While waiting for the launcher to work for BG2EE, I'm running through Durlag's Tower and finding a lot of broken weapons in chests, etc. Are these random adds? Random breaking of normal or magical weapons? What's the deal?
↧
Broken Weapons?
↧
Dungeons & Dragons Legends of Baldur's Gate
Are you aware of this?
![image]()
Read the announcement here : http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/29096.html
There is also an interview available here : http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/29095.html
Games are impressive, but now Minsc leads! Comics for everyone!
Read the announcement here : http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/29096.html
There is also an interview available here : http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/29095.html
Games are impressive, but now Minsc leads! Comics for everyone!
↧
↧
All you wanted to know about the “Adventure Y”
Now with BG2:EE released and we all know about Hexxat at last it’s time to anticipate something new.
So I think the discussion about the “Adventure Y” is going to be the next hit.
There’ve been several threads on this forum about this topic but I will try to gather EVERY piece of information and update it when something new is known. I hope @TvrtkoSvrdlar and others who started topics about the Adventure Y in the past excuse me ;)
A little bit of history first.
Tweets by Trent Oster, 12 May 2012
Adventure X is going to be standalone. Keep your ears peeled for Adventure Y, which is intimately linked to the Bhallspawn storyline
Adventure X is a side adventure, while Adventure Y is an optional storyline piece in the Bhallspawn series
Tweets by Sam Hulick and Trent Oster, 23 May 2012
SH: Listening to the #BGEE Adventure Y main theme on repeat while doing paperwork. Never has something so mundane felt so heroic & adventurous.
TO: I do the same. It can become a liability when the #bgee Adventure Y theme is going hard and you are trying to do contracts.
Later PhillipDaigle tweeted that the Adventure Y can be set at or near Boareskyr Bridge, accidentally the place where Cyric killed Bhaal.
Dee in November 2012 said (http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/comment/142403/#Comment_142403) the "Adventure Y" hasn't been finished yet, and will likely be released post-ship.
Here (http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/comment/369710/#Comment_369710) is said the Adventure Y has been confirmed for after BGE2:EE (release). This post (9 October 2013) is promoted by LiamEsler.
Basically there were no news at all after that.
All of a sudden PhillipDaigle here on the 30th of November 2013(http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/comment/418768/#Comment_418768) said something that can be interpreted as:
1) it’s wrong to think that the Adventure Y is planned for after BG2:EE, or
2) it’s wrong to think that the Adventure Y in not going to be released in the next patch, or
3) it’s wrong to think that the Adventure Y is set after BG2:EE.
We know elminster (a Beta Tester) (http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/comment/346026/#Comment_346026) said the Adventure Y will cost money although in the past Tanthalas (also a Beta Tester, Private Beta Moderator) (http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/comment/14040/#Comment_14040) had thought about the Adventure Y as a part of the new content for EE and not a DLC.
So, we know the Adventure Y is tied with the Bhaalspawn plot and has its own theme.
Taking into account those words about money and realizing the Adventure Y has not been definitely released before BG2:EE it seems reasonable to agree with the 3rd variant and say the Adventure Y is set somewhere before the story of the Bhaalspawn ends.
Moreover, I think it’s safe to conclude from PhillipDaigle’s post the Adventure Y is meant to be content for BG:EE, not BG2:EE.
There’s an idea that the Adventure Y takes place after Sarevok's defeat and shreds some light on those “circumstances much darker than anyone would have thought” under which the Bhaalspawn left for Amn. So this adventure would probably take place between the two games and end with the Bhaalspawn getting captured by Irenicus.
It’s interesting to take into account that TrentOster - after looking (6 September 2013) at a feature request of an interlude chapter that narrates the happenings between Sarevok's ending and the capture of the Bhaalspawn by Irenicus - said “Sounds kind of adventurey. Could be a fun concept.” (http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/comment/350159/#Comment_350159)
One can interpret “adventurey” as “adventure y”.
So, right now it's everything from what has been confirmed.
So I think the discussion about the “Adventure Y” is going to be the next hit.
There’ve been several threads on this forum about this topic but I will try to gather EVERY piece of information and update it when something new is known. I hope @TvrtkoSvrdlar and others who started topics about the Adventure Y in the past excuse me ;)
A little bit of history first.
Tweets by Trent Oster, 12 May 2012
Adventure X is going to be standalone. Keep your ears peeled for Adventure Y, which is intimately linked to the Bhallspawn storyline
Adventure X is a side adventure, while Adventure Y is an optional storyline piece in the Bhallspawn series
Tweets by Sam Hulick and Trent Oster, 23 May 2012
SH: Listening to the #BGEE Adventure Y main theme on repeat while doing paperwork. Never has something so mundane felt so heroic & adventurous.
TO: I do the same. It can become a liability when the #bgee Adventure Y theme is going hard and you are trying to do contracts.
Later PhillipDaigle tweeted that the Adventure Y can be set at or near Boareskyr Bridge, accidentally the place where Cyric killed Bhaal.
Dee in November 2012 said (http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/comment/142403/#Comment_142403) the "Adventure Y" hasn't been finished yet, and will likely be released post-ship.
Here (http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/comment/369710/#Comment_369710) is said the Adventure Y has been confirmed for after BGE2:EE (release). This post (9 October 2013) is promoted by LiamEsler.
Basically there were no news at all after that.
All of a sudden PhillipDaigle here on the 30th of November 2013(http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/comment/418768/#Comment_418768) said something that can be interpreted as:
1) it’s wrong to think that the Adventure Y is planned for after BG2:EE, or
2) it’s wrong to think that the Adventure Y in not going to be released in the next patch, or
3) it’s wrong to think that the Adventure Y is set after BG2:EE.
