I am about to defeat Sarevok in BG1 and will be starting my first jaunt into BG2. I've owned it since it came out and am now, finally able to give it a go. Quick question:

Do I just install BG2 or should I install BG2 + ToB -- similar to installing BG1 + TOSC?

I've read that you should play SoA first and finish it, then install ToB. I would trust the folks on these boards as you are a helpful group.

Let me know the best practice. Thanks!

I suggest you install both. It'll give you an extra class (the Wild Mage) and a number of bonus merchants in SOA. Enjoy! :D

definitely defintely install both*

the xp cap/transition will work better

and there's the all-powerful 'press TAB to highlight containers' function

enjoy your first game - we're insanely jealous - try to resist getting spoiled on forums ;)

* and the ToB patch and baldurdash fixpack (see Forum FAQ)

[ 02-26-2007, 03:34 AM: Message edited by: Armen ]

Thanks, as always, for the advice.

I've installed both -- after some technical difficulties. I started the game last night and am already impressed with the upgrade in graphics, sound, music, animations, etc. I can't wait for all the twists and turns.

In terms of length . . . compared to BG1 + TOSC, how long is BGII SoA + ToB? Is it as long, twice as long . . . ?

The beginning of SoA is like the end of BG1, when you reach Baldur's Gate itself... there's a myriad of side-quests available. You can do these at any time in Chapters 2, 3 and 6, so you can make your game longer or shorter as you wish.

I tried to complete as many of the quests as I could in BG1+ToSC. I'll probably try that in SoA+ToB. I like to get my money's worth out of my games. If I do that, is the game longer than the first? I'm assuming yes?

interesting - i have a sense of it being longer - i think it might just be deeper though - or maybe there's a bit more to the main plot

it's a lot more quest driven and much much less wandering around the wilderness looking for things to do than BG1 - on reflection what wilderness areas there are are pretty linear, forcing you to go a certain way - each main quest tends to be 'bigger' though

i'm confusing myself now . . .

i'd do all the quests too - very few of them are time-limited and they tend to be the ones that recruitable NPCs give you and they're only time limited if you have them in the party, you can usually get the quest without the NPC

when you leave the opening dungeon it will become apparent that in story & role playing terms there's a certain amount of urgency attached to the main plot but you're free to decide about that

have fun [img]smile.gif[/img]

it's easily 125 hours of gameplay. for me, tho, first time thru, it took me over 200 hours. i explored every map and did every quest. and died an awful lot in the underdark.

then ToB was released. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

V***V