NWN Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition - Beamdog's final enhancement - now with new premium modules

[ERYFKRAD]

Unless you plan to use Tommy Undergallows, you should have high skills in pick locks, and game IS full of undead and spellcasters ARE really good.
Keep in mind there are some "special chests" that reward you with more powerful loot and have chance of generating more powerful loot if you reload before opening them, but many of those require high pickpocketing skill or lot of hacking, so hiring Tommy should be enough or simply having a familiar that does pickpocketing. I think it's pixie with highest skill.

This is what I was afraid of. Needing a lockpick monkey puts a damper on my enthusiasm. Can any of the other mercs learn to pick locks? If not, is it particularly crippling to learn it on a Wizard or Pally? Can't imagine it would be viable for the latter.

Bust them open

There are certain doors and chests that cannot be busted.

Not too many, and those usually have the key somewhere. I think only plotlocked stuff is unbreakable.

 

[BruceVC]

So, it's been... 18 years? since I've played the OC for NWN and I was thinking about giving it another go in the EE. Is any particular class a must play? I was thinking of either a Mage, Paladin or Thief. What would be the most fitting thematically?
I know SoU and HotU are a separate thing that are better off making a new character for. In regards to the OC though, would the aforementioned classes hamstring me in any way?

Im playing NWN EE now and Im on the last expansion, HotU

Its been a great experience and I have spent about 130 hours on this game. I decided to play a wizard and it is a good choice especially on higher levels with the selection of effective spells. Nothing quite like seeing monsters get decimated by Meteor Swarm
Let me know if you have any questions

 

[AliceAlcina]

Not too many, and those usually have the key somewhere. I think only plotlocked stuff is unbreakable.

For many of those, you need +3 weapon. Replaceable by rod of frost, but still good two to five minutes per chest.

 

[Mr. Magniloquent]

As others have said, the Pixie familiar for wizard is basically a free rogue. It will leech XP while out, but it will also increase the size of the encounters when they spawn. It's kind of a wash. It will slightly penalize your total XP, but you'll have less headache early on. You will still hit max level.

Another tip for wizards is that you can use Expertise feats to get a huge boost in AC at no cost. Also, Evard's Black Tentacles. It will be your greatest source of damage, especially against incorporeal enemies or things with high SR. Empower it. Extend it. Watch everything die. I would fill nearly all of my Level 4, 5, and 6 spell slots with it. Another thing, empowered spell mantle is better than greater spell mantle. Furthermore, only Extend and Empower metamagics are worth it.

 

[KörangarTheMighty]

Its been a great experience and I have spent about 130 hours on this game. I decided to play a wizard and it is a good choice especially on higher levels with the selection of effective spells. Nothing quite like seeing monsters get decimated by Meteor Swarm Let me know if you have any questions

Thanks, I'll post updates here if I get into a bind and keep an eye on the thread.

 

[Cael]

Unless you plan to use Tommy Undergallows, you should have high skills in pick locks, and game IS full of undead and spellcasters ARE really good.
Keep in mind there are some "special chests" that reward you with more powerful loot and have chance of generating more powerful loot if you reload before opening them, but many of those require high pickpocketing skill or lot of hacking, so hiring Tommy should be enough or simply having a familiar that does pickpocketing. I think it's pixie with highest skill.

This is what I was afraid of. Needing a lockpick monkey puts a damper on my enthusiasm. Can any of the other mercs learn to pick locks? If not, is it particularly crippling to learn it on a Wizard or Pally? Can't imagine it would be viable for the latter.

Bust them open

There are certain doors and chests that cannot be busted.

Not too many, and those usually have the key somewhere. I think only plotlocked stuff is unbreakable.

There are a few chests that are basically lockpick only. There is no key and you can't blow them up, even with fireballs. There is one in the basement of Helm's Hold, IIRC.

Also, there is a door in the HotU expansion that is lockpick only. You basically can't get through it unless you lockpick it, and the DC is so absurd only single classed PC rogues can do it, IIRC. It is not worth going through, though. Just a guy with a bit of extra lore or something like that.

 

[Cael]

As others have said, the Pixie familiar for wizard is basically a free rogue. It will leech XP while out, but it will also increase the size of the encounters when they spawn. It's kind of a wash. It will slightly penalize your total XP, but you'll have less headache early on. You will still hit max level.

