New Player - Please Explain This Game xD

[IndyLohan]

So I've got 2 hours into this game and I'm really really confused. Looking up guides for new players has really only made the problem worse. So I figured I'd ask for help here.

First, I've played DnD since 3e, so 2e rules make no sense to me. I have figured Low AC is good, THACO is something like base atk, and casting any spell usually is worse for me than the enemy.

From a video game perspective, I got this game because I liked Dragon Age. Kotor, that kind of game. I guess I'm not sure if I am playing it right, are you supposed to get remove party members all the time for new ones? Or should I be finishing quests with them and then letting them go.

I don't like to miss stuff, and I am very much a roleplayer over a power gamer. I just would like to know if I'm supposed to be following my quest log, or should I be exploring every area? I realize this is all probably a matter of opinion, I guess I'm just trying to get some comfirmation that I'm not royally playing this game wrong. Any Help at all would be super, ty! :)

[voehringer_nitron]

Yes, you want your AC, THAC0 and saving throws to be low. Unlike 3rd edition games (or KotOR, which I've also played, Armor does not limit your DEX bonus to AC, so a character with 18 DEX and Full Plate will have a better AC than a character with 10 DEX and Full Plate. Another difference from 3rd edition games, instead of damage reduction, like 5/+1, certain monsters will be immune to all damage unless the enchantment level is high enough.

As for casting spells, I assume you mean the quanity of memorized spells, or say the number of Magic Missiles flying at you. Even early encounters will feature enemy casters several levels ahead of you. You will gain additional castings and higher level spell slots as you gain levels, and theres a few items that will let you memorize additional spells. Also, its a good idea to keep Resist Fear/Remove Fear memorized. Almost every Bard and Mage in the game will cast Horror on you.

As for party members, I tend to gather my group as soon as possible and keep them together, although I may occasionally do some swapping. Each NPC has a few versions, at different levels. The thing is, with the higher level versions, you have less control over the development of the character. You may find they have weapon proficencies you don't like, thief skills distributed less efficently, or low HP totals. Some will have a personal quest they want you to do, such as heading for the Bandit Camp with Kivan, or killing some Wyverns in the Cloakwood with Coran. These are nothing major or important story-wise (personal quests in part 2 are much better), but many of them will leave the party if you don't complete them in a timely fashion. Also, some party members don't get along. Don't take Khalid/Jaheira along with Xzar/Montaron, blood will be spilled.

Following your journal is a good idea, but sidetracking can lead you to some intresting quests/loot or companions. Some quests will be close by, others will lead you farther afield. There's a Halfling in Beregost who had his Boots stolen by some Hobgoblins on the map just south of town. And there's also a Dwarf in town who lost his Cloak in the Cloakwood (the irony isnt lost on him). You can't get there until Chapter 4, so you can't dash off right away.

With its (mostly) open world exploration, the progression of enemies isnt linear. You might find low level enemies like Kobolds and Gibberlings on one map, and the adjoining one might have Ankhegs or Sirines, which can be tough for low level parties. Use a Thief or Ranger in Stealth to scout ahead (the above mentioned boots will help with this) so you dont get caught unaware.

Durlag's Tower and Ulgoth's Beard were added with the expansion pack, so save those areas for later, unless you feel up for a challenge.

Ugh, its late and I haven't slept well laltely. I'm probably missing something, but if you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

[happy]

if you are more of a RP guy than a powergamer, then, seriously, man, just play the game the way you want.

the strong point of BG1 is exploration and freedom.

stop reading guides, stop looking for advice, just have fun in a non optimal way.

the guy above makes perfect sense btw.

[Kephin]

You don't really switch party members too often. They just put a lot of options available so you can make decisions based on your character's class and alignment. Think of it like dating, and your job is to find the person(s) out there that is right for you. If you're a good mage, you'll want to look for a good fighter, thief, and cleric. If you're an evil thief, you'll want to look for an evil fighter, cleric, and mage.

