29 réponses à ce sujet

[MassFrost]

I've been doing some searching around and can't really seem to find an answer to this. I don't mean a pirated version, I mean a store that sells the Baldur's Gate series as a digital download. Heard a lot of great things about the games and figured I'd try them out, but all I can seem to find are pirated versions of the game floating around.

[Seagloom]

Unfortunately that isn't an option currently. Your best bet is to buy a set on old fashioned discs.

[Seagloom]

Neither have I. All my games are on disc. I'm a packaging snob. ;)Hehe... bad choice of words I guess. I *feel* like it's old fashioned when so many around me download everything, including one of my closet friends. He's been trying to lure me to Steam for ages.

Modifié par Seagloom, 19 mars 2010 - 09:21 .

[AshedMan]

Seagloom wrote...

Neither have I. All my games are on disc. I'm a packaging snob. ;)Hehe... bad choice of words I guess. I *feel* like it's old fashioned when so many around me download everything, including one of my closet friends. He's been trying to lure me to Steam for ages.

You should listen to your friend.  I once hated Steam.  I am now converted.

[Seagloom]

Naw. My friend is too logical for his own good. I rather cling to my petty vanity.

[Godak]

Seagloom wrote...

Naw. My friend is too logical for his own good. I rather cling to my petty vanity.

Plus, hard copies are more "collectible".

[Loerwyn]

MassFrost wrote...

I've been doing some searching around and can't really seem to find an answer to this. I don't mean a pirated version, I mean a store that sells the Baldur's Gate series as a digital download. Heard a lot of great things about the games and figured I'd try them out, but all I can seem to find are pirated versions of the game floating around.

I don't know about download, but Atari re-released the Baldur's Gate games not long ago and for a reasonable price for all 4, so you might be best tracking that down.

[Ponce de Leon]

No digital version I know of. The first bet for a digital POSSIBILITY is of course GOG. I've seen BG2 got quite high in the list of wishes on that site. Was looking today at a local store, we don't have BGs anymore, shamefully. Those people should be hanged for their treason!

[Loerwyn]

Gog.com won't get it for a long time, because Atari hold the rights and have just re-released BG1 + 2 and expansions, Planescape and Icewind Dale.

[Jenocide]

best bet is the Set.

20 bucks for 4 of the best bioware games who can complain..

[Bann Duncan]

Jenocide wrote...

best bet is the Set.
20 bucks for 4 of the best bioware games who can complain..

Pardon my blasphemy, but I went ahead and bought that four-in-one BG pack and I've been very, very, very disappointed to say the least. I'm finding it difficult to believe that all the hype about it is due to looking back through rose-tinted glasses...

[Seagloom]

That may be true for some people, but it isn't for me. I play through the series at least once a year, along with Planescape: Torment. I recognize BioWare has come a long way since then. BG1 didn't offer much in the way of real role-playing. BG2 improved on this, with real companion interaction and the first BioWare romances, but there wasn't nearly enough of it compared to latter games such as Dragon Age.

What makes the Baldur's Gate series special for me is the whole package. It isn't just the characters and what interaction is there in the second game. It's the sheer volume of class options, tons of quests, epic sounding music, and strategic combat. It's the funny dialogue with certain NPCs and memorable cast of heroes, heroines, and villains. It's so many things that come together to create a brilliant, sweeping epic the likes of which isn't financially feasible to develop these days. I'll admit Baldur's Gate in particular is very dated, but I still play through it. Baldur's Gate 2 however, I actually still consider a pretty looking game thanks to its detailed backdrops. Not that I ever held graphics as a game's highest virtue. I still play Neverwinter Nights and that game is hideous.

So, after that roundabout explanation I'll reiterate what I wrote earlier: there are no rose-tinted glasses on the bridge of this nose. I genuinely cherish those games and have continued to year after year.

Modifié par Seagloom, 20 mars 2010 - 01:21 .

[Bann Duncan]

Despite my disappointment with the character interaction (which, from what I kept hearing on the KotOR, JE and DA boards, was supposedly miles ahead of the three of them), I'm still going to attempt to get through the game. The only reason I stopped was the release of ME2 and DA:O-A.



