I only have time to play one. I'll be buying it from GOG. I will be playing multiplayer with my brother on the game we get, so I'd prefer getting the game where multiplayer works best. I don't think I'll pay attention to the story. Also, I don't really want to use any mods, downloading them confuses me. I know these games are supposed to be long, which is why I think we will only play one. Also, which class should I play as?

@Cubidog1 said:

I don't think I'll pay attention to the story.

Get Neverwinter Nights instead then, the story is worse... but the multiplayer is superior.... and if you don't know much about D&D systems, 3e/3.5e are much easier to learn than 2e is.

So basically, you don't want to deal with any of the things that make Baldur's Gate what it is? Ok.

@Huey2k2 said:

@Cubidog1 said:

I don't think I'll pay attention to the story.

Get Neverwinter Nights instead then, the story is worse... but the multiplayer is superior.... and if you don't know much about D&D systems, 3e/3.5e are much easier to learn than 2e is.

I'd also throw in Icewind Dale and IWD 2 for similar reasons, though yeah, NWN is the best one to pick if you want multiplayer.

If you want to play Baldur's Gate, wait for the enhanced edition to come out. The iPad version looks great and it has cross-play with the desktop versions.

If you want to play a game like it, Neverwinter is best for multiplayer (not NWN2) and is greatly enhanced by mods. For single player, I would get Icewind Dale.

The D&D systems don't matter terribly much, as most of the interaction is handled for you. In games under 2e systems, lower armor class is better.

If you want an Infinity Engine game but don't care much for story, I'd go with Icewind Dale 2. It's practically non-stop combat from start to finish. Multiplayer is not the strong suit of any of those games, and Neverwinter Nights, while it is much better for multiplayer, is closer in gameplay to KOTOR and Dragon Age than it is to the Infinity Engine games.

If you're not paying attention to the story, neither Baldur's Gate is going to have much for you. Though 2 is superior in terms of both character and story, they're both PRETTY heavy on it, so I'd say go with one of the other suggestions.

While at gamestop the other day I saw this on their download system of pc games, maybe just get this instead as it has all the Baldur's gate games & all the Neverwinter games for less than $20.

Does the story keep unfolding in multiplayer just like it would in singleplayer? I know in most Bioware games you make dialouge choices so how would that work in multiplayer?

@Cubidog1 said:

Does the story keep unfolding in multiplayer just like it would in singleplayer? I know in most Bioware games you make dialouge choices so how would that work in multiplayer?

Yes the story unfolds just like in singleplayer, except your party will be smaller as you need space for your multiplayer friends. If I remember correctly, any player can initiate dialogue, and everyone else waits while it is resolved. And if you want to skip the story, then don't even bother with the BG series. Icewind Dale is a more combat focused game on the infinity engine with almost no story at all. That is where it's at.

@AndrooD2 said:

If you want an Infinity Engine game but don't care much for story, I'd go with Icewind Dale 2. It's practically non-stop combat from start to finish. Multiplayer is not the strong suit of any of those games, and Neverwinter Nights, while it is much better for multiplayer, is closer in gameplay to KOTOR and Dragon Age than it is to the Infinity Engine games.

It's not a Baldur's Gate game, but for what you're looking for, you might have a lot of fun with Dungeon Siege II.

Alright then we'll pay attention to the story. I usually love the story in Bioware games. I think we'll just buy the 1st Baldur's Gate. If we love it, then we can play the second one. Thanks for all the help.