We know elminster (a Beta Tester) (http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/comment/346026/#Comment_346026) said the Adventure Y will cost money although in the past Tanthalas (also a Beta Tester, Private Beta Moderator) (http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/comment/14040/#Comment_14040) had thought about the Adventure Y as a part of the new content for EE and not a DLC.
So, we know the Adventure Y is tied with the Bhaalspawn plot and has its own theme.
Taking into account those words about money and realizing the Adventure Y has not been definitely released before BG2:EE it seems reasonable to agree with the 3rd variant and say the Adventure Y is set somewhere before the story of the Bhaalspawn ends.
Moreover, I think it’s safe to conclude from PhillipDaigle’s post the Adventure Y is meant to be content for BG:EE, not BG2:EE.
There’s an idea that the Adventure Y takes place after Sarevok's defeat and shreds some light on those “circumstances much darker than anyone would have thought” under which the Bhaalspawn left for Amn. So this adventure would probably take place between the two games and end with the Bhaalspawn getting captured by Irenicus.
It’s interesting to take into account that TrentOster - after looking (6 September 2013) at a feature request of an interlude chapter that narrates the happenings between Sarevok's ending and the capture of the Bhaalspawn by Irenicus - said “Sounds kind of adventurey. Could be a fun concept.” (http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/comment/350159/#Comment_350159)
One can interpret “adventurey” as “adventure y”.
So, right now it's everything from what has been confirmed.
↧
Sword and Shield Style
Is there really any advantage to choosing Sword and Shield Style? I refer to the instruction at character creation that states "Note: despite the name of this style, any one-handed melee weapon in combination with a shield will receive the afore-mentioned bonuses." (The bonuses are: one pip confers -2 to AC vs. missiles; two pips confers -4 o AC vs. missiles.)
So it would only provide greater protection from missiles when using missiles in the main hand then? I.e., such as throwing daggers, darts, or a sling? Or throwing axes as well, I guess. Edit: Oops, I need to re-ask it this way: The only benefit then is to provide a bonus to AC vs. missiles for characters that are using missile weapons? I.e., such as one that is hurling darts, slinging bullets, or throwing daggers or axes?
Is it actually implemented this way?
So it would only provide greater protection from missiles when using missiles in the main hand then? I.e., such as throwing daggers, darts, or a sling? Or throwing axes as well, I guess. Edit: Oops, I need to re-ask it this way: The only benefit then is to provide a bonus to AC vs. missiles for characters that are using missile weapons? I.e., such as one that is hurling darts, slinging bullets, or throwing daggers or axes?
Is it actually implemented this way?
↧
MP mode and pause
I find that using the space bar to pause in MP mode is pretty hairy. I have to hit the space bar rapidly and repeatedly. It seems to pause quicker if I have selected the party member in the top slot. But it still takes several taps. Any way to hotkey this?
↧
↧
Critiquing The EEs: A Pure Story Perspective 5/6
Welcome to Part 5 of a critical look at Beamdog's creative contributions to Baldur's Gate. We're going to analyze and discuss the Enhanced Edition characters and their storylines, their strengths and weaknesses, etc.
This is not the place for statements of blind support or blind hatred of Beamdog. If that's all you have to contribute to the conversation, please take your comments elsewhere.
Having covered all four primary Enhanced Edition characters - the half-orc blackguard Dorn il-Khan, the vampire thief Hexxat, the Sun Soul monk Rasaad yn Bashir and the half-elf wild mage Neera, today we'll be talking about:
Baeloth Barrityll and Wilson
When we talk about easter egg NPCs, we have to accept certain things as given. These are not characters designed to be full-fledged party members. They're not selling points. They have no quests, no relationships with other NPCs, no real storyline to speak of, and no deep characterization. However, they're still worth analysis in the overall context of Beamdog's contributions to BG, and in terms of what they suggest about the creative choices that went into the Enhanced Editions.
Let's start with Baeloth. Originally introduced as the antagonist of "The Black Pits", Baeloth the Entertainer is a mad drow sorcerer who forces the party into a series of gladiatorial battles. Again, I'm not really interested in discussing BP at length, but there are two points of interest here: first, Baeloth's nickname is an apt one - he does entertain. His use of alliteration, his snarky comments, and Mark Meer channeling Mark Hamill's Joker to absolute perfection make him instantly endearing as a grand, showboating villain.
Second, Baeloth's appearance in the main storyline is set after the events of "The Black Pits": patch 1.0.2012 added a cutscene that triggered if you went to the broken tower in Larswood (a curiosity that always seemed to hint at some greater purpose). Baeloth materializes out of thin air, depowered and alone; he rants for a bit before noticing the player and explaining his circumstances; and he offers his services in exchange for the player's protection.
When discussing Neera, I mentioned that Beamdog's assumption that all players would be interested in the Black Pits content led them to make some structural mistakes in BG2:EE, such as shoehorning Mercy Whitedove into Dorn's epilogue or failing to connect the dots between Szass Tam, Dennaton and Aznar Thrul in Neera's ToB quest. But the scene in which Baeloth is recruited is done in such a way that you don't need BP to understand what's going on - he provides that information himself, and in that respect, he's no different from any other character involved in a larger story you're not privy to (Dynaheir, Xan, Safana, etc.)
Taking Baeloth through BG:EE will result in a handful of amusing comments when you enter new areas; as befitting an Evil NPC, he's extremely powerful and edges out Edwin as the best spellcaster in the game by virtue of his drow magic resistance. In fact, he's such a fun character, and Meer does such spectacular work with his lines, that I can't help wishing for more. Have Baeloth "peace out" and teleport away just as you enter the Temple of Bhaal! Why should he play fair and act like a typical adventurer, he's Baeloth! A bit more unpredictability would have gone a long way.