Another tip for wizards is that you can use Expertise feats to get a huge boost in AC at no cost. Also, Evard's Black Tentacles. It will be your greatest source of damage, especially against incorporeal enemies or things with high SR. Empower it. Extend it. Watch everything die. I would fill nearly all of my Level 4, 5, and 6 spell slots with it. Another thing, empowered spell mantle is better than greater spell mantle. Furthermore, only Extend and Empower metamagics are worth it.

I prefer Isaac's Greater Missile Storm. Toss that at any single target encounter and the enemy vanishes.

 

[Mr. Magniloquent]

As others have said, the Pixie familiar for wizard is basically a free rogue. It will leech XP while out, but it will also increase the size of the encounters when they spawn. It's kind of a wash. It will slightly penalize your total XP, but you'll have less headache early on. You will still hit max level.

Another tip for wizards is that you can use Expertise feats to get a huge boost in AC at no cost. Also, Evard's Black Tentacles. It will be your greatest source of damage, especially against incorporeal enemies or things with high SR. Empower it. Extend it. Watch everything die. I would fill nearly all of my Level 4, 5, and 6 spell slots with it. Another thing, empowered spell mantle is better than greater spell mantle. Furthermore, only Extend and Empower metamagics are worth it.

I prefer Isaac's Greater Missile Storm. Toss that at any single target encounter and the enemy vanishes.

Empowered IGMSs will definitely kill any single creature with certainty. It's good for a burst of about 200 magic damage. Evard's Black Tentacles easily outpaces it though. It does bludgeoning damage, ignore spell resistance, can paralyze creatures, it lasts up to 10 rounds (w/o metamagic), has an AoE that affects multiple foes, and you can even kite them around it by circling the perimeter to maximize how many times they get hit. It's a devastating spell. Empower it to get more numerous and more powerful tentacles when you're lower level, then use Extend when you get above Level 10 and double the duration. Only thing that will survive it is something with a spell mantle or immunity, like a demilich or Raksasha.

 

[Cael]

As others have said, the Pixie familiar for wizard is basically a free rogue. It will leech XP while out, but it will also increase the size of the encounters when they spawn. It's kind of a wash. It will slightly penalize your total XP, but you'll have less headache early on. You will still hit max level.

Another tip for wizards is that you can use Expertise feats to get a huge boost in AC at no cost. Also, Evard's Black Tentacles. It will be your greatest source of damage, especially against incorporeal enemies or things with high SR. Empower it. Extend it. Watch everything die. I would fill nearly all of my Level 4, 5, and 6 spell slots with it. Another thing, empowered spell mantle is better than greater spell mantle. Furthermore, only Extend and Empower metamagics are worth it.

I prefer Isaac's Greater Missile Storm. Toss that at any single target encounter and the enemy vanishes.

Empowered IGMSs will definitely kill any single creature with certainty. It's good for a burst of about 200 magic damage. Evard's Black Tentacles easily outpaces it though. It does bludgeoning damage, ignore spell resistance, can paralyze creatures, it lasts up to 10 rounds (w/o metamagic), has an AoE that affects multiple foes, and you can even kite them around it by circling the perimeter to maximize how many times they get hit. It's a devastating spell. Empower it to get more numerous and more powerful tentacles when you're lower level, then use Extend when you get above Level 10 and double the duration. Only thing that will survive it is something with a spell mantle or immunity, like a demilich or Raksasha.

Too slow. I don't have the patience :D It is one of the reasons I like playing Fighter/Bard/RDD. Just stab-kill-kill.

Also why I like Isaac's.

 

[BruceVC]

Its been a great experience and I have spent about 130 hours on this game. I decided to play a wizard and it is a good choice especially on higher levels with the selection of effective spells. Nothing quite like seeing monsters get decimated by Meteor Swarm Let me know if you have any questions

Thanks, I'll post updates here if I get into a bind and keep an eye on the thread.

