Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Alisttair 08-27-03, 09:54 AM	I don't mean the ding blasted novels here. Who is it that wrote the tremendous story for BG, BG2 and ToB??? Who is the genius? And what else did he write? (or she)
kedi 08-27-03, 10:09 AM	I don't know, but I'll positively headshot him if i see him.
Thomas M. Reid 08-27-03, 12:55 PM	The concept for the original story was developed primarily by a developer who worked for Bioware up in Canada. I can't remember his name, but Steven Schend and I spent a weekend there with the guys at Bioware, helping them flesh out the material and making sure that nothing they put together flew in the face of other FR cannon. The subsequent storylines, I can't tell you, as I was not involved with them. Thomas
Cherrn 08-27-03, 01:38 PM	The story was extremely bad. I didn't mind the first one, but BG2 and ToB made me loose everything it had going for it. Oh god ToB.... *shudders*
Sarelle 08-27-03, 01:52 PM	Originally posted by Cherrn The story was extremely bad. I didn't mind the first one, but BG2 and ToB made me loose everything it had going for it. Oh god ToB.... *shudders* Well, I think you will find yourself pretty much alone in those opinions, at least in these boards. Maybe in the world. Meh - they are your opinions. I personally loved SoA, and ToB was good too.
Another Gnome 08-27-03, 02:16 PM	Hardly alone. BG I had a far superior story to its sequel, mainly in that it didn't try to reach the skies. Literally. The only thing that kept me going through BG II was the romance with Viconia. :D
cwslyclgh 08-27-03, 03:34 PM	I also thought the story lines of BG2 and ToB left a lot to be desired... although I like the BG1 story line quite a bit, (and I like IWD and IWD2 even better).
Alisttair 08-27-03, 04:42 PM	Originally posted by Thomas M. Reid The concept for the original story was developed primarily by a developer who worked for Bioware up in Canada. I can't remember his name, but Steven Schend and I spent a weekend there with the guys at Bioware, helping them flesh out the material and making sure that nothing they put together flew in the face of other FR cannon. The subsequent storylines, I can't tell you, as I was not involved with them. Thomas Thanks Mr.Reid. Good work in helping out. It shows that you and Mr.Schend weren't there for the destruction of the city in ToB (the name of the city is stored somewhere in my memory lol). Anyways, the whole series is very well written (a good fellow canadian who wrote that first one at least...nice:)) Anyways, I see a few people who disliked it, but it's the same people who don't like Mr.Salvatore's novels, so basically it's only the minority :P
kedi 08-27-03, 05:32 PM	Originally posted by Sarelle Well, I think you will find yourself pretty much alone in those opinions, at least in these boards. Maybe in the world. Meh - they are your opinions. I personally loved SoA, and ToB was good too. :rofl::rofl: I guess you gonna find yerself alone, we hate BG, BGII and especially ToB, :D take care
Alisttair 08-27-03, 06:44 PM	Originally posted by kedi :rofl::rofl: I guess you gonna find yerself alone, we hate BG, BGII and especially ToB, :D take care He's not alone. I know MANY people who love the entire series. You Kedi are simply part of a very minor group (minor compared to the majority of those who have and still enjoy the BG series)
Dargoth 08-27-03, 07:07 PM	According to the credits in the manual a "Lukas Kristjanson" was the lead writer on the BG 1.
cwslyclgh 08-27-03, 07:30 PM	He's not alone. I know MANY people who love the entire series. You Kedi are simply part of a very minor group (minor compared to the majority of those who have and still enjoy the BG series) that is about as an undefendable statement as I have seen on these boards for a while... it would be almost impossible to prove one way or another whether the majority of people on these boards like the storyline to BG2, let alone of all the people who played the game. working from this thread alone, the like/dislike BG2's story line is 4/2 against the game. (Reid didn't have an opinion one way or another, and all though several people liked BG1, only you and Sarelle actually liked the second one). and as a side note I have seen many more threads complaining about the BG series of games then I have seen praising them on my 3 odd years on the boards (including both my previous SN and this one). and another thing... although I freely admit that Bob isn't my favorite realms author... I would never say that I disliked his books ;)
Mirtek 08-27-03, 08:33 PM	I side with the "We dislike BG2's story line" people. The story line was horrible and i still can't understand how they could make such huge and obvious errors (Bhaal in the Abyss, yeah and Bane now has his new realm on Mount Celestia). I haven't read the novels, but if they are really much different from the game, then i hope this difference is because they corrected the misstakes.
