lady Casandra: Undead Hunter (Paladin Kit)

Human

Lawful Good

Strength: 18/72

Dexterity 18

Constitution: 18

Intelligence: 7

Wisdom: 14

Charisma: 17



Cheesor Truesight: Archer (Ranger Kit)

Human

Lawful Neutral

Strength: 18/85

Dexterity 18

Constitution: 18

Intelligence: 10

Wisdom: 14

Charisma: 9



Bellemine Dragnus: Kensai (Fighter Kit)

Human

Lawful Neutral

Strength: 18/41

Dexterity 18

Constitution: 18

Intelligence: 11

Wisdom: 10

Charisma: 7



I'm planning on later duel classing Bell into a mage, maybe in Throne of Bhaal but maybe sooner. It'll depend on how well he does, as I've never before played a human Kensai. I doubt that I'll duel class Cheesor. And I have some interesting ideas that should be very funny, but liven up the beginning part of the game a bit. That beginning part is by far, my least favorite section of the game. Some of these ideas I have should help to alleviate that.

[Magus]

I started a new game in Baldur's Gate, which you can read the beginnings of in RPG characters. I have my main character, a Half-Orc Berserker, a human wild mage and an elf Priest of Talos, all of those custom made. Then I have Kelgorn Minsc and Jan Jansen, God that Gnome is awesome. I'm going to play through to Throne of Bhaal afterwards. I've been at this game for two days, not even counting today, and already I've gotten more then double the price I need to get help with Imoen. That's right, 40,000 gold!!! I've completed D'Arnise Keep, Windspear Hills, The Book of Kaza and the Circuis Tent. Right now I'm doing Jan's quest and then doing the Cult of the Sightless Eye followed by Umar Hills. Since Jan is now temporarily out of my party while I do his quest I'm going to recruit another. I think I'll look to Keldorn or maybe Edwin. I'll probably get Edwin if only to get the use of another Mage.

After I go through Shadows of Amn and throne of Bhaal I'm going to start one in the Original Baldur's Gate and carry it through to Throne of Bhaal, so... yeah, a long undertaking I know. But, unlike every other time I've played the game, my party will be entirely composed of NPC's the whole way through. THAT will be an interesting undertaking. Hopefully I can get over what Minsc did to me the first time I played BGI.

[aldan]

I'm curious as to what Minsc did to you... did you not go after the gnoll stronghold quickly enough for him?

I am also curious as to how you could set up a party in BG1 (oh, and do you have ToTSC?). I am finally rerunning the game and I'd like to be able to try it with a full unique party...

[Magus]

No, that's the thing. He was complaining so much that I decided, "Fine. I'll rescue stupid Dynaheir." And on my way I was waylaid by enemies and had to defend myself. My party suffered bitterly at their hands and nearly died. I couldn't rest there (Find an inn or rest outside), and so completed my journey to the stronghold, but not before I quick saved and then backed it up on my main save. Then the game autosaved.

So then I arrive AT the stronghold and Minsc yells at me for not doing his quest again and beserks on me and, in our weakened state, kills off the entire party. But I was AT the stronghold, DOING his quest!!! And so everygame was taken up with an enraged Minsc. Every time I moved anywhere he would beserk and kill of the party because I have NO chance to rest. And when I tried to kick him out he STILL killed me off. I seriously could NOT win and so had to abandon that game. And it was going really well too!



Want a unique experience for the game? Make a custom party in Multiplayer then move that game to single player, so as to avoid the annoying start-up procedures. You will miss out on character interaction within the party though. In that case you can do what I did for this time around in BGII, have half of your party custom made and the other half NPC's to allow for some banter between everyone.

Speaking of BGII, I was afraid I let Korgan go from my party and took up the ever annoying Anomen. I did it because I find that there is a certain type of party that I play especially well as; two front-line fighters, two cleric and two mages. And I found my healing powers lacking to my preference when I had only my Priestess of Talos aboard.

I don't know, he is rather annoying, yes? Do you think that maybe I should ditch him for Aerie? She would make an interesting one, being Mage/Cleric. What do you think?

[aldan]

To tell you the truth, I was without a computer for awhile and when that occurred, I'd barely started on BG2. Therefore, I don't know some of the NPCs that you're speaking of. I'm figuring that Aerie is one of the rare flying elves, but don't know...

[Magus]

Yeah, she is, but had her wings amputated. Korgan is an evil Dwarf Berserker... think along the lines of an even more antagonizing Minsc. And Jan Jansen... most hilarious Gnome Illusionist/thief black market turnip salesman you'll ever find.

Korgan actually is a much better fighter then Minsc. And I mean FAR better. But, from a role player perspective, he was the only evil person in my group and was on the out as my reputation was on the rise. I'll miss his skills but not his personality.

Maybe you should play Baldur's Gate II, it's the most awesome game I've ever played. And in Throne of Bhaal you can have Serevok join your party. He is by far the best NPC the game has ever made!

Actually, I would suppose that my priest of Talos is evil alligned... but she's also Red-Moon Yorkbladder's, my Bhaalspawn's, wife.



So I'd say that she has presedence over Korgan.