Nwn2 and BGTSCC on a Mac - A guide

[Steve]

Still no luck. I am not sure what the issue is. I think I've got it all decompressed and have a folder on the desktop for the wrapper now, but I can't remember what the next step is.

If you have The Folder uncompressed, you'll see inside 5–6 files. One is Wineskin Winery, another is the Application. Ignore the other files for now.

Open Wineskin Winery, and from there, you can select and download both the Wineskin Wrapper 2.6.2, and the near-latest Engine of 2.6. Once the auto download sequences are complete, close Wineskin Winery.

Next, right click on the NWN2 application, and select Show Package Contents. In the folder that opens up, you will find a file called Wineskin. Open that by double clicking, and now you are in the Wineskin setup app.

For now, we will leave Screen Settings alone, although, you will probably want to adjust them for your computer setup.

So, click the Advance button, and go to the Tab called Tools—I think it's called this—and find the option of Update Wrapper. Click it, and let the auto change do its thing. Once finished, click on Update Engine or Choose Engine. Again, let the auto change-a-roo do its thing. Once finished, close this Setup app.

Now, back in this folder with Wineskin app, go Back to the previous folder with the main NWN2 app and Wineskin Winery. Double click the NWN2 app, and cross your fingers!!

[kellendril]

Hey, that was the part I was missing. I got it to load tha game. Now I just have to get the keys input and whatever else is needed.

Thanks Steve

[Steve]

Right on!

Now, after your Keys are in and you've downloaded the latest files from BGTSCC, I highly recommend you make a full copy of this working folder, and store it away.

I say this because sometimes, the damn thing will just bork out, and you'll NOT like redoing all the uncompressing/downloading crap, again.

Instead, you can simply trash the broken Folder, copy over the one from storage, update if necessary, then GAME ON!

[kellendril]

I'm moving files from my desktop right now using a thumb drive, no downloading needed

Good idea for making a copy, will do that

[Steve]

*bump*

Will add some updates later.

[Steve]

Latest working/tested version is Wineskin 2.6.2 (probably never going beyond this version) and Wine Engine: WS9Wine3.5.

Below are the Screen Options for Wineskin that work for me:


Now, it is kinda known that NWN2 +/- Client Extension works better in Windowed Mode over Full Screen, but I personally like Full Screen.

[Steve]

Latest working/tested version is Wineskin 2.6.2 (probably never going beyond this version) and Wine Engine: WS9Wine3.13.

[Steve]

Hello!

Since I just went through hell and back to get an rather contemporary Mac computer running NWN2 almost perfectly, it was time to give this Guide an update!

Seriously though, getting NWN2 on a mac computer couldn't be easier these days. And there are choices, which makes it even better!

Option #1: Get Crossover from Codeweavers. Shell out the money and use this "emulator" to run NWN2 (or any Windows game).
Option #2: Use Wineskin, which is free, and uses the Wine format for creating "bottles" of Windows programs.
Option #3: Use Bootcamp, or even better Parallels, to run an actual Windows environment in real or as virtual machine.

Now I'll go into some details.

Option #1: Crossover

Crossover as a program can be found here: https://www.codeweavers.com/crossover
You'll need to provide an installer for NWN2, like what one can get/purchase at GOG: https://www.gog.com/game/neverwinter_nights_2_complete
If lucky, there is a CrossTie file out there that will simplify the install. If not, you'll have to manually do it, and here are some very easy instructions: https://www.codeweavers.com/support/wik ... wn_install
You can even add the Skywings Client Extension to this Crossover install. It works!


Option #2: Wineskin

The Wineskin Project from years ago got an update in the recent years for 64-bit Mac computers, and is now found under Wineskin Server on GitHub: https://github.com/Gcenx/WineskinServer

Installing and/or using is as follows:

• Install Homebrew—you can get the package installer here as well: https://brew.sh/
• Follow the instructions here for running the brew installer in Terminal on your mac to install Wineskin: https://github.com/Gcenx/WineskinServer
• Download and install Wineskin Winery (instructions also found on the Wineskin Server page).
• Run Wineskin Winery app to create a new Wrapper (like a wine bottle). The Wrapper is created which lets you install programs from any setup.exe (like...NWN2). So logically, you need to have a NWN2 installer package or discs. I recently installed NWN2 from a set of 3 discs of NWN2 + MotB + SoZ, then patched up up using the NWN2 Patcher app which can be found on the Neverwinter Vault web site.
• Once you've run the setup.exe in the Wrapper, you simply double click this app and it will launch the game. If you right-click the app and select Show Package Contents, you'll see another Wineskin app inside. This app opens up the original wrapper dialog, so you can select Skywings Client Extension when you install that. It also works here!

Option #3: Bootcamp and/or Parallels

If you know about Bootcamp on the Mac, and also about Parallels...good. I won't go into explaining how to setup those options, because there exists the documentation online (and it's not so much, but pick and choose your source—I recommend Apple and Parallels!).


Over time, I've used all 3 of these options. My favorite has always been Wineskin, because it is free, and works without much fuss (once you do get it all working that is!). Bootcamp/Parallels is great because you have the familiarity of the Windows desktop environment. An installation of this sort also allows you to install/play any other Windows program with ease. Crossover is pretty good, but you always have to pay when they update the software (I myself have spent way too much cash keeping it updated to play this stupid game!). But then again, Crossover is probably the easiest to get working (unless you know the Mac environment very well, or have no problem learning about it more...especially the xcode/brew/wineskin stuff to get it to work).

If I'm still around, feel free to ask me any questions. Long live the Mac!!!