I'm trying to compile what I would call "roleplaying concepts" for playing BG1/BG:EE. By a 'roleplaying concept' I mean an idea or set of ideas that guides the game on the conceptual level. This could involve a vision of what various characters believe and how they behave (i.e., what motivates them). Or it could be a general framework or design for a particular type of party. This is the territory where our imagination and ingenuity as players fills in the gaps, above and beyond what the game gives us. It is also, often, a kind of sweet spot that we seek between our own imaginations and the mechanical framework of the game.
To provide an example of what I'm on about:
Wild Mage and "Chaos" NPC Party
Using the excellent Wild Mage Additions mod, I started a BGT game with a Wild Mage who had a kind of mad scientist (?) 'Chaos Theory' that fully embracing chaos in the Weave should ultimately be rewarded. It a belief that is in the "it's so crazy that... it... just... might.. work!" vein. He assembled a party of oddball NPCs that in some way strongly embodied principles of unpredictability: Minsc (addled as he is by head trauma), Xzar (clearly mad as a hatter), Tiax (also insane), Finch (a gnome librarian is such an unlikely adventurer--who knows what she may do), Safana (a rogue with no ethical compass whatsoever), Coran (who makes regular references to Timora and his love of risk-taking). And of course the PC cast Nahal's Reckless Dweomer and Chaos Shield liberally. It was also great fun to check out all the excellent spells in the Wild Mage Additions mod.
Now, this line of thinking could extend itself as well to no-reload styles, playing evil, custom parties of multiple PCs such as all-specialist mages, etc. The sky's the limit.
I know we have a number of threads on this. But I'm hoping to get them consolidated into one thread if possible. Looking forward to reading your creative approaches to the game's replayability, and thanking you in advance!
To provide an example of what I'm on about:
Wild Mage and "Chaos" NPC Party
Using the excellent Wild Mage Additions mod, I started a BGT game with a Wild Mage who had a kind of mad scientist (?) 'Chaos Theory' that fully embracing chaos in the Weave should ultimately be rewarded. It a belief that is in the "it's so crazy that... it... just... might.. work!" vein. He assembled a party of oddball NPCs that in some way strongly embodied principles of unpredictability: Minsc (addled as he is by head trauma), Xzar (clearly mad as a hatter), Tiax (also insane), Finch (a gnome librarian is such an unlikely adventurer--who knows what she may do), Safana (a rogue with no ethical compass whatsoever), Coran (who makes regular references to Timora and his love of risk-taking). And of course the PC cast Nahal's Reckless Dweomer and Chaos Shield liberally. It was also great fun to check out all the excellent spells in the Wild Mage Additions mod.
Now, this line of thinking could extend itself as well to no-reload styles, playing evil, custom parties of multiple PCs such as all-specialist mages, etc. The sky's the limit.
I know we have a number of threads on this. But I'm hoping to get them consolidated into one thread if possible. Looking forward to reading your creative approaches to the game's replayability, and thanking you in advance!