Monte Carlo

^ Yeah, I thought I'd put Disc One back in to see what would happen - it won't let me play, reinstall or uninstall. Hmmm. I suspect this might involve something I've heard of but never done: Going into the Registry... (cue dramatic Balalika music)

I posted this on the tech forum first but no replies, apologies for posting here. I am unable to play any BG2 so you can imagine the sense of urgency. I tried to uninstall BG2 / ToB from my PC. ToB uninstalled fine, but it didn't automatically roll on to uninstall BG2: SOA. Now when I try to do so I get the following message: Error extracting support files: Error loading type library / DLL What I am trying to do is completely remove BG2 to do a fresh, clean install with a load of new mods. Am installing from the old 4-disc set as opposed to the one disc DVD (I've got it somewhere I think). Any help greatly appreciated, many thanks in advance. Cheers MC

I tried to uninstall BG2 / ToB from my PC. ToB uninstalled fine, but it didn't automatically roll on to uninstall BG2: SOA. Now when I try to do so I get the following message: Error extracting support files: Error loading type library / DLL What I am trying to do is completely remove BG2 to do a fresh, clean install with a load of new mods. Am installing from the old 4-disc set as opposed to the one disc DVD (I've got it somewhere I think). Any help greatly appreciated, many thanks in advance. Cheers MC

This November we will be celebrating 20th anniversary of the toppling of the Berlin Wall (yes, I have a photo of a much slimmer early twenty-something Monte clambering through a large hole under the watchful eye of a stoic East German border policeman). OK, Kremlinologists might argue about the precise time the whole Communist experiment in Eastern Europe and beyond finally crumbled, but for most of us this is the bit we remember. It is of totemic significance. The events in China are ripples from the collapse of the Soviet Empire. As is Al Q'aeda. So is Iran. China is thrilling and terrifying in equal measure. Cheers MC

That's me. Although I actually liked Fallout 3. Then again, I'm not a fan of the original Fallouts so it probably explains why. As for the original question, just download a load of NWN2 mods, the Conan ones are good fun.

I also found that area frustrating, but not impossible. Then again, I will invariably have my main character take the Dodge / Mobility / Spring Attack feat route, so I can move about without incurring AOOs.

I don't. In fact, if one of their songs comes on the radio I find myself switching it off. One of the most overrated bands of all time.

I will make a pure ranger and see how he does in the spirit barrow. By far the most twinkie, impossible-to-beat melee monster so far has been: Fighter 10 Rog 3 Weapon Master 5 (Falchion) Obviously, I intend to go with monkey Grip for dual-wield silliness, but even now with all the enhanced critical feats he is slaying everything silly enough to confront him. The +2d6 sneak attack plus weapon master feats = insane melee damage. The high-ish intelligence required (I went with 14), plus the rogue levels and able learner feat have given me a formidable array of skills for a more or less pure fighter character, very good bluff / intimidate. Give him the plate armour you find in the ruins and he's an effective tank, better than the war-priest I created I suspect. OTOH, the pure ranger Grom suggests will get a powerful animal companion and spells, plus good skills. Will do a try-out this weekend before making a decision. Cheers MC

Still playing MotB with a number of character builds and not really knowing which one to go with. Am V rusty at D&D, I need a slam-dunk character.

Indeed, I am English, not even remotely half-baked and I enjoy a gin and tonic occasionally (actually several times a week). OTOH, whisky is Scottish and Irish (Bushmills, distilled in Northern Ireland, is technically British). Nothing against my Celtic and Gaelic brethren but I have never got on with those, for me it's no competition with bourbon - an American confection. Of all the bourbons I've tried (for example, the language-filter mangling Fighting C0ck is particularly good; Maker's Mark is sublime) none have the durable and satisfying consistency as J.D. Gaming is symbiotic (well, to me anyway) with alcohol and pizza. Budwieser (OK, it's not really beer), EA and Domino's make sense, for example. You may now continue back on-topic, whatever it was. Cheers MC

Is there any chance Obsidian Entertainment could merge with Jack Daniels? Two of my favourite companies in perfect harmony and all that.

linkie to Megan W and The Bamboos, enjoy!

