Wyz_sub10

I hear you. You *really* need to keep at it to get into it. Like most AD&D games on the PC, the first few bits are slow-going because it takes a while for your character to do anything but avoid getting killed on the first hit.

Once you level up a few times and start to flesh out your characters skills, etc., then it starts to get going. Also, talk to your henchmen. There are sub-plots there that I completely overlooked. Adds a bit of "mood" as well.

That's exactly why many people who liked Baldur's Gate didn't like Icewind Dale, or if you loved Half-Life, you may not love Max Payne, or whatever. If you stick with it, you'll probably enjoy it (once you stop comparing).

Not really, other than knowing what a Rogue does versus a Wizard, and having some understanding of how Armor Class and Hit/Damage rolls work. (You don't have to calculate these, of course, but it'll help you appreciate the weapons and armor you find)

Tenpudo

Quick note about the xp gripe: I distinctly recall reading somewhere (manual, readme, or dev post in the forums, I don't remember) that the xp rewards in NWN were scaled down by a factor of 10 to account for the inherently combat-oriented nature of the CRPG. However, if you still want to get a better look at what the engine could be used for instead, it's certainly worth your time to download the first installment of Witch's Wake, a module created by one of the Bioware guys. Unfortunately, last time I checked its further development is on indefinite hiatus, because the ways the module tweaks the game engine just have to be experienced-- the Official Campaign should very much have been created along these lines!
Damn, now I feel dirty...

RufusAtticus

If you want a good role playing game try the Ultima 7 series or the Fallout series.

butswana

I got VD at the Corsican Brothers porn movie studio in Fallout2. I kept doing the "fluffer" gig and eventually got "poisoned". Cassidy changed his mind about running with me after that until I hooked him up at the whore house.

Duck- You don't need to know the rules to play the D&D games. It does allow you to take advantage of certain loopholes, though that was easier with the "gold box" games. You can keep the dice rolls off of the screen in the options menu, but some people get a boner looking at all of the rolls, saves, damage and the like. I know I do.

Wizardry 8 was also an excellent rpg.

Wyz_sub10

In 3E rules, though, the level maximum is 20 (unlike previous AD&D where you could progress to 30+).

At the end of NWN, my character was...15 or so? (with a henchman the entire time) So I think the xp made sense. Now I can use that character in user-developed mods and still progress.

I know a lot of people got their characters to 17-18, so the xp isn't too cheap.

Tenpudo

Exactly my point. If they had given 'true' xp awards throughout the campaign, characters would cap out barely halfway through or so. This way you're still developing all the way through the end of the game (although the level requirements for magic items could use some serious work-- there's a few items that you simply can't use at that progression).

VonEvilstein

I loved the game, for a while. I didn't bother too much with the single player version, but looked around for a cool server to play on. I found TolkienNights. Wow! Most of Middle Earth was already up and running when I first joined. I got up to level 9, had some amazing gear (armour cost bloody millions!), until a server bug deleted my armour for no good reason.

So, I installed Morrowind and haven't played NWN since.

I agree with everythig written about PLanescape:Torment. This is the absolute pinnacle of single player CRPG to date. Amazing game!

Calzaer

I've been playing it a bit more, and aside from a wonky random number generator (I get 6's and 9's far more often than I should), it's not as bad as I first thought. But I still feel REALLY cheated, killing something that was labled "impossible" and getting 200 points for it.

And yeah, I switched to the 3e books for the CR rewards. Oddly enough, I can't find an MM entry for Intellect Devourer, either in volume 1 or 2. Hmm.

Re: Planescape:

I will NEVER forgive them for the hideous butchering of Sigil. NEVER. Three wards? Each about a two screens big? I was so geared up to go visit my favorite places, the establishments I'd run my players through, IMPORTANT places like the Lady's Ward and the Great Gymnasium, only to find they didn't exist. I couldn't even join the faction I wanted to. I was so excited that I was going to see someone else's take on tourist attractions and politics, but instead I get herded through a hideously linear facade of Sigil.

It may have gotten better after that, but I gave up.

Re: Follout:

Fallout and Fallout 2 rocked. I loved them. I still play them (even though I just don't have the mental fortitude to actually finish the first one).

VonEvilstein

...and then there's always Morrowind itsself, of course.
Huge, expandable, amazingly detailed game world (hundreds of quests, hundreds of books to read, spells to create, potions to brew, the works), beautiful scenery. Aaah, Vvardenfel, such fond memories.
The game can be played in numerous ways, along many paths and is completely open ended.
The only downside is that it's so damned easy, once you figure out a couple of useful items to get made... You can become invulnerable without cheating one little bit.

butswana

There are a lot of substantial indications that Black Isle's Van Buren project(they name them after dead presidents) is Fallout3.
I just started chapter four of Icewind Dale 2 last night.
I'll play NWN after IWD2 and Operation Flashpoint:Resistance.
Damn, I've got too many games on my desk.