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Chimpmaster · Apr 3, 2004, 07:05 PM

Hi all,

as a self confessed Baldurs Gate I, TOSC, BG 2 SOA & BG 2 TOB addict, i am looking for a new challenge in the same genre.

I tried icewind dale and it didnt do it for me at all.

I also tried EQMac, and whilst it was ok, I was disappointed with the lack of players and the pricing to be honest, so I have suspended my account ( a while back now).

What is Neverwinter nights like? Is it a deep role playing experience like BG2, or is it more hack and slash like Icewind Dale (keep in mind I have read the IMG review and seen the screenshots).

Any other recommendations? I am hanging out for WoW at the moment, but I am open to suggestions. I really enjoyed Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic on xbox too.

ginoledesma · Apr 3, 2004, 10:16 PM

Hi, chipmaster

I, like you, have also followed the Baldur's Gate series closely. I've also played Icewind Dale on the Mac and the expansion and sequel on the PC. One game I'm dying to try out (though I've not had time to play it), is Planescape Torment, an old RPG but perhaps one that has the best most engrossing storyline in the Computer RPG genre.

Neverwinter Nights is a nice step-up game from the BG offerings. While it isn't as deep or as engrossing as BG2, it is a welcome addition to the pack. The gameplay can stray to role-playing or hack-n-slash depending on you play the game. It offers a lot of room for both, needless to say. There will always be player-killers/hack-n-slashers and there will always be the role-players.

NWN so far has three modules out: the original campaign (OC), which you get when you buy the actual game, and the expansions Shadows of Undrentide and Hordes of the Underdark. The latter two are connected to each other.

As I said earlier, while the storyline for even the above three modules isn't as deep as BG, the beauty of NWN is in its potential to play other modules developed by fans, not to mention multiplayer gaming. There are nice engrossing mini-campaigns released by fans like Shadowlord, which offers a LOT of role-playing gaming.

The most obvious difference when it comes to actual gameplay is that, in NWN, you only have truly one character to control. In BG, you get to create one character and recruit other members, yet it feels like you still have some control over these other characters (through scripting, for example). But in NWN, you get to focus on your own character, and the other NPCs can have a "life of their own", independent of your control (though you can command them to do some things). So if you're used to controlling a party rather than an individual character, this change of style will affect you gameplay, depending on whether you like it or hate it.

Give NWN a try. There's a demo you can try out with about 1/12 of the story of the fist chapter of the game. See if it intrigues you to play it further. If it does, then I'm sure that you'll at least be satisfied with trying out a new story. For every Baldur's Gate fan out there, I'd say NWN would be at least a nice addition to their collection.

Chimpmaster · Apr 3, 2004, 10:30 PM

Hey thanks so much for your advice - I really appreciate it. Ill try the demo - a massive download of 240MB for my 128k isdn connection; Ill do it overnight tonight

FYI I actually played Planescape Torment on my pc prior to switching over to mac in 2000.

It is a very cool game, though to be totally honest I could never quite get into it as much as I did BG. If you have a decent mac I wouldnt be surprised if you could get planescape to run in Virtual PC as it wasnt a high spec game from memory - no 3d acceleration.

Another really cool game, though a slighly different style, was Thief and Thief 2.

They are apparently releasing thief 3 for xbox soon (cant wait as I have one). Thief was the ultimate mix of strategy, FPS and role playing elements - it was so atmospheric and truly frightening in parts.

ginoledesma · Apr 4, 2004, 09:56 AM

For some weird reason, I didn't get hooked into Thief. Maybe it was because of the game setting that didn't appeal much to me. Somehow, I've always kept my role-playing games to mostly medieval/fantasy realms.

The NWN Tech Demo will let you play the first "10-15 minutes" of the game content. It will at least get you started on game control, camera control (new to NWN, as its 3D), and potentially the different characters you use.

I just popped open my copy of BG2:ToB for the Mac (I played it on the PC before) and I guess I'm not used to not being able to rotate the view and zoom in at a particular location. That's a nice addition to the gaming experience because it allows you to explore the richly detailed areas.

The only downside to getting the Mac version (for now) is that the expansion packs have not yet been released by MacSoft. They were announced for the Mac, but they've not yet been released. Though if you search around, its possible to get the PC version of the expansions to work on the Mac.

Turias · Apr 4, 2004, 10:15 PM

I've become addicted to NWN. I love it. I don't think it's as much hack-n-slash as ginoledesma says. I find the story to be quite captivating. I beat the original campaign a couple weeks ago and am now part-way through the first expansion.

Sadly, I never really got into Baldur's Gate. I found exploring to be slow and boring. I also wasn't a fan of controlling so many characters at once. I much prefer the NWN method of controlling one character and "pseudo-controlling" a mercenary and familiar or two. It feels much more like a true D&D campaign.

mac freak · Apr 5, 2004, 06:58 AM

You have an Xbox?
Morrowind! I loved it on the PC

Chimpmaster · Apr 5, 2004, 11:07 PM

Yeah been there and done that with morrowind.