As an aside, it's also rather disappointing that Baeloth doesn't turn up in any capacity in BG2:EE, given that his role in "Gladiators of Thay" isn't nearly as involved as it should have been (up to and including a triumphant reveal that is not, in any way, earned). But BG2:EE has its own easter egg NPC, and... well, he's something else entirely.
Before we get to talking about Wilson himself, though, I have to point out that his introduction is rather badly botched. Wilson is positioned in the lower region of the Twofold Temple map, which means that to reach him, you have to have Rasaad in your party and play his storyline until the Temple is revealed. And while you can free and recruit Wilson on your own, the actual quest to do so comes from Zaviak - who you'll only meet if you have Neera in your party and play her storyline until the Hidden Refuge is revealed.
It's a very odd choice to tie Wilson into two other BG2:EE characters, given that Baeloth had no such requirement. In fact, if the intention was to compel players through EE content in order to recruit Wilson, I'd have expected to find identical copies in Resurrection Gorge, the Shou Lung Tomb or the Wild Forest. Why make Wilson a Rasaad-exclusive character, especially when Rasaad is arguably the character who needs the least gimmickry?
Still, it's an interesting conceit to have a grizzly bear in your team. He can't speak, of course, so all his exchanges with the player are one-sided (and, as a result, rather funny). However, again unlike Baeloth, Wilson is a very, very difficult party member to use effectively. The closest class I can compare him to is a kensai, in that he can't use any equipment at all, but I think the devs may have gone a bit too far with the restrictions. At the very least, allowing Wilson to wear rings or an amulet would afford some minimal kind of customization and protection.
The larger point of concern, though, is one that's come up before: just as with Hexxat and Valen, there's a precedent to having a bear companion in a D&D game. Quite frankly, comparing Wilson to Okku from "Mask of the Betrayer" seems inevitable to me, with the downside of making Wilson's addition not quite as "new" as it should have been. (And really, if that comparison is going to be made anyway, Beamdog might as well go all-out and have Wilson offer a prayer to Okku before facing Irenicus, or something of the sort. Explicit references and shout-outs are always preferable to the impression that you're being unoriginal.) Still, he draws some interesting reactions (take him to see Volo in Saradush, you'll see), and even has his own epilogue, so that's certainly an impetus to take him through to the end.
Despite their differences, though, Baeloth and Wilson share common ground both with each other and with the other EE characters, in that they're clearly and visibly different. Baeloth is BG's first sorcerer NPC; Wilson is - to reiterate - a bear. While it might have been interesting to see how they might have fared as fully fleshed-out party members, I can't deny that in their current functions, they can both be considered successes.
Next time: what conclusions can we draw from these analyses?
This is not the place for statements of blind support or blind hatred of Beamdog. If that's all you have to contribute to the conversation, please take your comments elsewhere.
Having covered all four primary Enhanced Edition characters - the half-orc blackguard Dorn il-Khan, the vampire thief Hexxat, the Sun Soul monk Rasaad yn Bashir and the half-elf wild mage Neera, today we'll be talking about:
Baeloth Barrityll and Wilson
When we talk about easter egg NPCs, we have to accept certain things as given. These are not characters designed to be full-fledged party members. They're not selling points. They have no quests, no relationships with other NPCs, no real storyline to speak of, and no deep characterization. However, they're still worth analysis in the overall context of Beamdog's contributions to BG, and in terms of what they suggest about the creative choices that went into the Enhanced Editions.
Let's start with Baeloth. Originally introduced as the antagonist of "The Black Pits", Baeloth the Entertainer is a mad drow sorcerer who forces the party into a series of gladiatorial battles. Again, I'm not really interested in discussing BP at length, but there are two points of interest here: first, Baeloth's nickname is an apt one - he does entertain. His use of alliteration, his snarky comments, and Mark Meer channeling Mark Hamill's Joker to absolute perfection make him instantly endearing as a grand, showboating villain.
Second, Baeloth's appearance in the main storyline is set after the events of "The Black Pits": patch 1.0.2012 added a cutscene that triggered if you went to the broken tower in Larswood (a curiosity that always seemed to hint at some greater purpose). Baeloth materializes out of thin air, depowered and alone; he rants for a bit before noticing the player and explaining his circumstances; and he offers his services in exchange for the player's protection.
When discussing Neera, I mentioned that Beamdog's assumption that all players would be interested in the Black Pits content led them to make some structural mistakes in BG2:EE, such as shoehorning Mercy Whitedove into Dorn's epilogue or failing to connect the dots between Szass Tam, Dennaton and Aznar Thrul in Neera's ToB quest. But the scene in which Baeloth is recruited is done in such a way that you don't need BP to understand what's going on - he provides that information himself, and in that respect, he's no different from any other character involved in a larger story you're not privy to (Dynaheir, Xan, Safana, etc.)
Taking Baeloth through BG:EE will result in a handful of amusing comments when you enter new areas; as befitting an Evil NPC, he's extremely powerful and edges out Edwin as the best spellcaster in the game by virtue of his drow magic resistance. In fact, he's such a fun character, and Meer does such spectacular work with his lines, that I can't help wishing for more. Have Baeloth "peace out" and teleport away just as you enter the Temple of Bhaal! Why should he play fair and act like a typical adventurer, he's Baeloth! A bit more unpredictability would have gone a long way.
