How long do you think a first playthrough would take?

[Shining Wizard]

There's a huge discrepency between the playtime of the original BG2 and BG2EE (100 hours vs 55 hours, respectively) on howlongtobeat. I was wondering if maybe the estimations for BG2EE are more accurate because Steam clocks playtime. How long do you think it would likely take to beat the game for a first timer?

[The Asciiman]

Hooooo boy! Well, that is an easier question to ask then to answer.

Honestly, I think the answer is anywhere from 55 hours to 100 hours.

The issue is entirely in how much you want to see and do. If you intend to do EVERYTHING you can in your first run(I did it this way and it was simply amazing), then more than 55 hours, easily. But if you just want to go from Irenicus' dungeon, to the final battles in Throne of Bhall? Then yeah, 55 hours sounds right for a first time. Either way, this isn't a small game.

[Grimlore]

Originally posted by Infinite Jest V:

I was wondering if maybe the estimations for BG2EE are more accurate because Steam clocks playtime. How long do you think it would likely take to beat the game for a first timer?

I think the time is probably shorter because many of the purchasers of BG2EE already played through the original release many time, and thus know where to go and what to do. If you are going to hit all the content, I'd be suprised if it wasn't a lot higher than 55 hours.

[kaiyl_kariashi]

You can beat the whole saga in about 7 hours if you know what you're doing.

It depends on if you use any guides (which I highly DON'T recommend).

Somewhere around 50-70 for a first try sounds about right, less if you use a guide and ignore a bunch of quests you don't find interesting.

[Matuse]

How long depends on how much you do. You can get enough money to progress to Chapter 3 after doing just one major adventure area in Chapter 2 (usually your class stronghold) and a few minor areas/encounters. You're skipping a huge portion of the game and the Underdark will be challenging because you'll be very low level, but it's certainly fast.

Alternatively, you could run through my BG2 checklist, and do everything.


Reputation +1:
[] Complete Circus Tent [] Hunt Anarg for Radiant Heart
[] Free Slave Girl in Slaver Ship [] Finish Unseeing Eye Quest
[] Clear Slaver Ship for Hendak [] Free Grove & Lift Djinni Embargo in Trademeet
[] Solve Skinner Murder [] Complete Skin Dancer Quest in Trademeet
[] Kill Shade Lord in Umar Hills [] Give Mantle to Mayor instead of feuding houses in Trademeet
[] Give Neb's Head to Inspector Brega

Irenicus' Dungeon: Waukeen's Promenade:
[] Collect Dryad Acorns [] Circus Tent
[] Free Genie In The Plane Of Air [] Kill Mencar Pebblecrusher & Co
[] Escape From Irenicus' Dungeon [] Find Cernd's Child
[] Pickpocket Ring Of Regeneration

Slums/Copper Coronet: Graveyard:
[] Speak To Gaelan Bayle [] Mournful Paladin & Orphan Girl
[] Kill Corhvale And Bregg [] Man Buried Alive (Silver Pantaloons)
[] Duel Amalas In Copper Coronet [] Ghost Child & His Teddybear
[] Get De'Arnise Hold Quest from Nalia [] Recover Nether Scrolls For Edwin
[] Get Windspear Hills Quest From Firkraag [] Nevin's Undead Uncle Lester
[] Free Hendak & Slaves [] Crypt King
[] Obtain Lilarcor [] Pai Na & The Spiders
[] Clean Out Slaver Ship [] Thieves Breaking Into Tombs At Night
[] Get Korgan's Book From Crypts [] Staff Of Curing Crypt
[] Mazzy & Gorf the Squisher [] Hear Offer From Bodhi
[] Slavers Escorting Slave To Copper Coronet [] Clean Vampire Nest, Duel Bodhi
[] Obtain Gloves Of Pickpocketing [] Clean Vampire Nest, Kill Bodhi
[] Anomen's Family Trouble
[] Anomen's Knighthood
[] Sewer Myconid Room
[] Pay Gaelan Bayle

City Gate: Between City Areas (Or Multiple Potential Areas):
[] Merchant Accosted By Bully [] Ambush That Drops Arbane
[] Lich In The Wall (Daystar) [] Poisoned Harper (Need: Jaheira In Party)
[] Star Crossed Lovers [] Orog/Slaver Ambush
[] Obtain Tradmeet Quest From Flydian [] Unnamed Bandit Ambushes
[] Encounter with Vampire Hareishan
Government District: [] Encounter with Vampire Salia
[] Keldorn's Family Trouble [] Encounter with Vampire Del
[] Rescue Viconia From Fanatics [] Encounter with Vampire Parisa
[] Planar Sphere Quest From Tolgerias [] Encounter with Vampire Tanova
[] Jan Tries To Sell Flashers [] Imoen/Candlekeep Dream
[] Jan's Family Troubles [] Irenicus Dream of Death
[] Purchase Magic License [] Irenicus Dream Of Power
[] Umar Hills Quest From Delon [] Slayer Control Dream
[] Githyanki Raid For Silver Blade (Silver Hilt)
[] Ellesime's Warning About Suldanesselar Dream
[] Give Yoshimo Peace In Death (Any Temple Of Ilmatar)

