Is NWN fun with only one character?

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Simple question: Is it fun to play through this entire game with only a single character?

I've tried out the demo, and it seemed "okay". I'm so used to playing BG/IWD style games that it just seems like it would be so boring without any kind of party interaction (whether real or imagined).

I've seen the new platinum version, and I'll admit that I'm interested. I'm just a little concerned about the whole only having one character thing. (I know there are henchmen, but it's just not the same.)

Also, I probably wouldn't play too many modules online with others. I know my availability, and it is pretty limited.

 

General consensus is that the original first campaign is not that great, but that the next two expansions are much better. If you love the banter and camaraderie of having 6 party members, then you will be out of luck with NWN. However, it is still a good game so you'll just have to try it for yourself. I personally prefer the rules used in NWN to those in BGII, but everyone has their own opinion, and most people here disagree with me on this.

 

I liked BG1 and BG2, so I bought NWN. I enjoyed NWN, but I did miss the party. But I also like FPS and I played NWN like a FPS but with swords. I mostly soloed since I almost never had a henchman with me. They share the experience gained so your character gains less levels when you do have a henchman. I do think NWN is worth doing. The storyline is interesting if you take the time to talk with everyone to learn it.

 

Yes, the game is perfectly playable in solo and sometimes even more so than with henchmen, which is because of henchman AI problems. I soloed the original OC and SoU but had henchies in HotU.

 

I agree with Chev - henchman are fun, and nice backup, but not necessary at all. In fact, there were a few times when I thought they hurt me rather than helped me, especially in the case of stupid AI. Boddyknock is a terrible henchman IMO because he casts his best spells as soon as you see an enemy. "Oh, look - a goblin! Time for that fireball!!!"

My favorite henches were always either Tomi or Linu, because I prefer melee characters in NWN. That said, neither were ever essential to my gameplay. If you're going totally solo, I would suggest a tough, strong melee character so you can bash open doors and chests, and absorb melee damage. Otherwise go for a rogue. I would think a Mage character would have a hard time solo unless they avoided anything locked or trapped, which reduces your loot gaining (which is half the fun of the game).

 

For the OC, I always play without a henchperson. This is because their AI is particularly poor, and you can't control them well enough to make anyone other than the meatshields (or maybe Tomi, in fairness) useful.

In SoU, I soloed a large part of it, and then took Deekin for the final chapter because I was getting bored of being on my lonesome. Having Inventory control alone makes them much more usable.

For HotU... Well, I've still not got very far (and must get back to it someday) but with the width of selection there should be 1 or 2 to match your taste, and the range of options to make them useful. Although I'm still not confident about Sharwyn's competence. There's a reason you find her corpse first...

In any case, I'm soloing it mostly anyway, because I'm playing a rogue-type and don't want anyone clanking around in Full Plate and giving the game away...

 

Even if you decided to take a henchman in the OC, you end up solo most of the time anyway, because they spend most of their time putting their feet up in Hotel Aribeth, where they end up every time they die and you're too lazy to keep teleporting back to pick them up again.

 

Eh, it's not so bad Just take keeping your henchmen alive as an additional challenge The game is easy enough otherwise.

As a matter of fact, I find NWN-style gameplay much easier than for older Bioware titles (BG, or IWD). Since you control only a character, there are almost no tactics to speak of; just cast your spells (if you are a spellcaster), and then charge in melee. It is not really so much fun as in the older games (where the fights were typically more difficult, and you had to use your whole party intelligently to win), but is definitely simpler.

 

Having Henchmen with their AI is like poking your eyes with a sharp object.

 

The problem is that the henchmen tend to have pretty low AC (Daelan is a barbarian, Tomi a rogue, only Linu has some decent armor), so then they tend to get beat up pretty badly. The trick is to get the enemy to concentrate on you; so tell the henchman to stand still, start a fight (of course, this asumes that you can take some pounding, otherwise it would be suicidal ), and then tell the henchie to defend you. If you are lucky, the baddies wil concentrate on you, while your henchman pounds them to pieces. If you have Tomi, this also allows him to make use of his devastating sneack attacks.

