Seriously, you guys are the best. I have said this many times before, but I didn't have the best experience with D&D and their Infinity Engine video game counterparts while growing up, mostly because those games were hard to come by, over here, back when they were released, and "true nerds" were the only ones playing them. It goes without saying that being a nerd or a geek of any kind wasn't cool, like it somewhat is, today, and those guys, over here, tended to be highly elitist and protective of their stuff, which means they wouldn't let you play any Infinity Engine D&D video game -- or any similar video game, for that matter. If other people somehow got hold of those games, they simply wouldn't help them getting started and, let's face it, these games are complex and require some sort of community to share your knowledge with. I was never one of the jocks or the popular kids, but I wasn't a "true nerd" as well. Truth is I didn't know what I was, and though now I've come to accept that and enjoy it, back then it was tough, because you didn't fit anywhere. I always liked books, music and video games, but I never looked for the things most people looked for in them. I always had a passion for poetry and non-fiction, and was never the type of person to enjoy fantasy literature. That alone made my geek friends (I had a few of those) label me as "that guy who doesn't like Our Lord And Saviour Tolkien and all the derivative authors he brought forth" and therefore excluding me from their "inner circle" of table tops and video games. I played a lot of Nox, when it came out, and that seemed to be an excuse for them as well, as they saw Nox as this Diablo clone that was way too easy and accessible, and anyone who played it wasn't entitled to play their true hardcore CRPGs. I somehow managed to get a copy of Baldur's Gate, but I found it to be more complicated than I was used to, and without friends to help me with it, I eventually just quit trying playing it altogether, as they wouldn't help me -- with a satisfaction grin on their faces, to boot. So, I grew up missing out on these games.

Time went by and I kept playing my Zeldas and my Legacy of Kain series, my Resident Evils and my point and click adventures, until, a few months back, I bought my first game on GOG (not surprisingly, the aforementioned Nox, to have a digital backup of my old original boxed copy, immediately followed by the Wadjet Eye games and both Alan Wake titles). As soon as I found out GOG had all those great CRPGs I missed out when I was younger, I bought them all. Thing is, these games are as newcomer-unfriendly now as they were back in the day, so I started lurking the sub-forums, getting all the tips and hints you guys have been giving other players. Out of all the games I bought, the Icewind Dale titles seemed to be the hardest ones, for me, to get into. The combat is really hard to master, and the story wasn't as gripping as the stories found in the Baldur's Gate series or the superb Planescape: Torment, so I was having serious trouble with IWD and IWD 2. Fortunately, this community right here didn't judge and provided me with loads of helpful information and I finally got to be able to play the games and finish them. Not only that, but I actually enjoyed them a whole lot, they're definitely on my personal 'Best Of' list, now. And that's all thanks to you, for being patient with newcomers to the games, and for acting like the video game loving friends I never had back in the day, discussing games and different tactics and approaches and sharing experiences.

Sorry for the huge post, I just wanted to let you guys know why I think this community is one of the best, out there, and how much I owe you all for having me go through these games and learning how to play them and enjoy the hell out of them. Thank you so very much!

Yeah, I feel you. I'm glad websites still exist with info on these fairly old games. For example, forum posts from 2001, still have relevance today...
I was a little kid watching my pops play AOC Art of War mode on the multiplayer zone.com when these fantastic games came out. I had no idea the games existed until 2 years ago. I mean I'm sure when I'd go to CompUSA or circuit city I probably saw the boxes in the computer game department but yeah... wouldn't have struck me. I didn't start to play them since last spring. To be honest I almost gave up on BG 1 last year, because of how slow the characters walked and the weird magic system. Then I got used to it after passing the Nashkel minds. Now I can't get enough of the whole battle engine of the games. I'm glad GOG have made these games accessible for everyone, and they are a good price to boot!

If you don't mind, I'll add in my hearty thanks as well: to the communities, the dead forums, the old posts, past websites (too bad planetbaldursgate got shut down) and GOG. Thanks, the games are a classic.

This game may be around 14 years old, but this game (and Baldur's Gate 2) are *still* both the best RPGs I have ever played and they easily put most modern day RPGs to shame. The only modern day RPG I've played an enjoyed is Skyrim (and mainly if I play as a melee focused character). Dragon age 1 & 2 an Diablo 3 just don't cut it for me. And even though I haven't posted much here as of yet I already like the community. :) It's always nice to talk up nostalgia with other fellow D&Ders.

Havent played this since release, it was the second RPG I ever played after BG1.

I liked it ok back then but played it on a crap pc with no sound, but really loving it now. I still have the original discs for it, but its so much more handy having the "complete" version on gog. It still looks pretty sweet too.

Of course I have forgotten all the "rules" by now, but the people here are incredibly helpful, so, yup a great community :)