Baldur's Gate It's 2018. This is my first thread. I'm going to play BG2 for the first time.

[ArchAngel]

Also BG2EE adds a very cool fight in Thayan Embassy in Athkatla. A very fun spell battle with AI that is better than average mage AI from vanilla game.

 

[Rinslin Merwind]

Isn't that "magical world" of AD&D, though?

If you taking about tabletop version, then no. Because in tabletop version exist GM, who can create situations where spell that was shit in BG can prove to be useful and etc.

Also, to avoid shit spells, you just need to READ. Even if bad comes to worse, you can just erase them from your spellbook and put in something more useful. In BG2 you earn extra experience for doing this by the thousands. Yay.

Oh, yeah, for avoiding shit spells player need to read...guidelines on Internet, because spell description in-game lack mentioning that they suck even against low level enemies and only Chromatic Orb,Identify, Spook somewhat live up expectations. Some people would say "pick rp spells, not op spells", but life of the wizard is tough and any mistake can cost you life or sometimes life of whole party.

 

[Seari]

https://tamrielfoundry.com/articles/the-ultimate-baldurs-gate-experience/

This is a good guideline for modding bg2, I do disagree with some of the choices so consult the readme and decide for yourself what to install.

Also fuck the EEs, do not recommend that shit.

 

[Lord Andre]

You have to be a complete fucktard to have trouble picking useful spells in BG2. First time I played it I was 12, had no internet, no manual and could barely read engrish and still I never once thought to myself "Shit, I need someone to spoon feed me which spells to pick!".

Kill yourself faggot, you're wasting precious air and water!

 

[Theldaran]

Isn't that "magical world" of AD&D, though?

If you taking about tabletop version, then no. Because in tabletop version exist GM, who can create situations where spell that was shit in BG can prove to be useful and etc.

Also, to avoid shit spells, you just need to READ. Even if bad comes to worse, you can just erase them from your spellbook and put in something more useful. In BG2 you earn extra experience for doing this by the thousands. Yay.

Oh, yeah, for avoiding shit spells player need to read...guidelines on Internet, because spell description in-game lack mentioning that they suck even against low level enemies and only Chromatic Orb,Identify, Spook somewhat live up expectations. Some people would say "pick rp spells, not op spells", but life of the wizard is tough and any mistake can cost you life or sometimes life of whole party.

1) That was referred to "boring fighters". Fighters are just as boring in BG as in the corresponding tabletop rules. Just swing your sword until you hit something and hopefully kill it.

2) If you don't realise you're into some combat-heavy game, it's not the devs' fault. To be extra sure you can just pick the flashy damage spells (the more dice of damage the merrier) since RP is gimped down in this game. It's just that some of us prefer the subtler tactics, like enchanting those Iron Throne goons in the first game and make them kill themselves. Once I read a sorry review that stated enchantment spells were useless, please avoid such misinformation.

 

[Rinslin Merwind]

You have to be a complete fucktard to have trouble picking useful spells in BG2. First time I played it I was 12, had no internet, no manual and could barely read engrish and still I never once thought to myself "Shit, I need someone to spoon feed me which spells to pick!".

Kill yourself faggot, you're wasting precious air and water!

Thanks for motivation to live, knowing that my existing cost some water and air to people like you I want to live even harder, breathing as more as possible and drink gallons of water. Who knows, maybe doing so I will bring people to extinction.

 

[Theldaran]

The only one you should care to extinguish is yourself. If you don't, then congrats, you're normal.

 

[Falksi]

Make sure you install the Gerbilling mod which allows you to insert Boo up Imoen's arsehole.

 

[Rinslin Merwind]

1) That was referred to "boring fighters". Fighters are just as boring in BG as in the corresponding tabletop rules. Just swing your sword until you hit something and hopefully kill it.

2) If you don't realise you're into some combat-heavy game, it's not the devs' fault. To be extra sure you can just pick the flashy damage spells (the more dice of damage the merrier) since RP is gimped down in this game. It's just that some of us prefer the subtler tactics, like enchanting those Iron Throne goons in the first game and make them kill themselves. Once I read a sorry review that stated enchantment spells were useless, please avoid such misinformation.

Oh, it seems we misunderstood each other, I thought you refer to magician and you thought that I somehow defended RP (although RPG without RP is truly sad display), while I just trying to make point that balance kinda broken. Btw, I newer saw anyone who claimed that enchantment completely broken, personaly I just think that they a bit subtle and balance favor nukers mages.