As an aside, it's also rather disappointing that Baeloth doesn't turn up in any capacity in BG2:EE, given that his role in "Gladiators of Thay" isn't nearly as involved as it should have been (up to and including a triumphant reveal that is not, in any way, earned). But BG2:EE has its own easter egg NPC, and... well, he's something else entirely.
Before we get to talking about Wilson himself, though, I have to point out that his introduction is rather badly botched. Wilson is positioned in the lower region of the Twofold Temple map, which means that to reach him, you have to have Rasaad in your party and play his storyline until the Temple is revealed. And while you can free and recruit Wilson on your own, the actual quest to do so comes from Zaviak - who you'll only meet if you have Neera in your party and play her storyline until the Hidden Refuge is revealed.
It's a very odd choice to tie Wilson into two other BG2:EE characters, given that Baeloth had no such requirement. In fact, if the intention was to compel players through EE content in order to recruit Wilson, I'd have expected to find identical copies in Resurrection Gorge, the Shou Lung Tomb or the Wild Forest. Why make Wilson a Rasaad-exclusive character, especially when Rasaad is arguably the character who needs the least gimmickry?
Still, it's an interesting conceit to have a grizzly bear in your team. He can't speak, of course, so all his exchanges with the player are one-sided (and, as a result, rather funny). However, again unlike Baeloth, Wilson is a very, very difficult party member to use effectively. The closest class I can compare him to is a kensai, in that he can't use any equipment at all, but I think the devs may have gone a bit too far with the restrictions. At the very least, allowing Wilson to wear rings or an amulet would afford some minimal kind of customization and protection.
The larger point of concern, though, is one that's come up before: just as with Hexxat and Valen, there's a precedent to having a bear companion in a D&D game. Quite frankly, comparing Wilson to Okku from "Mask of the Betrayer" seems inevitable to me, with the downside of making Wilson's addition not quite as "new" as it should have been. (And really, if that comparison is going to be made anyway, Beamdog might as well go all-out and have Wilson offer a prayer to Okku before facing Irenicus, or something of the sort. Explicit references and shout-outs are always preferable to the impression that you're being unoriginal.) Still, he draws some interesting reactions (take him to see Volo in Saradush, you'll see), and even has his own epilogue, so that's certainly an impetus to take him through to the end.
Despite their differences, though, Baeloth and Wilson share common ground both with each other and with the other EE characters, in that they're clearly and visibly different. Baeloth is BG's first sorcerer NPC; Wilson is - to reiterate - a bear. While it might have been interesting to see how they might have fared as fully fleshed-out party members, I can't deny that in their current functions, they can both be considered successes.
Next time: what conclusions can we draw from these analyses?
↧
What are your favorite quotes, dialogs, and NPCs from the new content? (spoilers)
Here are some of mine:
"I try to have at least three phenomenally bad ideas a day. I'm counting this place as two." ~Charname, spoken to Dragomir.
(I actually like a lot of Charname's responses in Dragomir's tomb but this is the best one.)
I like the monk that guards the bridge to the twofold temple. It is funny how subtly moronic he is. One of my favorite parts of that dialog:
[spoiler]
Charname: "How is it someone whose skull has never known the moist, warm touch of a brain can remember to breathe?"
Monk: "What're you getting at?"
Charname: "You're not very smart, are you? Quite the opposite, in fact. You're stupid. A dunderheaded moron. An idiot. A cretin. An oaf of such staggering thick-headedness that even other oafs look at you and say, "Wow, what a dimwitted simpleton he is." You're an imbecile, a dolt, a lackwit so lacking in wits that I can feel my mind growing more sluggish and dull each passing second I talk with you. You're senseless, obtuse, laughably thick: a clodpate. In short, what I'm saying, you lethargic dullard, is that you're a brainless lout too stupid to live. Therefore, and I say this with absolutely no regret whatsoever, I am going to kill you."
Monk: "Huh?"
Charname: "Just draw your sword and die, already."
Monk: "You think I'm stupid, PRO_RACE? I'll show you stupid!"
[/spoiler]
Then there is Baeloth. He is just great. One of these days I will have to finish the Black Pits 1&2...
Wilson's dialogs are funny too:
[spoiler]
Wilson: "Growl?"
Charname: "I am CHARNAME. What are you called?"
Wilson: "Growl. Growl growl."
Charname: "You call yourself Wilson? How pedestrian."
Wilson: "Snuffle growl."
Charname: "Forgive me. I didn't realize it was so common. To be honest, I've not had the opportunity to speak with many bears."
Neera: "Uh... You know that's a bear you're talking to, right?"
[/spoiler]
Does anyone else have any favorites in the new content?
"I try to have at least three phenomenally bad ideas a day. I'm counting this place as two." ~Charname, spoken to Dragomir.
(I actually like a lot of Charname's responses in Dragomir's tomb but this is the best one.)
I like the monk that guards the bridge to the twofold temple. It is funny how subtly moronic he is. One of my favorite parts of that dialog:
[spoiler]
Charname: "How is it someone whose skull has never known the moist, warm touch of a brain can remember to breathe?"
Monk: "What're you getting at?"
Charname: "You're not very smart, are you? Quite the opposite, in fact. You're stupid. A dunderheaded moron. An idiot. A cretin. An oaf of such staggering thick-headedness that even other oafs look at you and say, "Wow, what a dimwitted simpleton he is." You're an imbecile, a dolt, a lackwit so lacking in wits that I can feel my mind growing more sluggish and dull each passing second I talk with you. You're senseless, obtuse, laughably thick: a clodpate. In short, what I'm saying, you lethargic dullard, is that you're a brainless lout too stupid to live. Therefore, and I say this with absolutely no regret whatsoever, I am going to kill you."
