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[Musashi Wins!]

I'm about to start playing Baldur's Gate II and it came with the Throne of Bhaal expansion. I loaded both on. Starting my game it asks if I want to play SoA with the new dungeon, or start ToB with all new areas, etc. My question is...if I play ToB will it take me through the whole story such as it is? Do I need to complete SoA and then play ToB?

I bought this and a bunch of cheap pc games from Gamestop and though the price is right the documentation is nill and none beyond installation.

Many thanks.

 

[Brandon F]

Think you need to start SoA to get the full adventure. The game will automatically continue right into ToB though once you finish that.

If you select ToB you start at the expansion, but it's worthwhile playing SoA first.

Oh and feel free to ask any questions, I really enjoyed playing through this game a few summers back. Don't feel too overwhelmed when you reach Chapter 2.

 

[CoolTrick]

You absolutely want to play through SoA first!

 

[flarkminator]

Oh man, I envy you, first time through SoA...so awesome....

 

[Animal]

call me an idiot but i have had BGII:SoA since a week after release and i have never been able to get into it. I wasnt feeling the fighting system.

 

[teiresias]

I've never beaten the game either - in fact I've never gotten past Chapter 2 since I was anal about trying to do as many sidequests as possible. I can deal with the battle system, it's just that they didn't improve the characters' path-finding algorithms any at all, and then they go and place most of the game in these city landscapes that only excaserbate the issues concerned with the pathfinding.

 

[flarkminator]

the story makes up for all its shortcomings =(

 

[capitalCORN]

Shortcomings my ass. The combat system was the reason to play this game (Roll a fucking sorcerer! TIMESTOP!). To the OPer, Get a rogue stone and go to the bridge district. Click on every door you find to get phat lewt!

 

[flarkminator]

God I miss that miniature giant space hamster. BOO 4 LIFE

 

[mrpeabody]

As for missing manuals, look for pdfs on the cds. Not the same as having a bound manual, especially for a game as detailed as BG2, but better than nothing.

 

[Vieo]

I really enjoyed the Baldur's Gate series. Neverwinter Nights was a real let down storywise though. =(

 

[Musashi Wins!]

As for missing manuals, look for pdfs on the cds. Not the same as having a bound manual, especially for a game as detailed as BG2, but better than nothing.

Thanks, you are right. The pack was on sale for $9.99 a little while ago so it was well worth foregoing the manual.

 

[flarkminator]

I really enjoyed the Baldur's Gate series. Neverwinter Nights was a real let down storywise though. =(

Neverwinter Nights was never really about the single player though. It was all about the power it gave your DM. I know that doesn't make up for the lack luster story, but...I dunno it was still pretty cool.

 

[Animal]

Shortcomings my ass. The combat system was the reason to play this game (Roll a fucking sorcerer! TIMESTOP!). To the OPer, Get a rogue stone and go to the bridge district. Click on every door you find to get phat lewt!

man that is exactly what turned me off and the characters don;t always listen to what you tell them to do...really frustrating. I wish i loved it so i can play it through but i just can't.

 

[kevm3]

Man I loved that game.

 

[Spruce Moose]

SoA is one of my all time favs. The expansion is good too, but it goes overboard with the magic. It seemed like every second enemy was a lich that cast timestop. grr...

 

[Date of Lies]

SoA is one of my all time favs. The expansion is good too, but it goes overboard with the magic. It seemed like every second enemy was a lich that cast timestop. grr...

it goes overboard with fucking everything


extremely good items, overpowered skills (Equip All??), overexagerated story...


the only REALLY cool thing about the expansion was Serevok joining your team.

 

[Sinatar]

...the characters don;t always listen to what you tell them to do...really frustrating.

Huh? They follow any order you give to the letter assuming they haven't been hit with charm or some other mind control debuff.

 

[mrpeabody]

Huh? They follow any order you give to the letter assuming they haven't been hit with charm or some other mind control debuff.

And you turn off their AI, which you pretty much always want to do.

 

[pilonv1]

I don't see how any person could be put off by the BG combat system. It's almost perfect and gave you incredible amounts of freedom.

BG was such an awesome series too, it's a shame there hasn't been anything similar to it quality wise in years. I desperately wanted to like Pools of Radiance, Temple of Elemental Evil and Lionheart but they just weren't the same.

 

[Animal]

I guess its time for another probably doomed attempt at getting into this game.

 

[Squirrel Killer]

I guess its time for another probably doomed attempt at getting into this game.

I have yet to play BG2, but I'll assume that the same thing the kept me from getting into BG1 and IWD is still present in BG2. Get a missle weapon ASAP. Melee ends up getting the snot beat out your character faster than you can stuff the snot back in. Missles give you a fighting chance to avoid damage.

 

[ToxicAdam]

I would have liked BGII alot better if it was a true turn-based (ala Gold Box SSI) system.

NWN was really hampered by the lack of party play (SP) besides the non-existent story. i would have enjoyed the game more if it didn't allow you to cheat (by using the teleport feature whenever you wanted to).

 

[Brandon F]

Have none of you played the NWN expansions? Horde of the Underdark was a very solid RPG, and likely the last truly great D&D adventure on the platform. The first expansion was pretty solid as well particularly in comparison to the original campaign.