I got through most of the first Baldur's Gate when I was still in high school (one of the reasons I never finished it). Later, with more time on my hands, I played Neverwinter Nights to death and liked the 3rd edition rules over the old AD&D. When BG I came out on GOG, I was tempted, but held off hoping for other releases – that did came – and now that BG II is here, I am on the fence.

1 – BG II used AD&D, correct? As one who prefers 3rd ed., should I really hold that against it?

2 – Would it be more fun to finish the original BG first?

3 – What is the story vs combat ratio? That is, Torment had too much story and Temple of Elemental Evil too much on combat. I like an even balance of both.

4 – How would you rank the two BG games compared to Neverwinter Night's Shadow's of Undrentide and Hordes of the Underdark? Or, for that matter, Torment and ToEE. (I am passing over Icewind Dale, preferring BG since I already familiar with that game.)

Just seeking opinions from others right now.

ToEE is not a perfect stand in for Icewind Dale, considering that the combat runs quite differently on both games, but it will work for our purposes.

Between the interactive book that PS:T is, and the hack and slash gorefest that Icewind Dale is (mind you, I love both of them), Baldur's Gate, and especially BG2 is the happy medium in between. Yes, BG2 has a lot of combat, but you start out powerful enough that it is a lot more fun than difficult.

Also, there is no great need to play BG first, as anything you need to know will be conveyed in the beginning of the story. In fact, I got the second game a good while before I played the first. As far as how it compares to Neverwinter Nights, I can't say, I started the original campaign, and then got sidetracked by the custom campaigns. . .

Baldur's Gate 2 is the reason I always get a little worried when I see the 3rd ed level up screens.

1) As far as I remember, BG2 is based on AD&D 2.5 or something like that. Not exactly the same rules as BG1, but clearly different from the 3rd Edition of IWD2 or NWN.

2) I think it's better to finish BG1 first, but not mandatory. There are a number of "inconsistencies" between BG1 and BG2 : even if you can import your character from BG1 into BG2, you choices are not imported (unlike Mass Effect 1&2, for instance). So the developpers have based BG2 story on "common" choices made by many BG1 players, but this will not necessarily match your own choices.

3) I find the story/combat ratio almost perfect in the Baldur's Gate series. It's clearly a balanced mix between IWD and PST gameplays.

4) Though I own the entire NWN series twice (for LAN gaming), I haven't played it seriously yet. Compared to Torment, I'd say go for Torment if you want a great story and unusual setting, and are more interested in roleplay than in combat. If you want a more balanced experience, BG1/2 will be more enjoyable. IWD is the most diablo-like game using the Infinity Engine, great for powergaming and enjoying tactical combat. And ToEE, I also own it but haven't played it yet.