Hi.

I've finished BG1, didn't do the Sword Coast and now finished BG2. Sword Coast is relatively small and I haven't bought it...yet. The thing is I'm now looking for a big/ish game to get my teeth into along the same lines as the BG series. I'm going to try BGII Multi-Player online but I'm not too much into playing all over again as a single player in a different class. I don't want to spread the game too thin too quickly and tire of it. I'd rather take a little break, enjoy some M/P experiences with my friends and return to it singularly at a later date.

I've tried to get into Plane Scape Torment but it just won't click for me, I'm sure a lot of you know what I mean.
I haven't got too far into Torment admittedly and maybe someone can talk me round and tell me what I'm missing...who knows. Still, what I'd like to do is buy something else along the D&D lines that is recommended rather than going on pot luck and back of the box hype. It's just there seems to be a good few out there and to tell the truth it leaves me a little baffled as to which way to turn. Has anyone got any suggestions for a good D&D type game that they have played and would recommend....I'd really appreciate it, thanks.

Ice Wind Dale

Well, there is NOTHING even similar to BG and BG2 but...

IWD is cool, but its more hack´n´slash than bgseries, the story is VERY linear. The good point about it is that there are LOTS of weapons, and they are random (for example, in a chest you can find a bow, a sword or a xbow), and that adds a BIT of emotion to the game.

Apart from this, i havent tried Planescape nor Wizars & Warriors

Charlie, as someone else said try Icewind Dale. It was my first computer rpg and I loved it. So you have to follow the storyline, its not that bad and the areas and battles are good. Also they are coming out with the expansion for it any day now (waiting in aggravation) which is supposed to add some interesting options including the Heart of Fury mode where all the battles are harder and you can go up to level 30. But I really recomend IWD if you need a good game. I think you'll like it. Also you have to make up your whole party.

i would continue with torment, when i first played it i found it very hard going all this "Sigil City of doors" stuff and the weird magic syste m and and all that but get a walkthrough or something and persist with it. The story is the best of any game i've played and i find it(storey and game) beter than bg1 or Bg 2. The storey alone is worth playing for and the graphics and artwork are fantastic and you get to visit many intersting locations and find out much about the odd world of planescape and it has MODRONS in it. and it has the most over the top spell effects of any game much beter than bg2 even though torment is over 2 years old. it is also very differnt from bg1,2 and icewind and refeshingly so i would say. try http://www.planescape-torment.net/ouch/ for really funny interviews with planescape torments cast.

I have to agree, Ice Wind Dale is probably the closest game to BG. You have to make up all six party members yourself in the beginning though, no NPCs. How far along did you get in Planescape Torment? I loved that game! Great NPCs! I guess though, there is quite a lot of reading involved with it. You walk up to someone to talk and they just go on and on and on about the values of life and/or death!

Charlie- I played Ice Wind Dale through before starting BG2. I liked it alot, in fact I had started BG1 and never gone past the the first few chapters because I didn't quite "get it" as to how the thing worked. Kept being killed off. Playing IWD with all my own characters and fairly straightline story made it easier. Once I got the hang of dungeon crawling, I decided I really liked it and bought BG2. Also waiting for IWD expansion due out soon.


Cloudbringer

Having played both Torment and IWD i can say that Torment is a good filler game, it allows you to play it a different way each time, but after finding about five way to complete it, and being every class it get boring. IWD is extremly liner, you go to palce find out what you need then the next place opens up and you do the same thing agaist slightly stronger monsters, and it go on about five more times. Personaly when i feel the need to play a filler game i play an oldish one called Dungeon Hack, You have to set the dungeons hardness and the put someone you made through it.

Thanks all.

Looks like IWD is the favourite then. Thanks for taking the time I appreciate it.

Ladyzekke, I haven't got too far in Torment, still on the first floor. I'm not keen on the way it all works...holding Tab down to run etc and all the irrelevant, nonsensical waffling. You're in dialogue for a good while then...bang.."updated my journal", about 10 minutes of old flannel later.."updated my journal", more old tosh...then again "updated my journal" more old bunny..."upda.... Oh shut the f**k up mate and do it all in one hit why don't ya? Seems you're going over and over the dialogue incase he goes into journal updating mode again and you've missed something...It's just a little too slow for me I think, does it speed up?... I may try again...who knows.

Anyhow, cheers for giving your point of view guys, IWD it is.

You wont regret Icewind Dale a bit Charlie and if you do I'll will give you your shitey money back! Plus I know you like fighters and thats a fighters game! Ya gotta love a critical hit!

Hey Charlie, unfortunately....the rambling of dialogue does continue in Torment (but less after you get out of the tomb, but if you decide to continue the game.... do expect more rambling), but the interesting personality of NPCs does make up for a good part of it. IWD is definitely a good choice, can't wait for HoW to come out, as for other fantasy rpgs, how about Ultima Online (suggested by many friends)?

