I would like to post here a short description of what you get in NeJ Second Edition.
1. Part 1 of NeJ2 brings you to the world of IWD, most of the quests and scenario is very similiar to the original IWD. However my idea was not only to convert IWD to BG2 but to change the style of the game, add interactions, joinable NPCs with their stories, banters and new quests.
2. (Taken from ReadMe) "It also optionally allows Imoen to start out the game as a straight thief with a custom kit called the Charming Rogue. She will start with enough XP to either level up, or to dualclass to a mage. Additionally, she will become a "continious" character. When the party returns to Amn and Imoen is taken to spellhold, all the XP and changes made to the character will transfer over to the same character you pick up at Spellhold.
CHARMING ROGUE: This thief kit was especially created for Imoen to reflect her unique personality.
Advantages:
- +1 bonus to AC for every 5 levels of experience
- +1 to hit, and +1 to damage with any missile weapon for every 5 levels
- +1 to movement rate for every 7 levels
- She can specialize in any ranged weapon that a thief can use
- She can cast a limited number of enhanting spells, which become available from her innate slots as she advances levels
- Immune to Charm spell
- She can create illusions
Disadvantages:
- None"
It needless to say that in our mod Imoen is very *talkable* and has many interesting banters and intejections.
3. You may join Dar, half-orc fighter/priest of Ilmater. Being a non-human he is extremely strong, but also wise so he can cast all the available priest spells. My favourite class combination by the way. Dar also has some special abilities and very nice items. He also has many interesting banters and interjections, he is voiced by Mark, and has a long quest (which is now under development and will be included in the third part of the mod).
(Taken from ReadMe) "A cleric kit called the Priest of Ilmater:
PRIEST OF ILMATER: This kit was created especially for Dar. Ilmater, also known as the Crying God, is the god of suffering and perserverance. Taught that enduring the suffering of others is the greatest act of sacrifice, Painbearers of Ilmater can be found wherever the weak are oppressed. Painbearers are known for their charity, humility, and their unshaking faith during even the most trying of circumstances.
*Dar spent several years dwelling in mountains in a highland monastery where he gained special training in martial and spiritual curative arts.
Abilities:
- 'Hand of Ilmater' (thrice per day), fist attack which does 1d6 base damage and is treated as if the caster is a grand master. The Hand of Ilmater is treated as a regular weapon at levels 1-5, +1 at levels 6-10, +2 at 11-15, +3 at 16-20, +4 at 21-25, and +5 at levels 25 and above. The Hand of Ilmater lasts for one round per level of the caster, up to 20 rounds.
- 'Ilmater's Endurance' (once per day), doubles the hit points of the spell recipient for the spell duration. Any damage suffered is taken first from these phantom hit points until they are all exhausted; damage is then taken from the real hit points of the affected being. All saving throws receive a +2 bonus. In addition, no being protected by 'Ilmater's Endurance' can be knocked over, trampled, ridden down, or overthrown; all protected beings can stand firm against all charges.
- Lay on Hands to heal 2 hit points per level (at 7th, 15th, 21th and 27th level)
- Immunity to all diseases.
- Cure disease (at 3th, 12th, 21th, and 30th level)
- Neutralize poison (at 5th, 12th, 21th, and 27th level)
- Remove curse (at 6th, 12th and 18th level)
- Remove paralysis (at 6th, 12th and 18th level)
- Lesser restoration (at 10th and 20th level)
- Mass cure (at 14th and 24th level)
- Heal (at 15th and 22th level)"
4. Jaheira is significantly improved (stats and performance) and optionally may start out the game with a custom kit called the Priest of Sylvanus.
(Taken from ReadMe) "PRIEST OF SYLVANUS: This druid kit was especially created for Jaheira to reflect her unique personality.
Advantages:
- She may gain the grand mastery in any missile weapons she can use including light crossbows.
- She gains +1 to hit, and +1 to damage with any missile weapon for every six levels of experience.
- She has access to three innate abilities, which become available from her innate slots as she advances levels:
1. Sylvanus Mental Agility. This spell creates the energetic channel between Jaheira and her god that quickens the thought processes allowing her to cast spells more quickly than normally. Jaheira gains this spell at levels:
Level 1, +1 to casting speed factor for 2 rounds,
Level 6, +2 to casting speed factor for 7 rounds,
Level 12, +3 to casting speed factor for 9 rounds,
Level 18, +4 to casting speed factor for 12 rounds.
2. Sylvanus Physical Agility. This spell quickens Jaheira's reflexes, enabling faster and more effective combat. Jaheira gains this spell at levels:
Level 3, +1 to attack speed factor and dexterity for 2 rounds,
Level 9, +2 to attack speed factor and +1 to dexterity for 7 rounds,
Level 15, +3 to attack speed factor and +1 to dexterity for 9 rounds,
Level 21, +4 to attack speed factor and +2 to dexterity for 11 rounds.
3. Sylvanus Shape Change. Jaheira gains this spell at levels 12th, 24th and 36th. With this spell, she is able to assume the form of a powerful creature (mind flayer, iron golem, greater wolfwere, earth elemental, fire elemental, or giant troll), and becomes the creature she wishes, gaining almost all of its abilities. Thus, she can change into a mind flayer to stun her opponents and then become an earth elemental to crush her foes. These creatures have whatever hit points Jaheira had at the time of the shape change. Each alteration in form requires only a second, and no system shock is incurred. Note that the although the assumed form has the combat characteristics of the real creature, it may not have all of its immunities.