Darkmistress 08-27-03, 10:37 PM	I like BG2 as a game better for its character interaction. But the plot? Oh, please. I do notnotnot like Imoen one bit, and I do notnotnot want to rescue the pink-haired brat. I wish they gave us an option to side with Irenicus and blow Suldanessellar to smithereens, or something. Well, at least, with Ascension you can get good ol'Bodhi to join your party.
kedi 08-28-03, 06:32 AM	Originally posted by Alisttair He's not alone. I know MANY people who love the entire series. You Kedi are simply part of a very minor group (minor compared to the majority of those who have and still enjoy the BG series) :uh-huh: You people love "BG"???? how?? a very ridiculus story, unrealistic and meanless. The NPCs are very bad, every mage doesn't ma grotter which, casts the same spells "mage armor, mirror image, fire shield"" etc. Every spellcaster I say, and the monks aren't effected by time stop? and they are invulnerable to spells with SR? And a stupid goblin or orc with plus2 or 3 longswor/axe? And u should have some special powers because yer an demigod, but where are they? And I never was able to get BGII's story, some stupid things, a mad mage etc. Pluss they're 2ed, bad grafics, the game totally sukx/t. And this game has a major fans? Come'on! even NWN is a better game. -kedi
Dargoth 08-28-03, 06:41 AM	get off it BG2 burys NWN. At least BG2 follows the D&D rules (2ed rules), NWN is D&D lite. As for the NPCs I liked them, and I liked the way they acted like NPCs to, they'd interupt, they'd vocice there own opinions if you choose responses they disagreed with they'd say so and they'd even argue with each other. Korgan vs Viconia arguements where hillarious (Or as Korgan would call her Vicky). The NPCs in BG2 where the best NPCs Ive ever seen in a D&D Crpg. The only part of the saga that I didnt like was Throne of Bhaal whoich was to much of a Slogfest and was tainted by a bastardised version the 3ed rules
Cherrn 08-28-03, 06:47 AM	Originally posted by Alisttair Anyways, I see a few people who disliked it, but it's the same people who don't like Mr.Salvatore's novels, so basically it's only the minority :P Well I can honestly say I love Mr Salvatore's novels. They are well written, exciting and fun to read. Very much unlike the Bg2/ToB storyline :0
kedi 08-28-03, 07:04 AM	Originally posted by Dargoth get off it BG2 burys NWN. At least BG2 follows the D&D rules (2ed rules), NWN is D&D lite. As for the NPCs I liked them, and I liked the way they acted like NPCs to, they'd interupt, they'd vocice there own opinions if you choose responses they disagreed with they'd say so and they'd even argue with each other. Korgan vs Viconia arguements where hillarious (Or as Korgan would call her Vicky). The NPCs in BG2 where the best NPCs Ive ever seen in a D&D Crpg. The only part of the saga that I didnt like was Throne of Bhaal whoich was to much of a Slogfest and was tainted by a bastardised version the 3ed rules :rofl:
Darkmistress 08-28-03, 07:41 AM	Originally posted by kedi :uh-huh: You people love "BG"???? how?? a very ridiculus story, unrealistic and meanless. The NPCs are very bad, every mage doesn't ma grotter which, casts the same spells "mage armor, mirror image, fire shield"" etc. Every spellcaster I say, and the monks aren't effected by time stop? and they are invulnerable to spells with SR? And a stupid goblin or orc with plus2 or 3 longswor/axe? And u should have some special powers because yer an demigod, but where are they? And I never was able to get BGII's story, some stupid things, a mad mage etc. Pluss they're 2ed, bad grafics, the game totally sukx/t. And this game has a major fans? Come'on! even NWN is a better game. -kedi ToB aside... I, for one, don't consider 2e rules a limitation. So that, IMO, doesn't make the game good or bad. You ever played Pool of Radiance 2: the Ruins of Myth Drannor? Go play that, and come talk to me about how divine 3e rules are. Bad graphics? Are you the type that absolutely must have 3D graphics or something? Please. Good graphics do not a good game make, and though I'll agree that the avatars in Infinity Engines game are godawful, the pre-rendered background are quite pleasant to look at. Oh, and saying that something "sucks" doesn't validate your opinions any. You know what. The protagonist isn't a demigod. He/she has a fragment of Bhaal's essence, but that doesn't grant godhood, or even demi-godhood. Special powers? You gained those in BG1, and then the ability to shapechange into the Slayer in BG2, and a pocket plane in ToB. Were we playing the same game? In any case, you don't need special powers. The game's easy enough already, unless you install some of those insane tactic mods. Every spellcaster does have a repetitive AI, yes. But can you honestly say that the AI in NWN is better? At least, in BG series, you can control your NPCs. The henchmen/women in NWN are a travesty. Most people I know also consider NWN a failure.