Monk: "Huh?"
Charname: "Just draw your sword and die, already."
Monk: "You think I'm stupid, PRO_RACE? I'll show you stupid!"
[/spoiler]
Then there is Baeloth. He is just great. One of these days I will have to finish the Black Pits 1&2...
Wilson's dialogs are funny too:
[spoiler]
Wilson: "Growl?"
Charname: "I am CHARNAME. What are you called?"
Wilson: "Growl. Growl growl."
Charname: "You call yourself Wilson? How pedestrian."
Wilson: "Snuffle growl."
Charname: "Forgive me. I didn't realize it was so common. To be honest, I've not had the opportunity to speak with many bears."
Neera: "Uh... You know that's a bear you're talking to, right?"
[/spoiler]
Does anyone else have any favorites in the new content?
↧
Critiquing The EEs: A Pure Story Perspective 6/6
Welcome to the final part of a critical look at Beamdog's creative contributions to Baldur's Gate.
This is not the place for statements of blind support or blind hatred of Beamdog. If that's all you have to contribute to the conversation, please take your comments elsewhere.
Having covered all the new additions - Dorn, Hexxat, Rasaad, Neera and easter eggs Baeloth and Wilson - it's time to wrap up our discussion and try to draw relevant conclusions.
It seems clear to me that the EE characters were all designed, at least in part, to address existing gaps in the character roster. Beamdog has given us the first half-orc, the first evil thief, the first wild mage, the first monk, the first sorcerer; the first same-sex love interests; and the first characters to have ToB quests (which goes a long way towards beefing up that last part of the saga).
Giving BG fans new things, as opposed to more of what we already had, is a good aspiration to have. And in this, the devs have largely met their goal. But if we give Beamdog credit for their successes, we must also note where they fall short.
It is, perhaps, a point of discussion that the EE NPCs break down along established gender lines: the men fight, the women cast or steal. It's not a pattern unique to Beamdog, or even BioWare - in the entire history of D&D video games, the only women who could properly swing a longsword were Shar-Teel Dosan, Mazzy Fentan, Aribeth di Tylmarande and Shandra Jerro. It's a short list, and it might have been nice for Beamdog to add a name or two... but one can't meet all needs simultaneously, and as I noted before, there's a lot to be said for the fact that Dorn, Neera, Rasaad and Hexxat fulfill specific roles and functions that weren't part of the BG games beforehand.
Unfortunately, there's a larger narrative problem with these games: the overall quality of the writing is wildly inconsistent. From an analytical perspective, it seems like not enough effort was made to ensure that all four characters had the same basic necessary components of good storytelling in place. Neera's arc is clear, concise and flows organically from one stage to the next; Hexxat's is a mess from start to finish, with muddled motivations and too many questions left unanswered. Rasaad's plot offers several opportunities for the player to express agency; Dorn's is based on a central, critical choice that ultimately turns out to be false. It's a disparity that, in my opinion, constitutes as much of a "bug" as missing triggers or incorrect weapon descriptions, and should be addressed.
On that note, I'd like to end this series with a direct appeal to Beamdog, specifically @LiamEsler, @AndrewFoley and the other writers.
As they currently stand, the Enhanced Editions represent a good creative effort, warts and all. But you have the rarest of opportunities afforded to video game writers: a chance to review the stories you've told, find the weak spots, and address them post-launch. As long as BG:EE and BG2:EE are being updated, you have the ability to do better. And if there's one thing I hope this series has demonstrated, it's how easily you can polish what's already there: a few unvoiced lines of dialogue here, an additional variable there, is literally all it would take to fill in the plot holes, clarify the obscure, resolve the inconsistencies, and make that jump from "good" to "excellent". I hope you'll consider this as Beamdog moves towards the release of BG2:EE on Android, and do what you can to make the most of the potential you've demonstrated thus far.
Thank you for your time, your patience, and your contributions to this old favorite game.
This is not the place for statements of blind support or blind hatred of Beamdog. If that's all you have to contribute to the conversation, please take your comments elsewhere.
Having covered all the new additions - Dorn, Hexxat, Rasaad, Neera and easter eggs Baeloth and Wilson - it's time to wrap up our discussion and try to draw relevant conclusions.
It seems clear to me that the EE characters were all designed, at least in part, to address existing gaps in the character roster. Beamdog has given us the first half-orc, the first evil thief, the first wild mage, the first monk, the first sorcerer; the first same-sex love interests; and the first characters to have ToB quests (which goes a long way towards beefing up that last part of the saga).
Giving BG fans new things, as opposed to more of what we already had, is a good aspiration to have. And in this, the devs have largely met their goal. But if we give Beamdog credit for their successes, we must also note where they fall short.
It is, perhaps, a point of discussion that the EE NPCs break down along established gender lines: the men fight, the women cast or steal. It's not a pattern unique to Beamdog, or even BioWare - in the entire history of D&D video games, the only women who could properly swing a longsword were Shar-Teel Dosan, Mazzy Fentan, Aribeth di Tylmarande and Shandra Jerro. It's a short list, and it might have been nice for Beamdog to add a name or two... but one can't meet all needs simultaneously, and as I noted before, there's a lot to be said for the fact that Dorn, Neera, Rasaad and Hexxat fulfill specific roles and functions that weren't part of the BG games beforehand.
Unfortunately, there's a larger narrative problem with these games: the overall quality of the writing is wildly inconsistent. From an analytical perspective, it seems like not enough effort was made to ensure that all four characters had the same basic necessary components of good storytelling in place. Neera's arc is clear, concise and flows organically from one stage to the next; Hexxat's is a mess from start to finish, with muddled motivations and too many questions left unanswered. Rasaad's plot offers several opportunities for the player to express agency; Dorn's is based on a central, critical choice that ultimately turns out to be false. It's a disparity that, in my opinion, constitutes as much of a "bug" as missing triggers or incorrect weapon descriptions, and should be addressed.
