Do you have to play NWN2OC to understand MotB

[deuxhero]

or start out with a half decent character/equipment (or is there a sidequest that requires an imported character), or can I just skip the (apparently) horrible OC when I get the gold edition in 2 months?

 

[Lesifoere]

Skip it. You'll get plenty of powerful equipment in MotB, thanks to enchanting.

 

[Lumpy]

Skip it. I did - didn't hurt my enjoyment of the game one bit.
Nonetheless, you should read a plot summary. One is conveniently available in the MotB journal right from the start.
Make sure you know what the Sword of the Gith is, and what it had to do with you. Basically, somehow you ended up with the shard of this really epic sword in your chest. That gave you lost of trouble in the OC, but it also gave you a special connection to the sword, and to previous swordbearers.
Also: Khelgar was a loyal dwarf fighter or something. Neeshka was a tiefling girl rogue. Daeghun was you foster father. Ammon Jerro was a villain in the OC whom you beat up and then became a valuable ally who helped you and stuff. Crossroad Keep was your fortress. West Harbor was your home village.
That's pretty much everything you need to know to understand everything in MotB.

 

[MetalCraze]

Obsidian hired Alex Brandon as a main music composer ^_^
I love UTs and Deus Ex soundtracks

 

[NiM82]

Try the OC and if you get bored skip onto motb - there is some overlap and characters from the OC do appear in motb. The OC is ok imo, not great, but reasonable once it gets going.

 

[El Dee]

The masses are correct, skip it. I played the OC all the way into the last act and never got around to finishing it. I just started playing MOTB recently and am having a grand time.

 

[Gragt]

I'd say try to do the OC and if it's that unbearable, skip to MotB. I still enjoyed it for what it is.