Baldur's Gate Enhanced Edition

[Jeivar]

So . . . I'm wondering why there has been absolutely no news for a while now. The latest update at the baldursgate.com site is from May 10th.

Has someone with more internet-fu than me heard something?

[Jeivar]

So . . . I'm wondering why there has been absolutely no news for a while now. The latest update at the baldursgate.com site is from May 10th.

Has someone with more internet-fu than me heard something?

Anyone? Am I the only one excited about this?

[J.Gellert]

I am not really excited but the lack of news seemed interesting enough to check.

There's "news" on Twitter, for example here https://twitter.com/#!/TrentOster

There's mention of DLC

[Mx.Silver]

There are apparently plans to include some new NPCs as DLC. Beyond that, things are still pretty quiet.

[Khosan]

There are apparently plans to include some new NPCs as DLC. Beyond that, things are still pretty quiet.

...

Deekin?

[Seharvepernfan]

Anyone? Am I the only one excited about this?

No, but I don't know any more than you do.

In other news, I went through and played the series start to finish in fall 2009. The idea was, this is my last time through, I'm going to play the perfect character for me, I'm going to play it right, and I'm going to do everything, and I did, and it was great. NOW they're bringing it back with more content? It's been about three years...is that long enough for a complete rerun?

I played a male elf fighter/mage/thief. Stats started as 18/93, 19, 7, 18, 13, 13 (not too sure about charisma). Apparently a 7 con is about the same as a 10 in 3rd edition. Used longswords and longbows, natch. I hate not being able to use an item that I have, and I hate not having the ability to do something. The thief skills are a bit slow to pick up, but with items you're usually good enough (until ToB). You also level up extremely slowly at the start, but it's worth it later on.

I'm tempted to play the same thing again, but I still haven't decided. I think the game assumes a male paladin, it might be fun to give that a shot. I really like that first portrait.

I can't remember who exactly I used besides the people I usually use, but this time I plan on using Kivan this time, because I've never used him before due to his less-than-Coran's stats. I'm also going to allow Eldoth into my party until I get Skie, then murder him when she's out of the room (I think a 19str longsword backstab oughta chunk him). I've never used either of them, either. I'll probably use any new npcs, just to experience them.

[Calemyr]

No, but I don't know any more than you do.

In other news, I went through and played the series start to finish in fall 2009. The idea was, this is my last time through, I'm going to play the perfect character for me, I'm going to play it right, and I'm going to do everything, and I did, and it was great. NOW they're bringing it back with more content? It's been about three years...is that long enough for a complete rerun?

I played a male elf fighter/mage/thief. Stats started as 18/93, 19, 7, 18, 13, 13 (not too sure about charisma). Apparently a 7 con is about the same as a 10 in 3rd edition. Used longswords and longbows, natch. I hate not being able to use an item that I have, and I hate not having the ability to do something. The thief skills are a bit slow to pick up, but with items you're usually good enough (until ToB). You also level up extremely slowly at the start, but it's worth it later on.

I'm tempted to play the same thing again, but I still haven't decided. I think the game assumes a male paladin, it might be fun to give that a shot. I really like that first portrait.

I can't remember who exactly I used besides the people I usually use, but this time I plan on using Kivan this time, because I've never used him before due to his less-than-Coran's stats. I'm also going to allow Eldoth into my party until I get Skie, then murder him when she's out of the room (I think a 19str longsword backstab oughta chunk him). I've never used either of them, either. I'll probably use any new npcs, just to experience them.

Kivan is a solid ally and a solid character, especially in a Tutu or Trilogy game and unquestionably so if you give him the Archer kit for the Rangers. He's not that interesting a character, just a good man on a roaring rampage of revenge - the source of good movies, but not fascinating sidekicks.

Curse you, Seharvepernfan. Curse you for bringing up the concept of a new run of the old game. Do you know how many hours you have just killed of mine? Who do I play? Calemyr, the fighter/thief? Scion, the monk? Ardgein, the axe mage? Who do I take along this time? CRAAAAAP! Any particularly interesting NPC mods in the last couple years?

