GoG gets Neverwinter 2 - includes Mask, Zehir, Westgate

[DaveSimmons]

... and it's currently on sale for $15.

It was first released (as usual for Obsidian ) as a buggy mess, but when I first played it about 6 months after release it was fun.

The main campaign has been called bland by some, but I thought it was fine. It's better-written than a Bethesda RPG (faint praise) and has crafting, party influence gain/loss, and a newer set of D&D rules than NWN 1.

Mask of the Betrayer is better written and more original. It includes a time-based mechanic to add a sense of urgency, but you can mod that out if you want.

Westgate is a good, smaller module from a semi-pro group that did work on NWN 1 "adventure packs" (super-modules).

Zehir is supposed to be decent hack-n-slash more like Icewind Dale, but I haven't played it.

One difference between NWN 1 and 2 is 2 doesn't have the huge set of user-created single-player modules, but the core set is a huge amount of gameplay for $15.

 

[Kalmah]

I prefer the game engine of nwn2 over nwn1. (even if it does run like crap, or at least 'did' when it was first released)

That said, I own all of these; I want to buy this just to remove the annoyance of installing several different expansions, updating, install, updating, install, updating, install.... you get the idea. I wish some of these games would just be unlockable on Steam. I don't want to dig around for all the pieces.

I think every hard copy of a game I own I eventually regret buying once it becomes digitally distributed.

 

[CPA]

I have the Platinum edition, which I haven't touched yet. Which of the expansions am I missing in that version? Sorry, too lazy too google.

 

[Acanthus]

Retried it recently, still hate it.

The game feels too slow paced and there is no modding community for persistent worlds.

 

[GlacierFreeze]

So it's not too buggy any more? If so, I might pick it up...

 

[Red Storm]

Bought NWN2. Are there are any really good custom campaigns? My fondest memories of NWN were playing all the top rated modules from NWVault.

 

[Chiropteran]

I loved NWN when it was new, bought it on gog but the UI doesn't age well IMO. Just felt really awkward moving and clicking as required by the UI.

I saw NWN2 and was briefly interested, but I've held off because I worry that it'll just play out as more of the same.

 

[SunnyD]

Pretty sure I got this on a steam sale a while ago for like $5.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

NWN2 OC and Mask Campaign were fantastic IMO. The OC starts off a bit too slow, but it really gets rolling come Act 2. Mask of the Betrayer had a cool story and an even cooler setting.

The part that frustrated me with this game was that the multiplayer never worked how you wanted it to. On higher difficulties it was a lot of fun to form a party with your friends, designate a party leader (usually the person who hadn't played the game or was the most inquisitive) who did all the talking and quest on wards. But every single time my friends and I would do this we'd get to some game breaking bug somewhere.

 

[Possessed Freak]

Pulled out my disc for some gaming last weekend. I can't stand the camera controls. So annoying.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Pretty sure I got this on a steam sale a while ago for like $5.

That was probably 1 not 2, or possibly some other game -- Steam doesn't list either NWN 1 or 2 in the store when I search.

 

[Madia]

That was probably 1 not 2, or possibly some other game -- Steam doesn't list either NWN 1 or 2 in the store when I search.

They used to have NWN2 on steam but it's gone for some reason. I remember it being on sale for $7.50 last July or so.

I'm glad gog has it now since I was searching for it a while back and had trouble finding it anywhere. I may eventually try it but right now I have too many games I want play and don't have time for a 60+ hour rpg (especially since I want to play through Baldur's Gate 2 again).

 

[SunnyD]

That was probably 1 not 2, or possibly some other game -- Steam doesn't list either NWN 1 or 2 in the store when I search.

... (Various personally identifying information edited for obvious reasons) ...

July 2011.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I (sit comfortably) corrected, that was a very nice deal on NWN 2 Platinum.

From the description of Platinum on Amazon it does look like you're missing the Mysteries of Westgate module, but it's worth $5-10 by itself not $15.

 

[Truthslayer]

I'm going to say Atari titles were yanked in regards to their recent Chapter 11, unless they were removed long before that.

