Official Baldur's Gate II chat at IGN August 24, 2000 (6 pm PST) at host17.webmaster.com, room #ignvault Edited log prepared by Silverdawn of Baldur's Gate Chronicles (http://www.bgchronicles.com) Approximately 150 people were at the chat. In attendance were: BioWare: RayAtBio - Ray Muzyka (Join CEO and Executive Producer) GregzAtBioware - Greg Zeschuk (Join CEO and Executive Producer) NathanAtBioWare - Nathan Plewes (Line Producer) BradAtBioWare - Brad Grier (Communication Manager) BioWareMatt - Matthew Goldman (Artist) MaeVarBondari - John Winski (Designer/Scriptor) KevinMatBio - Kevin Martens (Co-Lead Designer) RobAtBioWare - Rob Boyd (Programmer) DeanAtBioware - Dean Andersen (Senior Artist) Dave-at-Bio - David Gaider (Designer) DerekF[Bioware] - Derek French (Line producer, MDK2:Armageddon) JamesAtBio - James Ohlen (Director of Writing and Design) MikeAtBioware - Michael Geist (Designer/Scriptor) MarkDAtBioware - Mark Darrah (Lead Programmer) ScottLatBioware - Scott Langevin (Lead QA) JohnGBio - John Gallagher (Director of Conceptual Art) DaveCAtBioWare - Dave Chan (Sound Engineer) MarcA_BioWare - Marc Audy (Tools Progammer) Black Isle: ParkerAtBIS - Chris Parker (Senior Producer) buce - Lisa Bucek (Senior PR) Jonric, Jeremy-IGN, and Truthsword are the moderators from IGN. [ka] Mode change "+m" by Jonric Oh man.. quick get rid of him! Feed him some meat or something OW I like vegetarian souvlaki Egg-cellent. Is anybody in here? I like vegetarian women Nathan's special food. ...and on...and on...and on welcome everyone to tonight's chat as usual let's start by asking the team members to introduce themselves Nobody but us chickens Dean Andersen: Senior Artist Nathan Plewes: Line Producer and Bug Master ; ) John Winski: Designer Hi. I'm Matthew, an artist. Chris Parker: Producer at Black Isle Kevin Martens, Co-Lead Designer Greg z - co-exec producer at BioWare. And alternate bugmaster! Brad Grier: BioWare's Communications Manager And html guy :-) Rob Boyd, Programmer at BioWare Ray Muzyka, joint CEO (with Greg) and co-exec producer on BGII (with Greg) at BioWare how long does kai last for? and why has everyone stopped talking? (Is Nathan starting a knock knock joke?) : P Got 10 seconds that's message me BG2 claims to have more spells, classes, skills, objects, monsters, bigger quests and more gameplay than BG1 on the same number of CDs? What's being sacrificed? Got it. Actually, BG2 IS bigger in every respect that we could possibly think of than BG1. We've got a compression of backgrounds in BG2 that we didn't have in BG1 - this allows the game to be on 4 CD's rather than 5, even though there is actually MORE content. As well, the areas are a little more compact - so there are more things going on per square unit of space than in the original game. This helps with CD layout as well (I'm doing truncated messages intentionally, by the way - they seem to get cut off otherwise) Will the new Monk class use the cleric's THAC0 table? Also can Gromnir see monk pull still beating elf heart from chest of puny elf? Got it The game is really a lot bigger - hundreds of quests, all of which are really detailed and involved. The overall length of the game is more than in BG1 - The Monk WILL be using the cleric THACO. We were thinking of having him use the fighter THACO, but we found that to make him far too powerful. end while the core game takes some 50-70 hours (critical path, as we like to call it), doing all of the subquests can take upwards of 200-250 hours! (speaking from personal experience) done Can I Import a character from BG and TotSC (french version) to BG2 (english version)??? (also less wandering around in forest areas and the like) Got it Mark (our lead programmer) says that you should be able to. Done could we possibly get a nice, clean run-down of what will be the extras when pre-ordered from who and collectors versus standard? Got it. Got it You go ahead Chris OK. There is still a little debate on a few things here, so I will just say what I am positive about... Regarding Imports: Send us your character, we're gathering characters to test the import function. See the BioWare website for details. The normal version of the game will of course include the 4 CDs in a double-double jewel case, a map, the manual... The pre-ordered version depends on where you pre-order it from... most of the retailers who have pre-order programs are getting different materials for their pre-orders... The collectors edition has a cloth map, 4 color CDs, an add-on disc that gives you access to 10 items you can't get elsewhere, and cards... I believe there are a few other things too, but I don't have a list and there is still some debate on a few items. Done. can you give us any info on priest kits or strongholds? james? Got it Got it Back Evil James! lol. now now boys. no need to fight Oh yeah, there is a reference card with all the spells and statuses in all versions... forgot about that...oops You can choose one of 3 gods or remain a 'generic' cleric. The three kits are Cleric of Talos (evil), Helm (neutral) and Lathander (good) They each get unique spells and strongholds More When you start a game, you choose your god Throughout the course of the game you can become a favored of your church/god and be invited to join the appropriate church in Athkatla. If you are a generic cleric, you can go on the stronghold plot/join the church of the god that most closely fits your alignment. Each of the Temple Strongholds has a number of unique and interesting plots that fit with the god that you have chosen. Each church has a unique building and characters. Done. can you please ask "Are Druids blanced? they seem weak, only being able to go to lvl 14" got it I can....Are Druids balanced? Smack! goof Druids are VERY fun to play. mmm..shape change.. I'll just add one thing on the clerics: if you pick a kit, you *start* the game as a specialty priest. Your interaction with your church is what constitutes the stronghold, that is *not* when you become a specialty priest. (I know there was some confusion on that.) The druids are one of the most powerful classed in BG2. They advance VERY fast at the mid levels, and reach 5th and 6th level spells before the other classes. They have powerful spells such as iron skins, call woodland beings, insect plague and summon fire elemental. Druids are very nice How will new characters' Hit Points be determined? Will it be completely random, or will there be some limit so that a new fighter with 18 constitution doesn't start out with 40 HP because of bad luck? :) The three druid kits are also very powerful. The Shapeshifter kit allows the druid to take the form of a werewolf (and later on a greater werewolf), the Avenger druid has access to some mage spells and has his polymorph ability greatly expanded. Just like me :) mmmm... Avenger druids... The totemic druid can summon spirit animals to fight for him. Done I'll answer this one Hit points are randomly generated, but we have a formula that will make sure that a player doesn't receive an incredibly low hit point total. done Can we dual-class to the New 3ed classes? And will only imported TOSC games be set to 160K (as opposed to starting a new character and having TOSC) Got it anybody else hear a clock ticking loudly? or is it the theme from jeopardy? tick tick tick tick That's the bomb under your desk, Rob. You can't DUAL to the new 3E classes. You can only import with 161000 with a Tales character. A little bonus there. Thats just how Mark types BOOOM! You all just keep quiet Woo hoo...I was told I could sleep when I'm dead does this mean I can sleep now? ha ha. Done Is BG2 going to have a darker story than BG1. More corruption and the likes? Yes. most definately Definately. Done. That answer sucked, Mark What is the level cap for sorcerers and do they follow the spell progression from the 3rd edition players handbook exactly? Got it Got it James go ahead it takes him too long to type for him to fill up a whole screen of Keven err Kevin Sorcerers have the exact same level cap as mages (17th level). They follow the 3rd edition spell progression. Spell my name incorrectly again and I shall whine incessantly. Sure Kavin! Sorry Keeveen. and this is different how? *grin* Sorcerors are quite fun to play. That's on par (Bosses are allowed) I know where you live, Greg In a shoe box? By the way, although the story is darker, it's still in the same vein as BG. I can whine at your window Greg has a problem with names It isn't as dark as Planescape Torment My shoebox doesn't have windows. Done what kind of effects will at theif be able to embue to his traps, what will it depend apon, and can he get a mage friend to perhaps createa magical spell that will go off when the trap is sprung? Also if a thief walks over his own trap will it go off? It will when I take a pen knife and some scented markers to it! Markers=window dressing Got it Why scented markers Kavin? mwahahahahahahaha They smell purty The thief has different traps according to his level. The basic trap is always an arrow trap. Put down that penknife! However, as the theif goes up in level, the arrow deals out more damage and effects (such as poison). UH oh... I thought we took all the sharp stuff away from Kevin last month... So Kavine, what brand of marker do you use? As well, a bounty hunter thief has access to special traps that simulate mage spells. Done Now that the level range of the monsters is much larger, are bows and crossbows still the powerful weapons they were in BG1? I found some in a shoebox got it I use a wide variety of floral and fruity markers doh It wasn't so much that they were really powerful in BGI, It's just that the creatures I mean fruity in the nicest scent not quick enough on the buzzer you were fighting in BGI were pretty wimpy (as was your party) (and slow... creatures in BG1 were very slow) Get it? Scent-sense? Also creatures move faster in BG2. now that you're up against bigger badder and faster creatures the difference isn't nearly as noticeable done (more or less) Question about paladins: The