Can't decide between getting this here on Steam or getting it from GOG

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Finally buying this game after a long time looking at it but having other options out there. Course I want to get Neverwinter Nights 2 Complete on GOG since I cant buy a copy here... but my OCD is making me want them on the one platform.

Is there a good reason to split the collection up? Any mods that are absolutely worth getting it on Steam over GOG?

[DrLoboto]

I think almost all mods are available for both versions. The difference is:

- GOG version includes a copy of NWN Diamond, that is the original version of the game, on top of the Enhanced Edition, which gives you more options - some Persistent Worlds might have stuck to NWN Diamond, some mods might not be compatible with the EE (yet) etc. If you buy the game on GOG, you have access to both versions and can decide on a case to case basis which version to use.

- Steam version is updated more frequently. Buyers of the EE on GOG have no access to development builds, they only get the stable patches. The GOG version still uses the last stable patch from autumn 2018, and the new patch has not been released on GOG yet. The DLC Tyrants of the Moonsea appeared on GOG over one month after the Steam release. GOG is always put second place and Steam prioritized by Beamdog, it seems. Steam allows to install *some* mods via the Workshop, on GOG you have to install *all* mods manually.

So it's up to you, more flexibility/compatibility with GOG, or more up-to-date version and ease-of-use when installing mods with Steam. It's a shame that you need to decide between the two and no store offers the best of both worlds, but that's how it is, unfortunately.

[Aurian]

I recommend getting it on Steam because there are many must-play mods for NWN, but the most recent patch for NWN EE has broken mods for some people and if you get the game on Steam, you will be able to select 'build 8186' in 'Betas', meaning you'll be able to play without any bugs until Beamdog fixes the patch. This might not be possible on GOG, if GOG updates before all the bugs are fixed.

[DrLoboto]

Originally posted by Aurian:

I recommend getting it on Steam because there are many must-play mods for NWN, but the most recent patch for NWN EE has broken mods for some people and if you get the game on Steam, you will be able to select 'build 8186' in 'Betas', meaning you'll be able to play without any bugs until Beamdog fixes the patch. This might not be possible on GOG, if GOG updates before all the bugs are fixed.

GOG has DRM-free installers though. As long as you get the game there before the patch arrives, you can download the old stable version (8186) and back it up wherever you want to. On Steam you're dependent on previous builds still being made available, they could theoretically remove them at any time and then you'd have no access to the old version anymore, while your backed up DRM-free installer would still be where you put it, under your own control.

That being said, I don't know what I would do either, if I had to make the choice again. None of the two options is ideal, and IMO the situation doesn't reflect that well on how Beamdog is handling things.

[Aurian]

Originally posted by DrLoboto:

GOG has DRM-free installers though. As long as you get the game there before the patch arrives, you can download the old stable version (8186) and back it up wherever you want to. On Steam you're dependent on previous builds still being made available, they could theoretically remove them at any time and then you'd have no access to the old version anymore, while your backed up DRM-free installer would still be where you put it, under your own control.

That being said, I don't know what I would do either, if I had to make the choice again. None of the two options is ideal, and IMO the situation doesn't reflect that well on how Beamdog is handling things.

You've just convinced me to quickly grab an extra copy from GOG as a safety backup.

Thanks! :D

[Ettanin]

Note though that once installed you can copy the generated steam install version elsewhere. You can start the steam version without starting steam.

[DrLoboto]

Originally posted by Aurian:

You've just convinced me to quickly grab an extra copy from GOG as a safety backup.

Thanks! :D

Oh, that wasn't my intention, but if you appreciate having a backup copy, why not. And you get the Diamond edition on top of it. In case it's your first purchase on GOG, the backup installers are a bit hidden, you'll find them on your games shelf when you click on the game's image, under the big blue "Download and Install" button. Don't click the blue button, it's for installing the Galaxy client which you don't need. Just click on "Download Offline Backup Game Installers" below it and download the files with your browser.

[jonesr65]

If I remember from what I read over on Beamdog forums. If you buy any Neverwinter Nights EE product from Beamdog you get a steam key also. I know I did when I got mine last summer.

[DrLoboto]

Originally posted by jonesr65:

If I remember from what I read over on Beamdog forums. If you buy any Neverwinter Nights EE product from Beamdog you get a steam key also. I know I did when I got mine last summer.

I have no experience with buying from Beamdog directly - does it have any advantages for the customer over buying from Steam or GOG? Is it DRM-free over there or do you need a client to run it?

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Well damn that hasn't made it any easier haha thanks for the thorough assessments though I appreciate it. It sounds like there's valid reasons to get both. Maybe GOG first since I can get NWN2 Complete at the same time...

Again, thank you.

[themazingness]

Originally posted by DrLoboto:

Originally posted by jonesr65:

If I remember from what I read over on Beamdog forums. If you buy any Neverwinter Nights EE product from Beamdog you get a steam key also. I know I did when I got mine last summer.

I have no experience with buying from Beamdog directly - does it have any advantages for the customer over buying from Steam or GOG? Is it DRM-free over there or do you need a client to run it?

Purchasing from Beamdog means you get it on their Beamdog client, and you get a Steam key (you have to go into your account settings to find each key).

I used to recommend buying from Beamdog so you had a copy in two places. I chose this way over GoG because GoG doesn't have the Steam Workshop. However, I am wishing I went with GoG now. Beamdog hasn't put their own site on a priority, so we're still waiting for Tyrants of the Moonsea there even though it was released in August. And the workshop doesn't seem to offer nearly as much as neverwintervault.org anyway.

At least with GoG you'd have it DRM free, though you'd still have to deal with delayed patching and DLC releases since Beamdog has a history of that with all of their games on GoG. I'm not sure if the GoG version has NWSync, but frankly I hate it because it downloads gigs to your hard drive without you knowing how to remove it if you decide against playing on a server. If you install the required files manually (servers typically have their own website with links to the files you need), you know what to remove.

So if you are wanting it DRM free, GoG is where you'll want to buy it. Just keep in mind it'll be a different experience than Steam with slower releases and minus some features that aren't absolutely necessary.

[DrLoboto]

Originally posted by themazingness:

I'm not sure if the GoG version has NWSync, but frankly I hate it because it downloads gigs to your hard drive without you knowing how to remove it if you decide against playing on a server. If you install the required files manually (servers typically have their own website with links to the files you need), you know what to remove.

NWSync does work with the GOG version, although I feel the same way. I prefer the inconvenience of doing everything manually over completely losing control of what is put where and at what sizes etc.