Baldur's Gate has always been a fascinating game for me, especially because I think playing an evil character in most games (like KOTOR) is usually very very fun. I just wanted to know a few things:
1: Is it wise to play evil the first go around? I figure playing evil would be harder than playing good. Am I wrong? The most I've ever played in this game is just a few hours.
2: It says in the manual about incurring penalties if you don't act your alignment. What exactly does this mean?
3: Any tips for an evil playing character. Or any tips at all for that matter?
Thanks for any help.
Playing as evil
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Derfasciti
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TheAmazingOopah
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Even though Baldur's Gate is a suitable game for playing it the evil way, being a good boy definitly has it's advantages.
First of all, there are more sidequests aimed at the "good" than at the "bad". By that I mean that there are more quests where you get a reputation increasment than quests that decrease your reputation, thus doing it evil. As a good character you can play almost every sidequest, because it suites your way of thinking, of making the world a better place, wheras as an evil-minded person you would have to decline some because out of role-playing perspective you're too selfish to care, meaning that you would miss out on some experience and goodies.
Second of all, a high reputation means better prices at your local Swords 'n Shields, wheras a low reputation doesn't only make your shopping a lot more painful, but also attracts some strong, bad-ass Flaming Fist squad when dropping too low.
On the contrary: killing certain people instead of helping them can give you a lot of extra gold and flashy items that you couldn't get the decent way. And also, if you're not in the mood of helping another winey peasant with catching some dusty book about The History of Halruaan Earworms, just ignoring him, insulting him or even murder him can be very enjoyable.
So to answer your questions:
1: Is it wise to play evil the first go around? I figure playing evil would be harder than playing good. Am I wrong? The most I've ever played in this game is just a few hours.
1. I would say you are correct here: it is wiser to get to know the game as a hero than a thug the first time around, because of the points mentioned above. Just to get to know your way around, and have more experience and basicly also more money.
2: It says in the manual about incurring penalties if you don't act your alignment. What exactly does this mean?
2. This only counts out of roleplaying perspective, I believe*. Basicly, your alignment doesn't make any difference at all: even if your lawful good, you could be rude to everyone and murder commoners and stuff, without having to face any other consequences than a evil character would when behaving that way. See your alignment as a guideline for playing the game, and I think it's nice if you stick to it, because otherwise it makes no more sense, and you can't change it during the game. Just ask yourself if you want to play it like a hero who strives to a better world, a selfish thug who only strives towards his own good, or a neutral person who doesn't want to hurt anyone, but also doesn't feel like it's his job saving the world. And ask yourself next if you want to act by the strict rules of law (lawful), or occuring to your own agenda (chaotic) be it good or bad, or something in between (neutral). Mix it up, and you basicly have your aligment.
*(though i could be mistaken in this, perhaps the more knowledgable members can correct me)
3: Any tips for an evil playing character. Or any tips at all for that matter?
3. Well, an important tip is this: don't walk into the first tavern you see and mindless kill every person inside. You'll have enough chances of being evil "normally" (with sidequests), and you do not want the Special Flaming Fist Unit - which is kind of a magical Swordcoast S.W.A.T. team - chasing your tail, because at the beginning of the game, you'll not stand a chance against this team. And as said before, low reputation means high prices. So try to act evil in a logical way: don't kill off people who do you no harm, don't kill off important people (bartenders, characters involved in quests that you haven't yet completed) and don't kill off one person by which action the entire town turns against you (be a sneak). Play the game cunningly evil, not like an insane maniac (even though that could be a chalengable way of acting on a latter play-through...).
For a character suggestion, I can't really think clear about that subject on this late hour, though a fighter is always the easiest way to play BG. But let other members consult you first on that subject.
As a conclusion, I think that Baldur's Gate is a very decent game for playing evil, just don't do it the first time through. Get familiar with it as a good guy, then you can always create others characters from there on. Hope that helps.
First of all, there are more sidequests aimed at the "good" than at the "bad". By that I mean that there are more quests where you get a reputation increasment than quests that decrease your reputation, thus doing it evil. As a good character you can play almost every sidequest, because it suites your way of thinking, of making the world a better place, wheras as an evil-minded person you would have to decline some because out of role-playing perspective you're too selfish to care, meaning that you would miss out on some experience and goodies.
Second of all, a high reputation means better prices at your local Swords 'n Shields, wheras a low reputation doesn't only make your shopping a lot more painful, but also attracts some strong, bad-ass Flaming Fist squad when dropping too low.
On the contrary: killing certain people instead of helping them can give you a lot of extra gold and flashy items that you couldn't get the decent way. And also, if you're not in the mood of helping another winey peasant with catching some dusty book about The History of Halruaan Earworms, just ignoring him, insulting him or even murder him can be very enjoyable.
So to answer your questions:
1: Is it wise to play evil the first go around? I figure playing evil would be harder than playing good. Am I wrong? The most I've ever played in this game is just a few hours.