Darkmistress 08-28-03, 07:42 AM	Originally posted by Cherrn Well I can honestly say I love Mr Salvatore's novels. They are well written, exciting and fun to read. Very much unlike the Bg2/ToB storyline :0 I don't know. The storyline may be questionable, but I can say that I like the NPCs and dialogue a good deal better than Mr. Salvatore's writing. (As a matter of fact, I prefer BG1's story over any of Mr. Salvatore's FR novels. So ah...)
T'lareth 08-28-03, 10:38 AM	Originally posted by Darkmistress I don't know. The storyline may be questionable, but I can say that I like the NPCs and dialogue a good deal better than Mr. Salvatore's writing. (As a matter of fact, I prefer BG1's story over any of Mr. Salvatore's FR novels. So ah...) Well I wouldn't have expected that from you... But ok that's coming from someone who favours EC :rolleyes: above RAS, EG and TD, so I should have known better. BG2 was bad so was ToB.. BG1 was only ok IMO.
Desies 08-28-03, 04:27 PM	After playin BG1 (and liking it very much) I decided to play BG2...for one reason EDWIN!!! He is quite probably the coolest character in anything ever! So if for no other reason then him BG2 is at least a semi-decent game! "DON'T TOUCH ME...I'm super important!" HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA:D
Herr Doktor 08-28-03, 05:50 PM	I enjoyed both Baldur's Gate games, though I've not played the Throne of Bhaal expansion. I liked the storyline of the first game more than I liked the events of the second, but personally... I thougt Jon Irenicus was pretty cool. I also think the cut scenes that show 'em up close are no good... he was much fancier when I couldn't make out all the details of the tiny version of him. Anyway... both games were excellent in my opinion. I'm playing Icewind Dale right now, I'm holding off on getting the expansion or part two because I've heard there will be an ULTIMATE release for something around $20 that contains Icewind Dale 1 and 2 and all of the expansions for the first one. I've yet to confirm that though.
Alisttair 08-28-03, 06:26 PM	Edwin is my favorite NPC in the game. "Elminster this, Elminster that. Give me 2000 years and a pointy hat and I'll kick his arse!!" Anyways, the story is very good, bar none. Child of Bhaal and all that. And the graphics you can't compare to today because it's an older game. Maybe some of you just didn't get the right NPCs and/or play the right class and/or race to make the game enjoyable enough for you. Maybe even some of you don't like it because you played 3E D&D before that game. Or any number of reasons. But I assure you, I have read and heard far more positive feedback on this game elsewhere, believe you me.
Darkmistress 08-28-03, 10:40 PM	Ditto people who favor Edwin. The Edwina incident was one of my favourite side-quests. By the way, there're modding projects going on that will: a) Convert BG1 to BG2 rules b) Convert BG2 to IWD2's rules I'm not sure if they are finished yet (I believe (a) is, but am not sure), but if you're so beeped off with the 2e rules so much, well, here you go.
Soup Nazi 08-29-03, 12:37 AM	Something to remember about all these games, be it the IceWind Dale series, the Baldur's Gate stuff, Planescape Torment and any others based on the FR universe is this: These games are not just created by companies, but by fans just like us. These fans just happen to have the resources to put together their interpretation of the originals. Yes mistakes are going to be made and yes sides will be taken, both to shoot them down with criticism as well as praise them as gods. But, alas, they are only human and I can accept that. Consideration might be given to the years these people spent creating this wonderful pocket universe of games that we all so readily huddle around for the chance to debate. We have something and that, IMO is better than nothing.
twistedbutsane 09-06-03, 09:37 AM	I liked Baldurs Gate 1 & 2 but didn't get too far in ToB. Irenicus really got on my nerves though, I didn't like his voice acting. I liked the Npc's but could have killed Anomen more than once, esp when he tells off Jaheira, he was by far the most annoying NPC. I lost Viconia in BG1 I was too nice, I always wanted a helm of opposite alignment for her. Minsc was too funny :looloo: . I liked the whole Bhaalspawn thing, I am thinking of adding it into the FR campaign I have happening now.
Saverok 09-06-03, 10:52 AM	did any of you ever do the pantaloon-paradigium quest? In BG1 there is a merchant in the F.A.I where you will meet khalid and jaheria, they have long been my....oh wait was why I talking about? oh yes, anyways, you talk to the merchant and he gives you a pair of golden pantaloons. These pantaloons along with like 3 other items are the only carry-over-able items for bg2. In bg2 in an inn i cant remeber there is the same merchant and he gives you a pair of silver pantaloons. Now obviously you can carry both over to TOB in which you get the bronze pantaloons and take them to a forge dude who makes a gun out of them and all this other junk. I've done up to finishing all of bg1 (all quest and everything now, with all items and all the NPC party memebers all stationed in the FAI.) I haven't finished off sarevok yet because I am making sure I get everything....so basically I can tell you where to get evrything. I am gona finish off this pantaloon-paradigium and post about it. Its a big under-ground secret. Those who have done it say its true, those who haven't dont know what to think of it. You can probably find it on the net somewhere. My friend showed it to me on a game site but I can't remember them at the momoment so when I do I will post it too.
