The latest give away on gaming.amazon.com is Baldur's Gate (the original) Enhanced Edition.

If you want to replay BG, this is the way to do it. Either that or
EasyTUTU.

Problem is, mostly everyone who wants(ed) to play BG already has.

I snapped this up on GOG years ago, but for those of you with Prime, it's
a no-brainer grab, even if you're unlikely to play it.

Cheers!

--
Zag

West of House
There is a small mailbox here.

read leaflet

"WELCOME TO USENET!

USENET is a game of adventure, danger,
and low cunning. In it you will
explore some of the most amazing
territory ever seen by mortals. No
computer should be without it!"

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Tue, 07 Mar 2023 12:15:21 -0600, Zaghadka <zaghadka@hotmail.com>
wrote:

The latest give away on gaming.amazon.com is Baldur's Gate (the original) >Enhanced Edition.

If you want to replay BG, this is the way to do it. Either that or
EasyTUTU.

EasyTUTU was the very first mod for a game I ever used. There was no
way it was going to work I said. I was wrong. I have been hooked on
modding my games ever since.

And yes, I play BG via the EE now but EasyTUTU is the next best way.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Tue, 07 Mar 2023 14:11:35 -0500, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action, Mike
S. wrote:

On Tue, 07 Mar 2023 12:15:21 -0600, Zaghadka <zaghadka@hotmail.com>
wrote:

The latest give away on gaming.amazon.com is Baldur's Gate (the original) >>Enhanced Edition.

If you want to replay BG, this is the way to do it. Either that or >>EasyTUTU.

EasyTUTU was the very first mod for a game I ever used. There was no
way it was going to work I said. I was wrong. I have been hooked on
modding my games ever since.

And yes, I play BG via the EE now but EasyTUTU is the next best way.

Playing BG1 as a wild-mage for the win!

--
Zag

No one ever said on their deathbed, 'Gee, I wish I had
spent more time alone with my computer.' ~Dan(i) Bunten

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 07/03/2023 19:11, Mike S. wrote:

On Tue, 07 Mar 2023 12:15:21 -0600, Zaghadka <zaghadka@hotmail.com>
wrote:

The latest give away on gaming.amazon.com is Baldur's Gate (the original)
Enhanced Edition.

If you want to replay BG, this is the way to do it. Either that or
EasyTUTU.

EasyTUTU was the very first mod for a game I ever used. There was no
way it was going to work I said. I was wrong. I have been hooked on
modding my games ever since.

And yes, I play BG via the EE now but EasyTUTU is the next best way.

I have, I think, all the EE versions except Icewind Dale. I have the
original but I always found the story lacking and I didn't like the idea
of playing six blank slate characters instead of the normal main
character (with backstory) and companions you could meet.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Thu, 9 Mar 2023 09:09:00 +0000, JAB <noway@nochance.com> wrote:

I have, I think, all the EE versions except Icewind Dale. I have the
original but I always found the story lacking and I didn't like the idea
of playing six blank slate characters instead of the normal main
character (with backstory) and companions you could meet.

Baldur's Gate 2 improves just about everything over the original. It
is a classic for a reason. But if you did not like the first one, I
wouldn't bother with it. Icewind Dale is a very combat heavy RPG and
so I do not think you will like that either.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 09/03/2023 18:51, Mike S. wrote:

On Thu, 9 Mar 2023 09:09:00 +0000, JAB <noway@nochance.com> wrote:

I have, I think, all the EE versions except Icewind Dale. I have the
original but I always found the story lacking and I didn't like the idea
of playing six blank slate characters instead of the normal main
character (with backstory) and companions you could meet.

Baldur's Gate 2 improves just about everything over the original. It
is a classic for a reason. But if you did not like the first one, I
wouldn't bother with it. Icewind Dale is a very combat heavy RPG and
so I do not think you will like that either.

Oh sorry, I played BG:1 a lot and BG:2 nearly as much and I ended up
getting both their EE versions as it saves a of mucking around with
multiple discs or installing mods. BG:1 is my favourite of the two as
even though I think 2 is the more polished game 1 has the advantage of I
really hadn't played a game like it before or a least one with that
level of graphics.