1. I would say you are correct here: it is wiser to get to know the game as a hero than a thug the first time around, because of the points mentioned above. Just to get to know your way around, and have more experience and basicly also more money.
2: It says in the manual about incurring penalties if you don't act your alignment. What exactly does this mean?
2. This only counts out of roleplaying perspective, I believe*. Basicly, your alignment doesn't make any difference at all: even if your lawful good, you could be rude to everyone and murder commoners and stuff, without having to face any other consequences than a evil character would when behaving that way. See your alignment as a guideline for playing the game, and I think it's nice if you stick to it, because otherwise it makes no more sense, and you can't change it during the game. Just ask yourself if you want to play it like a hero who strives to a better world, a selfish thug who only strives towards his own good, or a neutral person who doesn't want to hurt anyone, but also doesn't feel like it's his job saving the world. And ask yourself next if you want to act by the strict rules of law (lawful), or occuring to your own agenda (chaotic) be it good or bad, or something in between (neutral). Mix it up, and you basicly have your aligment.
*(though i could be mistaken in this, perhaps the more knowledgable members can correct me)
3: Any tips for an evil playing character. Or any tips at all for that matter?
3. Well, an important tip is this: don't walk into the first tavern you see and mindless kill every person inside. You'll have enough chances of being evil "normally" (with sidequests), and you do not want the Special Flaming Fist Unit - which is kind of a magical Swordcoast S.W.A.T. team - chasing your tail, because at the beginning of the game, you'll not stand a chance against this team. And as said before, low reputation means high prices. So try to act evil in a logical way: don't kill off people who do you no harm, don't kill off important people (bartenders, characters involved in quests that you haven't yet completed) and don't kill off one person by which action the entire town turns against you (be a sneak). Play the game cunningly evil, not like an insane maniac (even though that could be a chalengable way of acting on a latter play-through...).
For a character suggestion, I can't really think clear about that subject on this late hour, though a fighter is always the easiest way to play BG. But let other members consult you first on that subject.
As a conclusion, I think that Baldur's Gate is a very decent game for playing evil, just don't do it the first time through. Get familiar with it as a good guy, then you can always create others characters from there on. Hope that helps.
Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish your priorities and go to work. - H.L. Hunt
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Derfasciti
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Thank you both for your information, and more is certainly welcome. I have just thought of another question.
I had played this game a long time ago as a very evil character. Sooner or later, my more or less good party members started deserting me. Now, I WAS a mass murderer and tried to kill quite a few innocents. So with my future character (depending on whether I start with an evil char) how can I avoid their deserting me while still acting out my alignment?
And another question: About how long is this game?
I had played this game a long time ago as a very evil character. Sooner or later, my more or less good party members started deserting me. Now, I WAS a mass murderer and tried to kill quite a few innocents. So with my future character (depending on whether I start with an evil char) how can I avoid their deserting me while still acting out my alignment?
And another question: About how long is this game?
Some very evil people in history have been good on the outside. The Puritans are one: law abiding good folk who burned at the stake anyone they thought was a witch... Think about a lot of world leaders who do good things for the sole reason of gaining them more power and are doing more harm in the long run.
As to the length of the game...it differs from player to player and from map to map. I tend to just play once a week and clear one area of the map per gaming session. But, I have been getting the crap kicked outta me at the Durlag's Tower area of the map costing me 13 reloads right at the end of it...I am still trying to squeeze out a victory there...most of the game can go relatively quick but don't rush through it.
As to the length of the game...it differs from player to player and from map to map. I tend to just play once a week and clear one area of the map per gaming session. But, I have been getting the crap kicked outta me at the Durlag's Tower area of the map costing me 13 reloads right at the end of it...I am still trying to squeeze out a victory there...most of the game can go relatively quick but don't rush through it.
"Korax thinks you look very tasty today...
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Stilgar
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I wouldn't recommand playing evil on your first try...the game gives very little rewards for evil, and alot for playing good.
And to follow the main story line you are forced into doing some good deeds (that you could see as a quest to make money, but still)
You have a reputation, this reputation gives you a discount at stores the higher it gets.
Evil party members tend to leave your party when your reputation get's over 18 and good party members will leave when it will drop below 4 (im not 100% sure about these numbers)
Neutral party members will stay with you, but start complaining when you get to high/low on reputation.
About the lenght of the game...to do all quests and explore everything, i cannot be sure in hours, but alot more then Knights of the Old Republic...ALOT more. And with a bigger replay value aswell.
And to follow the main story line you are forced into doing some good deeds (that you could see as a quest to make money, but still)
You have a reputation, this reputation gives you a discount at stores the higher it gets.
Evil party members tend to leave your party when your reputation get's over 18 and good party members will leave when it will drop below 4 (im not 100% sure about these numbers)
Neutral party members will stay with you, but start complaining when you get to high/low on reputation.
About the lenght of the game...to do all quests and explore everything, i cannot be sure in hours, but alot more then Knights of the Old Republic...ALOT more. And with a bigger replay value aswell.
I do not have the touch, nor do I have the power.
