No, but you don't have to play the expansion at all. They are two separate games. Plus if you don't install the expansion, you won't get access to Watcher's Keep or it's added content, including items.

I know. But I don't want those things. I'm sure they are great but I really just want to play the game vanilla as it was originally released.

As I said, you can play the game vanilla. The Watcher's Keep items are only inside Watcher's Keep, and Throne of Bhaal can be skipped entirely. The base game is not changed by ToB, apart from maybe some bug fixes. The bottom line is that with a GOG version you cannot install one without the other.

Trying to play the original Baldur's gate 2 is more complicated than it should be. Steam doesn't want you playing the originals at all. Gog makes you buy the enhanced edition, and then hides the complete edition with a code. And then you get the complete edition and they make you install throne of baal. Whhhhhyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. -.- . Next stop, Amazon. Looks like I'm buying this bad boy on disc.

What exactly is your problem? Baldur's Gate 2 can be played without Throne of Bhaal. I don't see any issue here, other than you are being deliberately awkward.

I have never played this game. Well I love rpgs, and this one is considered by some credible people to be the best. Baldur's Gate 2 the original that is. The one that won all the awards. Throne of Baal has mixed reviews and no matter how small the changes, it does affect the original. Yes, I can pretend the changes aren't there as you say. But if I paid for the game, it'd be nice if I could just choose to not have them there in the first place.

The changes to BG2 with ToB installed are so insignificant as to not be noticeable, trust me. I am what you might call a purist and a role player -- I never, ever power play. I love BG1 and 2, and I hate ToB with a passion, but having it installed does not affect anything. In fact if you knew the game you would not even notice, unless you were the obsessive type. Don't let having ToB packaged with the original turn you off. It is the so-called (*cough*) 'enhanced' editions that you need to be wary of -- in other words, avoid.

I think what really bothers me the most is the increased level cap. I just really don't like it. I know, I'm weird that I would let something so little bother me but it really does for some reason. But it's cool, like I said, they sell the original game on amazon so I'll just get it from there and play it. It's all good.

Fair enough. It's your game, so you should play it how you will get most enjoyment.

You could always just not level your characters up after they hit the level cap of the original game.

As it was said in the other thread as well, your best bet is to change the XP cap by editing XPCAP.2DA in the override folder and setting every entry of 8000000 to 2950000.
That way you get the SoA cap and you will not start gaining High Level Abilities that might be too strong for pre-expansion gameplay.

Then you just don't go in Watcher's Keep and you stop playng after you defeat Irenicus. That's the exact same experience as playing a ToB-less install. :)

It's actually quite simple. I see no need for hunting down a boxed copy.

Me neither, when it's so easy to work around the "house rule". Could also be a higher chance of a boxed copy not working properly on whatever machine you have. That's one of the big upsides to buying games on GOG.

Not a fan of ToB either. Fine to complete it once or twice just for the experience of it, but the base game is much better, and much less linear. I did love the Watcher's Keep though, so that is well worth playing at some point.

If you go for the boxed copy, best of luck to you and I hope everything works perfectly :) Just stay clear or the "error-loaded edition" and you should be fine ;)

If you go for the original BOXED version, be warned that there are some annoying graphical problems on new machines. Forexample, when you cast an area effect spell like web or fireball, the screen goes black or certain items make your character disappear or look weird in the inventory screen. GOG version fixed all those problems as long as i know.

I believe there are a few other minor differences. The only one that I remember noticing was that ToB toned down the OP-ness of the Cloak of Mirroring, making it not reflect spell damage.