how do i learn how to play baldurs gate 2?

[tic7acpro]

How do I learn how to play this game? its not very intuitive. like i didnt know imoen could not cast magic while wearing armor. how was i suppose to know that. there are many instances like this. how do i know what monster is weak against what attacks? can i just hack and slash my way through the whole game? it doesnt look like i can do that.

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

There are the huge, original PDF manuals for the Baldur's Gate games. Make sure you download the very latest copies. Additionally, there are the Wikis for extra documentation. As a last resort, there are guides and walkthroughs.

Depending on difficulty mode, party members and equipment and pre-combat usage of spells/abilities, you can pretty much play it like a hack'n'slay game. A protected, buffed and fully hasted party can jump into the fray. Spell casters can use AoE spells from safe distance. There are summons that can be hasted, too. There are powerful wands. And and and...

[Etxxu]

In BG1 there are a tutorialgood enough!!

[tic7acpro]

Originally posted by D'amarr from Darshiva:

There are the huge, original PDF manuals for the Baldur's Gate games. Make sure you download the very latest copies. Additionally, there are the Wikis for extra documentation. As a last resort, there are guides and walkthroughs.

Depending on difficulty mode, party members and equipment and pre-combat usage of spells/abilities, you can pretty much play it like a hack'n'slay game. A protected, buffed and fully hasted party can jump into the fray. Spell casters can use AoE spells from safe distance. There are summons that can be hasted, too. There are powerful wands. And and and...

so i should read the manual first then play the game? looks like a lot of time needs to be invested in the manual

[Zotliatlicor]

The game is designed so that you learn a great deal as you go. For your first time, dont make a much complicated character but something easy to play (like a no spellcaster). Fighter works well first time around. And you pick up Companions that have different class skills, then you invest i bit of time to see what they can do, try it out in play, and go forth.

And by now you know that Mage Spellcasters cannot cast spells while wearing Armour. You get a message of this like "your wizard spells are disabled" first and every time you equip armour on Imoen so you are told right there and then how that works. Pay attention to details, and you will be fine.

BG2 has no tutorial, they probably reconned that all BG2 players had played BG1 and thus were familiar with the Mechanics. But the BG1 tutorial covers a lot of the basics, so if you have both games you might look into that. BG1 is in itself a splendid game, much worth having.

You dont need to read a 140 page Manual, but instead use that manual when something you really wonder about comes up.

[Giblets]

Yep, it's all about the manual.

[tic7acpro]

Originally posted by Zotliatlicor:

The game is designed so that you learn a great deal as you go. For your first time, dont make a much complicated character but something easy to play (like a no spellcaster). Fighter works well first time around. And you pick up Companions that have different class skills, then you invest i bit of time to see what they can do, try it out in play, and go forth.

And by now you know that Mage Spellcasters cannot cast spells while wearing Armour. You get a message of this like "your wizard spells are disabled" first and every time you equip armour on Imoen so you are told right there and then how that works. Pay attention to details, and you will be fine.

BG2 has no tutorial, they probably reconned that all BG2 players had played BG1 and thus were familiar with the Mechanics. But the BG1 tutorial covers a lot of the basics, so if you have both games you might look into that. BG1 is in itself a splendid game, much worth having.

You dont need to read a 140 page Manual, but instead use that manual when something you really wonder about comes up.

thank you. going back to the game it does say "your wizard spells are disabled" after putting the leather armor on imoen, i didnt see the text showing up in the inventory screen the first time i looked, there's just an overwhelming wealth of detailed information crammed into one page, its really sensory overload for newcomers into old rpgs. I think I will read the manual first then go into the game. I will play the fighter as you suggested for my very first playthrough.

[Trip]

Originally posted by Giblets:

Yep, it's all about the manual.

Ive still got that glorious spiral bound BG2 manual in a shoe box with my other game manuals from back in the day. It was 'almost' as good as the Arcanum manual, which I still have in my posession as well.

I sure do miss opening up the box and pulling out the goodies inside....

[illmatics]

[/quote]
thank you. going back to the game it does say "your wizard spells are disabled" after putting the leather armor on imoen, i didnt see the text showing up in the inventory screen the first time i looked, there's just an overwhelming wealth of detailed information crammed into one page, its really sensory overload for newcomers into old rpgs. I think I will read the manual first then go into the game. I will play the fighter as you suggested for my very first playthrough. [/quote]

"Overwhelming wealth of detailed information..." - oh boy, are you in for sensory overload with this game.

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

Originally posted by tic7acpro:

so i should read the manual first then play the game? looks like a lot of time needs to be invested in the manual

No, you ought to skim over it at least for the basics, then refer to it again during gameplay. The Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale series is all about an adaptation of D&D rules.

[red255]

from what I recall I started playing made some character, didnt get out of chateau irenicus, quit for at least 6 months, came back with a fighter/cleric (half orc) and gave him high WIS,STR,DEX,CON. hard to mess that up.

and I went thru the game. would recommend a dwarf over a half orc because your strength maxes out at 25 easily enough with cleric buffs. but its how I learned.

none of that BG1 things.

its an old game there are difficult situations with solutions that you probably won't think of on your own.

you are meant to save often and try various strategies.

[tic7acpro]

Originally posted by red255:

its an old game there are difficult situations with solutions that you probably won't think of on your own.

Did you use a walkthrough?

[red255]

I seem to recall DSimpson's guide.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/258273-baldurs-gate-ii-shadows-of-amn/faqs/34147

I can't recall if I used it for BG2 or not. I think I just asked things on forums.

[Bibibobaba]

@Trip The spiral manual was awesone. It was real usefull. In the time (90s) almost everyone have played D&D 2nd somewhere with a friend.
So having a basic of D&D 2nd plus the manual helped alot to play in BG2.
@tic7... Playing Bg1 atleast once it the way to go because it a saga and some companion comeback. You dont need to visit every area and kill everithing the 1st playtrough, just go trought the story chapter and do some of the big side quest like those for companions. Minsc quest in the citadel to rescue Dynaier it a must do.

[tic7acpro]

Originally posted by red255:

I seem to recall DSimpson's guide.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/258273-baldurs-gate-ii-shadows-of-amn/faqs/34147

I can't recall if I used it for BG2 or not. I think I just asked things on forums.

Thank you

Originally posted by crazyboule:

@Trip The spiral manual was awesone. It was real usefull. In the time (90s) almost everyone have played D&D 2nd somewhere with a friend.
So having a basic of D&D 2nd plus the manual helped alot to play in BG2.
@tic7... Playing Bg1 atleast once it the way to go because it a saga and some companion comeback. You dont need to visit every area and kill everithing the 1st playtrough, just go trought the story chapter and do some of the big side quest like those for companions. Minsc quest in the citadel to rescue Dynaier it a must do.

Thank you

[////]

manual.

manual.

manual.

it's not some kind of advertising leaflet, but actual manual with useful (even vital) information, tips, and some artwork.

10 or 20 minutes read for 100+ hours game is time well spent imo.