what do you think of baldurs gate?

[lord of the mark]

Ive never played an RPG, but thinking of branching out from strategy games, and i see BG frequently in bargain bins.

Is it good - how does it relate to other RPG's and subgenres within RPG. Is it particularly violent/gory? Good story and gameplay?

Would this be a good RPG to start on?

[The Pioneer]

Well, Bg is the best RPG I've played it has an excellent story line good graphics (for it's time) and it is involving. It's not gory and it is by no means a simple hack and slash rpg game. If you've ever played AD&D games you will feel at home after a little while.


BG has become a classic and BG II is even better.

So long...

[St Leo]

I've reinstalled it this weekend to give it a second try and sunk in a few hours.

Some thoughts:
-you have to reload saves all the time because your characters keep dying and dying and dying. Though my party has a full six now, I have already lost three of the "we wanna go to Nashkel" gang, Minsc, and the Moonblade wielder.
-there is no clear listing of objectives unless you count the War and Peace that is your Journal. I've cleared the Nashkel mines and the, uhm, Gnoll (?) Fortress, but don't know where to go from there. Currently I am just wandering around the maps and following a lead on some pirate treasure in a cove.
-why aren't the thieves in a permanent find-traps mode? The way things stand, you have to walk into the trap, reload, and then send out the thief to map it out.
-the levelling is very slow and there don't seem to be any other rewarding things in the game.

I am playing as a Neutral Chaotic Dwarven Female Fighter Ingrid. Meh.

[St Leo]

I've reinstalled it this weekend to give it a second try and sunk in a few hours.

Some thoughts:
-you have to reload saves all the time because your characters keep dying and dying and dying. Though my party has a full six now, I have already lost three of the "we wanna go to Nashkel" gang, Minsc, and the Moonblade wielder.
-there is no clear listing of objectives unless you count the War and Peace that is your Journal. I've cleared the Nashkel mines and the, uhm, Gnoll (?) Fortress, but don't know where to go from there. Currently I am just wandering around the maps and following a lead on some pirate treasure in a cove.
-why aren't the thieves in a permanent find-traps mode? The way things stand, you have to walk into the trap, reload, and then send out the thief to map it out.
-the levelling is very slow and there don't seem to be any other rewarding things in the game.

I am playing as a Neutral Chaotic Dwarven Female Fighter Ingrid. Meh.

[Dis]

great game.

Baldur's Gate 2 is much better even. In fact I played that one first, so I have much more affection to that one.

Dying isn't a problem once you get used to how to play it and how the spells work. The first time will be tough though- esp. if you aren't familiar with D&D.

the Journal is thourough, but I think in the first one it doesn't seperate finished quests from unfinished quests- which is annoying. Even newer games like Morrowind don't do this . I hate that. Baldur's Gate 2 does fix this. So your quests are much, much easier to wade through.

Levelling can be slow- but that is the true D&D way. As for rewarding things- well if you don't enjoy the story and completing quests and killing monsters- then you probably won't find the game rewarding.

[Dis]

I forgot to mention about RPG's. It's tough to say whether you will like them. They aren't for everyone. But if you like a game with a good story, and aren't afraid of games that have swords, axes, and magical spells in them- then this game is worth a try.

[FrustratedPoet]

Baldur's Gate 2 will be a budget title in the UK soon. Only £5.

[Jamski]

If I post you a fiver, can you get it for me FP? Its still 20 Euros here, and in German too

-Jam

[Grumbold]

Baldurs Gate II is one of the best AD&D roleplaying PC games. If you are at all familiar with (Advanced) Dungeons and Dragons then it will be fun to play. For those who come to RPGs fresh I would not recommend it so much. The rule system is quirky and not intuitive. I would suggest you try a game that was designed purely for the computer instead.

Fallout 1&2 are brilliant post-apocalypse RPGs. Morrowind is a good fantasy RPG.

[Datajack Franit]

Baldurs Gate is pretty good, if you can stand some bugs here and there- get it

[FrustratedPoet]

Originally posted by Jamski
If I post you a fiver, can you get it for me FP? Its still 20 Euros here, and in German too

-Jam

Sure dude, but it's not been released on budget yet. It should be out in the next few weeks (maybe in Europe too? I have no idea). I'm planning to get a copy myself, so when I see it in the shops I'll drop you a PM and we can maybe work something out.

[Jamski]

You're the MAN

-Jam

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Grumbold
Baldurs Gate II is one of the best AD&D roleplaying PC games. If you are at all familiar with (Advanced) Dungeons and Dragons then it will be fun to play. For those who come to RPGs fresh I would not recommend it so much. The rule system is quirky and not intuitive. I would suggest you try a game that was designed purely for the computer instead.

Fallout 1&2 are brilliant post-apocalypse RPGs. Morrowind is a good fantasy RPG.

Im not real familiar with D and D. When i was in high school I had a friend who was into the pencil and paper game, and talked about it a lot, but i never played (well we started once at a party, but never got very far IIRC)

Ive read a lot of Tolkien, so im familiar with elves and dwarves and such like.

Are you suggesting Fallout and morrowind as easier for a first time RPG player?? I need something that will run on my dinosaur 'puter, only 48meg RAM. If you think these are worthwhile games, i might go check out the specs.

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by lord of the mark
Are you suggesting Fallout and morrowind as easier for a first time RPG player?? I need something that will run on my dinosaur 'puter, only 48meg RAM. If you think these are worthwhile games, i might go check out the specs.

I wouldn't even both checking out Morrowind with your machine.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
I wouldn't even both checking out Morrowind with your machine.

thats pretty much why im checking out RPG's. When i get a new machine there are a bunch of strategy titles i want to check out - meanwhile im pretty much out of strat titles im really interested in that run on my machine and are available in retail (despite avid bargain bin diving) I could always get some more obscure stuff online, but this seems like a good time to "broaden my horizons" thats why i thought of Baldurs Gate, which does fit my machine specs.