Cheers.

Accord, what's HoW?

Oh yeah, Neverwinter nights that you can import your BG2 characters into...no good?

Hey Charlie, HoW = Heart of Winter, that's the expansion for IWD (sorry for my laziness, can't wait for it to come out though).
Never Winter Night sounds good, but it is not out yet I think (haven't see it in Canada yet)......I am also waiting for Pool of Radiance. Long shopping list.....need to do some serious budgeting for these acquisitions.

Accord, I'm waiting on HoW myself. Whats your thoughts on when its coming out? I've heard anywhere from the 8th, 21st,and 28th (my birthday but I want it early). Will you be trying the Heart of Fury option right off or do HoW then restart a whole game in the HoF mode? I'm doing the latter first , wonder how tough it will be

Accord, I'm waiting on HoW myself. Whats your thoughts on when its coming out? I've heard anywhere from the 8th, 21st,and 28th (my birthday but I want it early). Will you be trying the Heart of Fury option right off or do HoW then restart a whole game in the HoF mode? I'm doing the latter first , wonder how tough it will be

LoA, according to ign.com, HoW is suppose to be out on Feb 22, 2001 (Chanting....but fingers are crossed). I think I am going to restart the whole game, just to re-familiarize myself with my creations (ie. PCs), and get back into the story mood first.....haven't play IWD for several months now.

Fallout 2.
Only similar to the BG series in being a (HUGE) RPG but still a classic.
Buy this game

Best part about Fallout 2 is the game description it gives at the lower left corner of the screen.....lots of GUNS......lots of easter eggs......mutants......politically incorrect......he*k, the game is just good. But its setting in future wasteland.......

I also have to say Fallout 2 is a good ideal,
Charile, if you do buy fallout 2 try and get the american version, the english seems to have all of the children removed.
To the people who played it, on the box it says you can make money by pimping your wife, any ideal how to do this.

No idea at all.....did many other things in Reno though......
Also, Fallout 1 comes as a bundle for some of the later American version (not sure about the European one though), but the children can be added back into Euro version through the patch (or one of the patches). Kids in the game are nothing but brats (some steal your shite too!!!!), you miss nothing without them.

Fallout is a fantastic game. However, the combat system is slightly different, being turn-based and uses hexes for movements.

Personally I didn't enjoy it as it is a very hack'n'slash no-brainer, but try Diablo 2. I liked IWD but missed the depth of BG2 and the NPC interactions. It is fun playing your ideal party though. If you like clever 1st person shooters like Half-life, try Deus Ex, as your main character is very flexible and can be upskilled as you want and both he and his weapons can be modified with high tech implants. Superb conspiracy plot too.

You can't complete one of the quest without meeting a child and you can't be really evil and recive the c...dkiller reputation. (censored not to offend)

Ooops....double posted....

For stress relieving, definitely play Diablo 2 (preferably on B.net or other multi-player section), it's really a click-n-kill game. But for 1st person shooter, try AvP (I know the graphics and engine is a bit dated, but single player and multi mode are great though)....playing as a predator hunting marines is just a blast!! Or biting civilian's head off with an alien.....or just be a mini-gunner marine......it also offer M-player support.

*sign*

Now I really sound like an info-mercial.

Don't worry Charlie, hopefully that Neverwinter Nights will come quicker than we'd expect!
I'm waiting to place orders at electronic boutique!
Also try FF8 and diablo 2 because I found them really great. And you might not like this but how about a bit of call to power 2 (civilisation?)

Hmmm.............

I didnt like Civ/Call to power. Played it 1/2 a time.Not even close to Civ2. It is a different manufacturer though Loved the others though. Charlie, you want Call to Power I'll send it to you or anyone else with all books/charts if anyone wants it

Have you guys tried Age of Wonders?

Wow, this thread took off a bit, I thought it had sunk. If I'm honest I like the medieval kind of stuff. I'm not really into guns and things, too dangerous. Diablo 2 I've done, good game, hack'n'slash but not bad...mad cow level was mental.
Lord of Alcohol - What's call to power about? That's a really kind offer my friend...appreciated (are you pissed?)

If this NeverWinter Nights is out soon it may be worth hanging about for it. If I was to do BG1 TOTSC in the meantime (anyone done it...any good?) and my character is saved will it overwrite my bloke in BG2?

Charlie, try TOTSC, similar to BGI, but a worthy add-on. As for the character, no I don't think it will over-write your BGII character (unless you manually do that) since they are in separate folders. Just continue with your BGI original character.

Charlie, Civilization/Call to Power is based on your starting a tribe in the stone age and bringing it on through to the space age. You expand from one city to many and eventually reach the space age. I couldnt get into this version-too different from the others, which I played first and liked. Maybe I am too used to the other format. Anyway, if you want it I'll give it to you. Just gathering dust here. E-mail me if you want it!