Temple District & Sewers: Bridge District:
[] Uncover Truth About Unseeing Cult [] Skinner Murders
[] Shade Lich (Kangaxx) [] Rescue Haer'Dalis From Mekrath
[] Guarded Compound (Celestial Fury) [] Rescue Haer'Dalis From Planar Prison
[] Commission Statue From Sir Sarles [] Obtain Horn Of Valhalla
[] Recover Ring Of Dawn For Lothander [] Valeria's Random Band Of Goons
[] Hunt Rogue Paladin For NORH [] Empty Building Next To Valeria's (Anhkeg Shell)
[] Mindflayer Lair (Need Key From Windspear) [] Cptn Dennis & Mercs Of Riativin (Limited Wish Quest)
[] Roger The Fence's Troll Problem [] Elemental Lich (Kangaxx)
[] Rakshasa & Kobolds (Sewer Cloak) [] Five Flagons Bartender Gift For Haer'Dalis
[] Tarnor & His Mercenaries [] Five Flagons Bartender Gift For Mazzy
[] Get Mirror From Imp For Mekrath [] Uncover Shadow Thief Traitor For Aran Linvail
[] Bridge Mugger Ambush
[] Twisted Rune Headquarters
[] Qadeel & The Deckhand Ogres

Docks District: Windspear Hills:
[] Rescue Montaron From Harpers [] Return Dryad Acorns
[] Gavelry & Harper Battle [] Pillage Tomb Of King Strohm III
[] Revianne & Dermin Confront Jaheira [] Obtain Sewer Key From Tazok
[] Jaheira Leaves Party & Rescue [] Rescue Garren's Child
[] Dermin Confronts Jaheira Again [] Kill Firkraag
[] Terminsel The Harper
[] Renal Bloodscalp & Mae'Var De'Arnise Hold:
[] Baron Ployer Curses Jaheira [] Assemble Flail Of Ages
[] Pirates Behind Secret Door In Sea's Bounty [] Create Dog Stew, Trick Umber Hulks
[] +1 Axe In Docks Chest [] Open Drawbridge
[] Kill Priest of Cyric [] Kill Torgal
[] Kill Kangaxx [] Nalia's Father's Funeral
[] Speak To Aran Linvail [] Nalia's Kidnapping & Rescue From Isaea
[] Guard Weapon Shipment With Mook
[] Shadow Thief Usurper (Ring Of Lock Picks)
[] Ruffian Captain/Mugger Ambush

Planar Sphere:
[] Launch, Explore Sphere, Defeat Lavok, Return to Athkatla

Umar Hills: Temple Ruins:
[] Investigate Deaths In Umar Hills [] Kill Shade Lord
[] Make Peace Between Town And Madulf [] Kill Thaxll'ssyllia
[] Obtain Berjuril From Chicken [] Rescue Mazzy Fentan
[] Buy Booze & Swords For Kids [] Mazzy's Family Trouble In Trademeet
[] Save Drunken Kids From "Dragon" In Cave [] Restore Romance NPC From Vampirism
[] Coweled Wizard's Golem & Mimic Blood
[] Get Valgyar's Help Opening The Sphere
[] Human Flesh Armor

Trademeet:
[] Neeber [] Clean Troll Mound
[] Pickpocket Genie Flask [] Obtain Belm From Barn
[] Kill Ihtafeer [] Skin Dancers & Return Of The Tanner
[] Wilfred The Red's Lies [] Feuding Houses In Trademeet
[] Defeat Faldorn, Solve Animal Attacks [] ♥♥♥♥♥ Fortune Teller
[] Battling Philosophers

Brynnlaw: Spellhold:
[] Saemon's Vampire Ambush [] Speak To Inmates, Find Imoen
[] Kill Perth The Adept [] Obtain Rogue Stone By Dradeel
[] Free Ginia & Her Brother [] Capture By Irenicus, Soul Dream
[] Kill Galvena [] Obtain Bag Of Holding
[] Gain Access To Spellhold [] Statue Item Riddles (Dusty Rose Ioun Stone)
[] Steal Gate Horn From Pirate's King [] Sanity Puzzles (Ring Of Regeneration)
[] Steal Pirate King's Ship with Saemon [] Dimensional Gateway (Doomplate)
[] Kill Priestess Of Umberlee [] Magic Book (Ring Of Free Action)
[] Mithril Tokens (Boots Of The North)
[] Mithril Tokens (Boots Of Grounding)
[] Mithril Tokens (Boots Of Speed)
[] Mithril Tokens (Jester's Chain)
[] Get Cloak Of Reflection From Apparition Room Table
[] Fail Memory Test, Answer Machine Riddle (Bracers AC5)
[] Troll Room (Bone Club)
[] Escape Spellhold Dungeon
[] Recruit Inmates, Defeat Irenicus