It's going to take me a while to get used to the D&D setting though, which I'm not really fond of, the annoying presence of earrings in every single portrait preset and my pet peeve as an Arabic student - the disgustingly awful pronunciation of 'Khalid'



I think it will be much better when I revisit it (in about a week when my term is over) because I no longer have the celestial expectations built up by the unending praise for BG as the best at everything RPG - ever- of all time.

[Loerwyn]

I find D&D games hard.

It's an onslaught of confusing terms and so forth, but luckily they're kinda forgiving.

[Jenocide]

OnlyShallow89 wrote...

I find D&D games hard.
It's an onslaught of confusing terms and so forth, but luckily they're kinda forgiving.

2D4 +3 with a thaco of +2 

[Jenocide]

Bann Duncan wrote...

Jenocide wrote...

best bet is the Set.
20 bucks for 4 of the best bioware games who can complain..

Pardon my blasphemy, but I went ahead and bought that four-in-one BG pack and I've been very, very, very disappointed to say the least. I'm finding it difficult to believe that all the hype about it is due to looking back through rose-tinted glasses...

i'm just a hardcore D&D nerd 
witch is the reason why BG 1-2 are my personal fav bioware games.

[Seagloom]

Bann Duncan wrote...

Despite my disappointment with the character interaction (which, from what I kept hearing on the KotOR, JE and DA boards, was supposedly miles ahead of the three of them), I'm still going to attempt to get through the game. The only reason I stopped was the release of ME2 and DA:O-A.

It's going to take me a while to get used to the D&D setting though, which I'm not really fond of, the annoying presence of earrings in every single portrait preset and my pet peeve as an Arabic student - the disgustingly awful pronunciation of 'Khalid'

I think it will be much better when I revisit it (in about a week when my term is over) because I no longer have the celestial expectations built up by the unending praise for BG as the best at everything RPG - ever- of all time.

I never understood that Baldur's Gate praise. Baldur's Gate is a terrible in terms of role-playing. There, I said it. All the NPCs have minimal dialogue, there are immersion breaking jokes all over the place, and your character always speaks as if for the entire group. The only role-playing was deciding if you wanted to act like a paladin or jerk. Sometimes even those options were unavailable. The game's strength was in its main plot arc, which is refreshing if you're used to save the galaxy/world fare, and the open-endedness with which you can approach it. There is much to see and do in Baldur's Gate that lies off the beaten path. It feels very much like a big world because there are these small events taking place that you can partcipate in, observe, or find they tie into the main plot. It's a good overall RPG, but the game simply failed in terms of role-playing. From that perspective I totally sympathize with you and understand why it's a let down after playing other games from BioWare.

You will find Baldur's Gate 2 is superior in almost every way. Unfortunately role-play is still limited to binary good and evil dialogue choices, and still can't talk to your party at will. However, your party does actually have meaningful dialogue to contribute this time. They talk to you, they talk to each other, they chime in at times when you converse with NPCs, and they all have defined personalities and personal quests. Well, except for Minsc. He lacks a personal quest. There are also romances this time around.

Baldur's Gate 2 is essentially the prototype that spawned BioWare's enduring approach to role-playing game development. Obviously their dialogue, storytelling and character interaction methods have been refined over the years, but you will recognize many familiar BioWare trappings in this game. The only aspect where I felt Baldur's Gate 2 inferior to its predecessor was exploration. With the exception of three locations, your party only visits quest areas; lending the game a feeling of visiting different set pieces rather than exploring a real world. Of course, since all BioWare games are like this now, you probably won't notice or care about that.

You may still not enjoy it as much as Mass Effect 2 or Dragon Age, but if you give it a chance, it may not be an awful experience.

Modifié par Seagloom, 20 mars 2010 - 04:52 .

[Bann Duncan]

As I said, it was simply my initial experience and much of that can be attributed to my desire to begin with the first game and the overly lofty expectations I had. I'm not doubtful that I will come to enjoy the series in time, especially given that I shan't particularly miss exploration (I've got Morrowind for that).

