NuMystic
Novice
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2009
- Messages
- 9
If your first play through had also been your last, what things do you wish you'd known which would have significantly increased your enjoyment of the BG1 and 2 games?
<wall of text alert>
No matter how spectacular a game is, due to time restraints and my being mostly story focused in my RPG interests, I will likely only ever play through BG1 (Tutu) & BG2 once. (including official expansions)
I am much more likely to move on to a game I haven't experienced, than replay even my very favorites, and I there are tons of well regarded titles I haven't played yet. (Planescape Torment and Fallout 1&2 for example)
So, I was hoping to tap the collective wisdom of the BG veterans in what you would recommend as far as mods (BG1 and 2) which were quite simply not to be missed for whatever reason... be it for content, mechanics fixes, gameplay, etc. specifically for a first-time, and more importantly, single-time player.
I started doing deep research, but found that there was just no way to figure out enough of this on my own without also reading a ton of spoilers at the same time, which I would mostly like to avoid.
Feel free though to include spoilers which will help me avoid the kind of anguish that is only cured by replaying the entire game with 20/20 hindsight. A few examples of what that means to me:
- A fantastic side quest or item not likely to be found by any completely new player
- Skill/spell choices that look fantastic, or at least sensible through new eyes but are far from ideal in real gameplay.
- A stat minimum that will cause major problems in certain scenarios if it's not met
- Basically, anything you wish a veteran had shared with you before your first run through, if you knew that it was also going to be your last.
Some additional info to help with your recommendations...
- I'll be doing a Mac EasyTutu install, and I know the basic drill as far as read me texts, the mod compatibility thread, and SHS, PPG, and G3 forums.
- I am only interested in mods which fit as seamlessly as possible with the original game itself. I am looking for the deepest immersion possible rather than the novelty and twists that are mainly to keep things interesting for replayers.
- Since I am WAY out of my depth with the game mechanics, skill trees, and combat system, I actually don't have a problem with being a bit overpowered. While I don't want a game that is challenge free altogether, I also don't have any interest in reloading 30 times to get past a low level encounter. That's enough to make me rage-quit a game forever. Endlessly saving/reloading breaks my sense of immersion, and if it's done enough can eventually feel like far more of a cheat than an overt stat tweak or power item.
- I have absolutely no problem with "cheats" that remedy tedious or mind-numbingly repetitive tasks. (especially those that can always be achieved eventually, and just require lots of button mashing, resting/re-attempting to be accomplished)
As of right now I'm looking at a BG1 party of "vanilla" NPCs (Imoen, Jaheira, Minsc, Dynaheir, Khalid) mainly since I've heard that BG2 will assume that's the party I had. And for the PC I'm leaning towards a Berzerker or Berzerker/Mage.
I'm also interested in hearing thoughts about the BG1NPC mod for a first time experience.
</wall of text>
Thanks in advance for taking the time to read all of this and I look forward to any wisdom or insights you can share.
<wall of text alert>
No matter how spectacular a game is, due to time restraints and my being mostly story focused in my RPG interests, I will likely only ever play through BG1 (Tutu) & BG2 once. (including official expansions)
I am much more likely to move on to a game I haven't experienced, than replay even my very favorites, and I there are tons of well regarded titles I haven't played yet. (Planescape Torment and Fallout 1&2 for example)
So, I was hoping to tap the collective wisdom of the BG veterans in what you would recommend as far as mods (BG1 and 2) which were quite simply not to be missed for whatever reason... be it for content, mechanics fixes, gameplay, etc. specifically for a first-time, and more importantly, single-time player.
I started doing deep research, but found that there was just no way to figure out enough of this on my own without also reading a ton of spoilers at the same time, which I would mostly like to avoid.
Feel free though to include spoilers which will help me avoid the kind of anguish that is only cured by replaying the entire game with 20/20 hindsight. A few examples of what that means to me:
- A fantastic side quest or item not likely to be found by any completely new player
- Skill/spell choices that look fantastic, or at least sensible through new eyes but are far from ideal in real gameplay.
- A stat minimum that will cause major problems in certain scenarios if it's not met
- Basically, anything you wish a veteran had shared with you before your first run through, if you knew that it was also going to be your last.
Some additional info to help with your recommendations...
- I'll be doing a Mac EasyTutu install, and I know the basic drill as far as read me texts, the mod compatibility thread, and SHS, PPG, and G3 forums.
- I am only interested in mods which fit as seamlessly as possible with the original game itself. I am looking for the deepest immersion possible rather than the novelty and twists that are mainly to keep things interesting for replayers.
- Since I am WAY out of my depth with the game mechanics, skill trees, and combat system, I actually don't have a problem with being a bit overpowered. While I don't want a game that is challenge free altogether, I also don't have any interest in reloading 30 times to get past a low level encounter. That's enough to make me rage-quit a game forever. Endlessly saving/reloading breaks my sense of immersion, and if it's done enough can eventually feel like far more of a cheat than an overt stat tweak or power item.
- I have absolutely no problem with "cheats" that remedy tedious or mind-numbingly repetitive tasks. (especially those that can always be achieved eventually, and just require lots of button mashing, resting/re-attempting to be accomplished)
As of right now I'm looking at a BG1 party of "vanilla" NPCs (Imoen, Jaheira, Minsc, Dynaheir, Khalid) mainly since I've heard that BG2 will assume that's the party I had. And for the PC I'm leaning towards a Berzerker or Berzerker/Mage.
I'm also interested in hearing thoughts about the BG1NPC mod for a first time experience.
</wall of text>
Thanks in advance for taking the time to read all of this and I look forward to any wisdom or insights you can share.