Do i have to have the latest patches etc.? i think i do have the very latest version (i bought it a few weeks ago) but if i don;t then do i need it, or still need it? its a pretty big download so i don;t want to.

Go to bioware.com, they have the most up to date patches. P.S. patches are considered rather small downloads, so unless you're still working with one of the first prototype modems, it shouldn't be a problem.

I have an original copy of BG that I bought when it first came out...Yet I have never patched it...Am I missing much?

I too had the orginal version. Then I patched it, and I have found that on some items in your invintory(sp?) when you go and look at the statistics of the item; like a bow for example, they have a second button on the left hand side that says abilities. That will show you all the things that your item can use/do. Like with the bow, it will show you all the different arrows you have in your quivers and let you select which one to use that way, instead of clicking on your bow and then clicking on the arrows that you want to use.

Let me know if that made any sense....

That improvement was made for me when I added TOSC to my game...I don't know but I believe that the only thing that I am missing is that i can not go to the section of the sword caost with the shipwreck and Mad Accad (SP?) so as to complete the ring of folly quest and I can't go into the woods below the woods below the bandit camp. So I can assume that unless these are the two best maps on the Sword Coast then I am alright without the patch