If you'd be happy playing an unaltered Gothic II a second time (or more) trying different choices, and so on, then there's no problem doing the original Gothic II all the way through and then installing NotR and starting it all again.

What I was trying to say was that NotR is the same basic Gothic II story line, but with some additions and alternations. The intent of Gothic II Gold was that all 4 disks were to be installed and the game playing to be the NotR variation. It wasn't what I had originally guessed (that NotR was some extra chapters tacked on to the end of the original Gothic II story that you installed an played after completing Gothic II).

Thus I was trying to clear up some likely misunderstanding of another that seemed to match mine. I wasn't trying to say that the original Gothic II wasn't worth playing.

I don't understand the "limited to a few hours" above, either. I've poured dozens of hours into Gothic II (unaltered) and NotR, and since I'd already played through the initial parts of Gothic II once, and wasn't going back through it to see how things would have worked making different choices, I rather wanted to play what was new to Gothic II Gold and thus found that I'd "wasted" many hours during the end of my holiday time off from work.

croaker to GameBoomers

Magic, Lindy,Feathers, DABhand and John, if
I forgot someone, I'm sorry....
I read a few reviews from Gamespot to get an idea of the game.. the Gold Edition of the game ..I quote:

"The changes from this and the original Gothic 2 are that this Gold version includes the Night of the Raven addon, which is seamlessly intergrated into the game and story. It is a new area in which you can explore and do alot more quests. It really adds alot more game play to an already great game. I'm currently in this area and am loving it. It will also increase the difficulty, by quite a large amount. As you increase in your skills you'll notice they start to cost more learning points. This is why I mention above you'll really want to get every bit of xp you can find. It will also add new quests and items in the original Gothic 2 world."

I do not think anyone would be wasting your time playing the game without the "add-on" installed. I think, from what I read, this is a lot like what they did with Sacred, Sacred Plus and Sacred Underworld..and eventually Sacred Gold. And I know there are a few of us that played those together.
Hope this answers the questions for anyone.

Now:
Let's get back to the game. I am interested in your impressions of the game.
How is it comparing to Gothic?
And how are y'all doing in the game and what are you playing as?
How far into the game?
If one is playing with the expansion and one not all the better for the comparisons!!!

Ingie

It´s not the same storyline. The add-on has its own story which runs parallel to Gothic 2´s. It starts immediately. Xardas gives you a second quest.

No. The add-on was made to cash-in on a successfull game and the Gold version was released to make money again. TNotR came out 10 months after Gothic 2 in Germany. Most people who bought it knew Gothic 2.

Didn´t you find all the NPCs who offered to help you reach the main goals of the first chapter much quicker? And didn´t you see that the add-on ends in the middle of chapter 2? The overhead is 15 hours maximum and it can be brought down to circa 5 hours I think.

Everybody should feel free to install all 4 disks right away, but don´t start cursing after your 50th reload, when you find out it´s to hard without prior experience in the Gothic world.

I'm playing as a mercenary. When I played Gothic II I was a paladin. Yes,you are basically playing Gothic II over again. NOTR does offer new NPC's, new quest and a new world. If you are new to Gothic games I believe you should just play the first 3 disks. The controls take time to learn. In NOTR the monsters are harder to kill. I never played the first Gothic(wish I could find a game that doesn"t break my bank account).

Ingie, I'm in the addon world. I finished my visit with the pirate's, now I'm on my way to the swamp. I'm having a good time.

Lindy

Oh good for you Lindy..
Sounds like you and the reviewer and feathers are of the same mind.

Ingie

Well I finally got it straight (I think) and have played with the addon to the point of trying to enter the town.

However, I've had an "access violation error" twice and had to use ctrl/alt/del to get back to the desktop each time.

Anyone else had that happen?

No, I've had no error's, crashes,or freezes. Nada. I'm the one she thought she only installed the fourth disk.

Linda

Hi all,

Oh Ok now I think I finally get it.
Thank You for the explanation all and it looks like I will stick to playing the first 3 disks and later install the 4th.

This is the first time that I am playing this game so everyting is new to me.

All I can handle for now seems to be rats,wolfs and the big bugs.

I think I am at level 4 so am not very strong.

I have finally joined the Militia to become a Paladin later on.

My guy also joined the bow maker to be his apprentice.

I have not had any crashes yet so don't know what happened in your game oldman.

So far I am enjoying the game.

We are on the way to the mines.

I think if it were me, I'd do it the same way..load the 3 and play and win and then do 4..maybe another time or right then, depends on my mood..

Y'all have fun and post your adventures!!
I'm a very nosey GBer

Ingie

I played the original Gothic II a year or so ago and just completed the Gold edition. I installed all four discs and was rather alarmed when only the NotR icon remained on my desktop. However, once I began playing only minor differences were apparent in the beginning. The game was much, much more difficult but for anyone who has played Gothic II before, I heartily recommend installing NotR right away. The changes in the game are pretty flawlessly intergrated and the addon comes Near the middle of the game. Actually it expands the entire game rather than being simply an addition to the end.

Just my opinion, of course.

Oldman, yes I had many access violation errors and I know many others who also had them. It got better after the first part of the game.

Thank you Pokey it's good to know that I'm not alone. I've contacted their tech support and am waiting for an answer.

Don´t even think about it before you´re near level 10. Do everything possible in the main world. The mine world is full of orcs. Maybe you want to read the Gothic 2 thread from a few months ago for more tips.

Hi all,

Oh oh....Thanks for the warning FreathersMcGraw.

I guess I will just go around and uplevel first then.

Looks like we have a long way to go first because I have a pile of quests to do to keep me busy hehe.

Hi Magic

Here you go.. Gothic 2 Walkthrough

Ingie