special skills for Inquisitor and Undead Slayer seem fairly obvious and easy to implement, but I am not so clear about what being a Cavalier has to offer (since most 2nd edition advantages involved mounted bonuses, and there ain't no mounts in BGII!) Bows are still good, but not as dominating as in BG1. Got it arrows just aren't as useful against enemies that can cast prot. from normal missiles, or other nifty spells I have a Cavalier in my current party and he rocks. The Cavalier represents the heroic knight from classic fantasy. Elven Archers all the way : ) He is immune to fear and poison, and has bonuses when fighting demons and dragons. Not to be confused with the Chevalier. * DaveCatBio thinks Nathan likes Elven archers because they wear tights isn't that cheese? Done As a dm in pnp AD&D I found style specializations to be mostly balanced, why have they been rewritten for BG2? He also has Remove Fear Got it yeah... so? The style specializations (two handed style, one handed style) were first implemented in the same fashion that they were in 2nd edition. However, we couldn't implement certain features (such as shield rush), and this unbalanced these skills. Hiya, Hrothgar. Shhh... James slaps his underlings when they interrupt... I hope that wasn't public So we had to fiddle with them a bit to make each one as useful as the others. We changed as few things as possible. Done In tabletop campaigns, magic weapons were hard to comeby with bonuses in the +3 range, and at high levels a +4 was a terrific weapon. How do you justify putting such powerful equipment in the game? got it I'll take Big Ass Monsters for 1000 Alex... Private, pls. Since the experience point cap is very high - 2.9MM - the level of the characters is quite high at the end of the game as well (level 17-23, I believe). High level characters get to go to high level areas - and find cool items! done Can you please go over the Bounty Hunter kit, I couldn't find much info on any pages. And also, can you explain the Thief's stronghold. (and here I thought I was speaking privately to someone... doh... woe to the chat-impaired... Got it The bounty hunter is an expert in hunting men. They get super cool traps at higher levels. They get extra set traps abilities. Hey Dave - James asked me to pass something on to you (no, not really) More and are rarely trust worlthy The disadvantage is that they get less points to spend on their other skills. As to the Stronghold, * NathanAtBioWare gives Dave a good trout beating oh no, not trout again is that what kids are calling it these days? Ooooh baby nothing like a good trout beating! I won't give you too much info so as not to ruin the game but you do get to run a Thieves' Guild. lol Done Can u ask "if reputation is really important at BG2"... I prefer carp, myself. OR tuna. Got it is reputation really important in BG2? Tuna's are WAY too big for a good beeting! Or Beating either way... last time I got a good beeting I was red for weeks your all odd.. Beets? What about these beets? Reputation works as it did in BG with the exception of a couple of things. It's bit more difficult to get to the higher end of the scale. Our all odd what... Being a psycho will still get you to the lower end quite quickly We're synonymous with grateness aaahhh...only for more nights without sleep and I will have had time to gnaw through the chains holding me to my desk Grateness? Groan.... i thought the chains were voluntary Shh Rob - you're not supposed to mention that! Do you mean turnips? They're a perk... Also, more people react to your reputation now than they did in BG or Tales. Done I know that fighters get one proficiency point every 3 levels... my question is, will you have to use a standard proficiency point to improve weapon style skill, or will the Style proficiencies be handled separately? Got it Yes, we are cheesy and Ray and Greg are Le Grande Fromage or are they....the head cheese? wouldn't it be Les Grandes Fromages? Always a nitpicker in the bunch... hehe You use your standard proficiency points to improve your weapon styles. This forces fighters to choose between learning a weapon style, or becoming more proficient with a weapon. Done * DaveCatBio pokes Nathan with a large piece of Winsleydale If bows won't be nearly so dominating in BG2, will the Archer kit still be very powerful? Got it I'd be offended if I knew what that was ; ) that's what makes us great isn't it? our attention to detail Cheese, Gromit! Check http://www.saltandpepper.com/recipes/h/7524949.html for all your head cheese needs The archer kit is very powerful. An archer isn't very skiled with melee weapons, and isn't able to wear heavy armor. However, when you play him, you can fire out those arrows as if you were wielding a fully automatic pistol. Done why are you using 2nd edition rules, with some 3rd edition additions? Especially at high levels - archers are amazing. oh sweet Archer got it We thought that it would be fun to include some third edition character classes in BG2. After discussions between