Saverok 09-06-03, 11:14 AM	oh yes, I loved bg1, bg2, and TOB....so much that I am buying every game black isle puts out even the crapy ps2 games. But I cannot say that qithout bg I would have still played D&D because BG1 is what brought up my true curiosity about D&D and FR. I can't say a single thing bad about bg1 or 2 or TOB. Just ask yourself; could you have come up with a better plot? Truly? with all that detail? in all the time they had? NWN is good I play that too, but BG will always be #1. It was the bench mark for all other FR RPG's Out there... one more thing: :behold: you're a rock, you can't reply.
Alisttair 09-06-03, 02:15 PM	Originally posted by Saverok did any of you ever do the pantaloon-paradigium quest? In BG1 there is a merchant in the F.A.I where you will meet khalid and jaheria, they have long been my....oh wait was why I talking about? oh yes, anyways, you talk to the merchant and he gives you a pair of golden pantaloons. These pantaloons along with like 3 other items are the only carry-over-able items for bg2. In bg2 in an inn i cant remeber there is the same merchant and he gives you a pair of silver pantaloons. Now obviously you can carry both over to TOB in which you get the bronze pantaloons and take them to a forge dude who makes a gun out of them and all this other junk. I've done up to finishing all of bg1 (all quest and everything now, with all items and all the NPC party memebers all stationed in the FAI.) I haven't finished off sarevok yet because I am making sure I get everything....so basically I can tell you where to get evrything. I am gona finish off this pantaloon-paradigium and post about it. Its a big under-ground secret. Those who have done it say its true, those who haven't dont know what to think of it. You can probably find it on the net somewhere. My friend showed it to me on a game site but I can't remember them at the momoment so when I do I will post it too. Yup the Pantaloon quest thing is true. I have done it. You get the Golden Pantaloons from that noble in BG1, you get the Silver Pantaloons in a rather evil sort of way in BG2 (by holding a certain person hostage yourself) and then you can find the Bronze Pantalettes (looks like underwear or something) in ToB. Then a certain NPC in ToB will make you the "Big Heavy Unit" (name is probably wrong here cause i forget the exact name, but something similar), which is an armor that makes you look like a big silver or grey golem, which has weapons that shoot unlimited Magic Missiles (only one though), the exploding skull and one for Aganazaar's scorcher. Pretty good.
Harkle 09-06-03, 03:03 PM	I loved the story In BG2. I thought ToB got a little crazy with its story, but a I never really got very far in it. As for BG1 it my have had a good story, but it advanced way to slow, and it was to easy to bump into the middle part of a sidequest and the story for the sidequet wouldn't make any sence, but the sidequest were usually pretty good if you actually did eveything in the right order. I think BG2 was a great game. I personaly can't stand the playing 2nd ed, but BG2 is somehow differant, the way they put it all together seems to work out very nicely. I did start to play BG2 with some mods, (nothing very extreme) and a little mod here and another mod there was able to greatly amplify the enjoyablity of the game, and they didn't change much at all. I loved the NPC's and you guys are all wrong Minsc was by far the most awesome thing to ever come out of the Forgotten Realms. As for the whole Bhaal Spawn thing even though I refuse to use any of it in my campaigns at least it didn't try to artifically add a great evil from the distant past, like NWN did. I hated NWN not only was it to much of the same thing over and over again, but as my brother went throught the game he told me about the story, and almost every single detail of it is somehow contradictory to FR lore.
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 09-06-03, 06:49 PM	I will agree that the storylines of BG2 and, to a greater extent, ToB, were quite over the top. However, I think the actual *gameplay* is excellent and I keep coming back to the game (haven't really gotten tired of it). The BG1 storyline and overall scenery was far more "quaint" and down-to-earth, but after playing the sequel and it's expansion, it is harder to go back to, because the gameplay wasn't as good (slower walking speed, terrible pathfinding, generally less interesting combat partly because there aren't as many spells involved). Utimately, the plot is just an excuse for the experience. I liked the story, overall, even though there are aspects of it that I vehemently hate. The overall story was worked on by many different people, and so it does have more than a few inconsistancies within it.