Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Sat Aug 13, 2022 6:14 am
DPX, what I mean by saying that BG1, BG2, IWD and P:T are "before my time" is that I was too young (or too broke) when they came out to be able to afford or appreciate them at that time (i.e. 1999, 2000, 2001).
Well, okay... sure, that makes sense. It's just when people usually say "before my time" they mean it as "before I was born."
Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Sat Aug 13, 2022 6:14 am
I'm pretty sure that, compared to modern RPGs, BG1/2, IWD and P:T would look primitive (but comparable to NWN1).
Depends on what you mean by "comparable." Yes, I know what that word means, it's just that BG1/2, IWD1/2, and P:T are all party-based isometric 2.5D games, whereas NWN1 was 3D and had a very limited party structure. They look nothing alike, and their gameplay differs quite a bit.
Overall, I think the older 2.5D games have aged better (especially after getting HD "enhanced editions") than NWN1's blocky 3D graphics.
NWN1 also received an "enhanced edition" HD upgrade, but the limitations of that game's primitive 3D engine means that while textures might look somewhat better, character models still look like crap today (although I think they finally added skyboxes, so that's a plus).
Even Maia, who loved NWN1 (mostly due to all the modules available; she felt the main campaign was so-so at best), recently told me that NWN1 was painful to look at nowadays and she doesn't think she could ever go back to it.
For some reason I've always hated NWN1. I don't know why. I really tried to give it a chance, but in the end, I just couldn't stand the game. I liked BG2 and both IWD games. I never played BG1 or P:T, so I can't comment on those.
Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Sat Aug 13, 2022 6:14 amWhat do they have in their favour? *curious* I've heard plenty of good things about them - good plot, good characters etc. What are the mechanics like?
I think this question could best be answered by looking up video reviews or "Let's Play" videos (preferably of the "enhanced editions," although the original editions might suffice as well) on YouTube. You might also find some written reviews on various sites, and of course there are player reviews on GOG and Steam. Like I said earlier in this thread, remember that many player reviews are about older versions of games before they get patched and updated, and it's rare that players update their own reviews to reflect this.
That said, here are some things I'll say about BG1/2, IWD1/2, and P:T...
1. You need to be careful when you talk to people. Whichever character you're controlling at that moment is the one who'll talk, and sometimes you might want someone else (especially if they have better charisma) to speak instead.
2. BG1/2, IWD1, and P:T all use the 2nd Edition D&D ruleset, whereas IWD2 used the 3rd Edition (like NWN1). The reason I bring this up is because the 2nd Edition ruleset has some game mechanics that are very different from all later editions, such as the better AC you have, the lower number it is. I think they based it all on an enemy's chance to hit you, so if you had a "-1 AC" that was actually a good thing in the 2nd Edition, whereas it'd obviously be terrible in all editions after that.
3. At least in BG2, I distinctly recall there being some timed missions. Nothing like "escape the castle before it blows up as a timer ticks down" or anything, but there's at least one character who will actually leave your party if you don't do her quest after enough time has gone by. Unfortunately, I can't tell you how much time that is as it's been years since I played. I just remember this being really annoying since games generally "cry wolf" when it comes to doing things in a timely fashion.
4. In BG1/2, IWD1/2, and P:T you'll only gain experience for characters who're with you in your party at the time you gain said experience. In other words, unlike more recent RPGs (and by recent I mean even as far back as KoTOR in 2003), you don't gain experience for everyone, regardless of whether or not they're actively with you at the time. The problem with this is that if some story-related event occurs that removes a character you really like and usually take with you, you'll then be forced to take along an underdeveloped low-level character as a replacement. The only way around this is to try and rotate characters you bring so everyone gains at least some experience, but that's a real pain in the butt.
Apparently Pathfinder and Pathfinder 2 are both on sale. They both look good (and are apparently based on D&D 3.5), but I'm hesitant because reviews for the first game say that the mechanics are broken -- i.e. first thing after the tutorial, you run into a spider swarm ... that reduces your party to goo. Again and again and again. Until you figure out that spiders are only vulnerable to magic, not weapons. WTF? 
Ah, and AOL still exists - but as part of Yahoo!. *shrug* Oh well.