And Jeivar? No, you're not alone. The silence is driving me nuts. BG2 is one of my happiest memories of college (all-night LAN parties in the computer lab, good times), so I really hope they do it right.

But we see no evidence anywhere of how they're changing it, if they're keeping the old ham-rich, improbably russian accents, and such. The only screens I've ever seen used screenshots of the original game. I've got absolutely nothing and it's really bothering me.

[Weezer]

For those who didn't catch it the twitter account linked up-thread just confirmed that BGEE will be released before end of the summer.

[Kish]

Kivan is a solid ally and a solid character, especially in a Tutu or Trilogy game and unquestionably so if you give him the Archer kit for the Rangers. He's not that interesting a character, just a good man on a roaring rampage of revenge - the source of good movies, but not fascinating sidekicks.

You left out "constantly stoned" ("Why are we in this dungeon, I ask repeatedly with a gratuitous dig at dwarves." "That was a noble deed. I am not going to clarify which deed I mean. It may have been hours or days ago, and I may have already said that a dozen times."), "randomly insulting" ("To compliment one of my companions, I will insult all the others!"), and "whiny."

[Morty]

To be fair though, many of the Baldur's Gate 1 NPCs were a little... out there.

[Calemyr]

To be fair though, many of the Baldur's Gate 1 NPCs were a little... out there.

Yeah. The writing for BG2 was much better where NPCs were concerned, and BG2 didn't have completely useless throwaway characters like Tiax and Quayle (a cleric with 10 wisdom? seriously?). That's one of the things I really liked about Tutu/Trilogy - the BG1NPC project, which turned most of their nonsense into BG2 style banters and added things like romances (I thought Dynaheir's was excellent). That mod made BG1 enjoyable for me, because it really wasn't in the original form.

[Morty]

Mods certainly help, yes. I'm not sure which ones I used when I last played Baldur's Gate Trilogy - which was about a year ago, I think - but I certainly did use some. There was one that moves Alora to Gullykin, so she's a little bit more practical to recruit... it was a part of one of the big mods, I think. If I were to make a party with Safana - like I once did in vanilla BG1 - I'd also look for a mod that moves her, since otherwise she's found in the middle of nowhere.

[bluntpencil]

There are apparently plans to include some new NPCs as DLC. Beyond that, things are still pretty quiet.

Solaufein, in SoA might be cool.

[Calemyr]

Solaufein, in SoA might be cool.

I hope not. I really didn't like that mod. Where it wasn't dull it was overdone, where it wasn't overdone it reeked of Sue. Viconia was a decent dark elf companion, but I don't want a setting where Nale's comment that all drow are now chaotic good rebels to be true. There are so many more interesting mNPCs to go after. Kelsey being an obvious one in my book, and Keto was promising, just never extended into ToB.

If there were two NPC mods I'd want implemented, though, it'd probably be d'Arnise Romance and the non-romantic half of the Imoen Romance mod, because I really think both of them could have really been great with some more substance. Imoen is always great, of course, but her lack of banters in anything before ToB is kinda sad, and even that is bugged.

Nalia always struck me as an ideal counter to the vanilla romance options, if only because she was a non-elven, non-divine caster. She also had a great deal less in the way of emotional baggage, surprisingly for someone who only recently saw her own father and most of the castle staff killed. She's more or less my head-cannon choice for the love interest, if only they'd ever add ToB content to it...

[ThiagoMartell]

I hope not. I really didn't like that mod.

If they add Solaufein as a character, I doubt he'd be anywhere similar to the mod.
Solaufein the NPC is not even Chaotic Good like that dude in the mod - he's Lawful Neutral.

I'd really like to have Solaufein as a possible NPC. He is an interesting character and a different twist on drow. The only other character like him that I know is Ryld Argith and he is the most awesome character in all of his series.

[bluntpencil]

I hope not. I really didn't like that mod. Where it wasn't dull it was overdone, where it wasn't overdone it reeked of Sue. Viconia was a decent dark elf companion, but I don't want a setting where Nale's comment that all drow are now chaotic good rebels to be true. There are so many more interesting mNPCs to go after. Kelsey being an obvious one in my book, and Keto was promising, just never extended into ToB.