Let me know if you need advice on the Wise Wind battle which is very unbalanced

I encountered one really annoying " bug ", on the Golem Island you have the opportunity to create your own Golem if you a wizard . You need to find the 6 Golem parts and I could only find 5 and I searched literally every part of the dungeon. Also I experienced the " Nathyrra " bug on this island where she doesnt join any battle and stands their like some useless statue

But these issues are temporary and dont detract from the overall game and enjoyment

 

[d1nolore]

There is also the spell “Knock”, and “Find Traps” for that matter. If you really want you can bash things open with improved power attack, almost everything minus plot objects can be bashed. NWN loot is not that special or unique that you would waste time reloading on chests or stressing about missing anything. Most things you can buy if you miss them. There is also crafting with the expansions. The henchmen are retarded and nwn is easy so you don’t “need” to use them or use a specific one. You can also multiclass and do something like barbarian/rogue to get sneak attack and some skills, always take rogue as the first level as you will get a ton of skill points which you can save if you want.

There is also the option of playing multiplayer with a friend or two, nwn is optimised for multiplayer.

 

[Lacrymas]

I played the NWN OC with a friend once, he literally fell asleep on the keyboard. I'm not joking or exaggerating.

 

[BruceVC]

I played the NWN OC with a friend once, he literally fell asleep on the keyboard. I'm not joking or exaggerating.

Are you sure he hadnt taken sleeping pills by accident because thats a real criticism of NWN. Because its not that boring and the expansions are really exciting

But I do agree OC is the least exciting

Your story made me laugh :D

 

[BruceVC]

There is also the spell “Knock”, and “Find Traps” for that matter. If you really want you can bash things open with improved power attack, almost everything minus plot objects can be bashed. NWN loot is not that special or unique that you would waste time reloading on chests or stressing about missing anything. Most things you can buy if you miss them. There is also crafting with the expansions. The henchmen are retarded and nwn is easy so you don’t “need” to use them or use a specific one. You can also multiclass and do something like barbarian/rogue to get sneak attack and some skills, always take rogue as the first level as you will get a ton of skill points which you can save if you want.

There is also the option of playing multiplayer with a friend or two, nwn is optimised for multiplayer.

And just to add to this you can use spells to destroy trapped chests and doors and negate the trap, I dont think you can do this to floor traps?

 

[Lacrymas]

Are you sure he hadnt taken sleeping pills by accident because thats a real criticism of NWN. Because its not that boring and the expansions are really exciting

But I do agree OC is the least exciting

Your story made me laugh :D

He didn't take sleeping pills ;d It didn't help that he was playing a low level arcane archer. It's also doubly funny because we were like 15-16 and sleeping wasn't a huge priority. NWN OC is terrible, though, don't play it.

 

[KörangarTheMighty]

So, I'm about three hours in so here are my initial thoughts. In short, I'm enjoying aspects of it but 40+ hours of this is gonna be a rough sit.

Every camera mode is clunky and to my knowledge, unless I missed an obvious setting, you can't even unlock the camera from the character to pan around the map. I'm sure this was less of an issue on 4:3 monitors but it's an annoyance in widescreen. This was basic shit that was in the IE games.

Next, I'll move on to the UI. I can't believe how terrible it is, even in the enhanced edition. I don't know how I tolerated it as a kid. It's like they couldn't decide whether they wanted to make it like a single player RPG or an MMO. Every panel is locked in position. You can't move them around or resize them, and many of the panels are in stupid locations. The dialog window being in the top left rather than above the skill bar is baffling. Every thing is either too big or too small and it doesn't matter what scale you use. Microscopic spell icons and radial drag menu, giant inventory panel. The radial interaction menu itself reminds me of console games and that's not a good thing on PC. The map is again too small and poorly detailed. The inventory... holy shit, the inventory. I cannot believe they couldn't implement the ease of sorting feature that had been in RPGs since Diablo came out, also featured in IWD/BG, where if you pick up one item and set it back down over another item, the other item would be automatically picked up so you could move it somewhere else. No. This game wants you to move ONE item at a time into a specifically allotted space as if my character is an amputee with only one arm. Thank god they gave you four panels because I'm going to have to keep one clear at all times to even sort my inventory.

The companion AI. I falsely remember being able to make a marquee box over them to give them commands as in the infinity engine games. Nope.avi. Unless I missed something, I can't just select the companion, I need to use the shitty radial menu and possess them to even use their skills. Moreover, when set to follow they're always too far back (2-3 tiles away) jerking off, so I'm almost guaranteed to take a hit before they get into proper tanking position.