Icewind Dale I can kinda see where they were going with creating
creating something that may be like a style of TT D&D but just not my
cup of tea as story is the core to me an combat I look on more as a
change of pace than anything else.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Fri, 10 Mar 2023 09:32:15 +0000, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action, JAB
wrote:

Icewind Dale I can kinda see where they were going with creating
creating something that may be like a style of TT D&D but just not my
cup of tea as story is the core to me an combat I look on more as a
change of pace than anything else.

Icewind Dale is the Fallout Tactics of the series, in theme not quality.
You have to really love the combat as its focus is more on tactical
action.

I enjoyed the heck out of it and IWD2 but, unlike the Baldur's Gate
series, wouldn't want to replay them.

--
Zag

No one ever said on their deathbed, 'Gee, I wish I had
spent more time alone with my computer.' ~Dan(i) Bunten

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Fri, 10 Mar 2023 09:32:15 +0000, JAB <noway@nochance.com> wrote:

Oh sorry, I played BG:1 a lot and BG:2 nearly as much and I ended up
getting both their EE versions as it saves a of mucking around with
multiple discs or installing mods. BG:1 is my favourite of the two as
even though I think 2 is the more polished game 1 has the advantage of I >really hadn't played a game like it before or a least one with that
level of graphics.

I prefer the first BG as well for my own reasons (you touched on one
here, it was new and fresh for me) but I recognize the sequel is the
better game. So I completely understand what you are saying here.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Fri, 10 Mar 2023 09:48:58 -0500, Mike S. <Mike_S@nowhere.com>
wrote:

On Fri, 10 Mar 2023 09:32:15 +0000, JAB <noway@nochance.com> wrote:

Oh sorry, I played BG:1 a lot and BG:2 nearly as much and I ended up >>getting both their EE versions as it saves a of mucking around with >>multiple discs or installing mods. BG:1 is my favourite of the two as
even though I think 2 is the more polished game 1 has the advantage of I >>really hadn't played a game like it before or a least one with that
level of graphics.

I prefer the first BG as well for my own reasons (you touched on one
here, it was new and fresh for me) but I recognize the sequel is the
better game. So I completely understand what you are saying here.

You're not the only one.

I've a variety of reasons for this. Mostly they revolve around the
fact that - IMHO, YMMV, etc - D&D works better at low levels; the
rules are generally intended for skirmish battles and the fun and
challenge of these battles diminishes as the players become more
powerful. This is especially true for computer versions of the game
where the combat is much more central to the game.

Related to that, I really dislike how magic-heavy D&D is, and this
starts becoming more noticeable as players level up. D&D magic is
extremely utilitarian and common, yet the settings almost never
reflect this; instead, the magic is a glaze set atop a generic
medieval world, and it doesn't stand up to scrutiny. At lower levels -
when the PCs are less likely to have or encounter much magic - this
discrepancy is less noticeable.

And, honestly, I didn't much care for the characters or story in
"Baldurs Gate 2". The first game was more of a generic adventure with
an overarching plot, but in BG2 the plot was far more central to the
game. I don't recall the game clearly enough to remember much in the
way of detail so I can't say whether it was a good story or not... but
I much preferred the openness of the first game.

The first game benefited greatly from its novelty; it captured the
feel of a table-top game fairly well, and greatly improved the
gameplay experience from the older SSI games

(not to diminish the impact of the GoldBox, Dark Sun, and their 3D
games, but the SSI titles were getting quite long in the tooth.)

"Baldurs Gate" pushed D&D computer gaming up to modern standards both
in terms of visuals and gameplay. But the second game was far more
evolutionary than revolutionary and its changes to the formula - while
welcome - felt half-baked. Later variations of the "Bioware RPG"
formula would see them better realized.

Was "Baldurs Gate 2" the better game? It was better in some areas,
certainly; it smoothed out some of the original's rough edges and
pushed concepts of the first game into new areas, and I can appreciate
that sort of innovation. But it certainly wasn't one I enjoyed as
much, and ultimately that's how I decide the 'goodness' of a game.
"Planescape: Torment" was a better game, to me. "Baldur's Gate II" on
the other hand,just seemed like 'more game' rather than 'better game'
to me.