Disadvantages:
- No regular shapeshifting abilities."
5. In the beginning of the game you may join Accalia - pure cleric - if you wish but then you'll need to drop one of the existing NPCs, as Hrothgar then will occupy a slot, and he is a MUST to continue the game as he drives the whole story. Hrothgar is fully voiced by Bob and starts as a paladin with a custom kit called:
"MOON KNIGHT: This paladin kit was created especially for Hrothgar. *The Brotherhood Of Moon* is and ancient order of warriors seldom ever seen in Faerun. They are extremely disciplined, and have been specially trained to fight the undead and other unnatural creatures. However they are more mercenaries than knights. They believe in the ultimate balance of forces, and refuse to see actions as either good or evil.
Advantages:
- Immunity to hold and level drain
- Bonus +3 to hit and +3 to damage against undead
- May cast a limited selection of spells:
Repulse Undead (at 10th, 15th, 20th and 25th level)
False Dawn (at 15th, 21th, 27th and 33th level)
Protection from magical weapons (at 12th, 20th and 28th level)
Mantle (at 14th, 24th and 34th level)
Protection from magic energy (at 16th and 28th level)
Anti-magic (at 21th and 36th level)
Disadvantages:
- Can only be of neutral alignments
*Hrothgar has gained master class in axes."
6. The second part of the mod will start once you return to your time and at the same place where you leave. You'll get two more NPCs, two wonderfull girls, one of them is Melora (voiced by Larrienne) who is a swashbuckler, chaotic neutral pure thief with very good stats and very special items. She is my dream thief, and besides she is an extremely usefull addition to BG2 NPCs team, she is also very good developed and brilliant character. Her own big quest is also now under development and will be included in the third part.
7. Leina is a bard, and is romancable and flirtable (means you can activate her flirts by initiating talks with her). She starts out with a custom kit "Bard of Melody":
(Taken from ReadMe) "BARD OF MELODY: This kit was created especially for Leina. She was blessed with both the gift of music and an inquisitive mind inherited from her mother. Her music reflects not only her passion but also her dreams about love and devotion which unfortunately did not come true for her.
Advantages:
- The bard's song is different from the typical bard and varies with level:
7th level: *Ballad Of The Forsaken*. Part I. The first part of the ballad tells the story of a young girl, Lianna, deserted and left destitute in a strange city by the man who promised to love and worship her forever. When sung this ballad will instil immunity to fear/panic and a +1 to AC to all those allied to the bard.
15th level: *Ballad Of The Forsaken*. Part II. The second part of the ballad is also known as "A Song of Courage Regained". It tells of Lianna's struggle from a life of complete and utter despair to a life she can now live. When sung this ballad will not only instil immunity to fear and panic, but also to hold and charm, and adds +3 to AC to all those allied to the bard.
- A few additional songs become available from the innate slots as Leina advances levels:
*The Oath of Kudain* - A Song Of Revenge
This song tells the story of two brothers named Kudain who swore an oath to avenge their sister who was cruelly raped and murdered. It tells of their obsession as they hunt and eliminate every member of the perpetrator's family, from the very old to the youngest babe in arms. When sung, this song will cause fear in the hearts of all enemies.
*The Making Of Bryn Candour* - A Song Of Wisdom Gained
This amusing tale tells of an arrogant young man, forced to change places with, and live as one whom he had slated and derided mercilessly. It tells of the shame and remorse the young man gradually learns and takes with him when restored to his proper self. When sung this song will give all allied to the bard a +4 to saving throws against all magic based attacks and 25% magic resistance.
*Alystra's Lament* - A Song Of Love Lost
This song tells the story of Alystra de'Cai, of how she was deserted on her wedding day when her lover eloped with her beloved sister. It tells of Aystra's hopes and dreams for her future now shattered and never to be fulfilled. When this mournful melody is sung, it will instil hopelessness in the hearts off all enemies.
*A Song Of Tomorrow* - A Song Of Devotion
This spirited song tells of a young boy's hopes and dreams for the future when he becomes a man and he has shaken off the shackles of the slavery into which he was born. When sung this spirited song will heal all those allied to the bard.
Disadvantages:
- None"
She also has several special items, one of them is her personal Singing Moonblade. She has her own quest already in Chapter 2, and to join her you shouldn't hurry to accept Gaelan's offer immediately. First talk to Samuel the bartender in FF, and accept his quest to find Leina. Unfortunately or fortunately you won't get both Sime (from TS) and Leina that saves me a lot of time and efforts to *parallel* their romances and flirts. You may join or Sime or Leina only.
8. Hrothgar will suggest to travel to Ulcaster Ruins, and if you refuse he'll give you a day and then some time more (enough time) to conlcude the major quests in Chapter 2 and 3 including finding Leina. If you feel that you are ready to go to Ulcaster after some time without any additional reminder from him, you may travel to Ulcaster which is on your map. It becomes reachable destination for the first time only from City Gates, and only after you start Chapter 2.
9. From there you'll travel to another time and another place, you'll need a couple of good mages (or other spellcasters) in your group because you'll be disarmed and fight only with your spells and/or fists. There are many new areas, many quests and sub-quests waiting for you in Halruaa. You'll get many new spells by the way there.
10. Once you come *back to your future*, the second part is concluded and the third part will be introduced with the beginning of Dar's quest...
Good luck!