If you have played any RPG that follows the Lore of Dungeons and Dragons, you already know what to expect from it. Neverwinter Nights is another D&D Role Playing Game with team tactics and individual control for each character in your team.
![]()
The graphical engine has been highly upgraded since the first Neverwinter Nights and so has all of the game capabilities. A lot functionality from the original still exist, but Neverwinter Nights 2 is even more immersive.
Follow my step-by-step guide on installing, configuring and optimizing Neverwinter Nights 2 in Linux with PlayOnLinux.
Note: This guide applies to the Steam version of Neverwinter Nights 2. Other versions may require additional steps.
Tips & Specs
Try SteamPlay before using this guide as Valve now uses a fork of Wine called Proton and should run most Windows games.
To learn more about PlayOnLinux and Wine configuration, see the online manual: PlayOnLinux Explained
Mint 14 32-bit
PlayOnLinux: 4.2.1
Wine: 1.7.1 (1.7.40 successfully tested)
Installing Wine
Note: If you are running a 64-bit system, PlayOnLinux will prompt if you want to use a 64-bit or 32-bit virtual drive. Always select 32-bit virtual drive.
Click Tools
Select "Manage Wine Versions"
Look for the Wine Version: 1.7.1
Note: Try using stable Wine 1.8 and 1.8-staging
Select it
Click the arrow pointing to the right
![]()
Click Next
![]()
PlayOnLinux will automatically download it and save it in this directory:
/home/username/.PlayOnLinux/wine/linux-x86
![]()
Note: username is where you put your login name
Its a good idea to backup this directory to another computer because you won't have to keep downloading wine versions when you need them.
Extracting
![]()
Note: PlayOnLinux may also install the compatible version of Gecko also.
Installed
![]()
Wine 1.7.1 is installed and you can close this window
Downloading Steam
Go To: http://www.steampowered.com
Click Install Steam
![]()
Do not click "Install Steam Now"
It will automatically install Linux Steam. Since Neverwinter Nights 2 isn't made for Linux, we will download the Windows Steam instead.
click "Windows" under the green button
![]()
Navigate to your desktop
Click Save
![]()
Setup PlayOnLinux
Launch PlayOnLinux
Click Install
![]()
Click "install a non-listed program"
![]()
Click Next
Select "Install a program in a new virtual drive"
Click Next
![]()
Note: If you are running a 64-bit system, PlayOnLinux will prompt if you want to use a 64-bit or 32-bit virtual drive. Always select 32-bit virtual drive.
Name you virtual drive: nwn2
No spaces
Click Next
![]()
Select all three options:
Click Next
- Use another version of Wine
- Configure Wine
- Install some libraries
![]()
Select Wine 1.7.1 or 1.7.40
Click Next
![]()
Note: If you are running a 64-bit system, PlayOnLinux will prompt if you want to use a 64-bit or 32-bit virtual drive.
Always select 32-bit virtual drive.
Configure Wine
Applications Tab
Windows Version: Windows 7
Click Apply
![]()
Graphics Tab
Check: Automatically capture the mouse in full-screen windows
Check: Emulate a virtual desktop
Desktop size: 1024x768
Click Ok
![]()
Install Libraries
Check the following libraries:
Click Next
- POL_Install_corefonts
- POL_Install_d3dx9
- POL_Install_d3dx10
- POL_Install_devenum
- POL_Install_dxdiag
- POL_Install_registeredfonts
- POL_Install_tahoma
- POL_Install_vcrun2005
- POL_Install_vcrun2008
- POL_Install_vcrun2010
![]()
Installing Steam
Click Browse
![]()
Navigate to your desktop
Select: SteamInstall.msi
Click Open
![]()
Click Next
Click Next
Check: I accept the license...
Click Next
Click Next
Click Next
Click Install
Click Finish
Updating Steam
![]()
More updating, extracting and installing
![]()
When Steam is done installing the login screen will pop up. You probably won't see any text because there is a font bug.
Click the "X" to close Steam login
![]()
PlayOnLinux Shortcut
Select Steam.exe
Click Next
![]()
Name your shortcut: NWN2 Steam
Click Next
![]()
Select "I don't want to make another shortcut"
Click Next
![]()
More PlayOnLinux Configuration
Back to PlayOnLinux
Click Configure
Select Steam virtual drive
General Tab
Arguments: -no-dwrite
This fixes the font problem
![]()
Note: -no-dwrite only works if you launch Steam from PlayOnLinux. Steam is automatically set to launch when Windows starts, which means if you do a "Windows Reboot" from the Wine tab -no-dwrite won't execute. Just close Steam and try again.
Display Tab
Direct Draw Renderer: opengl
Video Memory Size: size of memory on your video card
Offscreen rendering mode: fbo
![]()
Wine Tab
Click "Windows reboot"
Close Steam because it will automatically launch when Windows reboots and won't execute -no-dwrite.
![]()
Close Configure
Launch Steam
Select Steam and click Run
![]()
Error
You may get an error after clicking the Steam icon
"Couldn't load a PNG image - file is corrupted or not enough memory.
Click OK
![]()
Select Existing account or new account
![]()
Login to your Steam account
![]()
Installing Neverwinter Nights 2
With Steam its as simple as following the steps and letting it download.
Click Install
![]()
Click Next
Click Next
Click Finish
Neverwinter Nights 2 is a 11 Gig game so it may take a few hours depending on your internet speed.
Launching Neverwinter Nights 2
Click Play
![]()
The game will automatically start installing Microsoft .NET Framework and Direct X
Since we already installed them with PlayOnLinux it should continue to the game
Optimizing Neverwinter Nights 2
Click Options
![]()
Click Graphics Tab
All of these setting can improve or degrade your frame rates.
- Screen Resolution
- Antialiasing Mode
- Texture Quality
- Shadow Options
- Quality Options
Since you are running Wine in a virtual desktop, increasing the resolution will automatically increase the size of your virtual desktop.
I was able to run Neverwinter Nights 2 at 1680x1050
The other settings are basically low to high.
Lower settings = higher frame rates, lower graphical detail/quality
Higher settings = lower frame rates, higher graphical detail/quality
Start on low or medium (depending on your graphics chip) and slowly increase after playing a bit.
Laptops usually have lower performing graphic chips while desktops can have video cards with higher capabilities.
Conclusion:
If you are a fan of team RPG's, this is definitely your game! There are actually so many options, upgrades and leveling up that you will spend a lot of time micro-managing all of your characters.
I found it difficult to follow the quests, but there is a decent amount of dialog and story.
The controls are very flexible. You can choose between typcial point-n-click RPG, 3rd Person (over the shoulder) control or even a Gods-view strategy-like control.
Screenshots:
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Comments
Discussion in 'Guides' started by booman, Oct 13, 2013.
XenPorta
© Jason Axelrod from 8WAYRUN.COM