NeverWinter Nights 2: How to be a Successful Adventurer
Posted by AWarnerAs you may have heard, NeverWinter Nights 2 recently launched on the Mac App Store. So, in true D&D spirit, we want you to be set with the tips you need to quest your way to victory. Whether you’re a dagger-wielding novice, or a highly skilled sorcerer, this guide can assure you get the most out of your game play experience. Want to join the adventure, but lack the gear? Loot a copy of NWN2 from the Mac App Store today!
Starting the game
Are you prepared to become a hero? Use the tutorials at the beginning to become familiarized with the game and controls. During the tutorial, you can decide if the options need to be changed to fit your preference. I had to lessen the sensitivity of the controls for my own liking. (Spinning the view in circles was making me sick).
The tutorial lands you in the middle of the High Harvest Fair, where you will take on short quests to teach you the controls and some basics of the game. There are 5 main quests for this tutorial, but also a side quest that you have the option of taking. During these quests you practice shooting, fighting, picking locks and more.
Don’t worry; if you’re a rebel who doesn’t like to be told what to do, there is an option to skip past the tutorial and straight into the first main quest. Though, as a beginner, I wouldn’t recommend it.
Character Creation
Choosing your path. NWN2 gives you the power to create your own character before you begin the game. The extensive races and classes may make this a daunting task, but it is worth the time to create a powerful character.
First, choose your character’s race. The race selection is immense, ranging from humans to elves, from orcs to dwarfs. Each race comes with different ability adjustments, such as +1 Intelligence or -2 Dexterity.
Now, on to choosing your character’s class. This is essentially what your character will be. An array of options are also available for class selection. You can be a bard, wizard, fighter, cleric, and many more. Each class has different abilities and skills that can help, or hurt, your game.
Though you may have the urge to make a Halfling Wizard, keep in mind that different races are paired better with certain classes. The trick is to match up the race’s ability adjustments with the class’s powers and skills. It is possible to create and succeed with a mismatched pairing, but it may be slower to level and gain new abilities.
In a hurry to start the game? No problem. NWN2 also has preset characters to choose from. These characters are already equipped with a class and skills, and are ready to fight.
Party Development
Throughout your adventures in the NWN2 realms you will come across and pick up a various number of party members. These party members will help you win battles and complete quests. Balancing your party throughout the game is a crucial step to ensure all skills and abilities are covered. Having 3 bards in your party may make some quests more difficult than if you had a range of classes and abilities.
With more party members, comes greater responsibility. Now that you’ve gained some members to your party, you have the option to control them! You can give the companions full control and allow them to act on their own “free will.” Though this option allows you to focus more on other tasks, it may become troublesome when your party members are opening chests and picking locks when they should be helping you battle a hoard of lizard people. I recommend going to your party’s options page to change the AI settings so you can control your party members. Assigning your members tasks can be helpful when strategizing battle tactics.
As we know with all relationships, as well as your party, communication is key. This is a beneficial step toward a perfect companionship. Talking to your members can build influence, which can help when picking fights with enemies and completing quests.
Rest, Pause and Save
Resting is important to maintaining your party’s health between battles. Be sure you rest often, whenever outside of battles and away from enemies. Resting may take a few seconds out of game play, but is much better than being thrust into battle with half health and no way to heal. (Which I experienced first hand).
Speaking of epic battle sequences, the pause button can be used throughout the game, including battles. This is a great tool to assign commands to each party member during battle without the worry of missing a part of the fight. This allows you to strategize each battle, in true D&D form, rather than a hack and slash free-for-all.
The save button should also be used often to ensure no data is lost if something were to happen, i.e. death. The two types of saves that can be done during game play is a manual save and a quick save. The quick save button allows you to save just by a keystroke (f12), which saves time and does not interrupt your questing.
If you choose to accept this journey, be you human or dwarf, use this guide to lead the way into battle. Character building, leveling and tactical moves allow you to take control of the game and enhance your triumphs.
Have tips of your own? Let us know!
