First Impressions: Throne of Bhaal

Ok. I have to start off and say that I have played and loved everything Black Isle Studios has released...from its birth [Fallout 2] to this latest release [Throne of Bhaal]. Every time something new by them hits the market, it truly is an event in the role-playing community....more ground broken, more minds perplexed, more eyes and ears pleased. Black Isle Studio's is simply the premiere manufacturer/developer/publisher/company of arguably flawless games.

Now, on to BG2: Throne of Bhaal...

If you didn't already know the basic story of the games, here's a brief write-up:

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NOTE: !!!!SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!
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You are fostered by the powerful mage Gorion in the small town of Candlekeep...in an unusual rush, you have to leave at his discretion and under his watchful eye. Soon the rush turns into chaos, as you leave you and he are encountered by a beastly man named Sarevok....Gorion's demise ensues and you are left vulnerable. The next ensuing days and weeks and months you regain your strength and confidence as a human and try to find out what the secrecy was about prior to your leaving Candlekeep. You stumble upon dark times throughout the Sword Coast....in an effort to clean up the mess you learn more about yourself, and your foster-father's murderer, Sarevok. You make a shocking discovery, Sarevok....is your step-brother; what's more shocking is your father is a god...Bhaal - the Lord of Murder. Things become more frantic....you soon find yourself in a race to catching up with your demonic step brother and destroying him.

Next, you learn more about your progeny. Many years ago, Bhaal had foreseen his death, so he placed himself in the mortal realm and planted his seed where ever he could and as much as he could...this means you are obviously not alone, even with the demise of Sarevok. You awaken in a prison and find yourself at the hands of someone named Irenicus. He seems awfully interested in you, your heritage and your foster-sister, Imoen. Soon after you escape the prison and are yet encountered again by this Irenicus, but this time he is fighting hooded figures - Shadow Thieves - and battling the powerful secretive order of the Cowled Wizards. He proves his incredible power as he overcomes wave after wave of wizards and warriors alone. He offers his surrender only at the demand that Imoen be taken as well for her minor involvement. You travel many realms and lands in search of her and the powerful mage, Irenicus. Once you find them...you discover that Imoen, is not only your foster-sister...but she is your step-sister by the same "holy" lineage as yourself. Once you track Irenicus down for the last time...and defeat him after enduring and passing several trials/tests.

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!SPOILER END!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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And so this game begins...........

As is usual, rest rarely comes for one who is descendant of a god...much less the Lord of Murder. You find yourself against the odds trying to discover and fulfill your part in an ancient prophecy. Only time will tell what will happen.....

I have yet to complete it, and from my impressions have a lot left.

here are some features....
-continues and complete the Baldur's Gate/ Child of Bhaal saga
-up to 8 million experience cap...most classes can reach as high and powerful as level 40
-new high level skills/abilities and new spells for wizards
-Watcher's Keep dungeon
-more new and even more powerful weapons, armor, spells, and other items
-new mage kit..."Wild Mage"

The game gives you a few nifty things since you are after all, no ordinary human. You get the "Slayer Shapechange Ability" as you did in BG2...this lets you physically manifest yourself into a true demon for a certain amount of time, it also hurts your reputation to do so...its a desperate measure sort of thing for those who want goody-goody characters. Also included is the all new ability to transport you and your entire party to the "Pocket Plane" this is an alternate plane of existence created by your character unknowingly and unintentionally as a way to protect yourself from the powerful and evil pressure and influence that Bhaal has in you blood. In this plane you may sleep without worrying about monsters and such and it is a place you will have to return to occasionally to fulfill certain quests and challenges. Besides that it has your demon-butler, Cespenar. He's a little cretin that sounds not too far off like someone from Sesame Street, and he constantly talks about "shiny ones" - these are rare gems, jewels, and other items that he can put together and form unique magical items for you. Besides that Cespanar also cleans up and arranges your shoes...or at least he claims he does ;)

The new XP cap is 8 million. This lets most of the classes in the game reach level 40. So you truly get to feel as though you are a godly power to be reckoned with. That and the inclusion of the high-level abilities. Warriors (fighters, paladins, monks, and rangers); Rogues (bards and thieves) get special abilities that are accessed through the "special abilities" button and work like previous special abilities. Mages get 10th level spells that are memorized in the 9th level page of their spellbook. Priests (druids and clerics) have access to "quest level" spells through their 7th level page in their scroll-thingy. All of these spells and abilities are impressive and new ones can be added every level from a certain level on up.

Also, a new kit has been added to the mage...the Wild Mage. Basically its a mage that ocasionally gets totally random effects on their spells. These effects could range from - target glows or changes colors - to double damage - to caster takes damage - to cow falls from heavens on to target - to executes normally or simply fails. This class obviously adds variety to the game and allows it to last even longer. I personally fear that class. hehehe

One of the most talked about things of this expansion pack to Baldur's Gate 2 is the new dungeon, Watcher's Keep. The dungeon can be accessed if you are still play BG2 as an add-in section or can be accessed through the add-on section. The dungeon is the biggest and most incredible dungeon to have been made for games ever. It is no less that 5 full levels deep. It contains tons of new unique and magical items and monsters to face. It also contains a machine that lets you create things....i forgot what its called. I'm assuming that it also contains what are aruaguably the most difficult monster to defeat...a demigorgon.

Even though your characters become very high level, the game and enemies are still challenging. I'm am the highest level in my party at the moment and technically the most powerful and potent in combat - i'm immune to anything below +1 enchanment, i'm immune to all magic damage, i'm virtually immune to fire, and have high resistances elsewhere....I also hit very hard, and have the "Greater Whirlwind" ability, which lets me attack an incredible 10 times per round as opposed to my already high 4 per round...all that and no penalties....I can take an Elite Fire Giant by myself without even being hit once. But even though my character is that powerful with that ability, our whole part easily fall victim without using cunning strategy....so I'm saying the game has a healthy dose of challenge. Its is also the most combative game produced by Black Isle....this isn't a downside. All this keeps the game moving.

From what I've heard, the game takes about 50 hours to complete. So this expansion pack alone is longer than most games out there nowadays.

Anyways, from how much I've played maybe 15-20 hours already...I can see that the game will be solid and enjoyable through out. It's just sad to see this specific saga come to a close.


note: i had done this months ago and forgot to publish it...