The main thing I'm afraid of is gimping my character due to my inexperience with D&D. Many friends have tried to get me to play over the years, but the stat calculations and such frighten me. Is there a general character build you would recommend with which I'd be able to concentrate more on role-playing and less on mechanics?

Thank you very much for your thoughtful and helpful posts. The forum could use more people like you.

[Seagloom]

Bann Duncan wrote...

As I said, it was simply my initial experience and much of that can be attributed to my desire to begin with the first game and the overly lofty expectations I had. I'm not doubtful that I will come to enjoy the series in time, especially given that I shan't particularly miss exploration (I've got Morrowind for that).
The main thing I'm afraid of is gimping my character due to my inexperience with D&D. Many friends have tried to get me to play over the years, but the stat calculations and such frighten me. Is there a general character build you would recommend with which I'd be able to concentrate more on role-playing and less on mechanics?
Thank you very much for your thoughtful and helpful posts. The forum could use more people like you.

There isn't much role-playing to be had in Baldur's Gate 1, I'm afraid. Fortunately, those games are based on second edition rules which are not too complicated once you learn the basics. The best advice I can give is what I imagine most would: avoid spellcasters to start. Mages in particular are not beginner characters. If magic is your preference then I recommend starting as an elf, half-elf, or gnome, and playing a multiclassed fighter/mage.

If you want to have the easiest time I suggest a fighter or paladin. If you play a human fighter, try to roll until you have enough points to put at least 17 in dexterity. This adds to your defense and allows dual-classing into thief in Baldur's Gate 2, if you want to. Fighter is still your best bet playing another race. They can be a bit simplistic though. Fighter/thieves are almost as good and very versatile. But, maybe you prefer being the platemail wearing hero that bashes things with a sword. In that case, definitely stick with a plain fighter or paladin.

For proficiencies (those stars you spend to increase skill with a weapon) choose two weapons you like and spend two stars on each. Large swords are best overall in Baldur's Gate 1. For your remaining two stars I suggest a ranged weapon. If you like to wear shields then go with slings or darts. You can also go with axes. Just keep in mind throwing axes can be heavy and you can't keep many in one stack. You do eventually find a magical throwing axe that returns to you hough, so in the long term it's the superior one-handed ranged option.

If you prefer two-handed swords, drop those second two stars into bows. Bows are superior to slings and darts. It's very cumbersome to switch between them and a sword & shield however, so don't bother with that combination unless you're not using shields. As you level your fighter you will earn two more of these stars to spend on weapons. Put them into your primary weapon of choice. Raising two different weapon types to three stars isn't as useful as having one at four.

If you play a paladin you can't go beyond two stars in any one weapon choice, so those last two will have to go elsewhere. All you need to do after that is equip the best gear you can find.

If you need any more advice or rules explanations let me know. I realize how daunting all those dice and stats seem in the beginning. It definitely was for me.

Modifié par Seagloom, 20 mars 2010 - 11:58 .

[Jenocide]

i suggest a basic fighter / Paldin for your first play though they are the most basic.

[Balerion84]

I always made a mage *shrugs*, I thought warriors/knights/rogues were kinda boring (but that's what I do in almost every RPG I play, I go with mages, fun)



And I can't believe BG, BG2, Planescape, IWD, IWD2 haven't been released on Steam to this day. Sure, I have all of them in nice boxes, with bulky manuals and all that, but if they released them on Steam, I'd buy them again :S I'm starting to like Steam more and more (except for those prices for new games uhhhh so I'm going for deals on weekends, otherwise retail)

[The Grey Ranger]

I'm quite fond of it. Especially with Tutu or Baldur's Gate Trilogy. Both run BG1 on the BG2 engine.



There are also a number of other mods. http://modlist.pocketplane.net

[FlintlockJazz]

Bann Duncan wrote...

Jenocide wrote...

best bet is the Set.
20 bucks for 4 of the best bioware games who can complain..

Pardon my blasphemy, but I went ahead and bought that four-in-one BG pack and I've been very, very, very disappointed to say the least. I'm finding it difficult to believe that all the hype about it is due to looking back through rose-tinted glasses...

*Bann Duncan turns round to find FlintlockJazz stood behind him hold a pitchfork and flaming torch*

You're cordially invited to a BBQ.