Baldur’s Gate isn’t too old, it was released in November of 1998, but that’s still a bit dated now. The gaming industry isn’t friendly to the years, often working in what seems to be accelerated “dog years” in terms of technological advancements. It figured this was worth covering because it’s one of the best selling and considered a top tier single-player RPG by most accounts.
It was also developed by BioWare, who, at the time, only had one other game under their belt from two years before called Shattered Steel.
The story begins just after a devastating event in the Forgotten Realms D&D campaign called the “Time of Troubles.” This was a great twist in the standard D&D campaign, it caused all curative magic (clerics) to lose their ability to heal unless near their deity, magic didn’t function correctly (I believe this is where the Wild Mage came from) and was unpredictable and gods walked the earth as mortals which caused magic to, in effect, die while the gods were away. Since the storyline starts slightly after this event, the game contains healing and magic but the storyline is impacted by prior events of course, people have trust issues.
The game was made great because it held “mostly true” to the 2nd Edition D&D roots so the learning curve for D&D player’s wasn’t so rough; some things were adjusted to handle the real-time effect of a video game RPG. You could party with up to six Non-Player-Characters (NPC’s) whom would swap in and out of your active party over time as part of the storyline (something also implemented by the US release of Final Fantasy 2).
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… how can being nude drive a podcast’s ratings up? Now, if you were to be doing a videocast … now that’s something.
@Electronic Arts responds to expiring Online Pass:
Oh boy 🙂 … this seems to point out some serious issues at EA. I mean it feels like they automated a little bit too much of their systems.
@Divided memory pool causes lag for Skyrim PS3
The total is the same (256 + 256 versus 512), the reason of the split is not financial. It is technological/design.
@Skyrim Creation Kit landing in January
Hmm, Steam Workshop … it’ll most likely kill the other mod sites. Not in a year, not in 3. Maybe in 4 though.
@QOTW: none. When we go on vacation (1) we don’t go by car, so there is not enough room in the luggage to squeeze in a console, and (2), you don’t really need to go someplace else in order to sit in a room in front of the TV to play games.
“… how can being nude drive a podcast’s ratings up?”
That was the joke, just like a ventriloquist on the radio.
I would really like to see how this South Park RPG is going to turn out, but I’m not getting my hopes up one little bit.
Well seeing that there’s nothing in the news I want to discuss, I tried to leave you an iTunes comment, but apparently I need to give them my credit card number to create an iTunes account. -.-
Anyway, QOTW: No. Can you please come up with better questions of the week that can’t be answered simply with yes or no? =)
And Paul, you miss so many podcasts it’s not even funny anymore. Consider this as official hate mail.
dude paul is gone again , what the hell paul skipping podcast is getting more serious now, we need a good reason when you come back. I guess that’s my first hate mail..
@south park the game .
Wew I didn’t see that coming .ill probably w8 for the trailer or gameplay but I won’t buy the game coz I hate southpark and their stupid animation
@qotw whaaaaatttt this is stupid bringing a console whaaattt impossible good luck on carrying a big bulky system on your way to a resort..
I haven’t been downloading your podcast because of the tests its the first day of test and I’m already tired.
I just started listening. Didn’t know Jordan was from Oregon! I’m originally from Roseburg/Eugene area and moved to Cleveland for school/work now. Great podcast and can’t wait to hear more.
Thanks Justin! I grew up in Eugene and now I live and work just outside of Portland (Clackamas and Beaverton respectively…)
I went to school at UO before heading to the Midwest and have family in Beaverton. Listening to your latest show now. Great stuff!