Hi all,

Oh that is so great Trail Mystic that you finally got the game.

Well one of my people has found the I think they are my next companions but we have to find their sister first? Well I guess we will find out when we go looking and find her.

So far this game is not bad but that camera action when you are indoors exploring drives me nuts. You end up behind a wall and or way up to high and can't see where you are going. Is anyone else having as much fun with it as I am? NOT! Guess I will have to see if I turn off the cealing dissapearing if that makes a difference or not.

I figured out how to export my old character Shining Light, a paladin from the official campaign. So, I have started over with her. The Game Spot guide came out and I found that I'd missed a lot in Act I so, going back is a good thing.
VHL where are you now? Do you have a spirit meter and how it works?

Hey VHL, it sounds like you are in "Strategy Mode" for the camera, which always takes an over head view as a default as in the old NWN. With this game, due to its closer to "real-life" dimensional structure I've found using "Character Mode" much easier. You can set the camera to follow and center on your character, but still be able to pull-out over head if you wish. You can switch between camera modes using the "*" key on your numeric keypad...

I really like the new music-loop they have incorporated with it. I noticed they tweaked the inventory by putting in a "sort" button, but for the life of me I can't figure out what it sorts by and I personally do not like it. Mainly because I have a system for sorting all my stuff and if I inadvertently hit the button there goes my organization!

I do like the new character classes, although I would have liked to have seen less in the way of Planetouched. I use those character types quite often, but their inherent slow development is kind of a bummer and there is just not enough quests to make up for it in the game; just doesn't make sense to me...

I got it today! No idea when I'll be able to play it, though.

Hi,

I have something in my inventory to do with essences that I pick up from animals and such but don't know how it works yet.

Don't know what you mean with the spirit meter but maybe that is what you mean.

Hey glad you finally got it Drizzt.

I thought I was in Character Mode but maybe changed it and didn't realize that I did. Will have to check.

My Paladin has finally been able to go through the gate to the north in town so am exploring the Temple areas right now and we have to go find someone’s sister which is next. Don’t know where to look for her.

Weird...I don't have everything with me. Most of it I do, but my weapons and cloak is missing. Is it supposed to be like that?

I'm still moving through the first campaign, but if I remember correctly in the wrap up at the ending of the game there was mention that the only thing found of the missing "Hero" was the torn cloak. So, it would be consistent that your cloak would be gone. Then considering the situation, I'm guessing that your weapons may have been taken? Maybe, Deekin made off with them to sell in Neverwinter!

Grr, that little rodent!

I had to start from the beginning again due to bugs cropping up. Apparently the full expansion doesn't load cleanly over the top of the pre-release patch. It's actually a good thing, because there are definitely some detail differences even from the PR patch. One thing that is instantly noticeable in combat is the "tweaking" they did to their algorithms that decrease your health points per hit. In the original NWN2, no matter what character I played it was near impossible to get killed in the intro combat sequence against the Bladlings and Grey Dwarves unless you just lay down your weapon and stand there . Now, I've tried three different character classes, just for kicks and the opponent's hits definitely pack a bigger punch. I know there were some who said the original was too easy in the first half of the game, making it out of proportion with those really nasty battles you hit now and again. Looks like they tried to even things up a bit. That means I have to keep a better eye on my character's health during combat...

Thanks for the info, TM. Hopefully it's even, and the last part not harder too.

Agreed. I really enjoyed the original campaign very much even with its very linear structure. My biggest complaints were the difficulty differential between the later combat sequences and the fact that they resorted to an over-used formula of throwing multiple heavy hitters at you to use up your resources (potions, spells and such) and then bring in the heavy weight champion - Too predictable. The other is the lack of quests, or more accurately the "rationing" of quests so that your character can never move even slightly ahead of the competition, ever. That felt too tightly controlled to me.

Still, I'm like a kid in a new candy shop with the expansion. Why else would I run through the entire original campaign just to play the expansion with an Epic character? You guys have turned me hard core darkside!

Er yes, I kind of noticed.

Hi,

Well I checked to see if I was in Strategy Mode but I am not sure on how to tell when I am in Strategy Mode or Character Mode.

Is there something on the screen that tells me or how do I know?

