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.