Just bought Baldur's Gate 2 off of GOG and it's downloading, as is the manual. I was wondering if you guys think I made the right decision skipping the first game, and your general opinion on the series.

Edit - Also got some cool Baldur's Gate avatars from gog with the purchase! CHECK MEH AVATARZZ!!

Yes, and yes.

I haven't played them in a long time and I didn't get very far in either but I do believe they are two different stories. I can't remember if you can carry over a previous character or not.

I love the series; Baldur's Gate 2 I've beaten probably a dozen times, at least. The games have tons of content that allows you to replay it and keep finding new things, and experience it differently depending on the content of your party. I wouldn't have recommended skipping the first, but it's not vital. The sequel continues the story and there are returning characters you won't know, but it takes place in an entirely different area of land and covers the most relevant story aspects during the opening. Despite using the same engine, they are pretty different games, but it's hard (and sort of pointless) to effectively compare if you haven't played the second yet either.

Same characters. Pretty sure that's why you don't start at level 1 in BG2.

Woah, wait a second, am I missing out by not playing BG1?

Minsc...

A little. I think BG2 is overall a better game than BG1, but BG1 is great, and has one of my all-time favorite RPG characters ever. He's in BG2 as well, but it's not the same. If you think you'll play both, then absolutely play BG1 first.

"Go for the optics, Chiktikka! Go for the optics!"

BG2 directly continues the story of the same character you play in BG1, and allows you to import that character.

Will I be confused if I just start a new character?

no, everything is perfectly understandable to start from scratch in BG2

It helps to play the first, but isn't necessary. Like I said, the sequel takes place in a new land and covers the most important story aspects from the first during the opening. Most of what you'll miss without playing the first are references to smaller events, and interactions between characters, but not the main story.

But play BG 1 first anyway. It's a fun game as well.

If you get both BG and BG2 (which I can recommend, they're both great games), get tutu. It allows you to play BG on the BG2 engine, which helps the game.

agreed

The nice thing about playing BG1 is that you can import your character with the exact stats from the first game into the second, at whichever level he is, and with any permanent stat bonuses he may have picked up in the first game, instead of starting with a brand new level 8 character.

It's very satisfying to do a full playthrough, starting at level 1 from the first game, all the way to the end of the BG2 expansion Throne of Bhaal with the same character.

You don't really need to play it to understand the story of BG2 but it definitely helps. Especially when you run into old companions.


Definitely. It also allows you to use the BG1NPC mod which adds more conversations between party members, which is something Bioware did a lot of in BG2 but very little in BG1.

BG 2 continues with BG 1 story, but BG 1 is classic, and mediocre in sense of story. The gameplay is refreshing if you never touched AD&D, it takes a lot of forethought and the encounters could lead to lots of save/load. It is unlike anything modern action games which your actions have absolutely no impacts on the game.

You are definately missing something, but not by much imo. The real juicy meat is on BG 2 and BG 2: ToB.

I was disappointed when I finally played BG 1; BG 2 and Throne of Bhaal are better, with better NPCs. You're not missing that much by skipping the first game.

A classic series, giving you 100-200 hours of gameplay easily.

Well you can import your character from BGI so I recommend playing it.

Well i'm installing BG2 right now, probably going to skip the first one or play it later. Don't want to wait for another game to download! :tongue:

I found the first one really difficult to get into. For me, it took quite alot of effort to get into the story..but it was worth it in the end. Two is much better and pretty dynamic from the start. I haven't played those games for ages! I may crack out my PS2 and have a go

The second game is probably easier to start with if you don't know the game yet, because you start at level 8. Whereas if you'd be a Mage in BG1 you'd start with 5 health or something and 2 spells to cast before you'd have to rest. It's a very slow start.

Ok, so I beat the trial or whatever and was teleported to the city. I can't beat the big group of guards that you have to fight! Anyone got any tips?

Edit - oh and I'm a human beserker, with 2h sword specialization, but I don't have one yet so I'm dual-wielding an axe and a scimitar (I think)

Hmm... what group of guards? in Amn? The beginning part of BG 2 had you in a cage and you had to fight all the way out. There's some mage duels between the Cowled Wizard and Irenicus, then your buddy got snatched off, but then you won't have to fight anything. I'm confused.

Or are you refering to the trail in ToB? I don't recommend you start ToB before BG 2, the combat is really rough if it's first time you touched AD&D 2e.

EDIT: And you should have a 2hander at the first room when you started the game. It's in the chest northwest of the prison.

Ya, I realized my mistake and started the other game. I started in a cage this time so your right, but right now I'm playing Crysis 2 so kind of lost interest in BG at the moment. :teehee:

Love Baldurs Gate 2, but man that engine is showing it's age. Recently tried to play through it again and I just couldn't do it. Still a fantastic game.