Lastly, I have no idea why they even bothered to have limited cantrip slots if they were just going to hand me a wand after completing the first quest that allows me to use a cantrip as an auto attack. It also seems like the Sleep spell does fuck-all in this game. Several times, I shot it into a group of goblins and nary a one went down. If a low level spell is completely useless on the easiest enemies in the game I have no idea how it's going to be useful later. Also, the resting system. Holy shit, you can't rest fucking anywhere, there's always enemies near by even when the map is clear.

Anyway, it's been fun but basically I've been rationing my spells as a mage, barely casting anything and just wanding things to death with ray of frost while kiting, praying I don't run out of room to run. I'm actually quite enjoying myself.

I do have one question though pertaining to mages. Does the spellbook contain enough room to memorize every spell per spell level? Or do I need to be choosy? That's one of the things I hated about Baldur's Gate. Being able to tote around 30+ full plate harnesses, but being unable to buy another spellbook.

 

[Cael]

So, I'm about three hours in so here are my initial thoughts. In short, I'm enjoying aspects of it but 40+ hours of this is gonna be a rough sit.

Every camera mode is clunky and to my knowledge, unless I missed an obvious setting, you can't even unlock the camera from the character to pan around the map. I'm sure this was less of an issue on 4:3 monitors but it's an annoyance in widescreen. This was basic shit that was in the IE games.

Next, I'll move on to the UI. I can't believe how terrible it is, even in the enhanced edition. I don't know how I tolerated it as a kid. It's like they couldn't decide whether they wanted to make it like a single player RPG or an MMO. Every panel is locked in position. You can't move them around or resize them, and many of the panels are in stupid locations. The dialog window being in the top left rather than above the skill bar is baffling. Every thing is either too big or too small and it doesn't matter what scale you use. Microscopic spell icons and radial drag menu, giant inventory panel. The radial interaction menu itself reminds me of console games and that's not a good thing on PC. The map is again too small and poorly detailed. The inventory... holy shit, the inventory. I cannot believe they couldn't implement the ease of sorting feature that had been in RPGs since Diablo came out, also featured in IWD/BG, where if you pick up one item and set it back down over another item, the other item would be automatically picked up so you could move it somewhere else. No. This game wants you to move ONE item at a time into a specifically allotted space as if my character is an amputee with only one arm. Thank god they gave you four panels because I'm going to have to keep one clear at all times to even sort my inventory.

The companion AI. I falsely remember being able to make a marquee box over them to give them commands as in the infinity engine games. Nope.avi. Unless I missed something, I can't just select the companion, I need to use the shitty radial menu and possess them to even use their skills. Moreover, when set to follow they're always too far back (2-3 tiles away) jerking off, so I'm almost guaranteed to take a hit before they get into proper tanking position.

Lastly, I have no idea why they even bothered to have limited cantrip slots if they were just going to hand me a wand after completing the first quest that allows me to use a cantrip as an auto attack. It also seems like the Sleep spell does fuck-all in this game. Several times, I shot it into a group of goblins and nary a one went down. If a low level spell is completely useless on the easiest enemies in the game I have no idea how it's going to be useful later. Also, the resting system. Holy shit, you can't rest fucking anywhere, there's always enemies near by even when the map is clear.

Anyway, it's been fun but basically I've been rationing my spells as a mage, barely casting anything and just wanding things to death with ray of frost while kiting, praying I don't run out of room to run. I'm actually quite enjoying myself.

I do have one question though pertaining to mages. Does the spellbook contain enough room to memorize every spell per spell level? Or do I need to be choosy? That's one of the things I hated about Baldur's Gate. Being able to tote around 30+ full plate harnesses, but being unable to buy another spellbook.

You can learn all spells as a wizard as long as they are not on your restricted list (i.e., specialist wizard).

 

[Bad Sector]

Every camera mode is clunky and to my knowledge, unless I missed an obvious setting, you can't even unlock the camera from the character to pan around the map. I'm sure this was less of an issue on 4:3 monitors but it's an annoyance in widescreen. This was basic shit that was in the IE games.

FWIW whenever i play this game (note that i do not have the EE yet, just the Diamond edition) i just use a low resolution 4:3 video mode with integer scaling (e.g. 960x720) and the high resolution font. Personally i use the "top down" camera (default mode) and just click around to move. Note that you can click on the map.

