Gothic II without NotR

[MIsnamedMIke]

Originally this was supposed to be in the "Guides" section but I get error messages all the time (I guess because I don't have the game on Steam?). This is why I'm just going to put it in this section.
Steam and GOG do not allow you to launch Gothic 2 without the expansion. This is why I've done some research and found a way to play the game without it. I know that it works with the GOG version but I'm not sure if it works with the Steam version as well. Let me know whether this helps:

Guide:

NOTE: I know that this works with both the GOG version (English and German) and the classic Gothic 2 Gold version (in the second case you should be able to install Gothic 2 without the expansion anyway). If this guide shouldn't work with the Steam version let me know and I'll put an annotation in the description.

NOTE: This will break the expansion if you try to launch it (no dialogues). If you want to play the game with the expansion you have to reinstall it. You should backup your game and savegames!

NOTE: The GothicStarter Menu will be in German. Simply select "Gothic 2 Classic-Mod" and then "Spiel starten". But don't worry, the rest should remain the way you've installed it.

1.Go to the Gothic.exe and rename it to Gothic2.exe (e.g. in C:\GOG Games\Gothic 2 Gold\system) or in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\Gothic II\system)

2.http://www.worldofgothic.com/dl/?catid=25 - download the Report-Version: Gothic2.exe 2.6.0.0 and install it (e.g. in C:\GOG Games\Gothic 2 Gold or in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\Gothic II)

3.http://www.worldofgothic.de/dl/download_230.htm - download the G2_Classic-1.1.exe and install it (same folder)

4.Go to the install folder (e.g. in C:\GOG Games\Gothic 2\system), launch the Gothicstarter.exe and select the Gothic II Classic-Mod. You are done!

[☆ x.]

But why? This addon is very good, why people want to play without that?

[MIsnamedMIke]

The add-on is great. There is no doubt about it. But some people that are new to the series might not like the relatively high difficulty of the add-on.

[HarmanKhar☆]

Thanks! I prefer to play without the add-on since the New world is a pretty linear experience and stretches out the game a bit.

[flo :-D]

Good effort - thx!

[Basnap]

I got no clue why you want to rename the Gothic.exe.

[meda]

Originally posted by MIsnamed:MIke:

some people that are new to the series might not like the relatively high difficulty of the add-on.

Facedesk. So they should adapt and learn.

[MIsnamedMIke]

@ Basnap
If your .exe has a different name chances are that you won't be able to install Gothic 2 Classic
@Icy
I prefer to play the game with the add-on as well. But some people might want a slightly easier game or simply don't enjoy some parts of the add-on world. No need to make fun of people that want a different experience. With or without the add-on - the game is most certainly not what I would consider to be "casual". So please be polite.
TY

[Generic British Citizen]

Any luck getting it to work on steam G2: Gold Edition?

I strongly dislike the addon, though I completed it few times.
I guess they didn't even test the balance.
NoTR orc warrior seems to be much stronger opponent than final boss from original version. : )

[D36]

Originally posted by tompaul1331:

Any luck getting it to work on steam G2: Gold Edition?

I strongly dislike the addon, though I completed it few times.
I guess they didn't even test the balance.
NoTR orc warrior seems to be much stronger opponent than final boss from original version. : )

Following instructions are for english game version only:

1) Download this archive[drive.google.com] (33 MB);
2) Put g2classic_english.vdf file from archive to Gothic II/Data folder;
3) Start new game (old saves are incompatible!).

Addon is successfully disabled if:
- Classic menu background, startup music and loading screen;
- No addon intro video in the first dialogue with Xardas;
- No stone tablet on the table near Xardas;
- No plants and no belt on the first floor of Xardas' tower;
- No Cavalorn fighting goblins near bandits' cave.

[JamaicanDave]

Did this work? Personally I think NotR completely ruins the game. I've spent a lot of time trying to find a way to play steams gothic 2 without the addon. I still have the original CD's but unfortunately it won't install.

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

Originally posted by JamaicanDave:

Personally I think NotR completely ruins the game.

How? Why? As one can travel forth and back between Jharkendar, the isle of Khorinis and the Valley of Mines, not even the amount of stuff to do in the addon "world" should cause too much distraction.

[gr1nie]

For one thing, NOTR is very tedious.

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

What exactly is tedious?

Quests like those started within the pirates camp of Jharkendar are among the best ones to find in the game. For example, leading a group of pirates into the canyon to clear it from beasts and use the opportunity to eliminate also the orcs.

[JamaicanDave]

NotR seems designed to cater for hardcore power players that know the game inside out, and only them. It cranks up all the NPC and item stats, prices and level up costs to such a degree the only way to play the game is to 'power game'. Whilst Jharkendar isn't a bad environment, all the changes to the new world and valley of the mines stick out like a sore thumb. Does't really blend in, ruining the atmosphere and immersion that was a big draw for this game. It also pretty much removes all the cool optional 'side areas' of the map the player would only visit through exploring the world. They're now all incorporated into the new quests.

[Black Fox]

i cant believe im one of the few players who finished G2 with the addon playing as a full mage-only character and im not even a hardcore game lover but i cant help but agree that while notr introduces a new world that is interesting to explore, the rebalance made the game a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ mess to play, its to unfogiving to be actually fun, instead if feels like a completely tedious, messy and convoluted version of the same game with a much more infuriating and frustrating gameplay, playing the game in a methodical way to keep yourself alive is not fun at all