Sahaugin City:
[] Align With Sahaugin Faction, Get Rope To Underdark
[] Obtain Cloak Of Mirroring
[] Sea Zombie Lord Room
[] Imp Chest Puzzle

Underdark: Ust Natha:
[] Kill Earth, Air, Fire Respawns By Portals [] Meet Solaufein
[] Kill Mindflayer Trio Near Entrance [] Rescue Phaere From Mindflayers
[] Drow War Party Ambush [] Kill Beholder For Phaere
[] Free Vithal, Loot Other Dimensions [] Kill Deep Gnome Patrol For Phaere
[] The 6 Facets Of The Soul Prism [] Deal With Solaufein For Phaere
[] Help Deep Gnomes Defeat Demon (Light Gem) [] Obtain "Noble Race" Body Parts For Matron Ardulace
[] Speak To Adalon (Drow Illusion) [] Kill Qilue For Aboleth
[] Adventurer Party Ambush While Drow [] Free Human Slaves
[] Kuo-Toa Ambush [] Running Elven Slave Girl
[] Clean Beholder Lair [] Tavern Duels vs Drow
[] Obtain Elder Orb Eyestalk [] Tavern Battles vs Monsters
[] Clean Mindflayer Lair [] Free Tortured Genie
[] Obtain Master Brain Blood [] Jarlaxle & Deirex The Lich
[] Githyanki Ambush (Need: Silver Sword Blade)[] Clear House Jae'llat
[] Clean Kuo-Tua Lair [] Kill Ghaunadaur Worshippers for Taso Kala
[] Obtain Kuo-Tua Prince Blood [] Obtain Silver Dragon Eggs For Adalon
[] Demogorgon Statue/Cambion Ambush
[] Clear Drow Guards From Door To Lead Outside

Exit From Underdark / Small Teeth Pass / North Forest / Forest Of Tethir:
[] Speak To Elhan About Irenicus
[] Return Lanthorn To Elhan
[] Clear Small Teeth Pass Of Random Monsters
[] Kill Wyvern Cultists In North Forest
[] Obtain Loot From North Forest Graves, Defeat Efreeti & Djinni
[] Coran, Safana & Lanfear In Forest Of Tethir
[] Obtain Mana Bow In Forest Of Tethir

Suldanesselar / Hell:
[] Obtain Artifacts of Rillifane, Summon Avatar Of Rillifane
[] Rescue Elves Under Attack From Irenicus' Golems, Demons, & Rakshasa
[] Kill Nizidramanii'yt
[] Cleanse Tree Of Life Of Parasites, Defeat Irenicus
[] Pass Hell Trials, Kill Irenicus

Watcher's Keep
[] Obtain Quest To Seal Keep For Knights
[] Access & Clear All Levels Of Watcher's Keep
[] Deck Of Many Things Duel With Aesgareth
[] Obtain Bonuses From Machine Of Lum The Mad
[] Kill Saladrex
[] Kill Demi-Lich
[] Imprison or Kill Demogorgon

Sacred Grove/ Pocket Plane/ Throne Of Bhaal: Saradush:
[] Listen To Sacred Grove Prophecy [] Defeat Initial Ambush, Speak To Melissan
[] Kill Illasera [] Obtain Key To Gromnir's Castle
[] Donate Portion Of Soul To Sarevok [] Deal With Mateo's Execution
[] Speak To Cespenar [] Ressurect Tazit's Father
[] Complete First Pocket Plane Challenge [] Give Elves Sanctuary From Guards
[] Complete Second Pocket Plane Challenge [] Deal With Dwarves Fighting Guards
[] Complete Third Pocket Plane Challenge [] Help Waitress With Abusive Patron
[] Complete Fourth Pocket Plane Challenge [] Cure Viekang's Fear
[] Complete Fifth Pocket Plane Challenge [] Recover Lazarus' Missing Spellbook
[] Kill Melissan [] Deal With Peljte's Vampires
[] Decide Fate [] Clear Sewers Under Gromnir's Castle
[] Kill Gromnir