 

[JoetheLion]

I remember reviewing the game before the release for one vg magazine, game was so horribly buggy that I almost started to cry, since I am big RPG and (A)D&D lover and Black Isle/Obsidian. I tried to play the game few times in the last years, but everytime some kind of bug prevented me from continuing the game. I even wrote on official support site and their only answer was to asking about my HW (which obviously surpassed the requirements) and then to reinstall the game and start a new character...

Another thing is the camera, I think that the camera is really bad. I know they were trying to let people choose from many options, but in the end it doesn't work. The Witcher dealt with this issue much better.

It's a great shame when technical side kills the great potential the game had or still has. I want to try it again and finally finish it, because it has pretty good atmosphere and KOTOResque party members and even some classical fantasy cliches were welcomed, after all it's an integral part of Faerun.

 

[you2]

The camera angle was a bit off; but I never had an issue with bugs - certainly no ctd. I really liked the first two - zehir I did not like much. But I always wanted westgate and felt the makers of westgate got a raw deal. They (makers of westgate) released a free map for nwn-1 which was one of the best story maps i ever played (on nwn).

 

[Elixer]

Hmm, I assume this is DRM free now ?
Or do they still use keys?

 

[Chiropteran]

Hmm, I assume this is DRM free now ?
Or do they still use keys?

I don't know, but for NWN 1 installed from gog.com it runs fine in single-player using a default standard key, but to play multi-player you need to request a multi-player key from gog. I requested one and I got it in a day and it's worked great, but I felt a minor level of annoyance in the fact that I had to make the request at all.

I'd bet that NWN 2 is similar.

 

[DaveSimmons]

No one plays NWN 2 multi-player, so that shouldn't be an issue

FYI I haven't played it but there's an Icewind Dale campaign for NWN 2 - http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=NWN2ModulesEnglish.Detail&id=346

 

[s44]

Are there are any really good custom campaigns?

I helped playtest this one:
Subtlety of Thay
part 2

That said -- and I never got around to playing them all -- I still haven't played a mod as good as this tiny brilliant thing, which didn't even win Obsidian's first mod contest (proving they missed the boat big time):
The Birthday

Another excellent one by the same modder:
Harp & Chrysanthemum

Really liked:
Asphyxia
Which means I should probably try his later one:
Live Forever

Nothing as huge-scale and awesome as Tales of Arterra or A Dance With Rogues... but NWN areas were easy, NWN2 landscapes+texturing took forever.

 

[jimhsu]

One reason that campaigns are so few is because the toolset is *arghhhh*. If you've ever tried to do something productive in it, you know what I'm talking about. In fact, I can barely think of few toolsets that are worse.

 

[shortylickens]

For those who dont know:

The game engine has been patched to be MUCH smoother, more reliable, and more flexible than when it first came out.
Also, a lot annoying parts to quests have been streamlined, all the game breaking bugs are gone. And many of the goodies available in the expansions like new races, classes, spells, and equipment are included in the base game.

Its a LOT better experience than you remember. Another tip is find that save game editor so you can make your PC's the way you want, like giving Qara the spells she needs instead of Know Alignment or other nonsense.

I still dont like it as much as Throne of Bhaal, which I've been playing lately. Really wish they'd go back to 2D. Or 3D with a fixed, distant perspective that plays just like the Infinity Engine. I think Temple of Elemental Evil was 3D rendered but played in 2D birds eye.

 

[Ferzerp]

The only problem with these types of games is how weak starting characters are in D&D of the era. It creates tension in the tabletop game. In video games though, it just makes for a very, very slow start since the focus is so combat heavy in these games.

 

[shortylickens]

The only problem with these types of games is how weak starting characters are in D&D of the era. It creates tension in the tabletop game. In video games though, it just makes for a very, very slow start since the focus is so combat heavy in these games.

Yes but theres a reason for it in BG1, NWN 1 and NWN 2. You get an appreciation for tactics and actually using your characters abilities to full advantage. Thats something the average modern RPG just doesnt have. In BG2 you are actually at a disadvantage starting with level 8 characters because you may not know how to handle them unless you played BG1. You get many more powers but the dungeons and fights are much tougher.

Also if you are familiar with the AD&D 2nd and D&D 3rd game systems, you wont have nearly as huge a learning gap in the computer games.
KOTOR as well.