Skipping Avernum 1 and moving to 2

[IanFreddie07]

I usually play in chronological order, but I decided to skip Avernum 1 (though my saves are still preserved) maybe because it lacked a list of quests you have taken. (It's really important for a game with a huge scope) But am I missing out on much (My AV1 characters are... from level 9-12 I think)?

[Randomizer]

There are places in Avernum 2 where you will get information about what happened in Avernum 1. You don't miss anything except the irritation about no quest list.

 

The games can be played without having to do them in order and going backwards can be a pain because of the more primitive features.

 

Welcome to Spiderweb Software. Please leave your sanity at the door.

[The Mystic]

Originally Posted By: IanFreddie07

I usually play in chronological order, but I decided to skip Avernum 1 (though my saves are still preserved) maybe because it lacked a list of quests you have taken. (It's really important for a game with a huge scope)

Yeah, the lack of a quest list can be a bit of a pain; it helps to take good notes, by clicking on "record" and/or with old-fashioned pen/pencil and paper.

Also, I seem to remember someone posting a list of quests somewhere. If I could find it again, it would be rather helpful.

[Figgy]

I started with Exile 2, and it made absolutely no difference imo. A lot of 1s story is explained as you play through #2.

[Dikiyoba]

Originally Posted By: The Mystic

Also, I seem to remember someone posting a list of quests somewhere. If I could find it again, it would be rather helpful.

Here.

Dikiyoba played A2 without playing A1 first. You don't miss out on anything important by doing so.

[IanFreddie07]

Thanks for that. My party's now level 7-8 and I can definitely see the improvement.

[Rent-an-Ihrno]

I really do think you miss out on something. A1 has a unique feeling to it, none of the other games are as adventurous. The caves in the days before the Empire War were still very mysterious, and you can wander around in it quite much in any fashion you like. No linear plot here.

Plus, for me it was very fun and interesting to see how places I've visited change from game to game. In A1, you explore a fuming cavern filled with fire lizards, in A2 you visit a hot spring relaxation thingy at the exact same spot.

[Earth]

what Rent said.

 

Also you meet ppls mentioned on history books and at A1-A4 and A6 you visit at Undead Spiral/Spiral Crypt at different times.

[Alorael at Large]

I agree. I'm not convinced it's absolutely necessary to play through all of A1, but I'd recommend it. At the very least, playing the demo lets you get a sense of how different things are during the war in A2.

 

That said, once you've played the game, you know what Avernum was like. Maybe a brief refresher to get the sense of a real rough frontier would be nice, but you won't forget where Tor and Kelner got their beginnings.

 

—Alorael, who understands why Jeff elided some of the background details of Avernum in later games. In A1, they are the game, not just the backdrop. But still, the game gives a better sense of, say, the love/hate/delicious relationship between humans and cave lizards than later games.