If there were two NPC mods I'd want implemented, though, it'd probably be d'Arnise Romance and the non-romantic half of the Imoen Romance mod, because I really think both of them could have really been great with some more substance. Imoen is always great, of course, but her lack of banters in anything before ToB is kinda sad, and even that is bugged.

Nalia always struck me as an ideal counter to the vanilla romance options, if only because she was a non-elven, non-divine caster. She also had a great deal less in the way of emotional baggage, surprisingly for someone who only recently saw her own father and most of the castle staff killed. She's more or less my head-cannon choice for the love interest, if only they'd ever add ToB content to it...

I didn't mean the mod, I meant properly developed.

[Rake21]

You left out "constantly stoned" ("Why are we in this dungeon, I ask repeatedly with a gratuitous dig at dwarves." "That was a noble deed. I am not going to clarify which deed I mean. It may have been hours or days ago, and I may have already said that a dozen times."), "randomly insulting" ("To compliment one of my companions, I will insult all the others!"), and "whiny."

In Kivan's defense, he's pretty damn good at killing, and much less obnoxious than one of Bioware's later whinny-companions cough*Carth*cough.

[arguskos]

I hope not. I really didn't like that mod. Where it wasn't dull it was overdone, where it wasn't overdone it reeked of Sue. Viconia was a decent dark elf companion, but I don't want a setting where Nale's comment that all drow are now chaotic good rebels to be true. There are so many more interesting mNPCs to go after. Kelsey being an obvious one in my book, and Keto was promising, just never extended into ToB.

If they do not add the Xan BG2 mod to BG2EE I will burn their houses down in outrage. It may be the greatest NPC mod for BG2, though Keto, Kelsey, Fade, Angelo BG2, and perhaps Varshoon are all worth inclusion as well.

[Calemyr]

I didn't mean the mod, I meant properly developed.

You... you mean... properly developed? Okay, I take it back, that would be kinda cool. By the end of your time in the Underdark, Sol is an exile who has already admitted to you that he is secretly devoted to a generally pleasant deity.

He could have indeed been made into something interesting, if he were written as a proper ensemble character and not as a second main character. Yeah, I take it back, that could be good, although he'd be a rather late addition.

Still, I'd rather they flesh out some of the more rushed characters and include dropped content like Haer'dalis and Aerie. If they can do both, of course, sweet.

If they do not add the Xan BG2 mod to BG2EE I will burn their houses down in outrage. It may be the greatest NPC mod for BG2, though Keto, Kelsey, Fade, Angelo BG2, and perhaps Varshoon are all worth inclusion as well.

Never tried Xan... Is he really that good? Maybe he'll have to be my new 6th. Does he have ToB content?

[arguskos]

Never tried Xan... Is he really that good? Maybe he'll have to be my new 6th. Does he have ToB content?

He is pretty solid if you don't romance him, and unbelievable if you do. Worth playing a female character for his romance alone (there's three or four romance paths, all of which are awesome and highly detailed).

He is voice acted (well), has scads and scads of content, never Sue's, is well-written, and has ToB content that varies based on your romance path with him. It's... it's really amazing. I can't suggest it enough.

[Wraith]

I might just be making crazed wishes without any grounding in reality, but I would declare undying allegiance to Bioware forever if they come up with a Mazzy Fentan Romance option.

[Winthur]

He is voice acted (well), has scads and scads of content, never Sue's, is well-written, and has ToB content that varies based on your romance path with him. It's... it's really amazing. I can't suggest it enough.

What good is a mage if I can't spam Magic Missiles D:

(Screw Fireball, Exploding Skull all the way)

[arguskos]

What good is a mage if I can't spam Magic Missiles D:

(Screw Fireball, Exploding Skull all the way)

Haha the mod can fix that too! Ever wanted Xan to be a normal Mage, a Wild Mage, or a Fighter/Mage? Xan BG2 has got ya covered!

