I have set up a trade for this game from GTZ but I have some questions about it first. Will it work on windowsXP? How is it different from Baldur's Gate that I am playing now? Do I need any patches for this game?

Yes, BG2 will work in Winxp. [I know this because I'm playing it right now on WinXP].

Luckily, there is an update function on the laucn screen. You just need to click on the BG2
icon, and then chosse update. Or you can download the latest patches from bioware's site.
[I think you need to go through their support page].

BG2 (and throne of bhaal) is NOT that different
from BG1. There is some tecnichal stuff which is made easier. Travelling now rests your party, like sleeping does. (In the game's options menu there is an option to select 'rest until healed'.)

Also, try to get Both BG2+Throne of Bhaal.
[Sometimes you can get them in nice package together, I also think you can get a DVD version of BG2+Throne of Bhaal].

Well, there are lots of things that are different, but much is the same.

A few technical changes, better graphics, some more functions (such as casting healing spells automatically before resting), more spells and more options in general

What differs most is the atmosphere and feel of the game itself. Baldur's Gate 2 has a rich storyline, wonderful characters (lots of banter), but is much more "concentrated" than Baldur's Gate was. Much fewer areas to explore, but more closely packed with quests and adventures.

I strongly suggest you don't even start the game til you have finished Baldur's Gate, since it will be a huge spoiler.

Glad to see another fall before the might of Baldur's Gate. Still the best RPG out there if you ask me.

Drizzt

You couldn't see that one coming, could you?

I forgot to mention that you can export your character (or party?) from BG1 to be used in
BG2. Ver y nice feature, imo .

I agree with Drizzt. You really should finish BG1 before playing BG2 --- for obvious reasons, to many spoilers...

Yeah. And make sure you keep those pantaloons from the Friendly Arm if you do import your character. The only annoying thing is that Baldur's Gate 1 does not allow for sub-classes, which means that if you started playing a certain class in BG1, you won't be able to access the new classes in BG2 if you import it.

Hehheh, and Drizzt SCORES!

I just finished BG1 and now starting BG2. How do I export my character from BG1 to BG2? I really need step by step directions?

Thanks
Linda

I can't remember the exact process from the top of my head, but I think there is a folder in the BG2 folder named "char".

BG and BG2 uses the same character system, so it's the same file types. When you finished the game, it makes a "final save" that saves everything with the XP you gained for killing Sarevok. This "final save" has a folder called e.g. "00038383-Final Save" or something in the BG1 folder called "saves". Copy that folder to your BG2 "saves" folder.

Then from the character creation menu, choose "import" and then "from saved game". This will allow you to do so.

You can of course also "export" a character from a BG save game. To do so, go to the character screen and then choose "export". This will save the PC as a cgr.-file in the BG1 "Char"-folder.

Then simply copy that .chr file into BG2 "char"-folder and import it from there.

Sorry if this was made a mess...I'll look into it more closely when I get home today. Need to go pretty soon, but I hope it will work anyway.

Drizzt, I recently took a BG 1 character into BG 2, and I think the first method did not work for me for some reason, but the second one did -- i.e. the Export character, and then moving the character folder into BG 2.

For those of you that haven't played BG 2 before -- you're in for a great ride. BG 2 is one of the best games ever made.

Here's just a little hint of what's to come...if a party member of the opposite gender starts being really nice, try being nice to them back, and see where it leads.

The party member interactions in BG 2 are second to none.

Enjoy!

Second to Ps:T, actually.

As much as I adore BG, nothing beats that game in terms of character depth and interactions...

Hagatha, I tried now and it worked for me. Those 10000Xps for Sarevok can be quite handy. What you need to do is as I said;

1. Go into your BG/Save folder. Look for the folder called "(A number)-Final Save" and copy this into BG2/save.

2. Go to character creation and choose import, then "Saved game" and then "Final Save", which will let you import your PC from that game.

Good luck!

Thanks for the info. I gave it a try and it worked. Now I'n not sure it I want to continue
with my character or create a new one.

Thanks again.

The one advantage to keeping your existing character is that he or she has read all those books that gave them permanent stat increases in BG1. However, the wide range of character classes in BS 2 is a lot of fun to play with.

If you've just had a plain fighter all the way through BG1, in BG 2 you can now dual-class them, although as usual I would caution doing that until your fighter has grand mastery of one weapon. But if you have the TOB expansion, you'll get up to about level 35-40 depending on your character class, so dual-classing can give you a very interesting and powerful character.

Dual-classing as a Kensai-Mage makes you almost ridicolously powerful. But it's fun.

I've never tried a Kensai/Mage yet. I should do that one of these days.

My favourite character of all time was my Swashbuckler. He was so much fun to play. I also really enjoyed playing a Blade.