But ultimately all such judgments are subjective opinions, and each
one is just as valid as the next. People who love BG2 have their
reasons for preferring it over the original too.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Fri, 10 Mar 2023 08:54:26 -0600, Zaghadka <zaghadka@hotmail.com>
wrote:

On Fri, 10 Mar 2023 09:32:15 +0000, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action, JAB >wrote:

Icewind Dale I can kinda see where they were going with creating
creating something that may be like a style of TT D&D but just not my
cup of tea as story is the core to me an combat I look on more as a
change of pace than anything else.

Icewind Dale is the Fallout Tactics of the series, in theme not quality.
You have to really love the combat as its focus is more on tactical
action.

I enjoyed the heck out of it and IWD2 but, unlike the Baldur's Gate
series, wouldn't want to replay them.

I think it's more along the lines of 'what if "Diablo II" and "Baldurs
Gate" had a baby?' sort of creation. Because there actually was more
to the gameplay than just combat in the "Icewind Dale" games, and it's
not as if the "Baldurs Gate" games themselves were particularly
combat-light. The IW games were a lot more directed in plot,
certainly, and had fewer opportunities for puzzles and dialogue, but
they weren't completely missing from the games either.

In some ways, I felt the "Icewind Dale" games were actually superior
to "Baldurs Gate II" because that game started getting a bit top-heavy
with its options and story, and the IW games streamlined things back
to the point of managability. They'd never become my 'go to game' for
the franchise, but they were a pleasant palette cleaner between the
heavier titles like BG1 and Planescape.

Tl;DR: if you liked the other games in the 'Infinity Engine' series,
it's definitely worth playing the Icewind Dale games too. Despite the
increased emphasis on the combat, they're still far more 'Baldurs
Gate' than they are "Diablo".

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 10/03/2023 18:38, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

I prefer the first BG as well for my own reasons (you touched on one
here, it was new and fresh for me) but I recognize the sequel is the
better game. So I completely understand what you are saying here.

You're not the only one.

I've a variety of reasons for this. Mostly they revolve around the
fact that - IMHO, YMMV, etc - D&D works better at low levels; the
rules are generally intended for skirmish battles and the fun and
challenge of these battles diminishes as the players become more
powerful. This is especially true for computer versions of the game
where the combat is much more central to the game.

As I've said before, very much agree as at the higher levels it just
feels that the game degenerates into how do I use my capabilities to
maximum effect. That I feel also leeches into pushing you towards
developing your character in a way that supports that instead of this is
the type of character I want to play.

Related to that, I really dislike how magic-heavy D&D is, and this
starts becoming more noticeable as players level up. D&D magic is
extremely utilitarian and common, yet the settings almost never
reflect this; instead, the magic is a glaze set atop a generic
medieval world, and it doesn't stand up to scrutiny. At lower levels -
when the PCs are less likely to have or encounter much magic - this discrepancy is less noticeable.

It's something that I hadn't really thought about until I saw a video on
why someone found the world of Skyrim somewhat jarring. If magic is
really as common as depicted then why doesn't it have a more prominent
role in how societies operate. A simple example of that was why is gold
so valuable when you can use the transmute spell.

The Numenera does a good job a tackling this as the magic (or
technology) is reflected in society as a whole so it feels more coherent
as a world setting.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 10/03/2023 14:54, Zaghadka wrote:

On Fri, 10 Mar 2023 09:32:15 +0000, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action, JAB wrote:

Icewind Dale I can kinda see where they were going with creating
creating something that may be like a style of TT D&D but just not my
cup of tea as story is the core to me an combat I look on more as a
change of pace than anything else.

Icewind Dale is the Fallout Tactics of the series, in theme not quality.
You have to really love the combat as its focus is more on tactical
action.

I enjoyed the heck out of it and IWD2 but, unlike the Baldur's Gate
series, wouldn't want to replay them.

Yeh, one of the problems I had with it was although I like both tactical
combat games and RPG's I prefer that a game is either one or the other
and not a mish-mash of tactical combat and RPG. I t something that put
me off Divinity: Original Sin.

