Baldur's Gate 2 questions, voice acting, D&D rules, ect. Options

[Darth Drabek]

Okay, so my first "real" RPG was KOTOR. I liked it a lot, so I started playing Fallout 2. I know, I know, popular consensus is I should be shot for playing the sequel first. After KOTOR 2, I wanted to try one of the Baldur's Gate games. When people talk about great RPGs, they seem to be the gold standard (except on these boards where Fallout seems to reign supreme).

Anyway, I downloaded the demo of BG 2: Shadows of Amn and I had a few questions. First, some lines are spoken and others are just text (which is cool, I have nothing against reading). Is every line voice acted in the full version? I just was wondering if some of the audio files were cut for space in the demo.

Also, I'm not so good on my D&D. I "learned" it from KOTOR's feedback, and I know that system like the back of my hand. But I just don't have the knowledge about some of these things. It seems the lower the Armor class, the harder you are to hit. Then do you subtract your DEX modifer from your AC or what? Or does DEX not modify defense in this game? Do you still only get your modifier if the stat is an even number?

See, I just don't know things like that. Is there an online resource for D&D "noobs" (God, how I hate that word)? Combat seems to go reeeeally fast in BG 2 and I can't even see the attack rolls in the little dialog box to know how I'm doing... is there a full feedback feature in the game that I haven't found yet, with damage, to hit, saving throws and all that good stuff?

Thanks in advance for your helpful, non-condescending replies! :D

[ramza]

In these forums, I might be the only one to hate the Fallout series and love the Infinity Engine games (BG1&2, IWD1&2). Moreover, BG2 is my favourite RPG of all time!!!

To answer your questions:
*only some of the lines are voice acted (those that are significant for the plot, those said by important characters in the game). This doesn't annoy me, even though I would have liked to see every line voice acted. The problem is that there is a lot of text in BG2. However, all the actors are great and I haven't been disappointed a single time (even with Minsc). Wait until you get the sentient sword: it has the ability to talk and is rather funny...
*Indeed, the more your AC diminishes, the better it get... If you have something like -6 to AC, you should be ok.
*If you are looking for an explanation of the AD&D rules, check Dan Simpson's FAQ and explanatory notice at:
www.gamefaqs.com

Cheers.

PS: Buy this game, you won't regret it!

[taks]

Then do you subtract your DEX modifer from your AC or what? Or does DEX not modify defense in this game? Do you still only get your modifier if the stat is an even number?

oops... citing 3E rules... in 2E, you get -1 AC adjustment at DEX = 15, -2 at DEX = 16, etc... negative is better.

Is there an online resource for D&D "noobs" (God, how I hate that word)?

try WotC. of course, that's mostly 3.5E rules, not 2E like baldur's gate 1/2. the best resource for BG info is here.

Combat seems to go reeeeally fast in BG 2 and I can't even see the attack rolls in the little dialog box to know how I'm doing... is there a full feedback feature in the game that I haven't found yet, with damage, to hit, saving throws and all that good stuff?

somewhere in the game options you can set the auto-pause feature. the easiest way is to pause after each round, however, you'll quickly discover the drawbacks with such methods. i prefer to let my tanks go off and use their AI (can be toggled on/off) and just pause (spacebar) after each spellcaster does his thing. of course, i've played the BG and IWD series over 20 times (each game except ToB), so combat is 2nd nature to me...

taks

[taks]

oh, btw, DEX adjustment to AC is -4 for a DEX of 18, 19 and 20... -5 for 21, 22, 23 and -6 for 24 and 25.

taks

[Darth Drabek]

Thanks you guys... these boards rock. I ventured over to the BIO boards, but it was like I was trying to read Swahili. This place is much less intimidating and more laid back, like your favorite coffeeshop or pub. :D

[Dranoel]

Wait until you get the sentient sword: it has the ability to talk and is rather funny...