Also, if you are a spellcaster, do not forget to cast buffs on your henchman. Casting Immolation on Daelan is especially effective (SoU/HotU 3rd level spell, adds some significant fire damage to a weapon). Protection from evil will protect them from mind-affecting spells, if you get in a big fight haste will make them killing machines, and so on.

 

Dora and Xanos aren't bad if properly equiped and micromanged.

I got through OC with Tomi just fine, but Sharwyn was an absolute nightmare (specifically since the henchmen in the OC are incapable of changing weapons). 95% of my reloads stemmed from the fact there was no possible way to roleplay Sharwyn's combat actions (like charging into melee with a shortbow).

I had no problems with Daelan, but I got bored and eventually gave up on the rouge that accompanied him before the end of the game. The Monk was wonderful. Boddynock was a waste of existance, he had absolutely no right to be an adventurer, all he ever did was waste spells and die (and he did LOTS of that).

 

If you haven't started yet, start with SoU. It gives you control over henchmen inventory so you can give them some decent armor.

They will automatically change to a melee weapon when attacked from close quarters, but ensure you give them only those weapons which you want them to use (they have a knack for picking up the worst weapon they have).

And yes, NWN is worth playing even if you are soloing. The overall replayability is definitely much less than BG series.

 

NPCs lack depth in NWN, the dialogue options are not that great either. There is no real interest in having them by your side except for their quests and stories (which you might find boring anyway). Still it's hack and slash fun and very linear nevertheless the rules are great in the sense that they allow many different combinations. Even the OC has some nice quests (I really liked the one with the village and the children). I have to agree with Shivi though, there is no real incentive to play a campaign all over again once you've finished it. Part of the fun in BG came from having different NPCs in your party.

 

I can really reccomend the Henchman inventory & AI Mod http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=hakpaks.Detail&id=4510

It enables you to change what your henchman is wearing right from the start, more options on how they should act through the dialogue, and even if you don't instruct them, the AI seems a lot better.

this does create the loophole of being able to have all henchmen join you, taking their equipment and ditching them again, wich isn't a bad point really, it's your own choice to do that.
Also, you need to make far less trips to aribeth because your henchman has a big inventory to carry things around as well

 

I just started playing [NWN] a few days ago and I love it. I can take or leave the party concept, it really doesn't matter to me. After playing BG: Dark Alliance and Temple of Elemental Evil, this one seems like a cross between the two of them. I have Tomi as a henchman and he has come in handy. I can't wait to progress through all of the modules and then build some of my own. This game rocks!!!

 

NWN is a type of game that lacks a few things but is so solid overall that you keep coming back. So if you can find a copy with the expansions, go for it. It is worth every penny. Look for the mods mentioned above and on this site.

My wizard had Linu as hencman who died alot. but so now and than she had her uses. I named my Wizard Merlanni.

 

I brought Tomi along for most of the OC. His character was great, and his back story was hilarious. I am playing SOU now and have Dorna along. She seems to be pretty good, so far.

I miss the large parties of the BG series. Particulary the tactics. NWN is more hack and slash.

 

Couldn't agree more.

 

indeed, a pox on whoever came up with the "henchman" concept.

 

Well...I for one find playing in NWN solo to be refreshing really! And the reason I play solo is because NPCs REALLY hack me off.

For instance, I was playing Caereena - Krakona Rising today, and if anyone has played it they KNOW how hard it is...

My character was a Rogue/Mage/Arcane Trickster...and I was busy sneak attacking all these enemies...when my clever barbarian charges straight in AFTER I SPECIFICALLY TOLD HER TO STAND HER GROUND!! BAH!

Anyway...she got petrified/paralysed/held/blinded in like 2 rounds...I hate Henchmen...

If you are RPing in a low magic world with a full party...nothing like it!! Its great fun, but I can honestly say that single player NWN is great fun as well, provided you get the proper modules for it.

For instance, solo Caereena - Krakona Rising, Tale of a Mage, The Gods Themselves etc...and let me know what you think!