 

[Rinslin Merwind]

The only one you should care to extinguish is yourself. If you don't, then congrats, you're normal.

Sorry, but to whom are you talking to? What extinguish have to do with anything? This whole conversation become awkard.

 

[Theldaran]

1) That was referred to "boring fighters". Fighters are just as boring in BG as in the corresponding tabletop rules. Just swing your sword until you hit something and hopefully kill it.

2) If you don't realise you're into some combat-heavy game, it's not the devs' fault. To be extra sure you can just pick the flashy damage spells (the more dice of damage the merrier) since RP is gimped down in this game. It's just that some of us prefer the subtler tactics, like enchanting those Iron Throne goons in the first game and make them kill themselves. Once I read a sorry review that stated enchantment spells were useless, please avoid such misinformation.

Oh, it seems we misunderstood each other, I thought you refer to magician and you thought that I somehow defended RP (although RPG without RP is truly sad display), while I just trying to make point that balance kinda broken. Btw, I newer saw anyone who claimed that enchantment completely broken, personaly I just think that they a bit subtle and balance favor nukers mages.

1) There's RP, but it's still primitive. Still this is a very combat-oriented game.

2) Enchantment isn't broken since it doesn't even work on most enemies, but it's useful if you use it correctly, it can fix you some encounters.

3) Extinguish as in making Mankind go extinct. That's a bit edgy if you ask me. If you want somebody to go extinct, be the first to apply. It's so edgy, again, to ask that of everybody else.

 

[Rinslin Merwind]

3) Extinguish as in making Mankind go extinct. That's a bit edgy if you ask me. If you want somebody to go extinct, be the first to apply. It's so edgy, again, to ask that of everybody else.

Dude, extinguish and extinction different word with different meaning and what humanity have to do with degenerates who start conversation with suggestion to kill yourself (over a fucking computer game)? These "people" lost humanity long ago, so not much loss for civilization and world if some low breed garbage dies anyway.
Gotta love your logic:
1) I say something different than some random village idiot on Internet
2) Village idiot shows up and in primitive form suggest that I should kill myself (because I said "wrong" things about fictional computer game).
3) I show disrespect towards kind of "people" who start conversation in such way.
4) You call me edgy.
10/10 Logic, but I think you should work on it. Defending someone (no matter what kind of bullshit he talking) just because he hysterically defend your beloved game is not path of thinking human being.

 

[Theldaran]

Oh, he was edgy too, no doubt. But why are you so adamant on discussing that. Why not just ignore him.

Any questions?

 

[Rinslin Merwind]

Oh, he was edgy too, no doubt. But why are you so adamant on discussing that. Why not just ignore him.

Any questions?

I specifically did separate comment just for him, so he can taste his own medicine. And to you I wrote different comment, so we can continue discussion in more civilized manner. Anyway, I don't think this discussion about balance in bg2 have impactful meaning anymore, so I will stop this conversation at this point, since I have more important matters attend to.

 

[MilesBeyond]

No quality of life mods? I probably won't replay it soon, so I might as well mod it.

What's the hate for EE, btw? The UI seems fine from the screenshots.

It's a cash-grab. Beamdog's additions are inferior to most mods already created for the games they turn into EE, and they charge more than the originals cost. Their additional content, such as characters, are also pretty cringeworthy.

Counterpoint: EE makes the game more noob friendly by putting things like THAC0 right on the inventory screen instead of buried in the character records, and by making the contributing factors to your THAC0, damage, and AC more transparent. This is particularly helpful for kits with innate bonuses to these things.

Beamdog's new content is, without exception, terrible, but I do like their UI improvements. The previously mentioned AoE loot, as well as things like better organization of the Journal, the Records screen, and the spellcasting tab. These are all pretty minor, but nice to have. A much bigger thing, IMHO, is the implementation of BG1 things that BG2 got rid of - things like the save penalties for Specialist Mages, and the ability to talk to Charmed enemies to get additional dialogue (the latter was actually available in Tutu/BGT installs through a patch, albeit one that's relatively obscure, but I'm not aware of a single mod that added the former).

EE also gives you access to Siege of Dragonspear, which is maybe 6.5/10 content but can actually be enjoyable if you can retool your brain to think more in terms of a questionably-written Icewind Dale with Baldur's Gate characters. Also the new voice acting is super off-putting which is extra weird because it's all the same voice actors. But whatever.

