Baldurs Gate

[Snotnarok]

Alrighty, I feel a little selfish posting a topic about a game that I'm interested in buying but I've read reviews and watched some of a LP and I just don't know if I want to get Baldurs Gate, it and it's sequel are on sale on GoG.com and I'm on the fence here.

I've been playing Dragon Age Origins and I really do love that game so far and I'm told it's the spiritual successor to Baldurs Gate and the game is equally as good if not better. Now I'm not sure if these people are speaking through rose tinted glasses or what but I'd like some advice from the people since I figure people can give me a straight answer.

Edit: Added note, I've no interest in paper DnD and therefore have no insight in the rules of how it works in Baldurs Gate, if it's simple enough I'm for it but if I need a 3 week course in dice rules then tell me to pass on it haha.

Short version: Is Baldurs Gate 1 and 2 or just 2 since I hear you can mod it worth getting for 7 bucks each since I like Dragon Age Origins a lot and they're supposed to be similar.

Snotnaroks useless but mandatory added question: What do you put on your toast? Butter? Jam?

 

[maturin]

Mod it worth getting?

As if. No modern RPG can surpass those games, in my opinion.

 

[Irridium]

Buy it. Or buy both. They are truly great games. The graphics may be dated, but they're really, really, really good. 2 of the best RPG's I've ever played.

 

[Graevan]

Baldurs Gate is The Reason (please note capital letters) that I got into DnD, and then into roleplaying proper and is how I've come to become the GM that I am today with the friends I have today.
Without Baldurs Gate I probably would've become a friendless accountant.

You owe it to yourself to experience these classic games.

 

[Snotnarok]

I'm surely interested, graphics don't bug me I still play Genesis and NES games all the time, very much in love with them, I just wanted to get other peoples opinions on these games.

 

[Undead Dragon King]

For the love of God, get those games! At least Baldur's Gate 2 Complete! They are far and away the best RPG's that BioWare has ever done, and that's including the Mass Effect games. Seriously.

 

[MisterShine]

Short version: Is Baldurs Gate 1 and 2 or just 2 since I hear you can mod it worth getting for 7 bucks each since I like Dragon Age Origins a lot and they're supposed to be similar.

I replay the Trilogy (there's only one trilogy. Not of the Rings. Not Star Wars. Baldur's Gate) every year or so, and I still consider them the best game(s) ever. Is it rose-tinted glasses if you still enjoy playing them, or just if you only remember them being that good?

To get more specific: The combat is similar to Dragon Age, but significantly more complicated as it is based off of DnD 2nd edition rules. Make sure you turn on auto-pause to make combat easier to manage, things get hectic with 5 or 6 party members. The first game is a little weak in my opinion, the first couple hours I always felt were kinda underwhelming.

P.S., if you want to get it there's a list of some mods I can recommend that I consider essential, even for a first playthrough (no big game changes, just important little stuff)

Snotnaroks useless but mandatory added question: What do you put on your toast? Butter? Jam?

Wheat bread, plain. Like a real man!

 

[Snotnarok]

Short version: Is Baldurs Gate 1 and 2 or just 2 since I hear you can mod it worth getting for 7 bucks each since I like Dragon Age Origins a lot and they're supposed to be similar.

I replay the Trilogy (there's only one trilogy. Not of the Rings. Not Star Wars. Baldur's Gate) every year or so, and I still consider them the best game(s) ever. Is it rose-tinted glasses if you still enjoy playing them, or just if you only remember them being that good?

To get more specific: The combat is similar to Dragon Age, but significantly more complicated as it is based off of DnD 2nd edition rules. Make sure you turn on auto-pause to make combat easier to manage, things get hectic with 5 or 6 party members. The first game is a little weak in my opinion, the first couple hours I always felt were kinda underwhelming.

Snotnaroks useless but mandatory added question: What do you put on your toast? Butter? Jam?

[/quote]

Well I'm not really familiar with DnD rules and stats that is probably a big problem I would imagine haha. I'm not into DnD in terms of paper but the LPs I've seen do show a fun game, but if it's insanely complected I'm not sure I can hop on it.

 

[Baralak]

Honestly, I hated how the Baldur's Games games played. It was just a horrible combat system, and I just hate controlling everything with my mouse. I got the first one for free from PC Gamer some odd years back.

I'd recommend NEverwinter Nights instead.