Neutral party members will also leave if your reputation gets too low, at the end of the proper manual there are tables about how exactly reputation influences party member happiness, the respawning of law enforcers or shop prices.
According to the alignment description more than 90 percent of the real word is evil.
Evil characters do things for personal gain, and reputation increase is a very valuable gain, because you get higher rewards and cheaper shop prices which is worth thousands of GP. Only maniacs would accept the horrible reputation decrease they get for killing innocents.
So even helping someone for free or donating at temples is something a not stupid evil character would do.
If you want your non-evil party members stay with you even with a low reputation then you can install the "happy party" component from the "ease-of-use" mod, which will keep them from leaving.
According to the alignment description more than 90 percent of the real word is evil.
Evil characters do things for personal gain, and reputation increase is a very valuable gain, because you get higher rewards and cheaper shop prices which is worth thousands of GP. Only maniacs would accept the horrible reputation decrease they get for killing innocents.
So even helping someone for free or donating at temples is something a not stupid evil character would do.
If you want your non-evil party members stay with you even with a low reputation then you can install the "happy party" component from the "ease-of-use" mod, which will keep them from leaving.
My 2 Cents
I agree with everyone here: the first time thru, play a Good Guy. You'll see much more (if not most) of the game. Then, you can decide the best way, in-game, to carry out your Bad Guy lifestyle.
You can party with the joinable "good" NPC's the first time thru. Then, you can mix it up with the joinable "evil" NPC's when you play da Bad Guy.
Besides having certain NPC's leave because of a low/high reputation score, as well as reputation affecting store prices, protagonist Paladins & Rangers will become "Fallen" if your rep score gets too low. I believe a "Fallen" PC is the equivalent of a Fighter. (?)
This game is holy-crap long... great, and long. I play slow & methodically, and leave no stone unturned. Based on the dates of my save games (I kept one for every new chapter), I started Jan 1st, 2004, and finished mid May, 2004, about 4 1/2 months. And I played several days a week, always at least 2 hours at a time (this ain't the kind of game you can do anything in 15 minutes). A true gaming marathon (for me at least).
Great stuff!
I agree with everyone here: the first time thru, play a Good Guy. You'll see much more (if not most) of the game. Then, you can decide the best way, in-game, to carry out your Bad Guy lifestyle.
You can party with the joinable "good" NPC's the first time thru. Then, you can mix it up with the joinable "evil" NPC's when you play da Bad Guy.
Besides having certain NPC's leave because of a low/high reputation score, as well as reputation affecting store prices, protagonist Paladins & Rangers will become "Fallen" if your rep score gets too low. I believe a "Fallen" PC is the equivalent of a Fighter. (?)
This game is holy-crap long... great, and long. I play slow & methodically, and leave no stone unturned. Based on the dates of my save games (I kept one for every new chapter), I started Jan 1st, 2004, and finished mid May, 2004, about 4 1/2 months. And I played several days a week, always at least 2 hours at a time (this ain't the kind of game you can do anything in 15 minutes). A true gaming marathon (for me at least).
Great stuff!
Why is it that whenever I finally get around to playing a new game for the first time,
I feel like playing Baldur's Gate for the second time...
I feel like playing Baldur's Gate for the second time...
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Derfasciti
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Thanks for all your advice. I think I'll have to play it good for now. I'll hopefully start within the next few days.
But before I do, do you guys have any basic game playing tips you haven't told me yet? As I see this game is extremely long, I don't want to get in the middle of it and find out I have to start all over again because I messed up somewhere.
But before I do, do you guys have any basic game playing tips you haven't told me yet? As I see this game is extremely long, I don't want to get in the middle of it and find out I have to start all over again because I messed up somewhere.
Installation:
Make sure you got the TotSC expansion too. And the patch for the expansion (as opposed to the patch for the main game). If you got Baldur's Gate: The Original Saga (which includes TotSC), then I don't think you need any patches, because the game will be patched as installed.
What kind of dude do you wanna run? How do you like to play (spell-caster vs. weapon-wielder, etc)?
Make sure you got the TotSC expansion too. And the patch for the expansion (as opposed to the patch for the main game). If you got Baldur's Gate: The Original Saga (which includes TotSC), then I don't think you need any patches, because the game will be patched as installed.
What kind of dude do you wanna run? How do you like to play (spell-caster vs. weapon-wielder, etc)?
Why is it that whenever I finally get around to playing a new game for the first time,
I feel like playing Baldur's Gate for the second time...
I feel like playing Baldur's Gate for the second time...
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Derfasciti
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Stilgar
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[QUOTE=Derfasciti]I only have what I think is the very original BG. No patches or anything.[/QUOTE]
Then i recommand you downlaod and install the official patch atleast.
It fixes some bugs that could be very annoying later on.
(Bioware)
Then i recommand you downlaod and install the official patch atleast.
It fixes some bugs that could be very annoying later on.
(Bioware)
I do not have the touch, nor do I have the power.
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Derfasciti
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Sirensowns
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