Playing Classic RPGs

[volsung]

Um, actually I think the person who can train you as a mage is an old lady you find in Ragpicker's Square.

Once you've been trained as a mage once, Dak'kon can shift you back and forth between fighter and mage, but he can't do the initial training. As far as I know, the other companion you get at the Smoldering Corpse -- later in the game -- can't train you as a mage the first time, either, but once you are a mage, he can give you some special training.

This.

You'll run a couple errands for Mebbeth and she'll teach you how to become a mage. You can also rest there for free.

EDIT: Looked at that Inquisitor RPG trailer and website and it looks pretty good. I am still debating whether or not to get Baldur's Gate Enhanced, so while I wait for reviews I might give this one a try. I like the look and feel of most scenarios but I think the inventory and armor/weapons could be better. They look a little flat and cartoonish compared to the awesome backgrounds. Dialogue and text seems plentiful, which is great. However, the trailer didn't show all I wanted to see. So a couple of questions in case any of you have answers:

- Do you guys know if the combat is turn-based (could be pseudo real-time like Infinity Engine games) or real-time action like, say, Torchlight? I *think* I saw companions so unless they act automatically a-la Fallout, turn- or pause-based would be the only option.

- Is it based on any existing literary, mythical or game setting? Is it alternate history like Lionheart: Legacy of the Crusader?

- Who do you think did the English translation? In a text heavy game, reading through pages of broken English would be excruciating.

 

[Pangaea666]

I didn't want to be that direct as I wanted him to experience it himself without knowing exactly which person it was. Anyway, I was answering the tattoo question. IIRC, that is the same map area as the Smouldering corpse bar (but not the bar itself, hence the "look around").

 

[Jackinthegreen.152]

[EDIT: [background=yellow]Looked at that Inquisitor RPG trailer and website and it looks pretty good.[/background] I am still debating whether or not to get Baldur's Gate Enhanced, so while I wait for reviews I might give this one a try. I like the look and feel of most scenarios but I think the inventory and armor/weapons could be better. They look a little flat and cartoonish compared to the awesome backgrounds. Dialogue and text seems plentiful, which is great. However, the trailer didn't show all I wanted to see. So a couple of questions in case any of you have answers:
[/QUOTE]


1)As far as game mechanics go, Id say it's real-time. You can have up to 3 companions, which act independently, though you can give them basic commands. I read the game documentation, and there is no sign of "pause" mode, though maybe they implemented it but didnt account for it in the manual...?

2)¿The game is the original work of an independent Czech studio, it has no literary source. Although a "novel" (more of less the size of the more lenghty Sapkowski's short stories)"inspired by the videogame" is included in the extras.

The setting is that of an alternate World, resembling Central Europe's Middle-Ages, more or less about the XIVth Century. You are an Inquisitor, charged to unveil conspiracies and demonic appearancies. There is profuse use of torture and the typical whitch trials, to which you must "gather" evidence. There are also some "Prophecies" of a so called "Saint Ezekiel", which is a clear reference to the "Book of Revelations" by St. John... Thats the ammount of "historic" data. Then you have the demons and ghosts and other monsters popping out everywhere, as in your normal fantasy RPG.

THIS is supposed to be a "low fantasy" setting, but Im not sure how thats gonna pan out in the story... Is there a more "grey" moral subject in the story or it's just as straightforward as the title implies (you the symbol of light and goodness against the forces of Evil)? Is there more than one possible ending? and most importantly, is the outcome connected to your choices throughout the game?

3)I wouldnt be worried by the quality of the translation; this is clearly an effort that took many years to come to light... I doubt they would put forward a half-assed English version.

 

[volsung]

I didn't want to be that direct as I wanted him to experience it himself without knowing exactly which person it was. Anyway, I was answering the tattoo question. IIRC, that is the same map area as the Smouldering corpse bar (but not the bar itself, hence the "look around").

Oops!

1)As far as game mechanics go, Id say it's real-time. You can have up to 3 companions, which act independently, though you can give them basic commands. I read the game documentation, and there is no sign of "pause" mode, though maybe they implemented it but didnt account for it in the manual...?

2)¿The game is the original work of an independent Czech studio, it has no literary source. Although a "novel" (more of less the size of the more lenghty Sapkowski's short stories)"inspired by the videogame" is included in the extras.

The setting is that of an alternate World, resembling Central Europe's Middle-Ages, more or less about the XIVth Century. You are an Inquisitor, charged to unveil conspiracies and demonic appearancies. There is profuse use of torture and the typical whitch trials, to which you must "gather" evidence. There are also some "Prophecies" of a so called "Saint Ezekiel", which is a clear reference to the "Book of Revelations" by St. John... Thats the ammount of "historic" data. Then you have the demons and ghosts and other monsters popping out everywhere, as in your normal fantasy RPG.

THIS is supposed to be a "low fantasy" setting, but Im not sure how thats gonna pan out in the story... Is there a more "grey" moral subject in the story or it's just as straightforward as the title implies (you the symbol of light and goodness against the forces of Evil)? Is there more than one possible ending? and most importantly, is the outcome connected to your choices throughout the game?

3)I wouldnt be worried by the quality of the translation; this is clearly an effort that took many years to come to light... I doubt they would put forward a half-assed English version.

Thanks, that was very helpful. I am kind of looking forward to it now. I am not exactly fond of Inquisitors but I suppose I can give the game the benefit of the doubt. Maybe you can become a "fallen" inquisitor? Or start some kind of backwards inquisition and hunt the followers of whatever religion they have?

In any case, if it has excellent writing and narration, great character design and progression options and decision making that reflects in the actual gameplay, then it's a must play for me. Oh, and getting it from GOG is another plus!

Anyway, thanks for sharing.

 

[Jackinthegreen.152]

Oops!
Thanks, that was very helpful. I am kind of looking forward to it now. I am not exactly fond of Inquisitors but I suppose I can give the game the benefit of the doubt. Maybe you can become a "fallen" inquisitor? Or start some kind of backwards inquisition and hunt the followers of whatever religion they have?

In any case, if it has excellent writing and narration, great character design and progression options and decision making that reflects in the actual gameplay, then it's a must play for me. Oh, and getting it from GOG is another plus!

Anyway, thanks for sharing.

Generally, I would tend to identify myself more with the heretics than the inquisitors...
Im just hoping the story has some "twist" or "inner conflict" regarding "your mission".
Playing as a "one note" or zealot inquisitor (and as the good guy at the same time)would be difficult for me.

 

[volsung]

Generally, I would tend to identify myself more with the heretics than the inquisitors...
Im just hoping the story has some "twist" or "inner conflict" regarding "your mission".
Playing as a "one note" or zealot inquisitor (and as the good guy at the same time)would be difficult for me.

After looking at more screenshots the game looks more like a Diablo-clone than a Baldur's Gate clone. I'd like to see some dialogue trees and decision making in action. But hey, it's a GOG game, you can't go wrong with that... right?

You're only a heretic if you agree on the Inquisitor's terms

 

[Chewin3]

So how far are you guys?

I've been quite busy, and haven't been able to put time into PST at the moment, since it really is time consuming. But hopefully I will be able to catch up with you guys!

 

[Pangaea666]

Not played for a few days as I have put some time into the original Broken Sword I as well. Have come to the Alley of Dangerous Angles, and tasted some (a lot) blood there. Have become a mage though, and bought that +2 wisdom tattoo for a little more XP punch.

 

[Corylea.723]

My health has been crappy for the past 2 weeks, so I haven't felt well enough to play. I'm still in the Mortuary.

 

[volsung]

My health has been crappy for the past 2 weeks, so I haven't felt well enough to play. I'm still in the Mortuary.

Uh... you mean your Nameless One is still in the Mortuary? Sorry that coupled with the first thing you said was just morbidly funny.

I do hope you will be back in full health very soon

 

[M4xw0lf.978]

Uh... you mean your Nameless One is still in the Mortuary? Sorry that coupled with the first thing you said was just morbidly funny.

I do hope you will be back in full health very soon

I wanted to crack the same joke

 

[Corylea.723]

Well, at least my feeling crappy provides some amusement to my friends.

 

[Pangaea666]

Decided to install Baldur's Gate on the desktop, the GOG version. Which mods do I need?

Easytutu
Degreenifier
FontMod
BG1UB
BG1NPC
BG2fixpack (is this needed?)
BG2tweaks (think this one had some rule changes like more ammo stacking)
Widescreen

Hopefully this is all I need, and in the right order. The Beregost problem has been solved in recent Easytutus, right? Was always such a nag in the bum to save, save and then save again each time I came and left that darn place.

Had a playthrough that had just come to the city, but not sure if it will work since this will be with a new Easytutu version. Had the idea a very long time ago to take this character through the expansions and finally into BG2 - which I STILL have not played

Wanted to play Medical Problems actually, but apparently it must be installed on C:\ somewhere, and I have way too little space for that there Amazing that 20GB is too little, and I have even moved My Documents to a different disk, and install all games on a different disk as well.

Anyway, think the character I had was an Illusionist-Thief. Don't fancy rolling for an hour, so hopefully that file works. Good combo, or anything else you would suggest instead?

 

[Corylea.723]

Wanted to play Medical Problems actually, but apparently it must be installed on C:\ somewhere, and I have way too little space for that there Amazing that 20GB is too little, and I have even moved My Documents to a different disk, and install all games on a different disk as well.

I hope you mean that your DISK is 20 GB, since "Medical Problems" is around 800 MB. I'm sad to hear that you can't find 800 MB of space on your C drive to play my little adventure. Maybe someday.