Next, I'll move on to the UI. I can't believe how terrible it is, even in the enhanced edition. I don't know how I tolerated it as a kid. It's like they couldn't decide whether they wanted to make it like a single player RPG or an MMO. Every panel is locked in position. You can't move them around or resize them, and many of the panels are in stupid locations.

The issue is that it was designed for the low resolutions and 4:3 aspect ratio of the time. Sadly this is an issue with all games based on the Aurora engine (except NWN2, which for some reason is the only one that allows you to move UI elements around). I pretty much never play these games with any resolution above 720p since the UI ends up being spread too far away, doesn't scale and text looks tiny.

 

[plem]

It also seems like the Sleep spell does fuck-all in this game. Several times, I shot it into a group of goblins and nary a one went down. If a low level spell is completely useless on the easiest enemies in the game I have no idea how it's going to be useful later.

either your DC is way too low or you were just unlucky. Sleep has a hit dice limit so it'll be useless in higher levels (by design) unless you metamagic it.

 

[KörangarTheMighty]

either your DC is way too low or you were just unlucky. Sleep has a hit dice limit so it'll be useless in higher levels (by design) unless you metamagic it.

My Int is 16. Not 18 to start, but it should be more than enough for tutorial goblins. Guess I was unlucky, but 0/4 or 5 twice doesn't fill me with confidence.

 

[Cael]

either your DC is way too low or you were just unlucky. Sleep has a hit dice limit so it'll be useless in higher levels (by design) unless you metamagic it.

My Int is 16. Not 18 to start, but it should be more than enough for tutorial goblins. Guess I was unlucky, but 0/4 or 5 twice doesn't fill me with confidence.

Int 16 means it is DC14. That will mean gobbos will probably save vs it about 40-50% of the time. Thing with the NWN RNG is that it is clumpy as hell. It is very obvious if you have show rolls on and engaged in combat. A long string of sub-10 rolls followed by a bunch of 14+.

 

[BruceVC]

I completed this game and all the expansions last night and HotU was the most entertaining and fun

My wizard got to level 25 and I got access to Epic spells which made a huge difference in battles where I could summon the Dragon Knight and Mummy Dust, it was very rewarding seeing my dragon destroy monsters. Exploring the Underdark and Undermountain was great and I enjoyed my sojourn in the Nine Hells and Carnia

I defeated Mephistopheles by learning his true name so I avoided that epic battle and I banished him back to Carnia

Oh and I Romanced and forgave the beautiful Aribeth....sure she betrayed Neverwinter and contributed towards the death of thousands but we all make mistakes. And I made sure she didnt align with Mephistopheles at the end

 

[KörangarTheMighty]

Int 16 means it is DC14. That will mean gobbos will probably save vs it about 40-50% of the time. Thing with the NWN RNG is that it is clumpy as hell. It is very obvious if you have show rolls on and engaged in combat. A long string of sub-10 rolls followed by a bunch of 14+.

I do have show rolls enabled but I didn't take note at the time unfortunately. That seems a rather high chance to resist for the easiest enemies in the game though. Sorry I couldn't reply sooner, my PSU died last week and the new one just came in the mail today. Gonna get back at it soon.

 

[d1nolore]

Int 16 means it is DC14. That will mean gobbos will probably save vs it about 40-50% of the time. Thing with the NWN RNG is that it is clumpy as hell. It is very obvious if you have show rolls on and engaged in combat. A long string of sub-10 rolls followed by a bunch of 14+.

I do have show rolls enabled but I didn't take note at the time unfortunately. That seems a rather high chance to resist for the easiest enemies in the game though. Sorry I couldn't reply sooner, my PSU died last week and the new one just came in the mail today. Gonna get back at it soon.

You can get the feats Spell focus and Greater spell focus for specific spell schools to up your DC’s. Plus cast Fox’s Cunning, which you can empower later on as well. So you can quickly get DC to 20+

 

[Mr. Magniloquent]

One thing I very much appreciate about NWN not being 3.5, is that Spell Focus and Greater Spell Focus give +2 DC each. Far more appropriate. It really made the bonus feats on the Wizard worth it over a sorcerer, since you could count on your spells landing.