My opinions:

- awesome, rich expansive fantasy world
- really enjoyed the beautiful landscapes
- found the combat system a little clumsy
- at times the game feels a little too big. Its like an MMORPG but without all of the other players. It doesnt seem to have a gripping or compelling storyline a la baldurs gate.

I enjoyed it very much, and I can see that for some it is the kind of game you could almost play endlessly, but it just didnt quite do it for me.

Having also played everquest and been a little disappointed with it too, the Morrowind quests reminded me of the Everquest quests - fun and all, but not quite involved enough.

Likewise character interaction - NPC's in morrowind just seem to be lacking in personality in my opinion.

Despite morrowing being a lot bigger and less linear, I enjoyed Knights of the Old Republic better.

Rev-O · Apr 6, 2004, 02:19 PM

Originally posted by mac freak:
You have an Xbox?
Morrowind! I loved it on the PC

Morrowind

Would buy it and play it again on my Mac. Wonderful game. Eventhough my initial character is nigh godlike, it's still fun to throw it in the XBox and explore the countryside.

mac freak · Apr 6, 2004, 07:58 PM

Though I have to say, part of the reason I've enjoyed it so is because of all the mods, which you sort of miss out on on Xbox

Rev-O · Apr 7, 2004, 07:27 PM

Downloaded and played the demo for NWN, and it seems purdy nifty, but is it as linear as it seems? Not that that's such a bad thing, of course, but a bit of wandering and exploration is fun, too.

Chimpmaster · Apr 8, 2004, 07:56 AM

Yeah I also played the demo.

I must admit I am really impressed with the interface, interaction with NPC's, and the 3rd edition rules.

Big tick in the box. I am definitely going to buy it so Ill look forward to seeing some of you online for a game hopefully!

Turias · Apr 8, 2004, 09:00 AM

Originally posted by Rev-O:
Downloaded and played the demo for NWN, and it seems purdy nifty, but is it as linear as it seems? Not that that's such a bad thing, of course, but a bit of wandering and exploration is fun, too.

The main plot is fairly linear, but there are many optional sidequests, a lot of which relate directly to your alignment and class. So, you can actually play the game quite a few times and do completely different sidequests.

Rev-O · Apr 12, 2004, 07:03 PM

Originally posted by Turias:
I've become addicted to NWN. I love it. I don't think it's as much hack-n-slash as ginoledesma says. I find the story to be quite captivating. I beat the original campaign a couple weeks ago and am now part-way through the first expansion.

Sadly, I never really got into Baldur's Gate. I found exploring to be slow and boring. I also wasn't a fan of controlling so many characters at once. I much prefer the NWN method of controlling one character and "pseudo-controlling" a mercenary and familiar or two. It feels much more like a true D&D campaign.

Are the expansions availablr for the mac yet? Have browsed the web and see no mention of them...

olePigeon · Apr 16, 2004, 05:11 PM

If you're looking for NWN to be like a real 3E game, you'll be greatly disappointed. NWN is probably the biggest disappointment in a long time. They hyped it up so much about customizing your own server and being able to move your table-top world to the comptue world. YOU CAN'T EVEN SELECT YOUR OWN OPPOSING SCHOOL!

Gah!!! Retarded. I followed that game for over a year thinking of all things I could do, only to find out it just flat out sucks (from a technical point of view, it's a fun game from a hack n' slash Diablo/Dungeon Siege type point of view.)

Chimpmaster · Apr 17, 2004, 09:13 AM

I have to disagree.

I picked up Nevewinter yesterday, and have played it for around 8 hrs total now I guess.

Its an awesome game in my opinion. As someone who has played the BG series, IWD and Everquest Mac fairly extensively (as well as Morrowind and KOTOR on xbox), I have a fairly strong level of expectation in my rpgs.

Im very impressed with the new interface and adaptation of the game to the 3rd edition rules. It makes for an excellent gameplay experience, especially online with other players.

Obviously the game is not for everyone, so I recommend that people try the free demo before they buy.

But all in all I think the game has the goods, and is very playable. Id tend to agree with insidemacgames review of it. http://www.insidemacgames.com/reviews/view.php?ID=405

We are waiting on the expansion packs, however

Rev-O · Apr 17, 2004, 09:42 AM

Been playing for about a week now, and enjoy the game. For giggles, I went into the console in the game and entered the appropriate cheat codes to max out my stats, when I finished the first area (the stables) and moved onto the next area, I was chastised by the game for having an invalid character, and not allowed to play him on the next level with his outrageous stats! The nerve! What's the point of having cheats if you can't use 'em to the fullest extent?

Have to say that Nwn is pretty spiffy so far!