Also, yeah, Skull Trap is amazing. Big love to Skull Trap.

[Winthur]

Haha the mod can fix that too! Ever wanted Xan to be a normal Mage, a Wild Mage, or a Fighter/Mage? Xan BG2 has got ya covered!

Dude, playing D&D 3.5 with casual friends who only played Baldur's Gate is so funny when they look at your list of spells and are like "Color Spray?? Sleep?? Where's Magic Missile?????"

Also, I'd prefer to keep it pure anyway. Any other great Evocation spells that get banned along Magic Missile? Maybe I'll pick Xan up for my next playthrough (together with Edwin, for instance)

[mangosta71]

Dude, playing D&D 3.5 with casual friends who only played Baldur's Gate is so funny when they look at your list of spells and are like "Color Spray?? Sleep?? Where's Magic Missile?????"

Don't forget Grease. Completely useless in cRPGs, great in tabletop.

[ThiagoMartell]

Don't forget Grease. Completely useless in cRPGs, great in tabletop.

That's more a matter of AD&D vs 3.5 than cRPG vs tabletop

[arguskos]

Dude, playing D&D 3.5 with casual friends who only played Baldur's Gate is so funny when they look at your list of spells and are like "Color Spray?? Sleep?? Where's Magic Missile?????"

Been there. I still prepare MM 1/day on my 3.5 mages. Gotta show some respect for the heavy classics!

Also, I'd prefer to keep it pure anyway. Any other great Evocation spells that get banned along Magic Missile? Maybe I'll pick Xan up for my next playthrough (together with Edwin, for instance)

One moment. Let me check.

*fires up ShadowKeeper*

The spells I care about that you lose by dropping Evocation include the following:
-Chromatic Orb (ever since I one-shot the Shadow Dragon with this spell I always keep one on hand)
-Magic Missile (herpderpamazing)
-Web (this one hurts to lose, IMO)
-Lightning Bolt (you can replace Fireball with Skull Trap easily enough, but the Bolt is tougher to replace due to nothing else duplicating the ricochet effect)
-Ice Storm (eh, it's a decent spell but not too rough to lose)
-Cloudkill (not great later on, but good in the early stages of BG2 and an ABSOLUTE house in BG1)
-Sunfire (sad for Fighter/Mages who like being trolls)
-Chain Lightning (a personal favorite, but not really that amazing)
-Death Fog (see above)
-Delayed Blast Fireball (this one is rough to lose, stacking these is just too fun)
-Mordenkainen's Sword (damn, I forgot this was Evoc, it huuuuuurts to lose the Sword)
-Every Sequencer spell (also, a really bad set of things to lose)
-The Bigby's Hand spells (I kinda like 'em, but they're meh)
-Meteor Swarm (a decent AoE, but Horrid Wilting is better)
-Wish (by technicality, Wish is an Invoc/Evoc spell as well as a Conj spell. I don't recall if banning Evoc means you lose Wish as well, but if so, there's that to consider)

Overall, the loss of some seriously powerful spells (Sword, Sequencers, MM) makes me wary to drop the school. You can probably get away with it, but I'd advise against having no access to Evoc in your party.

[Logic]

After looking at the Forgotten Realms wiki to see all these characters you keep mentioning, I realize I must have missed out on over half the game! So many NPCs I never heard of, used and in most cases never even met! (Though, some were modded characters, and I still don't think I have ever installed a mod on ANY game myself.)

This is a MUST BUY.

[Kish]

-Meteor Swarm (a decent AoE, but Horrid Wilting is better)

More to the point, by the time you can cast it, you can also cast Dragon's Breath or Comet with the same slots.

[Morty]

Hm, the Xan mod does look pretty good. If my Fighter of an as of yet unnamed modded kit ends up Lawful Neutral rather than Lawful Evil, maybe I'll consider installing it and recruiting him.
As for Solaufein, I'm not sure how well-written he is but he'd suffer from the same problem as Imoen - he appears late in the game when you already have a complete party. So if you wanted to recruit him, you'd probably have to leave one of your companions in the Underdark, unless the mod addresses it somehow.