I just got NWN2 but having issues.

[TheMarvell]

I've tried googling my problem and going to official game forums but am having a hard time trying to find an answer, so I'm hoping someone here can help.

I saw NWN2 on clearance at Target, so I picked it up along with the expansion pack. I opened the box, put the cd in (it's actually a dvd) but to my surprise, nothing popped up. There was no menu or anything that normally pops up when you put in a cd. SO I go to MyComputer and it acts as though I don't have anything in the drive.

Now, I know I don't have the absolute BEST specs, but I know my disc drives work. I have 2 of them and both did the same thing: nothing. The drive read the disc, I mean it spun it around, but nothing happened after that.

Normally I'd think "hey, my drive might be getting old" but I had no problems installing and playing Call of Duty 4. So, what gives? Why won't it read my NWN2 disc?!

[Valandar]

Are you sure you put it in a DVD drive?

[TheMarvell]

Yes, absolutely, 100% positive it's in the DVD drive. I have two drives, one for dvds one for cds. I actually tried both and got the same result.

if nobody can help me fix this, I'm returning this garbage, and am being extra careful next time I think about buying a game from Obsidian. From what research I could find, the game has some heavy-duty anti-piracy thing on it that will result in my problem if it detects any kind of "fowl play"-like program. But the thing is, I don't really have any programs that pirate stuff, so what the hell?

[catwhowalksbyhimself]

Alright, calm down now.  If it was anti-piracy stuff, I'm pretty sure it would show up as a disc.

Now, I have seen this sort of things happen before, and it's always the same cause.   A heavily damaged disk.

My bet is that you simply got a defective disk.  Since you say you have the expansion too, try putting the expansion disk in.  You shouldn't be able to install, but you should at least be able to explore the contents.  If that works, which I suspect it will, then I'd try either returning or exchanging the NWN2 disk.

[TheMarvell]

alright, I might have been jumping to conclusions, but I just find it shocking that Call of Duty 4 had no problems at all, while NWN2 wouldn't even read.

I took my friends advice and bought a new dvd-rom drive. And after that, the game read just fine.

I still hate the anti-piracy bullcrap though. I've had real headaches with music cds screwing up my system before and I had thought it leaked to games now too.

[catwhowalksbyhimself]

There are signs that this may be changing. Small self-publisher Stardock has, in the last couple of years, become a major player in the game publisher industry with the smashing success of both their own game, Galactic Civilizations II, and they first game from another developer, Sins of a Solar Empire.  And now, Gas Powered Games, who made both the Dungeon Siege and Supreme Commander series, has chosen Stardock as its new publisher.

In case you're wondering what that has to do with anything, Stardock never ever puts any kind of wierd copy protection thing on its CD/DVDs.  Typically, you just can't download patches unless you have a unique serial code to register with, and if something goes wrong, they are really good at working with you.  (I mean if you ask questions on the forum the owner of the company often comes along to answer them himself.)

So hopefully, Stardock's success is the beginning of the end for these sorts of things.

[TheMarvell]

good to know! :)

already having an NWN2 issue though. I have it installed and everything, but it's not letting me use keyboard controls, like WASD. I can type stuff in, but I can't move forward with the W key. what am I doing wrong??

[catwhowalksbyhimself]

After doing a quick search, I still don't know what's wrong, but the WASD keys are nearly useless anyway, since the developers meant for you to use the mouse exclusively, and only threw that in there as an after thought.  It apparently doesn't work well.

[TheMarvell]

I figured out the problem. It wasn't the keyboard, but a faulty patch version. I wasn't completely patched as I thought (didn't have the most current patch) and when I tried to patch further, the auto-updater got an error and aborted the patch. So I re-installed the game and now it works fine.

but it wasn't just the wasd keys that didn't work, but any of the letter keys. So, every time I wanted to see my inventory, I would have had to always click on the icon, then inventory, etc. But it works now. Thank you for the responses though. I've tried looking at actual game forums for the game besides atari (wouldn't let me register for some reason) and nobody has been really responsive.

[Lord Elcorion]

well.. i can't say that i've been having any issues with the controls for NWN2, though every once in a while, i'll hit a point where a script in game won't fire correctly, ((like having an enemy converse with you, then he's supposed to attack, but won't turn hostile)) but most such issues like that are easily solved by reloading a saved game before the particular conversation. one of the little tips the game gives is "save often" and boy are they right, it's usually a good idea to save your game before every mission, and if you're in a multilevel dungeon ((old owl well, midway through part one is a really good example)) save at the start of each area, so that if something goes haywire or you die, you save yourself from having to repeat the entire section over again. also, if you're interested, i have a website bookmarked with walkthroughs for both the origional and the expansion. lemme know if you want it and i'll shoot you a PM with the addy. there's a couple of quests in both games that can be a little confusing if you don't have a guide.

[TheMarvell]

sweetness! I don't think I'm very far into the game just yet though. I currently JUST made it to Neverwinter, so I'm not even to act 2 yet.

