How many hours did you log for Bauldur's Gate 1?

**JDW** · February 01, 2012, 12:09 PM

I'm wondering how many hours I should expect to put into this game before I start it and if is it the type of game you need to keep playing daily? Or can you put 2 hours into it, wait 4-5 days put 5 hours into wait 4-5 days etc... or does that hinder the whole experience of the game?

Thanks.

**Tankfriend** · February 01, 2012, 06:07 PM

It depends on how much of the game you want to try out, but you should something upwards of 50 hours for a single playthrough. If you are especially keen on exploring the gameworld and finding as much as you can, you can easily expect 100 hours or more. That's the feeling I had when I played it (the latter way...), but I never actually put a stopwatch next to the PC.

I'd also say that BG is not the kind of game you can play on-off style - it's simply too large for that, and you will rarely find moments in the game where you can put a definitive break (i.e. "after the next level", because there are no definite levels).

**johnhughthom** · February 02, 2012, 12:16 AM

You could probably look at the world map and play the game in chunks by clearing specific areas. If you had a few hours to play, you could do 2 or 3 areas, though if you get to a main quest area it could be a bit longer. You might lose track of the main quest, but you have a journal to bring you back up to speed.

**Manco** · February 02, 2012, 09:34 AM

I'd suggest long stretches of playtime.

Back when I still played the whole BG family of games ( including PST and ID), I just kept a notebook at my side to describe where I left off, and what my plan to proceed was before I quit. Sounds a bit silly, but with these vast games it's not actually a bad idea

**JDW** · February 02, 2012, 03:10 PM

Thanks, Tank, John and Manco, much appreciated advice. One more question, does role playing a bad character close to Evil in some ways ruin the first play through? Do you miss out on that memorable moments because you ended up putting people on fire when your character didn't like their attitude or they just pissed him/her off?

**Kanaric** · February 02, 2012, 03:19 PM

Wow I don't remember. In BG2 I remember my save game saying 180. Honestly I would breeze through the first to get to the second.

**johnhughthom** · February 02, 2012, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by JDW

Thanks, Tank, John and Manco, much appreciated advice. One more question, does role playing a bad character close to Evil in some ways ruin the first play through? Do you miss out on that memorable moments because you ended up putting people on fire when your character didn't like their attitude or they just pissed him/her off?

I would recommend not playing an evil character for your first playthrough, though I don't think you would miss out on any content. It is simply much more difficult, as you will have Flamng Fist enforcers coming after you at very low reputation, anf items in shops will cost a lot more.

**JDW** · February 02, 2012, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by johnhughthom

I would recommend not playing an evil character for your first playthrough, though I don't think you would miss out on any content. It is simply much more difficult, as you will have Flamng Fist enforcers coming after you at very low reputation, anf items in shops will cost a lot more.

Yes your right and I think it would kind of ruin the whole "adventure" if your playing a grouchy and angry character.

Thanks for response.

**Tankfriend** · February 02, 2012, 06:36 PM

What johnhughtom said - the game basically gets noticeably harder when you play an evil character, but the storyline still works out well with that kind of character. And that's all the spoiling I will put in here for that matter...

Anyway, I'd suggest playing a good character for starters, as well.

**JDW** · February 03, 2012, 07:32 AM

Originally Posted by Tankfriend

What johnhughtom said - the game basically gets noticeably harder when you play an evil character, but the storyline still works out well with that kind of character. And that's all the spoiling I will put in here for that matter...

Anyway, I'd suggest playing a good character for starters, as well.

Okay so I'm going to create a good character later but I'm just wondering. I want to make a Dark mage, somebody that just uses spells that involve death. Is it best to choose Mage still or specilize in a certain one like Necromacer? I guess I still would want a healing spell though, should I just go Mage?

Forgive my spelling.

**Tankfriend** · February 03, 2012, 09:27 AM

In Dungeons and Dragons (which BG uses as a basis), life and death spells are primarily the domains of clerics/druids, not wizards/sorcerors (which would fit your idea of a "mage"). The "mage" classes do have some death magic at their disposal (among which is one of the most powerful death magic spells), but they overall can't compete with the others in this area, especially not in terms of healing spells. So, if you really want to combine healing and death magic, I'm afraid you will have to leave the classic "mage" behind and go for the "priest". Also note that you will have to choose one type of spells over the other, because polar opposites (as in life vs death) usually don't work together or have you end up with a worse overall spell selection. Also note that the spells available to you are partially dependent on your characters alignment - good characters obviously would prefer healing magic over death magic and vice-versa.

Whatever your choice, clerics tend to be the best starting class, because they combine good and useful spellcasting with an acceptable performance in melee combat.

**JDW** · February 03, 2012, 09:55 AM

Originally Posted by Tankfriend

In Dungeons and Dragons (which BG uses as a basis), life and death spells are primarily the domains of clerics/druids, not wizards/sorcerors (which would fit your idea of a "mage"). The "mage" classes do have some death magic at their disposal (among which is one of the most powerful death magic spells), but they overall can't compete with the others in this area, especially not in terms of healing spells. So, if you really want to combine healing and death magic, I'm afraid you will have to leave the classic "mage" behind and go for the "priest". Also note that you will have to choose one type of spells over the other, because polar opposites (as in life vs death) usually don't work together or have you end up with a worse overall spell selection. Also note that the spells available to you are partially dependent on your characters alignment - good characters obviously would prefer healing magic over death magic and vice-versa.

Whatever your choice, clerics tend to be the best starting class, because they combine good and useful spellcasting with an acceptable performance in melee combat.

Ah okay, so what exatcly do mages do then? What type of magic spells do they usually learn? Oh and I don't understand why do Priests lean towards spells that kill rather than mages?

**Tankfriend** · February 03, 2012, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by JDW

Ah okay, so what exatcly do mages do then? What type of magic spells do they usually learn?

They have a very wide selection of spells, depending on what you specialize the character on. Basically, you can have anything from damage dealing, supporting or summoning spells - fireball, magic shield, summon monsters etc.

Oh and I don't understand why do Priests lean towards spells that kill rather than mages?

Evil "priests" lean towards damaging death magic spells. As I said, "mages" also get some of these, but it's usually not their primary repertoire. You can push them towards it, of course, but they won't be as focused on it as their counterparts.

**Cúchulainn** · February 12, 2012, 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by Manco

I'd suggest long stretches of playtime.

Back when I still played the whole BG family of games ( including PST and ID), I just kept a notebook at my side to describe where I left off, and what my plan to proceed was before I quit. Sounds a bit silly, but with these vast games it's not actually a bad idea

And with no real journal system to keep you up to date on everything you've done and everyone you've pissed off. Getting back into it after long stretches away can leave you quite clueless.