Well played my Paladin yesterday and now have a new helper. He is a Shaman so this should help in the battles.

If I understand this correctly, Strategy mode will start out with the default above the characters in a kind of free camera mode, but there is an option to center the camera in free camera on the main character. In Character Mode the camera works best with an over the shoulder view of what the main character sees and that one has a setting that allows the camera to turn with the character making it somewhat like a "chase camera", but still allowing some side to side and top to bottom movement. In either case though I like to get rid of the ceilings so I can pull back during interior scenes if need be to get a broader view.

Next time I'm playing (which should be about an hour from now) I'll see if I can locate an obvious indicator between the two modes.


UPDATE: OK, look at the text-box in the lower left hand corner of the screen that shows the formulas being calc'ed for hits, spells and the text for dialogue. Then use the "*" in your numeric keypad to toggle back and forth between the two modes. You will see that in the text window it tells you if Character or Strategy Camera More is engaged.

So, anyone have a problem with the map being dislocated right? All the map objects and character symbols are about an inch to the right where they should be...

And where do I find the Shadow Portal in Mulsantir that leads me to the Shadow Mulsantir where that sister had gone?...

Hi,

Thank You Trail_Mystic for the info on the Modes. I will check it out when I get back into the games.

Drizzt....The Portal is (I believe) on the right side of town.
From the Entrance where you came in go to the right and follow the road there just a little way and you will see it just in-between the buildings on your left as you are walking.

I hope I am remembering it correctly. Will go check now.

OK, I just started the expansion with my near Epic warlock and WOW, I like it!!!! It's cool that they have brought back some of the feel from the original NWN. I'll tell ya' for the difficulties you have as a Warlock in the early part of the game it sure makes up for it (and then some) in the higher levels. If you think the Druid and ranger animal transformations are cool, check out what a Warlock can turn into....

Trail, desperately searching for a good cup of tea




Oh and VHL, it looks like they tweaked the enchantment and alchemy system a bit from the original campaign. The essences seem to give their own instructions on how they can be used in their descriptions now and your companion carries the tools to do it.

Why you handsome devil!

Why thank you

This game is definitely not for the weak of heart. They gauged the battle for higher level characters with LOTS of stamina. My previous statement about them having a bit of the feel of the first NWN seemed to be premature. This is shaping up to be something much different. Lots of action and although I've just scratched the surface I can already tell that the story line is going to be pretty complex. This could be really addictive, if I survive past the next battle that is....

Hi,

Well I am noticing that the influence seems to work much more in this game then it did in the Original game. You really have to be careful what you answer to NPC people or even your own companions.

So far the Wizard likes my answers but the Shaman...not sure about him. Hope I don't mess it up.

I went to look for that portal yesterday and for some reason I couldn't find it. I will keep looking and let you know where it is but by then you may have found it yourself Drizzt.

Drizzt, the portals are found at night. The witches will help you find the one for the sister,Kaelyn the Dove and mark it on your map.
The only starting weapon you get is the +3 short sword that's in Safyia's inventory that you can juice up by using the one essence in her inventory with the sword. Put the sword in the satchel along with the essence then close the satchel. Have Safyia cast cone of cold (the one that looks like raindrops in her fast cast menu)on the satchel and voila!.

So how is everyone liking the expansion thus far?

Other than getting killed a bunch of times I'm enjoying it. I do think my party is a little heavy in the Arcane and I'm wondering now if I should have developed into a melee character rather than a Warlock. Still, the story is quite good so far and I really like the music change. I would like a different hat though...

Hi all,

I finally found the portal and it is just south of the East gate. Take the first left from the East Gate and it will be on the right just a little ways down the path.

Well played my Half/Orc/fighter yesterday and we found the sister but can't figure out how to get into the Death God's Vault.

We have talked to the guy near the furnace and also the Priest in the Temple but the door is still locked. Missing something here.

Should we go out to fight the spirits or is there something else we missed? Hmmmm.

Well so far there seems to be a lot more reading then the original when we talk to anyone but I guess it is because there seems to be more story to this game.

You can't get into the lower vault until act II and when you get into it you'd better be a high level character because it's rough down there.

Hi,

Wow Thanks Debra for the info.