In any case the whole point is moot because I don't think you can even get the originals anywhere without first buying the EE anyway.

But I think the real reason for getting the EEs is that the modding scene seems to be largely drifting towards them. Old mods are still being updated with Classic-friendly versions but it looks like newer projects are mostly based on the EE.

 

[Theldaran]

The EEs aren't so bad, they bring a handful of improvements, and they're definitely the long-staying version of the game (not that we have a say in it). It's just that it's still a money grab, since modders could have probably done the same or better with a big kickstarter or something. There's like no real point to Beamdog as a company, other than selling you the same games over again. I hate how they broke the game in some parts, those who called themselves "IE experts". The controversy will remain.

 

[ga♥]

BG2EE is the best EE. Just get the mod from Gibberlings3 that removes the new """"companions"""" and you are fine.


EDIT: it was spellhound studios - http://www.shsforums.net/files/file/1135-disable-enhanced-edition-npcs/

 

[drgames]

I swear, I cringed hard the first time I met Nera. She is a tumblr annoying little girl.

I am using SCS in my first playthrough.

 

[rusty_shackleford]

BG2EE is the best EE. Just get the mod from Gibberlings3 that removes the new """"companions"""" and you are fine.

 

[ga♥]

I swear, I cringed hard the first time I met Nera. She is a tumblr annoying little girl.

I am using SCS in my first playthrough.

It's funny because you can't even kill "her" on the spot the first time you meet on the bridge, because it's a big cutscene.
It's like they """"knew"""".

 

[ga♥]

Any tips on building a mage?

INT is completely, and I repeat, completely useless.
Go with 16 start MAX, you don't need it. You can use items to increase INT to learn spells, there's no other use for INT in the game than to learn spells.
Instead maximize DEX and CON (MAX 16 for it, you don't get a bonus after that).

But companion mages will be stronger than you; you better do something fancy like mage/thief - fighter/mage multiclass or fighter dual to mage if ever.

 

[Chippy]

I swear, I cringed hard the first time I met Nera. She is a tumblr annoying little girl.

I am using SCS in my first playthrough.

It's funny because you can't even kill "her" on the spot the first time you meet on the bridge, because it's a big cutscene.
It's like they """"knew"""".

BG2EE is the best EE. Just get the mod from Gibberlings3 that removes the new """"companions"""" and you are fine.

I tried a lite playthrough of the EE's for the first time to see if I could stomach them about +6months ago to trial run a SOD with EET playthorough. I got this bitch and immidiately tried to get rid of her - so she went to the copper cornet. Even multiple CTRL-Y wasn't enough to delete her, and she repeated some annonying voice over constantly to remid you she was there. They went out of their way with this one.

 

[abnaxus]

 

[Mr. Magniloquent]

Reposted from other thread with similar question:

Spoiler

Check out Gibberlings 3. They have most of the mods that are desirable. Spellhold Studious has most of the rest.

MUST:

Ascension
Wheels of Prophecy
Sword Coast Strategems
Spell Revisions
Item Revisions
Fixpacks
Tweaks Anthology
aTweaks (PnP fiends + HLA revisions)
Rogues Re-balanced

Recommend:

NPC Project (BG1)
PnP Celestials
Divine Remix
Wizard Slayer Revisions
Wild Mage expansion
Saradas Revisioned Shapeshifter
Unfinished Business
Oversight (Most for the Monk abilities)
G3 Anniversary Mod
Assassinations Mod
Paint BG

Potential:

Enhanced Edition Trilogy. Supposedly very stable now, but hasn't endured the test of time yet like other mods have. I haven't tried it out myself yet, but intend to.

DON'T:

Tactics. Whereas SCS is elegent and fair use of the rules to excellent effect, Tactics is just god-awful bloat and cheese. AVOID.
Nearly every single NPC mod out there. Valen, Kelsey, and Keto are decent, but for the most part--avoid these like the plague. Almost all are terribly written, snowflake, adolescent trash.

There are more mods, (I certainly use others) but this list is pretty comprehensive. Also, you might want to check out The Big World Project. It has been updated for EE I believe, and handles most of the work for installing all of these mods--including cross-mod compatibility.

 

[Grunker]

Also cool stuff like character outline or screen going grey when paused.

oh wow wouldn't live without 'em

Also the zoom out feature when opening map of the area is pretty cool.

That nausea-inducing eye-cancer is horrifying. There are people who actually like that effect? O_o