Am also currently listening to Megan Washington and Florence & the Machine. Megan's cover of King of the Rodeo with The Bamboos is particularly good. Am also falling asleep (in a good way) to 10,000 Maniacs. It's all a bit mellow, though, have been re-aligning the karmic grid with Motorhead (No Sleep 'til Hammersmith) and The Foo Fighters. Last track on my Mp3 player was You Got Me by 90's Britpop combo Sleeper, who I still listen to a lot. Cheers MC

CNC3 was a bit too Warcraft-with-tanks for me. So even though I love RTS games, this is a bit meh for me. Red Alert remains the pinnacle of the C&C universe as far as I'm concerned. Cheers MC

I like Ray M, I really do. He always comes across well and that was a good interview. BUT. [pedant]Ray, it's not "Mealie". It's Mel-ay (imagine an accent on the second 'e' of melee).[/pedant] Sorry, it's a pet hate. You may return to normal service. Shucks, it ain't like they don't have French speakers in Canada!

^ Darth Jebus, honestly, with MotB and SoZ installed it plays like a different game, runs smoother and looks better too.

^ Amen brother, I suspect that I'll be wearing my purist gaming halo 50% of the time and my munchkin horns the other 50. Or maybe 40/60 in favour of horns. Cheers MC

In my car, at the moment... The Best of Frank Sinatra Permission to Land - The Darkness Scouting for Girls - Scouting for Girls Only by the Night - Kings of Leon (is it cool to like KoL? I do, I just suspect that they might be a bit too anthemic for the coolerati) I get Wet - Andrew WK Maroon - The Barenaked Ladies Gladiator - The movie soundtrack

^ I take your point, but sometimes gamers need to bite the bullet and play the game. Hey, the developer can lead a horse to water... And, if some people want to creep-save and that makes them happy then why not? I'm being a bit of a hippy today, I might go and have a drink. Cheers MC

OK, so i like Gromnir's ranger / rogue build idea and I like the Pal / Divine Champ / Ftr build too. I've made a Rog 4 / Rngr 'X' and he's quite cool (Weapon Focus - Bastard Sword to up the d/w melee ante) but he could be a bit chunkier in combat. What do folks think? Do I sacrifice a few ranger levels for FTR for the feats or consider an evil ranger and take the BG route? Also, my guy is a human and I took able learner so I'm skilled up...any better ideas?

That was a very helpful article, kudos to the author. I've highlighted an interesting point, something I've been banging on about for a while. Bio unleashed the marketing monster then had to do damage limitation. As for the 'consequences' thing, well I'm not a writer but I understand the concept of 'show don't tell.' Consequences should be relayed to us subtly, maybe a comment from a third party, a letter here, an empty room there. Clues. And if some people miss them, then it's no biggie. All in all, an emollient review.

I'll third the motion to switch off power attack. I never actually use it, I only take the feat as a pre-cursor for Cleave. It really is the root of the problem you're having. I've run through the OC twice - once with a Ftr / Rog and once with a Ftr / Rog / Blackguard. That particular level was very easy for the Blackguard because I was summoning fairly powerful undead minions who were immune to backstab and using them as bait...

^ Thinking about it, if you want a less rural, outdoorsy adventure you could just hot-foot it to Prague instead, which is a marvellous place to spend a few days in the Summer. London is a must, but too out of the way for your arrival point. Rome is too far south. Berlin is groovier than a groovy thing but too far north. Prague it is.

From Germany your route should include Northern Italy (I'd love to say Venice, but not that time of year), The Dolomites, Austria and then Slovenia (check out Trieste on the way) Slovenia is utterly beautiful and, it has to be said, good value for money for the budget-conscious traveller. Ten days is pushing this itinerary, but it's worth it.

NWN2 OC = OK, with genuine flashes of coolness (Captain's Keep Battle, The Trial) MotB = Legitimizes the whole endeavour, really, great writing and interesting NPCs + epic battles (also polishes the camera and graphics, plus performance) SoZ = Campy hack'n'slash party-based fun, altho' a lot of people here hated it As for your problem with the paladin I'm baffled. I ALWAYS go down the power attack / cleave / supreme cleave route with ALL melee characters. Have you done this? TBH, I find character building a bit tricky too nowadays (see my MotB thread). I usually go for a Fighter / Rogue type (great melee capability, reasonable HP and sneak attack goodness with, say, a greatsword) with mebbe a Barbarian level or two thrown in for a laugh. That build will see you through the OC without too much trouble, when fighting rogues play them at their own game and try to flank them using Khelgar as the primary target for their anger. I used my Ftr / Rog and the Tiefling chick to do this versus rogues in the OC and it worked pretty well, by the time you get to Neverwinter you should have around +3d6 or even +4d6 sneak attack damage with a multi-classed rog. Cheers MC