On that note, I'd like to end this series with a direct appeal to Beamdog, specifically @LiamEsler, @AndrewFoley and the other writers.
As they currently stand, the Enhanced Editions represent a good creative effort, warts and all. But you have the rarest of opportunities afforded to video game writers: a chance to review the stories you've told, find the weak spots, and address them post-launch. As long as BG:EE and BG2:EE are being updated, you have the ability to do better. And if there's one thing I hope this series has demonstrated, it's how easily you can polish what's already there: a few unvoiced lines of dialogue here, an additional variable there, is literally all it would take to fill in the plot holes, clarify the obscure, resolve the inconsistencies, and make that jump from "good" to "excellent". I hope you'll consider this as Beamdog moves towards the release of BG2:EE on Android, and do what you can to make the most of the potential you've demonstrated thus far.
Thank you for your time, your patience, and your contributions to this old favorite game.
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How will you spend the time of the forum's maintenance?
I've just seen this:
NOTICE: The forums will be down for scheduled maintenance on Monday, September 22, from 11am to 1pm ET.
I already feel how impatient I will become... It would be so hard to stop refreshing pages here even for 2 hours:)
On the other hand, it will be a good time to finally work :D
And how about you, folks?
NOTICE: The forums will be down for scheduled maintenance on Monday, September 22, from 11am to 1pm ET.
I already feel how impatient I will become... It would be so hard to stop refreshing pages here even for 2 hours:)
On the other hand, it will be a good time to finally work :D
And how about you, folks?
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Ancient D20 found
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Barbie vs Zerker - now with Dwarven defenders
Yes, the Barbie vs 'Zerker question has been asked and answered a million times, everyone has a favorite, TL;DR etc, stop trolling.
Don't get me wrong, I do love Barbies, if you want a solid indestructible character that can solo anything with ease, and still has 75% of their hit points when all other builds died ten rounds ago, well (s)he can be your man. Or half-orc.
Of course, not all fights in the game are as long as the final Ascension battle. In this case, a 'Zerker is probably better. They deal more damage, their rage protects against imprisonment, 60% physical immunity is not that much less than 80%, and their hit point aren't that much less either.
Enter the Dwarven defender. It matches the barbarian's innate 20% physical immunity, so with the defender of Easthaven and Hardiness, this can get up to 80%. It can get 4* in axes & hammers, between the 'zerker's 5* and the barbie's 2*. So the same indestructibility of the barbie, with some of the zerker's DPS.
Of course, instead of any sort of rage, it has a mild sort of blade's defensive spin. How dare I even suggest these three are comparable. In truth, I don't think I am, probably what I'm saying is, a duo comprising a 'Zerker & Dwarven defender may well be better at everything than a pair of barbarians would be?
OK .. go!
Don't get me wrong, I do love Barbies, if you want a solid indestructible character that can solo anything with ease, and still has 75% of their hit points when all other builds died ten rounds ago, well (s)he can be your man. Or half-orc.
Of course, not all fights in the game are as long as the final Ascension battle. In this case, a 'Zerker is probably better. They deal more damage, their rage protects against imprisonment, 60% physical immunity is not that much less than 80%, and their hit point aren't that much less either.
Enter the Dwarven defender. It matches the barbarian's innate 20% physical immunity, so with the defender of Easthaven and Hardiness, this can get up to 80%. It can get 4* in axes & hammers, between the 'zerker's 5* and the barbie's 2*. So the same indestructibility of the barbie, with some of the zerker's DPS.
Of course, instead of any sort of rage, it has a mild sort of blade's defensive spin. How dare I even suggest these three are comparable. In truth, I don't think I am, probably what I'm saying is, a duo comprising a 'Zerker & Dwarven defender may well be better at everything than a pair of barbarians would be?
OK .. go!
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Pit of faithless (BG 2 EE)
I'm in the Pit of the faithless. I've dealt with the six blind priests, and now I'm at that gross sucking thing in the middle. I assume this is where I should get the other part of the rod, but I click all over with my main character who has the first half of the rod, and nothing happens. Thanks for any help.
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Why I Won't Be Buying Future Overhaul Games
I bought both games, and I posted a criticism of BG2:EE today of the gay content in BG2:EE, which was removed by Dee, the forum administrator. I was told that criticism of gay content is hate speech and offensive (despite the fact that I was offended by the gay content), and that I'm simply in the wrong place. Conservative dollars don't matter here, despite the fact that a lot more of us are buying their games than gays buying their games. I am a paying customer being accused of falsehoods, threatened, and being told that what I think doesn't matter and isn't worthy of expression.
Overhaul, good luck, your editions are too "enhanced" for me.
Sieur de La Cornbread
Overhaul, good luck, your editions are too "enhanced" for me.
Sieur de La Cornbread
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Necromancy Builds!
Why, hello fellow practitioners of this dark, and even sometimes not-so-dark, art!
The Necromancer is my favorite trope in fantasy and as such on my next playthrough of Baldur's Gate I wish to play as one! Now then, considering all I want are access to Necromancy spells there are plenty of options of how I should go about doing this.
The obvious choice is a Cleric due to early access to animate dead. What I'm wondering is if any of you have created some crazy Necro-themed build and if there any items I should look out for in my next journey through the game. Maybe a Blade Bard with chill touches? Or a Blackguard that rebukes the undead under his command? Maybe a Cleric/Mage that uses all the Necromancy spells! I just want to know what viable options I have that are also fun since I plan on taking this character from BG:EE all the way to the end of ToB.
