LOL How will I ever recover from such biting wit. You do wound me so.

Back on topic. For anyone who didn't google this, here's the web address for the new expansion: http://www.siegeofdragonspear.com/ They show the new NPCs there. Hopefully since they're approaching this as an expansion of BG1:EE they'll add these NPCs to the main game too. I am very excited about this! I'm already thinking I might buy it on Steam after all, even though I'll probably buy it again here eventually too (when its marked down a little). I just don't have the patience to wait for it to come here.

Well at least you didn't lose it, that's refreshing. Now you've made your point and I've made mine... it's just a shame you didn't show as much grace to allow somebody else to make their point without attacking it... again, while also calling them condescending. Not unexpected, though.

Hmm, I'd be more excited about BG 3 or IWD 3 or something along that line based on D&D 4th or 5th edition.

I am not sure that BG1, 2 and AD&D are still not done with 10+ years after their release. Midquel-expansion to 1st (!) BG... well, plot is super-confined and game systems are heavily outdated (3th Edition was upgrade in so many ways). It would be interesting to see computer implementation of D&D 4th/5th ed. with fresh storyline.

I'm buying this expension for 2 reason.

First I really enjoyed the EE versus the original, and since it's one the best game ever made it will be great.

But mostly to support Beamdog, if they sell more then expected, it can greenlight a BG3 from Wizard of the Coast.

Nice presentation.

:)

I preferred 2nd Edition, but that's probably because I just didn't really bother with all the insane metrics involved with it! I'm not exactly a heavy tactical player. I like this as an add-on to BG1 rather than BG2. As much as I adore BG2, I don't enjoy high level campaigns as much, probably in large part to my lack of tactical skills. At the point you reach in BG1, I'm at about my peak of being able to handle the various spells, buffs, difficult enemies, etc.

Well, I'd be more excited for an all new adventure. I think the BG saga had a start, middle and end and doesn't need any filler.

I don't see there being enough room between BG1 and BG2 for it to make sense, "Oh, and you fought another Bhaalspawn on the way to Amn...", but we'll see how it plays out.
Then again, Quayle will need to leave the party at the start of the expansion to join the circus, Edwin will need to leave to infiltrate the thieves...
Not much room for levelling either, though one or two levels wouldn't break the bank.

Not buying unless/until it comes to gog.

Yeah, there's almost no room for levelling up. Since you lose (almost) all your equipment at the start of BG2, this puts a damper on your sense of accomplishment.

Technically not an official announcement, but I did receive this response from a member of the development team in reply to my inquiries regarding if one purchased Siege of Dragonspear directly from Beamdog would it be DRM free in the same way as games are DRM at GOG.com. Not official, but it sounds like they are planning a delayed release on GOG.com. How long, who knows? Maybe my memory is hazy, but wasn't IWD:EE released on GOG.com at almost the same time it was released at Beamdog & Steam? Even if Siege of Dragonspear is not released here until a few months after Beamdog & Steam, that's fine with me. I prefer GOG.com's definition of DRM free to Beamdog's. Hopefully it will also give Beamdog a chance to patch any egregious bugs.

EDIT: TYPO

Im excited. I really wish the would contact Obsidian about their Pillars of Eternity technology. I think that it would be really cool to see baldur's gate on that engine... Anyways, I think beamdog will do a great job. I wish they'd do PS:T EE, though! :D

The two don't really mix.

Hum, well, I would split the PoE engine in two parts :

- the graphical engine (that does some very neat trick for dynamic lightning effects and shadows on pre-rendered backgrounds) ;

- the game engine/UI/rule system.

Baldur's Gate definitely can't use the second part, the ruleset and general UI should stay as it is or it would no longer by Baldur's Gate. But for the graphical engine, it would be nice to have the goodies of PoE in a Baldur's Gate game, but it probably requires too much work...

Completely agree

I agree with this. I should have said a "modified" PoE engine.

They're now saying Siege of Dragonspear will be released in "early" 2016. I'm so excited for this! :D One of the things I'm most excited for is to hear the new dialogue of some of the NPCs we know and love!

Hopefully, this will make late-game NPCs a little more useful too, since they should be able to be carried-over and have a longer time period where you can play with them.