[paulhulme25]

i agree fully with both VN & Happy Play the game the way you want to, I am, i pickup the odd Npc do there Quest if i can, then dump them for someone new & i like to Explor the map, there is alot of Awesome Place's, and if you need to Check out a Walkthough on the Game it might Help, Plus show you were the Spoilers are, Happy Gaming Brother

[FatalFrosty]

And when you'll feel tired of not being sure where to go and who to be with, but still feel madly in love with the whole game's engine and lore and visuals and interface and play style and all, then you will be ready to please yourself with IceWind Dale :)

[IndyLohan]

TY everyone. I've been playing for a couple days now and I'm having a blast. Almost every NPC i meet and don't need anymore is parked in the Friendly Arm. Some times i dont even take a full party just cuz i feel like they are too weak. I'm a fighter so I have alot of HP and AC, so I tend to be a 1 man army :) Having fun, but I find myself wishing there was more structure. I love the freedom, and I love to explore, but the quests with ther main story, or characters side stories are head and shoulders above the rest of the game. Really wish that it could guide me just a tad more than the journal is giving me. Minor worry though as I am having a blast.

[GraveYardShif7]

The Baldur's Gate community here is pretty helpful and probably more mature then most steam communitys. Most of us are older gamers but some are new as well and it's nice to see one such as yourself peek an interested in one of the best role playing games ever made.


If you are interested in learning more about Bhaal I posted a peice of artwork that is not my own with a lot of good information about your father. http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=615528280

Again this is not my work. I take no credit for it. I simply typed out and wrote all that info you see there in the info box to describe Bhaal, and his origins for people wanting to learn more. I take a morbid fascination for some reason with the evil gods in D&D because I find them so fascinating. If you're interested in my actual art that I've created myself. It's displayed on my profile.

Cheers,
-Trash

[voehringer_nitron]

Well, jeez, that's a huge spoiler right there. I think you should add some spoiler tags to that.

[////]

the op is screaming for spoilers, actually.

dude, when you start the game you know only as much as the protagonist (a.k.a. gorion's ward) knows. just play along and keep your eyes open for info.

[IndyLohan]

Yeah, my fault for snooping around on forms, I heard things here and there. But mostly I was just asking for early game help. I've noticed these DnD system games tend to be really hard early game, unless you understand "How to play". But all in all, no harm done. Hopefully gunna beat it soon!!

[frdnwsm]

BG1, hopefully you have the EE version, is both open ended and structured at the same time. By which I mean you can do many quests in whatever order you wish, or even omit some, but there are certain things that you have to do in order to progress. Some things are not obvious. There are game guides if you wish to refer to one, or you can go at it blind, whatever is your preference. It's a game, so play it the way you want.

If you take one character all the way through to the third installment, Throne of Bhaal, it can take you upwards of a year for one run through. [Subsequent run throughs tend to take less time, since you know the mechanics, locations of quest items, etc.]

Save often; remember, if you, as the main character, die, the game is over and you have to restart from a saved position. Fighter kits are the best for newcomers, since their mechanics of play are simple, but you will eventually need a knowledge of what spells do and how they act. You will inevitably attract spell casters to your side as NPC allies. Its easy to get killed at low levels, even as a fighter, despite the good HP and armor class.

NPCs have different alignments, and not all of them get on well together. Jaheira and Khalid, for example, often come to blows with Xzar and Montarn. If you, as party leader, have a high charisma, this tends to happen less often. That having been said, I tend to tank charisma, in favor of beefing up more generally useful stats.

In ombat, the pause button is your friend. Pause often to check NPC health, spell status etc. There are settings you can alter that will auto pause the game when certain conditions are met, so check out the game setting options also.

[Quietman]

If I may... may I recommend multiple save points for the same party? For example "Mage Party": Backup 1 , Backup 2, Backup 3 etc. Its a very big game and if you are wandering through it without checking a guide, you may find your saying, "***! I needed to talk to That guy back in Chapter 3". If you have lots of back ups, you can back up to a point in Chapter 3 and still have that conversation.