North Forest / Forest Of Mir / Marching Mountains / Battlefield Outside Saradush
[] Rescue Merchant From Yaga-Shura's Goons in North Forest
[] Defeat Fire Giants In North Forest
[] Speak to Gorion In Forest of Mir
[] Defeat Master Wraith In Forest Of Mir
[] Speak To Nyalee In Forest Of Mir About Yaga-Shura
[] Defeat Bhaalspawn Horde In Marching Mountains
[] Obtain The Hearts Of Yaga-Shura and Nyalee In Marching Mountains
[] Free Slave Woman In Marching Mountains
[] Give Yaga-Shura's Heart To Nyalee In Forest Of Mir
[] Kill Nyalee In Forest Of Mir
[] Kill Yaga-Shura Outside Saradush

Amkethran:
[] Defeat Oasis Ambush
[] Rescue Mayor's Daughter
[] Meet With Saemon Havarian About Smugglers And Monks
[] Cleric Of Waukeen vs Monk
[] Marlowe, His Daughter, And The Lich
[] Lich's Monster Spawning Tables
[] Finish Construction Of Big Metal Unit
[] Archery Competition With Guards
[] Wipe Out Hostile Mercenaries (After Abizagal & Sendai Are Dead)
[] Wipe Out Hostile Monks (After Abizagal & Sendai Are Dead)
[] Wipe Out Tavern Mercenaries (After Abizagal & Sendai Are Dead)
[] Accept Saemon's Help Getting To Balthazar
[] Kill Balthazar

Abizagal's Enclave: Sendai's Enclave:
[] Speak With Elminster [] Speak To Woodsman, Get Ambushed
[] Defeat Human Draconis [] Clear Through Sendai's Enclave
[] Kill Dragon Draconis [] Kill Odamaron (Lich)
[] Obtain Access To Abizagal's Lair [] Defeat Captain Egiessag
[] Hire Bondari To Obtain Bronze Pantalletes [] Kill Sendai
[] Clear Beholder Lair (Will Not Get Bronze Pantalletes)
[] Kill Fll'Yissetat
[] Defeat Human Abizagal
[] Kill Dragon Abizagal

Item Upgrades:
[] Maheer - Horn Of Valhalla (Diamond) [] Maheer - Horn Of Valhalla (Berjuril)
[] Cromwell - Equalizer [] Cromwell - Wave Halberd
[] Cromwell - Gesen Bow [] Cromwell - Crom Faeyr
[] Cromwell - Mace Of Disruption +2 [] Cromwell - Vorpal Blade
[] Cromwell - Red Dragon Plate [] Cromwell - Shadow Dragon Leather
[] Cromwell - Anhkeg Plate Mail [] Cespenar - Thieves' Hood
[] Cespenar - Heartwood Ring [] Cespenar - Helm Of The Rock
[] Cespenar - Montolio's Cloak [] Cespenar - Wondrous Gloves
[] Cespenar - Blessed Bracers [] Cespenar - Circlet Of Netheril
[] Cespenar - Golem Manual (Clay) [] Cespenar - Golem Manual (Stone)
[] Cespenar - Golem Manual (Juggernaut) [] Cespenar - Improved Cloak Of Protection +2
[] Cespenar - White Dragon Scale Mail [] Cespenar - Blue Dragon Plate
[] Cespenar - Aslyerferund Chain +5 [] Cespenar - Bag Of Plenty +2
[] Cespenar - Erinne Sling +5 [] Cespenar - Fire Tooth +5
[] Cespenar - Quiver Of Plenty +2 [] Cespenar - Darkfire Bow +5
[] Cespenar - Taralash +5 [] Cespenar - Runehammer +5
[] Cespenar - Flail Of Ages +4 [] Cespenar - Flail Of Ages +5
[] Cespenar - Storm Star +5 [] Cespenar - Club Of Detonation +5
[] Cespenar - Hindo's Doom +4 [] Cespenar - Spectral Brand +5
[] Cespenar - Ravager Halberd +6 [] Cespenar - Staff Of The Ram +6
[] Cespenar - Axe Of The Unyielding +5 [] Cespenar - Ixil's Spike +6
[] Cespenar - Dagger Of The Star +5 [] Cespenar - Carsomyr +6
[] Cespenar - Gram The Sword Of Grief +6 [] Cespenar - Purifier +5
[] Cespenar - Foebane +5 [] Cespenar - Angurvadal +5
[] Cespenar - Sword Of Mask +5 [] Cespenar - Quiver Of Plenty +2

[Rugal]

im about 103hrs in chapter 3 checking every nook and cranny before moving ahead and doing as many side quests as possible, when i first played bg2 when it first came out i think i played for about anything up to 10 hrs a day for like a month not sure what the hourage was but the game had me hooked, even today the game still holds that magic charm.