My most powerful character ever was my sorceress. At higher levels she was winning battles pretty much on her own.

Imagine a Kensai at level 15 dual-wielding e.g. Crom Fayr and Celestial Fury...and being a 40 level wizard. Unstoppable.

Well everyone, my game has arrived in the mail. I installed it along with the update and created a new character to try that out. He is a barbarian, half orc. I am in the dungeon area and have picked up Imoen, Jaheira and Minsc. The walkthru says that Imoen will be leaving soon?? When that happens, who do I find to replace her? And what about Minsc? Do I keep him or look for a better npc after I leave the dungeon? I enjoy the music better than with bg1 and all of the choices for sub classes. I am on my way now to locate Rielev and get the Stone Activation key.

If memory serves me there is a mage/thief named Nalia somewhere or there is a thief called Jan Jensen. Nalia seem to be the better choice, since you can get a stronghold that secures a stable income every week.

There is also a character called Youshi who also is a thief. (I think)

I'm currently playing with a cleric called Anomen.

You will pick up Yoshimo in the dungeon. He is the only pure-class thief in the game, and also the best one. Definitely keep him.

Keeping Minsc or not? Depends on what kind of party you are playing. The best "tank"-character in the game is a dwarf called Korgan...amazing with axes. He is utterly evil, however...and there's a Paladin you will meet later on, Keldorn, who is also a great fighter (with the right sword!). There are lots of choices. Remember that their alignments will clash sometimes...

I say keep Minsc til you find someone you think is better.

I would also say...don't play any more. Please, finish BG1 before this one. It will spoil the entire story...

OK Drizzt, now where do I find a Wizard? I notice in one of your last posts that you mentioned a level 15 Kensai dual wielding and have it be a level 40 wizard. Which did you start out with first? I have now gotten the portal key to go to the second level. I noticed in the walkthru that I need 3 keys for later on. I have the Wand of Frost and Wand of lightning. What other keys do I need and where do I find them? I noticed some other quests to do on this level; freeing the Genie and dealing with Cambion. Should I do these before I step thru the portal to level 2?

Finding a wizard in Baldur's Gate 2? There is (unfortunately) only one pure-wizard class...and he is evil to the bone. But also the best wizard. He is called Edwin and is in the Docks district of Athkatla. There is also a dual-classed thief/mage called Nalia in the Copper Coronet looking for help (she will give you a quest). In the circus tent of the Promenade, there's multi-classed cleric/mage named Aerie. I never liked her much, though. Not sure if it is because I found her abilities pitiful or because of her whiny attitude...

All those are in the city of Athkatla, though. There are no wizards in the dungeon to help you...you will get to meet them later on.

As for me mentioning that...well, one of the most (if not the most) powerful dual-classed characters one can play is a kensai/mage. A kensai is an extremely good fighter with only one drawback; he/she cannot wear armour. However, at level 15 or so, I dual-class this character to a wizard...when this wizard reaches level 15, he/she gains access to the Kensai's abilities as well...which means I can cast powerful spells and act as a warrior, too. And by the end of Throne of Bhaal, such a character is virtually unstoppable. But fun to play.

The wand keys? I don't know their locations from my head, but search every bookcase and container you find. There are six or so of them, and they are used for disabling traps in a great hall further on.

And yes, do the Genie and Cambion quests before moving on. You cannot return to this level afterwards, if I remember correctly.

OK, Drizzt, I've out a sticky note on my BG2 manual to remind myself to play a Kensai/Mage the next time I play.

You'll have great fun. Make sure you are proficient in dual-wielding...

Well, I have finally made it out of the dungeon and lost Imoen. I went to the Adventurers mart and unloaded a lot of stuff I couldn't use. I have Yoshima in my party. Now, where do I go from here?

You go around the market place and stroll around the city looking at things -- be sure to stroll around and into the tent.

You will meet a possible new companion there,
and you will do a really good deeed

if you free someone...

Talk to everyone. Everyone.

Once you've finished gawking at the scenery, go to the Copper Coronet in the slums. There you will start your adventures, and meet some people you might be interested in talking to.

Here is what I have done so far. I started Chapter 2 and went to the the Copper Coronet. Talked to Nalia and sent her on ahead to the fighter stronghold. Talked to Lehtinan to start this quest. I freed Kendak and followed him back to the inn where he killed Lehtinan. Then I got the quest to free the slaves from Kendak. This will be inside the Slavers compound. Should I go thru the sewers to get to the exit there or go directly to the beached ship in the Slums? While I am in the sewers I will do the Sentient sword quest to get that sword. At what point should I pickup Korgan to do his quest? What do I have to do to get the Windspar Hills to show up on my map to finish the Dryad quest? Then, when do I go to the fighter compound to do that quest? My party is presently at the Inn.