BioWare and Black Isle (our publisher) and WOTC WOTC = Wizards of the Coast (the holders of the original license) we decided to include the Sorceror, Monk and Barbarian character classes. The rest of the rules are AD&D 2nd edition. done Do the images of the Red Dragon represent the largest creature in BG2? Got it This is all that you'll get from us for now... --> Kind of Done Correction: Will certain spells have multiple school associations per 2nd Ed AD&D? In fact, the earth itself surges with life essences. Got it We had to simplify the spells in that regard, so spells will only have one school association. Done Any more info on the BARD specific quests. Got it. Dave Gaider could answer that one The bard, basically, takes over a playhouse after a pretty interesting adventure. Basically, the bard becomes the patron of a play that begins to be produced, a cursed play a la MacBeth. There is a lot of stuff to deal with to get to the end. It's quite cool. Done As opposite to the original, are the bad descisions we make going to haunt us at a later stage in the game? I exploded again Got it waaay more info than we needed In certain cases, the evil path (assuming that this what you mean) will result in a rep loss. This can haunt you later if you ignore it for too long. Somebody clean Matt up... not goin near him I think there's some brain over here... However, in general, that results of bad choices are localized to the plot that you're currently on (good rule of thumb is to leave Matt alone until he pulls himself together. Why get dirty?) nope....tastes like pancreas No one who is unaware of the plot will reference your actions if they weren't big enough to actually warrant a rep hit. Done Will most of the NPCs be met closer to the beginning of the game in BGII than they were in BGI? I am an old softy who gets very attached to his party - I don't think I picked any new NPCs up in BGI after Chapter 2, since I felt like the one's I had were family! Got it Got it the race is on... Who will take it? You take it James? Ok which of the two finger typists will win out? Kevin I have left my office to kill Rob Don't forget Dave, James... They aren't two finger typists, I am! The answer is yes. They can all be found in chapter 1 or two. Also, their general location is mentioned in the manual. woo hoo....dead again...can I sleep now? James is beating Rob someone help! We really want people to be able to see all of the NPCs and be able to make some tough choices about who will be joining them. Done Help him beat Rob you mean? help beat Rob? sure Is there any possibility of good-aligned priests of Helm? Got it [ka] Guest73436 is now known as Decado whew...better a beating than a beeting...my hair was pink for a month after the last beeting * DaveCatBio thinks everyone at BioWare is getting a little loopy from all the long days :) (Kevin's alone at the helm while Bio dissolves into a general melee...) ...but I cast Mordenkainan's faithful watchdog Thwack! For the sake of clarity, Helm will remain the neutral only god. However, the Lathander church is just as interesting. Also, a paladin could serve Helm, if you wish to play one. lol I want to do them! Done I don't like straying from the storyline, but I do like completing lots of quests(I think I did them all in BG1).Will it be as much of a problem in the 2nd as in the 1st? flee!! Got it Got it You take it Kevin. And Kevin is still the quickest at the buzzer go white boy...go white boy...go white boy...go Yup, that he is :) Are there any girls here? Kevin rules this chat with an iron fist! I am There are tons of plots to go on in the game. There is also more replay than you can shake a stick at. To see every single thing in game... lol Fast at the buzzer that is! hee hee OOooo, bad Ray! :) That was accidental, actually. I'm not even going to ask.. I serve Poops. You will have to play with each class (for all of the strongholds), different alignments (for different plot endings), and with each of the NPCs in your party at one point (to see their quests). Done Any more info on the BARD specific quests. That's our Nathan, the master of the turned cheek. Hey get off my keyboard Parker. Poops? lol.. after almost an hour that's the best you could come up with Greg? woo hoo....welcome Greg to the dark side.. btw folks, we're going to go for about anothe 10 minutes Didn't we just get that question? ..of sleep deprivation that is... Didn't we just have this question? Dupe!! *smack nathan*...you're supposed to filter those Done. I have to leave now - have to go to a dinner with parents, girlfriend, and brother/sister in law (birthday bash) - later everyone! I did.. it's those damn IPlay guys! Later Ray.. Happy BDAY!! oh....so the boss is allowed a life..... Happy birthday Ray! Always the same excuse, Nathan. I'm disappointed. HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAY!!! ) Happy birthday ray! have fun what's the advantage of being a 'generic' cleric? Happy Birthday, Ray! Bah! later Ray Got it Got it Got it Damn you!!!!! rats...