The Necromancer is my favorite trope in fantasy and as such on my next playthrough of Baldur's Gate I wish to play as one! Now then, considering all I want are access to Necromancy spells there are plenty of options of how I should go about doing this.
The obvious choice is a Cleric due to early access to animate dead. What I'm wondering is if any of you have created some crazy Necro-themed build and if there any items I should look out for in my next journey through the game. Maybe a Blade Bard with chill touches? Or a Blackguard that rebukes the undead under his command? Maybe a Cleric/Mage that uses all the Necromancy spells! I just want to know what viable options I have that are also fun since I plan on taking this character from BG:EE all the way to the end of ToB.
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Candlekeep High: The Baldur's Gate cast goes to prom
On the "misconceptions" thread we were discussing with @nano and @kidcarnival what a highschool or college would look like with the Baldur's Gate cast :D It was a lot of fun, but it should be its own thread so here it is.
I'd love to hear more suggestions and, even better, alternative fun places we can put the cast of our favorite rpg. I think this game is fun and challenging :)
Here we go (from myself, KidCarnival and Nano.... please give your own suggestions!)
Edwin would be the eccentric university professor who is respected by his peers for his academic accomplishments, but hated for his arrogance and bragging about them
Quayle would be the professor who thinks he is well respected by his peers for his academic accomplishments, but actually is not.
Imoen would be the 10th grade English Literature teacher who still has her students make dioramas and colorful posters for "book reports".
Ajantis would be the strict math teacher who has trouble controlling unruly classes despite being an aspiring authoritarian. "Com'on guys, Helm wouldn't like that"
Garrick would be the incompetent art teacher.
Minsc would be the overly-enthusiastic gym teacher and football coach (Boo takes care of the details)
Yoshimo is the mysterious, super-suave foreign exchange student.
Eldoth would be the 23 year old senior who's the campus weed dealer and dates freshman girls.
Skie would be the bratty freshman cheerleader captain who expects good grades simply for showing up.
Jaheira could be a biology teacher who insists on equality for parasites and gives bad grades for students who don't "respect all of nature's children equally". Radical hippie biology teacher.
Khalid would be the substitute teacher that gets no respect.
Coran would be the young "cool" teacher that all the girls have a crush on.
Safana would be the hot English teacher that all the guys fawn over.
Alora would be the typical overly-friendly lunchlady. All the students love her, though they rarely seem to get the correct change back.
Yeslick would be the cook in the cafeteria. Many students try to steal his beer.
Neera would be the crazy chemistry teacher who's experiments always make the fire alarm go off.
Kivan would be the grumpy janitor that scares all the freshman.
Jan would be the shop teacher with all the hilarious stories that students hang out with during lunch breaks, and runs a black market in junk food
Nalia would be the sociology major who takes her subject super seriously and insists on everything being politically correct. She's the president of half the after-school activities and founder of half the clubs.
Aerie would be the teacher's pet who always makes the Honor Roll. She is in all of Nalia's clubs.
Hexxat is the goth girl who sits in the back of the class. She makes Aerie uncomfortable.
Haer-Dalis would be the Hipster Art Student.
Xzar would be the crazy goth kid who shows up with slipknot shirts and facepaint.
Monty would be in detention.... always.
Korgan is the gruff, over-aggressive hall monitor/security guard. The school has been sued on multiple occasions, but can't get rid of him because Kagain is his Union Representative.
Valygar is the more responsible security guard. Usually proctors tests and watches Monty in the detention hall.
Cernd is the campus groundskeeper, who students come to seeking wise counsel on life decisions and relationship advice.
Dorn is the bad-boy senior who comes to school on a Harley. You don't wanna take him home to your mother.
Shar-teel would be the star athlete who resents all the guys because there isn't a girl's football team and she's stuck playing a no-contact sport like volleyball. Majors in Women's Studies and says she hates Dorn (lotsa sexual tension).
Dynaheir is the head of the language department. Often at odds with Edwin.
Viconia would be the punk girl with tons of piercings who loves to say shocking things to get a rise out of people and keeps getting sent home because her shirt has something rude.
Rasaad would be the Ethics and Philosophy teacher who leads the afterschool Yoga Club. Nalia is president.
Mazzy would be the star student that they put on the front of all the newsletters.
Faldorn would be an "alternative" teacher who tries to convince parents to sign up the kids for "Politics explained by Pottery" and "Expressionistic Math in Dance".
Kagain would be the controversial Business Law professor that concerned parents worry about at the Parent-Teacher Confrences.
Keldorn is the concerned parent at the Parent-Teacher Conferences. He often inquires about Kagain's curriculum to the assistant principle.
Tiax would be the evil assistant principle who thinks he is the real principle.
Xan would be the real principle who's the only one who realizes the students are all doomed :)
Koveras is the mysterious recent transfer student... and the adventure begins
Please add your own! Or your own ideas :)
I'd love to hear more suggestions and, even better, alternative fun places we can put the cast of our favorite rpg. I think this game is fun and challenging :)
Here we go (from myself, KidCarnival and Nano.... please give your own suggestions!)
Edwin would be the eccentric university professor who is respected by his peers for his academic accomplishments, but hated for his arrogance and bragging about them
Quayle would be the professor who thinks he is well respected by his peers for his academic accomplishments, but actually is not.
Imoen would be the 10th grade English Literature teacher who still has her students make dioramas and colorful posters for "book reports".
