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:

• Use another version of Wine
• Configure Wine
• Install some libraries

Click Next


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:

• 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

Click Next


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

• Screen Resolution
• Antialiasing Mode
• Texture Quality
• Shadow Options
• Quality Options

All of these setting can improve or degrade your frame rates.
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: