Hey! Just finished ID2, and itching for more.

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I just finished Icewind Dale 2 and I liked it a lot. It was challenging, had lots of options for building your party and I loved the environment. While story was nothing special it had some good NPCs and sidequests.

So I've been thinking about playing NWN, because I've played basically all the others coming from Bioware/Black Isle.

Problem is, I tried playing through the OC some time ago and... it was a rather big disappointment. The only reason I could get so far in it as I did was because I got the game when I was a kid, didn't understand anything and it was all so mysterious/scary/wonderful to me back then... and the nostalgia kept me going. However, I simply couldn't finish it.



My biggest problems were:

- The OC story was horrendous and dull. I liked Aribeth, but at some points it felt a bit forced.

- No companions I could control! No party mechanics whatsoever beyond a very basic mercenary!


At least I think the second bit is correct right? I'll go crazy if you come and tell me there's options for a full party... but I didn't see any support for it, so I'll assume there was none beyond giving simple orders to a follower right?

I felt so compelled to make a character that could take on all situations, or just plan my character around the single mercenary I could take which I didn't like much at all (Daelyn Red-Tiger is so dull, but he's a beast when fighting).

So I come here wondering some things since the website is so full of rpg knowledge!

- How are the expansions? I've been doing a bit of light reading on the website, and Hordes of the Underdark seems to be the "better" one?

- Are there party supports in them, or are there any mods that add party support (hopefully while scaling the game)? Note that I don't need banter (it's a plus obviously) but just... I don't know, more to manage. 4 partymembers at the very least!

- Do the expansions have any choices to make, are there any benefits from taking the social skills at all?


I mean ideally I'd like to take a character through OC and then the expansions in the right order (I like having a history with a character, beginning from lv1 and going up- starting at lv20 etc really puts me off since it feels like I'm taking over someone elses character) but I might not have the interest to go through it all without a party of at least 4.

 

Hi! I also loved Icewind Dale 2 and in my opinion, there hasn't been another game quite like it since. Most people around here will rave about Baldur's Gate but I didn't really like that series as much.

It is generally accepted that the original NWN games not very good, but the game engine is. I quite liked the two other expansions, especially as they introduce one or two more interesting NPCs as well as add some extra functionality to the game.

There's also NWN 2 which has even more functionality but I have never been able to bring myself to finish.

But you've come to the right place for ideas so hope you get what you're looking for.

 

NWN2 OC was horrible aswell, I felt. Didn't finish that one either! Practically nothing beyond the expanded rules and classes was the appeal of that game.

I did play Mask of the Betrayer though, and it was good! Much better! I loved the story and the scope, while the OC always felt rather lame. Storm of Zehir I found lackluster aswell, I really disliked the worldmap.

Like mentioned above, NWN2 OC I find kind of bad and I already finished Mask of the Betrayer which I liked quite a lot.

Are there no mods or anything to improve upon NWN?

 

The NWN OC wasn't very good, rather dull as you say. The first two chapters are the biggest and have the most trudging around, looking for the four parts to solve the puzzle and open the way to the next chapter. The story and pace pick up from there but it's still not very good. Actually, if you pay attention to it, a lot of the Bioware games have this "get the four parts and solve the puzzle" mechanic in it. DA:O also has it for instance, but you'll notice it in more of their games (even if it's only in smaller parts of them).

SoU is generally considered to be better than the OC, but I could never really get into it.
HotU is a lot of fun and can be played with a character that has run through the OC or SoU.

But the best part about NWN is the mods that you can find. Darkness over Daggerford, Tales of Arterra and some others that don't come to mind at the moment are all more fun than at least the OC and SoU. And you can generally play through HotU after finishing these modules.

None of the modules have a proper party in it though, as far as I know, but especially HotU adds at least some extra functionality for you to be able to control your team mates more precisely. There's also some mods to improve this.

 

Hrrmm. Maybe NWN isn't for me, then? Maybe I ought to try out Icewind Dale, or... some NWN2 thingie.

Aw, I was sure someone would have made a NWN party mod by now!

 

Hordes of the Underdark is certainly worth playing. You'll be able to have 2 companions, and be able to create a third and fourth one if you are a mage and went through SOU, but that's it. Still, it's very fun and I would highly recommend it.

 

Would it be possible to solo this, without any follower at all? I'd like to do a rogue/bard/sorceror type of character, I must admit, with no followers if I can help it.

When you say two companions, what do you mean? And can I control them fully, or do they go on more or less autopilot?

 

Been really trying to enjoy it, but I can't just do it. It feels so hack and slashy, and the encounters not challenging enough when I'm only 1 (or 2-3). No interaction, I can't get used to the graphics and... aww. Awwwwww.

I don't think NWN is my type of game. Sadly, NWN2 isn't much better either. Darnit, I don't want to have exhausted all the crpgs!

 

If you want a party-based, isometric camera kind of RPG, then there's not that much to choose from. Fallout (1 & 2) has the isometric camera, but is a completely different setting. Newer games tend to have the more action oriented third person view and are generally also more action oriented. If you like the BG style better, you're pretty much going to have to rely on the indie game developers. I've heard good stories about Geneforge for instance, though I've yet to play it myself.

/edit
I forgot, but I guess DA:O might be up your alley as well. It has some very good points, but kind of let me down in the gameplay department (combat and camera) and I didn't like it very much in the end. But it has full party control at least. Stay away from the sequel if you don't like the hacky-slashy type of combat (and in general stay away from the sequel, it's not a good game).

 

Already finished the Dragon Age games! The first one was alright, the best part was probably companion banter and some of the sidequests (main story was sort of weak). It was interesting with a new world, of course!

Dragon Age 2 is an abomination, but I finished it. Bioware is such a mess these days.