Ajantis would be the strict math teacher who has trouble controlling unruly classes despite being an aspiring authoritarian. "Com'on guys, Helm wouldn't like that"
Garrick would be the incompetent art teacher.
Minsc would be the overly-enthusiastic gym teacher and football coach (Boo takes care of the details)
Yoshimo is the mysterious, super-suave foreign exchange student.
Eldoth would be the 23 year old senior who's the campus weed dealer and dates freshman girls.
Skie would be the bratty freshman cheerleader captain who expects good grades simply for showing up.
Jaheira could be a biology teacher who insists on equality for parasites and gives bad grades for students who don't "respect all of nature's children equally". Radical hippie biology teacher.
Khalid would be the substitute teacher that gets no respect.
Coran would be the young "cool" teacher that all the girls have a crush on.
Safana would be the hot English teacher that all the guys fawn over.
Alora would be the typical overly-friendly lunchlady. All the students love her, though they rarely seem to get the correct change back.
Yeslick would be the cook in the cafeteria. Many students try to steal his beer.
Neera would be the crazy chemistry teacher who's experiments always make the fire alarm go off.
Kivan would be the grumpy janitor that scares all the freshman.
Jan would be the shop teacher with all the hilarious stories that students hang out with during lunch breaks, and runs a black market in junk food
Nalia would be the sociology major who takes her subject super seriously and insists on everything being politically correct. She's the president of half the after-school activities and founder of half the clubs.
Aerie would be the teacher's pet who always makes the Honor Roll. She is in all of Nalia's clubs.
Hexxat is the goth girl who sits in the back of the class. She makes Aerie uncomfortable.
Haer-Dalis would be the Hipster Art Student.
Xzar would be the crazy goth kid who shows up with slipknot shirts and facepaint.
Monty would be in detention.... always.
Korgan is the gruff, over-aggressive hall monitor/security guard. The school has been sued on multiple occasions, but can't get rid of him because Kagain is his Union Representative.
Valygar is the more responsible security guard. Usually proctors tests and watches Monty in the detention hall.
Cernd is the campus groundskeeper, who students come to seeking wise counsel on life decisions and relationship advice.
Dorn is the bad-boy senior who comes to school on a Harley. You don't wanna take him home to your mother.
Shar-teel would be the star athlete who resents all the guys because there isn't a girl's football team and she's stuck playing a no-contact sport like volleyball. Majors in Women's Studies and says she hates Dorn (lotsa sexual tension).
Dynaheir is the head of the language department. Often at odds with Edwin.
Viconia would be the punk girl with tons of piercings who loves to say shocking things to get a rise out of people and keeps getting sent home because her shirt has something rude.
Rasaad would be the Ethics and Philosophy teacher who leads the afterschool Yoga Club. Nalia is president.
Mazzy would be the star student that they put on the front of all the newsletters.
Faldorn would be an "alternative" teacher who tries to convince parents to sign up the kids for "Politics explained by Pottery" and "Expressionistic Math in Dance".
Kagain would be the controversial Business Law professor that concerned parents worry about at the Parent-Teacher Confrences.
Keldorn is the concerned parent at the Parent-Teacher Conferences. He often inquires about Kagain's curriculum to the assistant principle.
Tiax would be the evil assistant principle who thinks he is the real principle.
Xan would be the real principle who's the only one who realizes the students are all doomed :)
Koveras is the mysterious recent transfer student... and the adventure begins
Please add your own! Or your own ideas :)
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1.3 and kits
So do kit mods work now, with the 1.3 patch?
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What's your best stats roll?
I just started vanilla BG2, and wanted to make a character. I tend to play with the first 80+ roll for my PC. But this one I got upon the very first roll (after stats re-assignment).
STR 18/99
DEX 17
CON 19
INT 14
WIS 10
CHA14
Total 92 with a 18/99. Jesus.
STR 18/99
DEX 17
CON 19
INT 14
WIS 10
CHA14
Total 92 with a 18/99. Jesus.
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Is it possible to use my own portraits in BG Android version?
Hello, just bought the BG Android version, it's very good. I want to know, Is it possible to use my own portraits in BG Android version?
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SCS For Dummies: Options that are true/close to PnP
So I've decided to jump the bandwagon and install the Swordcoat Stratagems mod to spice up my no-reload playthroughs. The thing is I'd only like to install the options that hit the nail on the proverbial head for PnP, or common house rules - and not give the enemies a one-sided buff that isn't realistic or "fair". I just wanna give the AI some juice so it's not walking around like a special child all the time.
What options would you suggest I install given this kind of playstyle?
What options would you suggest I install given this kind of playstyle?
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#ConfessionsofaBhaalspawn
As I learn more from this forum, I realize how much about the game I didn't know about. There were items, strategies and spells that could have made my life a lot easier against various monsters. There were dialogue options I had never been given. Easter Eggs I never knew about. Etc, etc.
I was interested in seeing this kind of topic ever since my boy @Quartz said that he never made Crom Faeyr. So I made this thread for us all to confess our Baldur's Gate sins. Come and admit that you never completed your stronghold, you've never even heard of Kangaxx, never killed Firkraag or are still dying to know where Hull misplaced his longsword.
I'll begin:
Confession: I have never done the Viconia romance.
Confession: I have never played a thief character.
I was interested in seeing this kind of topic ever since my boy @Quartz said that he never made Crom Faeyr. So I made this thread for us all to confess our Baldur's Gate sins. Come and admit that you never completed your stronghold, you've never even heard of Kangaxx, never killed Firkraag or are still dying to know where Hull misplaced his longsword.
I'll begin:
Confession: I have never done the Viconia romance.
Confession: I have never played a thief character.
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