Hello everyone,

This would be my 1st time ever playing Baldur's Gate, I want it to be a memorable one, do I have to install mods or something ? or do I start playing the game right away after the GOG installation. I need the finest experience of playing this game just like playing back in 1998 would have had. I would appreciate suggestions.

About me:
I have never played any of the DnD rpgs before, so far I have played rpgs like Dragon Age : Origins, Skyrim, Oblivion, Fallout 3 & New Vegas, Diablo 1,2,3, Torchlight and Pokemon ( I started gaming since 2004). Just bought the Dungeons and Dragons pack this winter sale but unfortunately I have been finishing off the more recent games that came out in the past few years. I love playing rpgs but I wouldn't call myself an rpg fan without having finished the great rpgs of all time such as Baldur's Gate series, Fallout series, Neverwinter Nights and Planescape Torment.

With the above stated, there is only one way to play, and that is straight out of the box; no mods whatsoever, including potential save-breaking mods like the widescreen mod. Your mission of attaining an experience like 1998 requires this, and nothing less, moreover you owe it to yourself to play the game/s at least once as they were meant to be enjoyed. Once you have tasted them as they were designed, then is the time to consider mods. Remember: you can NEVER get that first experience back once you have taken the plunge.

There it is!

:)

I'd co-sign playing Baldur's Gate & Baldur's Gate II: Shadow of Amn straight out of the box, as well. Probably, one of the many reasons why the game is so highly regarded and well-received.

To the original post:
Haven't played the original Baldur's Gate in some time because I spend more time with Baldur's Gate II, however, if I may offer a game playing suggestion, from what I remember... you can pause the action at any time to make tactical decisions when combat becomes overwhelming.

From what i understand the gog installer needs no further enhancements to run perfectly, I running windows 8.1. I hope it works smooth. I am used to the tactical rpg combat as I have played Dragon Age : Origins and SW: Knights of the Old Republic 1-2( both bioware titles). So I shall install the game in the coming days, is there anything I need to know knowledge wise about the game ? Perhaps regarding "old school" rpgs ? Games nowadays are so streamlined that I am afraid I am too spolied to understand how the old rpgs would work. Also people talk of this DnD ruleset, I am from a later generation so I have never played DnD tabletop games.

I agree with the above: no mods!

I recommend starting a multiplayer game, to be able to create 5 of your own strong characters, then move that save game into single player directory. Than you can fill the remaining 6th slot with any character. The characters that join you have weak stats and HP.

I created a fighter (the main guy), paladin, thief, cleric, and conjurer, then filled the 6th slot with one of the joinables mages.

I have never played DnD tabletop myself either. Literally everything I know about DnD is from Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale. I suggest you checking the basics like "THAC0", "1D10 +3".
I personally was able to play the game with only knowing "lower armor class=better" and knowing what "1D10 +3" means. I knew literally nothing else about the rules, and I was able to finish the game. You will manage :)
But checking the manual can never hurt. And always read spell/ability descriptions. I can't really recommend this on the first playthrough. It takes away the whole joy of roleplaying, especially if this is your first time playing :(

Buy the Enhanced Edition!

It's the best way to play the game.

I used to own the game when it first came out, and now that I have played both EE version I must it is really better!

Absolutely agree with MadyNora. Baldur's Gate is an RPG, and playing your first ever game with all MP created characters is kind of missing the whole point of the game. Don't do it. Read the manual. Oh, and... read the manual. Really. Don't do this! At least not until you have played the original once, and again with mods of your choice. The EE is NOT Baldur's Gate. You will completely miss out on the 'finest experience' you mentioned earlier.

Here's my advice. Combine them and play them in EasyTutu for the best experience. I really feel like "playing it out of the box" is only for a certain set of people and from what it sounds like to me, you would not fit into that set. I myself am very anal about experiencing things as they were "meant to be" by who I consider to be the true artists and people who passion about a project. The thing is, when it comes to games like this "meant to be" is actually open to much more meaning than some would have you think. The writers and creators probably "meant to" have stuff in the games that didn't get in to the vanilla, and that is why there are the unfinished business mods and things that allow you to tweak it just a little to get it more in line with the sort of experience they were hoping you would have when playing, which when they released it and you would play straight from the box you were probably LESS likely to have the experience they were going for. Vanilla experience does not necessarily mean intended experience, I think it rarely does, actually. I'm sure the intention was that they wanted you to be able to have it viewable on your screen and to look good, and with what they could do, they gave you the resolutions they had available to make. This doesn't mean that they only intended you to play BG1 at 800x600 highest ever (or whatever) and if you use a graphics mod to make it work better on your display you aren't sapping the integrity of the original experience at all, you're simply doing something they couldn't do back when they made it to reach the intention they had back when they made it (to be good to look at on your screen.)

DON'T play the EE. Ever. IMO.

I would personally add the NPC mod, whether you are playing EE or the original. It simply adds dialog between your characters, and romances as well. BG2 has this is spades, but BG1 (while nearly perfect as a simple adventure) does have large gaps where there is just complete silence. I only recommend this mod on a first play through because a.) I wish I'd used it on mine and b.) it is exceedingly well crafted and takes great care to stick the characters personalities and the story. Imo it's as good as if the designers did it themselves.

I also DO recommend the EE. Both of them have now been patched to near perfection, and if nothing else you avoid having to install TuTu, widescreen and other mods that make the game look and play better. Others disagree with this, but I find the EE of all 3 Infinity Engine games are very well done. Personal choice on that though.

Also, the most important thing to get your head around (and without getting into any arcane Advanced 2nd Edition knowledge) is that you want your THACO and AC to be as LOW as possible, in the negatives is even better. This applies to BG1, BG2, Planescape: Torment and the first Icewind Dale.

How is creating my entire party makes it any less of a RPG?
You can create your own party in the might and magic series, Eye of the beholder, and dark sun, and these are RPGs as much as Baldur's Gate is.

My own party members are much more effective, and far less annoying to boot. And they don't care how high or low my reputation is.

I guess I am simply too used to old school RPGs that allow you to create your characters.

There are different types of RPGs. In Might and Magic it makes a perfect sense to create your own party, because the whole story is about a group of adventurers saving everyone.

In BG the story is about your one character, and the random people s/he meets on the road. From a roleplay perspective it makes no sense to play with a custom party.
Also, for someone who is much more of a roleplayer than a powergamer, like me, it takes away the enjoyment :(

Don't get me wrong, playing with your own party *is* fun an ejoyable, but it's not for everyone, and definetly not for a first time player.

To the original post: O.K. here's a game playing suggestion for both Baldur's Gate & Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn...



You must gather your party before venturing forth.


:)

Don't use any mods first time around. Just make sure you aren't hungry when you start to play, so that you won't be starving when you realize you have been playing it non-stop for 3 days. :D

It doesn't. But it does remove the RP element of the Baldur's Gate storyline. For a first time player who has stated to want "the finest experience of playing this game just like playing back in 1998", creating an entire party yourself simply cannot give that experience. I wish people would actually read questions before giving so-called 'advice'.