A great game that runs natively on Linux.

Nov 8, 2006 08:05 GMT  ·  By

Neverwinter Nights (NWN) is a third-person perspective computer role-playing game, based on third edition Dungeons & Dragons and Forgotten Realms rules. In the original NWN scenario supplied with the game engine, the player is single-handedly responsible for defeating a powerful cult; stopping an insatiable plague, thwarting an attack on the city of Neverwinter, and many other side quests.

Requirements

Fortunately, Neverwinter Nights runs native on Linux, which means you don't need to run it with Wine(X)/Cedega. If the minimum hardware and software requirements are met, the game will run very smoothly, without the annoying errors and without your PC resources being devoured by Wine/WineX/Cedega. Keep in mind however, that gaming under Linux is still a quite uncertain domain, so there are no explicit guarantees that this game will work for YOU.

Harware requirements :

- CPU: 450 MHz / 800 MHz recommended - RAM: 128 MB / 256 MB recommended - Video: 16 MB OpenGL compliant / GeForce2 or Radeon recommended - HDD Free space: 1.2 GB / 2.0 GB recommended - A sound card (optional) - Internet access for multiplayer experience (optional)

Software requirements :

- Video drivers are installed and 3D acceleration is working (If you type the command glxinfo | grep render must say "yes") - SoundSystem is installed and working - Original CDs of Neverwinter Nights (and optionally, the expansion packs) - Of course, the original CD Key(s) - Internet access for downloading the needed files

Installing Neverwinter Nights

I'll use /usr/src as the download directory but you can use any directory. Moreover, execute the commands as 'root' if you want the game to be globally installed (available for every user).

- Download the installation and update packages:

# cd /usr/src # wget http://liflg.j0ke.net/files/native/nwn_1.29-multilanguage.run # wget http://liflg.j0ke.net/files/native/nwn_1.66-english.update.run

- Run the installer:

# sh nwn_1.29-multilanguage.run

NOTE: If you get an error about a missing library (libgdk-1.2.so), you will have to install GTK+-1.2.10.

The installer will ask you to insert the Neverwinter Nights CDs.

- Perform the update:

# sh nwn_1.66-english.update.run

Installing them is a pretty straightforward process because a graphical installer is used with every option explained.

Installing the expansion "Shadows of Undrentide" (optional)

- Download the installers and repeat the earlier procedure:

# cd /usr/src # wget http://liflg.j0ke.net/files/native/nwn.sou_1.3x-multilanguage.run # wget http://liflg.j0ke.net/files/native/nwn.sou_1.66-english.update.run

- Run the installer:

# sh nwn.sou_1.3x-multilanguage.run

It will ask you to insert the "Shadows of Undrentide" CD.

- Perform the update:

# sh nwn.sou_1.66-english.update.run

Installing the expansion "Hordes of the Underdark" (optional)

- Download the installers and repeat the earlier procedure:

# cd /usr/src # wget http://liflg.j0ke.net/files/native/nwn.hotu_1.62-multilanguage.run # wget http://liflg.j0ke.net/files/native/nwn.hotu_1.66-english.update.run

- Run the installer:

# sh nwn.hotu_1.62-multilanguage.run

It will ask you to insert the "Hordes of the Underdark" CD.

- Perform the update:

# sh nwn.hotu_1.66-english.update.run

Updating to version 1.68

Follow the guide specific to your installation type:

If you have neither Shadows of Undrentide nor Hordes of the Underdark installed

- Download the linux client updater from HERE and save it to your NWM directory (the one containing nwmain).

- Remove the content of your override directory:

# rm -f override/*

NOTE: You might want to backup that directory first, all the more if you have placed there any game files yourself.

- Finally, extract the archive using the command:

# tar xfz English_linuxclient168_orig.tar.gz

If you have Shadows of Undrentide installed and do not have Hordes of the Underdark installed

- Download the linux client updater from HERE and save it to your NWM directory (the one containing nwmain).

- Remove the content of your override directory:

# rm -f override/*

NOTE: You might want to backup that directory first, all the more if you have placed there any game files yourself.

- Finally, extract the archive using the command:

# tar xfz English_linuxclient168_xp1.tar.gz

If you have Hordes of the Underdark installed, with or without Shadows of Undrentide

- Download the linux client updater from HERE and save it to your NWM directory (the one containing nwmain).

- Remove the content of your override directory:

# rm -f override/*

NOTE: You might want to backup that directory first, all the more if you have placed there any game files yourself.

- Finally, extract the archive using the command:

# tar xfz English_linuxclient168_xp2.tar.gz

Running the game

Once the installation(s) has(have) completed successfully, from the same terminal, run the game by executing the command:

# nwn

That's all. Enjoy!