You can enter the sewers from the Copper Coronet and do the sword quest first, then from there go into the slaver ship. Make sure you rest and select good spells just before you go up the stairs from the sewers into the ship area -- there's a fight just inside.

Any quest area that is not in the city itself will not show up until you have left the city through the City Gate. It's a bit difficult to find the actual exit spot -- but if you go to the Gate area, it is at the very top.

You should pickup korgan...whenever you feel like it. You can do it at any time, since the catacombs are not locked or any such thing. However, there are some tough enemies and lots of traps down there, so go prepared.

You will need to speak to Lord Firkraag in the CC before Windspear Hills will show up on your map. He will hire you to cleanse it from monsters that has been plaguing his lands.

As far as I know, there are very few time-limits on the quests. Supposedly, Korgan will leave after a long while if you don't pick up his book...never had it happen myself, though. He grumbles a lot about it, but I've never had him leave. As for the rest of the quests, the "time" factor is just there to stress you and make it seem a bit more believable...as far as I know there aren't any limits. So take it easy.

I suggest doing Nalia's quest with her Keep the first. It's a good quest to start with outside the city, and suitable for a fresh party. That, or the slavers quest.

Good luck!

P.S. It doesn't really matter if you go through the sewers or the front door...the end result will be the same...but the only way to ge the sentient sword (Lilarcor) is to go by the sewers and do the quest there.

Drizzt- I have finished the Sentient sword quest and the Slavers stockade. Both Minsc and Jaheira got killed there. I will bring them back at the nearest temple. When I got back to the CC, Valen visited me and told me to come to the graveyard at night. After that Brus visited me and told me to come back to talk to Gaelan again. I don't yet have the required amount of money for him. I will pick up Korgan, talk to Lord Firkraag and then head for the Windspear Hills area to locate the queen of the dryads to finish that quest. After that I will attempt to go to the fighters stronghold and get Nalia for her quest

You don't need to talk to Gaelan at all...for storyline reasons, first visit the graveyard and then go talk to Gaelan again and you'll see what it's about.

Korgan will get grumpy if you don't do his quest, but as I said, I've never had him abandon the party...keep in mind that if you do a lot of good things are your reputation goes above 18, he will leave.

Drizzt- I attempted to do the stronghold quest and it was too hard for me, being as my pc is only level 8. So I loaded a previousely saved game where I am at the Inn. I took a trip to the graveyard in the daytime to look it over. I found a quest involving an empty grave and then talked to a gravedigger. The red cloth that I picked up belongs to a man by the name of Am-Si who was seen in the bridge district. Now I have my party in that area and talked to a man by the name of Aegis about the murders in that area. According to the walkthru, Am-Si is at the southern end of this map. I will talk to him and when I am finished I will start with the murders. What will this involve??

The quest captain Aegisfield gives you and the one with the man in red cloth are unrelated. You need to go speak to the man in red cloth (he is standing outside a house southeast on the map) about it, and he will run into the house. Follow him, and dispose of his compaions outside the house, before rescuing the one on the upper floor, and the quest will be complete.

The question for the skinner murderer starts in the marketplace. Ask around about it.

Well, I have finished the quest with Am-Si. I also went as far as I could with solving the murders. Now where should I go?

"As far as you could"? Did you solve it altogether? If not, talk to the courtesan, the shopkeeper and also the old fool that is standing a bit north of there...in the end they will direct you to the skinner, Reijek's shop...

There is no particular order you need to go in this game. Explore the world, talk to people, find and solve quests. It's quite non-linear.

Perhaps the Temple district would be a nice detour? Or the more seedy parts of the Docks? There are some quests there.

Who are in your party at the moment?

Ok, I went into the tanner's shop, talked to Reijek. He admitted the murder and went downstairs. I followed him, detrapped this room and went down the next stairs. Here I met a mage and fought him before he disappeared and killed his minions. After this I returned to where Aegis is standing and told him of the events that ocurred. I guess that quest is finished. My present party has the following: pc/fighter, Minsc, Jaheira and Koshimo.

Ok, I went into the tanner's shop, talked to Reijek. He admitted the murder and went downstairs. I followed him, detrapped this room and went down the next stairs. Here I met a mage and fought him before he disappeared and killed his minions. After this I returned to where Aegis is standing and told him of the events that ocurred. I guess that quest is finished. My present party has the following: pc/fighter, Minsc, Jaheira and Koshimo.

Hm, yes, that quest is finished. It sounds like you need a mage. I suggest going to Nalia's keep and give it a try now.

Where are you now and how is it going?