I started playing BG1 in December, and by the time I actually got to the city of Baldur's Gate, I was exhausted from all the other stuff my characters had been doing and put it aside for awhile. But maybe I'll pick it back up again. I'm sure Boo misses me.

 

[Pangaea666]

The disk itself is pretty huge, but the partition for Windows is only 20GB - but I only have 500MB free now. Was sure that would be plenty when I made it many years ago, but now (I found out this yesterday) maybe 5GB are occupied by windows uninstaller files for updates and not least programs. And apparently I can't delete those. I do have another 10GB that is used for a Linux Mint installation that I never use, but I'm not too keen on re-installing everything. Don't know where my Win XP CD is either.

There is no way to put the file anywhere else? Had hoped it would be in the Witcher folder in my documents, but that was unfortunately wrong from what I could see about your instructions.

Installing the BG1 mods was an absolute nightmare, but I got there in the end. Even managed to load the savegame I had been using before. Though I guess any potential changes between whatever options I had enabled then and now won't work unless I start a brand new save.

The character was an Illusionist-Fighter instead of Ill-Thief, and I had not quite gotten to the BG city yet, but it was the next step. Hopefully I've covered everytyhing else because I'm not too keen to start going around to all map areas to check. Have been to the Ice island, but none of the other new areas yet. Dread to go to Durlag's Tower because I've heard it's so damn difficult, so think I'll try to do most of the city first. Not sure if I will keep playing it now though, will have to see. It's quite a hardcore game, and not sure I'm too keen on going back to the "Quicksave-Reload" marathon that is Baldur's Gate.

Have actually started on a new playthrough of the Settlers 2 remake, the one with updated graphics. It's a lovely little game, but it does get a bit formulaic so can get a little boring. About to start mission five now, the one with a massive amount of rock to clear out. Also have the Vikings expansion on it, with English text, and that is actually a great little package.

 

[mrowakus]

Decided to install Baldur's Gate on the desktop, the GOG version. Which mods do I need?

Easytutu
Degreenifier
FontMod
BG1UB
BG1NPC
BG2fixpack (is this needed?)
BG2tweaks (think this one had some rule changes like more ammo stacking)
Widescreen

Hopefully this is all I need, and in the right order. The Beregost problem has been solved in recent Easytutus, right? Was always such a nag in the bum to save, save and then save again each time I came and left that darn place.

Had a playthrough that had just come to the city, but not sure if it will work since this will be with a new Easytutu version. Had the idea a very long time ago to take this character through the expansions and finally into BG2 - which I STILL have not played

Wanted to play Medical Problems actually, but apparently it must be installed on C:\ somewhere, and I have way too little space for that there Amazing that 20GB is too little, and I have even moved My Documents to a different disk, and install all games on a different disk as well.

Anyway, think the character I had was an Illusionist-Thief. Don't fancy rolling for an hour, so hopefully that file works. Good combo, or anything else you would suggest instead?

If this is your n-th playthrough I advise using SCS mod for BG1 and SCS2 mod for BG2.

They drastically improve encounter design, enhance enemies' AI tweaks some buggy/too easy encounters (e.g. the battle with Irenicus) and generally makes the game more of a challenge. What I like about these mods is that they make the game fair - there's no computer cheating on you with stats bloat or super-amazing powers which are denied to you for some reason. It's pure tactical gameplay. Plus, you can select mod's components you want to install.

EDIT: Ahh, I see you didn't play BG2 vanilla. In that case skip that BG1 crap and go straight to BG2 - a much better game.

 

[Pangaea666]

Haven't played BG2 yet, but unfortunately I know who to hate now... Have seen that name before and tried to forget it. Why do people do that???

I'm not going straight to BG2. I want to properly finish BG1 first - albeit in the BG2 engine via Tutu.

 

[Corylea.723]

For those of you who've never played some of the classic RPG's, GOG.com is having a huge sale on D&D-based games this weekend. Planescape: Torment, Baldur's Gate, and Neverwinter Nights are all on sale, so now's the time to add to your collection.

If you've never played Planescape: Torment, this is the time to buy it. I think it's one of the best games ever made, and a lot of the folks here agree with me. Right, Volsung, Pangaea, 227, Dearg Rudhari, Bloth?

 

[Blothulfur]

Damn right! Well personally I thought that the single player campaign of Neverwinter Nights was a bit pants, but the mod tools are very accessible and exhaustive, and the amounts of quality fan made adventures out there are staggering.

 

[Corylea.723]

Damn right! Well personally I thought that the single player campaign of Neverwinter Nights was a bit pants, but the mod tools are very accessible and exhaustive, and the amounts of quality fan made adventures out there are staggering.

Yeah, I didn't love NVN1. It was the awesomeness of Torment that I wanted your agreement with; the other games were mentioned because they were also on sale.