I can't get into Baldur's Gate...

[johnnyLupine]

If Baldurs fence has gaps in then you could always try to fit your arm through and undo the gate from the other side?

 

[Monsterfurby]

The best way to enjoy BGT is with a full party of friends. In a single room or via voice chat. Removes all the tedium of group management but adds the probably greatest feeling of "every role has something to contribute" in the history of gaming (that's pretty much the only thing DnD ever got right).

The draw for alot of ppl is full party control and it's not 'tedious' to them as you put it.
If I only could control one character, it would be pretty boring for me, compared to controlling a whole party. That's what NWN is made for.
"every role has something to contribute"
I don't even understand what this means. You still have 'different roles contributing', your just in control of them all.

Aye, but DnD (even ADnD) has always been very well balanced, and that carries over to Baldur's Gate. Don't get me wrong - I do enjoy the single player campaign, but ever since I started playing it in MP with some friends, I feel that the multiplayer experience is even more fun.

By the contribution part I mean that every party member has their moment to shine, to be heroic, to save everybody else's rear.

It might be because I - usually the GM in our role-playing rounds - finally get to play for a change. It might be because I enjoy cooperative multiplayer experiences more than competitive ones by default. We as a group enjoy it immensely though, and I can only recommend trying it out if one feels that the single player campaign is not their thing (with tedium I was referring to the OP's impression of the practice fight).

 

[Gallium]

I enjoy the combat system, but can see why it isn't to everybody's taste. (Hell, I can't stand the Diablo combat system)

With this in mind, the first few hours of Baldur's Gate 1 are among the most harrowing experiences in gaming if you don't know what you are doing. Doubly so if you are a Mage. By don't know what you are doing, I mean have not have intimate knowledge of DND second edition.
(In this respect, BG2 did a far better job... and even then it is very poor).

My first run though (many, many years ago), I didn't realise you could rest outdoors or in mines. That made life difficult. Indeed, when compounded with my ignorance in other areas, I still twitch slightly when somebody mentions kobolds.

So, with this in mind, why should you continue? Why is it great?
Well, once you get the hang of it, the combat system results in some great, complex, tactical battles. The story pretty good (sure, ain't Shakespeare, but night and day above the vast majority of computer game story lines). Memorable characters.
Most importantly, I have yet to play a game that encapsulates the spirit of adventure so well.
(In this respect I prefer the original Baldur's Gate to it's sequel.)

So, if you can, get out of Candlekeep. Get a few party members. Set off into the wild. You will never look back.

 

[Rack]

Aye, but DnD (even ADnD) has always been very well balanced, and that carries over to Baldur's Gate.

What? Are you joking? AD&D? Balanced? It's about the least balanced thing in the known universe. It would be funny if they had made any pretence towards balance but the fact of the matter is that not only was balance not a consideration, but its unlikely the developers even realised that there was any reason for it to be a consideration. The fun of Baldurs Gate is taking something that unbalanced and breaking the hell out of it.

 

[ResonanceGames]

Baldur's Gate 1 is TOUGH the first time around. I'd almost recommend starting with the second one and then playing the first one if you're struggling with the combat. Though there's something to be said for experiencing the whole story in order on your first playthrough.

Another option would be to play Torment first. It's a better game, and while the combat is worse in terms of weapons and abilities, it's structured almost identically and is much easier.

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

turn off the automatic pauses so you only pause it manually with the space bar when you want. Later, you can re-add options as you see fit.

There's a little learning curve, yes, but after not very long it becomes a lot more intuitive, particularly as you learn to use your party members' abilities, the abilities you use most often, etc. It's not as immediately accessible as a modern game, but I assure you it's worth sticking with.

 

[VladG]

So, I have Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 off GOG, and even rigged up Baldur's Gate Trilogy, so I can play through them all in high res, in one giant story, etc, etc. There's just one problem: This combat is garbage and completely turns me off from whatever roleplaying fun I have, and I haven't even left Candlekeep yet!

I'm in the practice basement where you get the trial party, and this combat is just godawful. The pauses interrupt spell animations, and there's just overall a bad interface for stuff. I mean, I know the basics of 2e AD&D, so that's not it...

Is Baldur's Gate REALLY worth suffering through this combat?

Well, the interface is horrible for modern standards, there's nothing you can do about that (unless the upcoming HD remake greatly improves it). But most people (me including) actually enjoy the combat. There are some options regarding the pauses, you can pretty much disable them completely (though that's going to make the game very difficult).

But if even so you really don't like it, the game is pretty much not for you. It's as simple as that.