But I do have a couple class questions. I started out as a dwarf barbarian. I decided to go with a melee class, because in almost all these rpg's, I pick the hybrid class, most often the druid, the most recent games being WOW and, well, NWN1.

My question, though, is do melee fighters get dull and repetitive quickly? I'm used to having variety and like having spells at my disposal. It just keeps the game fresh and more fun. I'm not bored with the barbarian yet, but there's part of me itching to go back to the druid, especially since they have way cooler spells in this than they did in WOW. Any thoughts or insight is always welcome.

Also, this game is an eyesore. I didn't think my system was THAT out of date, but apparently it is, because I have to basically make it look like the first games graphics. I really didn't want to spend the cash on upgrading my computer, but this game is really making me want to. =/

[catwhowalksbyhimself]

No, it's not that your computer's out of date, it's that the game has unusually high requirements for what it gives you.  It's been a common complaint since the game came out.

I plan on getting it soon, but I do so knowing I have to crank down the graphics to the lowest possible.  Which is too bad.

By the way, there is a forum for the game on bioware forums, where you are more likely to get help, and at the NWN vault as well.

[Lord Elcorion]

sweetness! I don't think I'm very far into the game just yet though. I currently JUST made it to Neverwinter, so I'm not even to act 2 yet.

But I do have a couple class questions. I started out as a dwarf barbarian. I decided to go with a melee class, because in almost all these rpg's, I pick the hybrid class, most often the druid, the most recent games being WOW and, well, NWN1.

My question, though, is do melee fighters get dull and repetitive quickly? I'm used to having variety and like having spells at my disposal. It just keeps the game fresh and more fun. I'm not bored with the barbarian yet, but there's part of me itching to go back to the druid, especially since they have way cooler spells in this than they did in WOW. Any thoughts or insight is always welcome.

Also, this game is an eyesore. I didn't think my system was THAT out of date, but apparently it is, because I have to basically make it look like the first games graphics. I really didn't want to spend the cash on upgrading my computer, but this game is really making me want to. =/

well, when it comes to class, it's really a matter of preference. fighters have a variety of feats that let you customize your abilities in several ways, whether to master a single weapon and make it an extension of your own form, to becoming massdamage tanks by way of insane critacal hits, to becoming expert archers, or nimble unarmored warriors that striking with blinding speed. all these options are available in game via feat selection and prestige classes..

for barbarians, your rage is your best friend, and there's several feats that can make your rage last longer, or give you extra special abilities while rageing. the frenzied berzerker prestige class is a perfect fit, and will extend your rageing abilities and bonuses even further with the frenzy power.

if you like having spells available, you might try a paladin, they have several immunities and resistances to fairly common effects and attacks in game, and their spells can enhance an adventuring party into a nearly unstoppable force. they also have several advantages when dealing with undead, wich you should already have noted play a large part in the game.

another option that i've found interesting is actually the warlock.. it has several innherent immunities and resistances, a damage reduction that increases as you gain levels, a fast healing power that can help you survive encounters more easily, and with the Battle caster feat, you can use your invocations while wearing a breastplate with no penalty. your invocations have unlimited uses per day, but you only get twelve of them over your entire career, so it pays to looks at each one, and choose carefully, though i believe you can trade out powers if you like.. i've never tried it so i'm not sure..

also, here's the link to the walkthrough site.

http://www.gamebanshee.com/neverwinternights2/walkthrough-motb/gameplaynotes.php   in the left frame, you can click on walkthrough (OC) for the basic NWN2 campaign, walkthrough (MOTB) is the expansion. the right hand frame lists all the areas in each game, in roughly the order you'll hit those areas, just click the area you need help with to pull it up.

hopefully i've given you some ideas and stuff to think about..

[TheMarvell]

No, it's not that your computer's out of date, it's that the game has unusually high requirements for what it gives you.  It's been a common complaint since the game came out.

I have it at the lowest possible settings, and it still slows down, especially when an area of effect spell is cast. My friend I'm playing with is a wizard and he'll cast that web spell and the entire game comes to a screeching halt. Then there's the games look, and its just so...ugly. I mean it's coming to the point where it's actually bothering me. CoD4 looks pretty bad on my system too, but I could at least tolerate it, lol.

and thanks for the advice Lord Elcorion! you've made me more interested in the barbarian now. Although I'll probably do what I always do with these types of games - mess around with multiple classes until I decide what I like better. The druid has some sweet spells, but its also nice having survivability on my side as a barbarian. Also, having cool spells doesn't matter as much right now since the game is so damn fugly on my machine. :(

[catwhowalksbyhimself]

You should note that with one of the first patches, NWN2 druids get a new feat that allows them to cast spells while shape-shifted.

Don't forget, though, you can mix and match classes and the hard-core players do so rather freely, so if you want more than just Barbarian rage, pick something that complements it.