Another series of games in that category is Total War, am I playing a
tactical wargame or a grand strategy game.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Sun, 12 Mar 2023 11:24:08 +0000, JAB <noway@nochance.com> wrote:

On 10/03/2023 14:54, Zaghadka wrote:

On Fri, 10 Mar 2023 09:32:15 +0000, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action, JAB
wrote:

Icewind Dale I can kinda see where they were going with creating
creating something that may be like a style of TT D&D but just not my
cup of tea as story is the core to me an combat I look on more as a
change of pace than anything else.

Icewind Dale is the Fallout Tactics of the series, in theme not quality.
You have to really love the combat as its focus is more on tactical
action.

I enjoyed the heck out of it and IWD2 but, unlike the Baldur's Gate
series, wouldn't want to replay them.

Yeh, one of the problems I had with it was although I like both tactical >combat games and RPG's I prefer that a game is either one or the other
and not a mish-mash of tactical combat and RPG. I t something that put
me off Divinity: Original Sin.

Another series of games in that category is Total War, am I playing a >tactical wargame or a grand strategy game.

Even though I've always preferred 4X games over tactical combat games,
the drama of those huge armies smashing into each other was always the
biggest draw of the Total War. I didn't like actually fighting the
battles but watching them? Yes please. Which is why I was always
disappointed that the games never offered a way to auto-fight the
battles in real-time.

Oh sure, you could click the "auto-resolve" battle, but then all you
got was a summary of how many units on either side got the axe. But
they never SHOWED any of it happening, which I always felt was a
missed opportunity, both to rope-in 4X grognards like myself, and to
showcase the game's battle AI.

(Actually, I haven't bothered with the Total War franchise in a while
so maybe this is something they added in the interim. If it is, I may
give the series another chance. The 4X strategy aspect of the series
actually was fairly weak, but I can tolerate it if I get to see my
enemies giant armies ripped to pieces by a cunning flanking attack ;-)

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

The latest tranche of games.

Adios
-----

This one is on my Steam wishlist so I obviously grabbed it. It's
supposed to only be a short game and quite possibly not a game at all
but more of a story telling medium. The story, a pig farmer who decides
that the mob can no longer use his farm to dispose of bodies and a
hitman sent to convince you you're making a mistake.


I Am Fish
---------

Some sort of physics based adventure according to the blurb.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 12/03/2023 15:20, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

Another series of games in that category is Total War, am I playing a
tactical wargame or a grand strategy game.

Even though I've always preferred 4X games over tactical combat games,
the drama of those huge armies smashing into each other was always the biggest draw of the Total War. I didn't like actually fighting the
battles but watching them? Yes please. Which is why I was always
disappointed that the games never offered a way to auto-fight the
battles in real-time.

Oh sure, you could click the "auto-resolve" battle, but then all you
got was a summary of how many units on either side got the axe. But
they never SHOWED any of it happening, which I always felt was a
missed opportunity, both to rope-in 4X grognards like myself, and to
showcase the game's battle AI.

(Actually, I haven't bothered with the Total War franchise in a while
so maybe this is something they added in the interim. If it is, I may
give the series another chance. The 4X strategy aspect of the series
actually was fairly weak, but I can tolerate it if I get to see my
enemies giant armies ripped to pieces by a cunning flanking attack 😉

The last Total War game I played was TW:Medieval 2 and I gave up after
probably a couple of hours as it felt like it suffered the same problems
that the others did. The biggies are the AI just isn't very good, the
tactical depth is almost a case of rock-paper-scissors and worst of all
it often felt like the best tactic was just to grab all your units and
rush head long into the enemy. The one I enjoyed the most was Viking
Invasion as the grand strategy side was less at the core due to the
small map size and the battles seemed more manageable in scale.

To be fair though AI in wargames is often not that good although there
does seem to be a link between having a well defined set of 'mechanical'
rules that are easier to create an AI for. They can go too far though
and it was one of the problems I found with Unity Command, the AI was
brutally good at crunching the numbers and cutting your supply chain off.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)