That thing is so repetitive with such a sneering voice - how the hell can u like it? You don't even get a decent price on it

Seriously though getting into BG and BG2 requires no previous knowledge of D&D rules. I've completed all 5 of the BGs IWDs and PS:T and still know **** all about the various editions of D&D rules. The only thing you need to realise is that you should max out the attributes most important to you. Keep rerolling until you get a good score then max out strength if you are a fighter or intelligence, charisma or wisdom (whichever is applicable to your class if you are a casters) personally I then bung anything else in dexterity and constitution (only exceptions really being charisma if you are a paladin, or dexterity followed by strength then con for a thief or charisma & dex followed by strength and con for a bard). The monk is similar to a fighter with a wisdom bonus if I remember correctly. Anyway just read the descriptions and you should be able to work out the most important attributes for your character.

Knowledge of spells and spell selection can be gleaned from their descriptions listed on the scrolls or book or just by observing how the enemy use them. Just experiment - everything can be learnt through trial and error!

[Dranoel]

Oh and if combat is too quick just keep hitting pause every 5 seconds. You can then pause to work out who is hitting who, for how much and in what way. The spacebar is your friend!

[Darth Drabek]

Thanks for the answers, everybody. Since you brought up character attributes, are there repercussions to having low INT or CHA like in Fallout or KOTOR 2?

For instance, am I going to have severely limited dialogue options or a smaller possible party size if I have low INT or CHA?

[Whitemithrandir]

Thanks for the answers, everybody. Since you brought up character attributes, are there repercussions to having low INT or CHA like in Fallout or KOTOR 2?

For instance, am I going to have severely limited dialogue options or a smaller possible party size if I have low INT or CHA?

Well.... Yes and no. For your main character, if he/she is a mage, then you should pump intelligence. If your main character is a sorcerer/ress, then pump charisma. Dialog choices have very little to do with it, as you'll evetually have 6 characters in your party, and you can talk to most NPC's with any one of them. So if you have very low intelligence and even lower charisma, just let someone else in your party who's not a drooling moron afflicted with mental retardation do all the talking.

As for auto-pause: if you're not familiar with the rules, you might want to set the auto-pause settinsg all the way up. Consider this to be a set of training wheels or a guiding hand. Once you get the hang of things, you can turn the auto-pause options off and camp your spacebar, and pause when your intuition and experience tells you to.

In regards to voice-acting: SOME of the dialogue underwent voice acting, but the majority did not and show up as plain text. The reason being: data compression at the time was not as advanced as they are today, and BGII has a TON of dialogue, that if fully voice acted, would probaby come on 7 or 8 DVD's. Don't let this deter you from enjoying the game for what it is, however, and just read the well written dialogue and enjoy it.

Good luck! BG II is one of my favorite RPG's of all time, right up there with Planescape:Torment.

[roshan]

Baldurs Gate isnt the gold standard for rpgs. It is Torment.

[Monte Carlo]

For optimum stability, patch it and then Baldurdash it.

Both can be found courtesy of Pocket Plane Group, along with lots of pretty cool mods.

Click here.

Cheers
MC

[ramza]

Thanks for the answers, everybody. Since you brought up character attributes, are there repercussions to having low INT or CHA like in Fallout or KOTOR 2?

For instance, am I going to have severely limited dialogue options or a smaller possible party size if I have low INT or CHA?

If your main character is a sorcerer/ress, then pump charisma.

If I remember well, in BG2, a sorcerer's prime stat is INT. It's with the 3E rules that they changed it to CHA.

[Dranoel]

If I remember well, in BG2, a sorcerer's prime stat is INT. It's with the 3E rules that they changed it to CHA.

No it's not! I read the description & made that mistake - created a character with max Int, min char - useless he couldn't cast a spell - I never did make it out of Irenicus' dungeon with that 1!

[Sargallath Abrax...]

Baldurs Gate isnt the gold standard for rpgs. It is Torment.

...AMEN, Brother Messiah...


...WHO LUVS YA, BABY!!...

[taks]

Dialog choices have very little to do with it, as you'll evetually have 6 characters in your party, and you can talk to most NPC's with any one of them. So if you have very low intelligence and even lower charisma, just let someone else in your party who's not a drooling moron afflicted with mental retardation do all the talking.

well, actually, they do make a difference, however, the Infinity Engine mechanics chose to use the stats of the best in your party... in other words, you don't have to switch every time you need a different effect. at least, that's how i remember it (try it by trading out different charisma people in a shop... check the prices).

taks