 

[Snotnarok]

Baldur's Gate 2 is still undeniably at the Top of my "Best Games of All Time" list. BG1 is somewhat...rougher especially because you start with low level characters that can die very quickly and the engine wasn't "roughened out" yet but it's somewhere up there and the games really tell a more-or-less continuing story of the same character and there's companions and NPCs you'll meet in BG2 that have been introduced in BG1 so probably play both xD

I gathered there's a mod where you can play through Baldurs Gate 1 in Baldurs Gate 2, as in the engine and all the combat mechanics from 2 override 1 making things better overall.

A fellow named Veriax on youtube is doing a LP of 1 in 2's engine if you wanted to see that. I'm watching that currently to help me decide. Honestly I'm waiting for an escapist to come in here and hit the ball out of the park either for the game or against the game.

I do love Dragon Age but I'm far from familiar with DnD style rules and that has me quite nervous honestly

 

[Snotnarok]

They are much more immersive in story and gaming detail. Its from a top-down perspective, but that's fine. The maps give you so much room to freely explore and find hidden content. You will use much more skill, thought, and strategy in playing through the games than in Dragon Age. I found Dragon Age to be very easy. Baldur's Gate is not a cake-walk and will offer you a grand adventure.

I played a thief/mage and found that combo to be very effective. Having the ability to stealth around for recon to see what is in the next room, detect hidden traps (there are a LOT of trapped floors, doors, walls, items..) and doors, plus cast devastating/utility spells was extremely helpful, especially in Baldur's Gate 2 (my favorite one). It all depends on your playstyle.

Icewind Dale (and its sequel) are good as well, but I found them to be shorter than BG. Planescape: Torment rocks as well if you can get your hands on it. That one is quite fun with a very detailed storyline.

My favorite though is Baldur's Gate 2. Its just more developed all round and quite lengthy. All of the areas you'll encounter are quite detailed and unique, each having their own story that ties into the main story. The combat is quite challenging (remember, the spacebar is your friend to pause combat and queue spells/actions) and the boss fights and puzzles you'll encounter are awesome.

So, yes, I endorse it. I chalk those games up to being some of the best I've ever played.

Just a FYI, Baldurs Gate 1 and 2, Planetscape Torment and the like are ALL on GoG.com, and they're ON SALE that's why I'm currently asking because I'm looking at 7 bucks and saying I can afford that but there might be something else to get!

Also is the game really really really hard on the DnD rules because I'll be honest, I don't get them and I'm not sure I can sit through reading a manual as thick as my torso to understand it. I'm watching an LP and the guy has a very good grasp on it which I KNOW is making it easier than it looks.

 

[Jamboxdotcom]

you really don't have to know anything about D&D rules to play the game. it's pretty simple and straightforward. as long as you understand that for armor class and THAC0 you want as low a number as possible, you're good to go. also, i have to agree with all the praise. aside from the dated graphics, there shouldn't be anything anyone can complain about in those games. they're just plain great games.

side note: i'd recommend against going /mage. if you're gonna go mage, go all the way or else start as a fighter for a couple levels then switch to mage, just as a HP boost. but mostly mages should be mages. fighter/thief can be good. (hint: in 2 and 2.5, kensai/thief is ridiculously overpowered; DW katanas is insane.)

 

[Snotnarok]

you really don't have to know anything about D&D rules to play the game. it's pretty simple and straightforward. as long as you understand that for armor class and THAC0 you want as low a number as possible, you're good to go. also, i have to agree with all the praise. aside from the dated graphics, there shouldn't be anything anyone can complain about in those games. they're just plain great games.

side note: i'd recommend against going /mage. if you're gonna go mage, go all the way or else start as a fighter for a couple levels then switch to mage, just as a HP boost. but mostly mages should be mages. fighter/thief can be good. (hint: in 2 and 2.5, kensai/thief is ridiculously overpowered; DW katanas is insane.)

If I were to play Baldurs Gate I'd probably play a Rogue, two swords or knives or something. Doing that in Dragon Age and it's never been so fun to say hello to someones back with some stabby stabby stab.

I sorta get the rules but when I see the weapons stats I sorta lose track of how that works. Like it's 2 Dice with so many sides and that throws me WAAAAAAAAY off.

Also you didn't answer my mandatory stupid question! haha.

 

[Jamboxdotcom]

I sorta get the rules but when I see the weapons stats I sorta lose track of how that works. Like it's 2 Dice with so many sides and that throws me WAAAAAAAAY off.

Also you didn't answer my mandatory stupid question! haha.

2d4 would mean 2 4-sided dice, which means you have a potential damage of anywhere from 2 to 8, not counting any bonus damage from your strength.

2d6 = 2 standard cube dice, potential damage 2-12.

etc.

and both jam and butter.

 

[Snotnarok]

I sorta get the rules but when I see the weapons stats I sorta lose track of how that works. Like it's 2 Dice with so many sides and that throws me WAAAAAAAAY off.

Also you didn't answer my mandatory stupid question! haha.

2d4 would mean 2 4-sided dice, which means you have a potential damage of anywhere from 2 to 8, not counting any bonus damage from your strength.

2d6 = 2 standard cube dice, potential damage 2-12.

etc.

and both jam and butter.

See those numbers still confuse me, I get that the 2d6 is better but I'm very poor with numbers. I have enough trouble judging what's more advantageous in Dragon Age, +3 damage or +1 strength. I get both have their benefits but I'm also aware I'm stupid with numbers.

 

[Eclectic Dreck]

Narratively and in terms of world and character, the Baldur' Gate series is phenemoninal. But mechanically the game is just on the happy side of awful.

You see, the game followes the D&D rules (fairly old editions of the rules these days. It still has a THAC0 roll and lower Armor Class is better for example). This leads to a game that is really actually quite difficult. A level 1 mage can be killed in a single hit by any weapon you find in the game for example. Magic, illnesses and poison will, at a moments notice, muder the entire party. Much of the time it wasn't even that you did something explicitly wrong but rather that you just got a series of unlucky roles.

The game's very generally have a lot of things in them that really do not hold up well. Quests often resort to a pixel hunt where you're expected to find some tiny switch to throw or some specific piece of loot and that sort of thing. Very generally the gameplay is sometimes exciting, generally boring and frustrating more often than it should.

The games are worth playing, but these are most definately old games and their age shows both in terms of graphics and in gameplay.

 

[Jamboxdotcom]

See those numbers still confuse me, I get that the 2d6 is better but I'm very poor with numbers. I have enough trouble judging what's more advantageous in Dragon Age, +3 damage or +1 strength. I get both have their benefits but I'm also aware I'm stupid with numbers.

well, fortunately, the mechanics of Baldur's Gate are a little less opaque than most modern games. i think the readme that comes with the game should have a breakdown of the various attribute levels and their effects. unfortunately, since it's 2nd edition rules, they're a little less intuitive, but they're still not too hard to figure out. also, i don't think there will ever be a situation where it'll be really hard to figure out which piece of gear is better. i.e. no "this has higher damage, but this also gives me strength". iirc, there aren't any weapons that grant strength, just certain armor pieces.

*edit*

The game's very generally have a lot of things in them that really do not hold up well. Quests often resort to a pixel hunt where you're expected to find some tiny switch to throw or some specific piece of loot and that sort of thing. Very generally the gameplay is sometimes exciting, generally boring and frustrating more often than it should.

The games are worth playing, but these are most definately old games and their age shows both in terms of graphics and in gameplay.

i agree that it can be frustratingly difficult at times, but i found it much more fulfilling/rewarding.

[small]btw, does anyone know how to edit a quote into a post? this is the best i can come up with...[/small]

 

[MisterShine]

Also is the game really really really hard on the DnD rules because I'll be honest, I don't get them and I'm not sure I can sit through reading a manual as thick as my torso to understand it. I'm watching an LP and the guy has a very good grasp on it which I KNOW is making it easier than it looks.

Set it on easy, pick weapons/armor with the big numbers, figure out which spells heal and which ones do damage.. you'll do fine. If I could beat it when I was 12 and had never heard of DnD I'm sure you'll be alright.

The main thing to watch is with spellcasters (Sorcerers, Druids, Wizards, Clerics), you have a number of spells you "memorize" per day, and that's all you can cast til' you sleep for the day. Since you can't just wait for mana to recharge, you have to learn how to balance dungeon crawling with retreating to get some sleep.

If the thing you like most about Bioware is their characters and story, that's the main reason to get it honestly. They're at top form here. If you thought Morrigan was cool..hoo, wait til you meet Vicky. The cast is excellent, great villain, great party members.. even the side quests are interesting.