*lurks from behind the screen* Registered Member #682
Joined: 11:18:25 pm GMT 01/09/06
Posts: 2836
So, I have an older laptop (c. 2008) that all I do on it is play NWN, email, surf the web, and basic office docs. Sometimes I build for Thain on it, but the computer is so slow with the toolset that this is really only on an as needed basis anymore.
Because of this, I have decided to wipe the drive and convert to linux on this computer. For those of you that are linux regulars (last time I used linux was at least 15 year ago), I have a few questions. For reference, if it matters, I plan on installing the newest version of Ubuntu.
1. Anything I need to be aware of, regarding drivers?
2. Any tips for installing NWN on linux? Or just follow the instructions that are several years old on the web?
3. Assuming all goes well, does the NWN toolset work on linux? Just curious if I can keep this as a backup build computer.
4. Outside of the standard programs included in Unubutu, are there any other "must haves" out there?
Thanks for any help or advice you guys/gals can offer.
Registered Member #1691
Joined: 6:30:05 pm GMT 02/08/11
Posts: 4
1 There might be driver issues if you are using a broadcom wifi-card although it may have been fixed. Sometimes certain programs like Skype can be a pain, though it usually works fine out of the box.
2 Are you using a GoG version on NWN? If so there is playonlinux in the "store" that has an install script for it. That being said I almost never play any games on my Linux box.
3 Don't know about the toolset.
4 Ubuntu-restricted-extras for various online stuff like Youtube videos and certain fonts. VLC mediaplayer is a must if you like to watch movies on your computer
Registered Member #1691
Joined: 6:30:05 pm GMT 02/08/11
Posts: 4
Oh I forgot does your computer have an intel graphics card or a dedicated one? Look into drivers for that before you do anything. ATI ones can be tricky sometimes and the support is not that great or so I have Heard.
Registered Member #279
Joined: 4:17:59 pm GMT 09/25/04
Posts: 5460
NWN's player/DM client and server work on PC, Mac (older ones), and Linux; but the toolset has always been PC only. You might get it to run using a VM solution, but it won't run on Linux natively.
*lurks from behind the screen* Registered Member #682
Joined: 11:18:25 pm GMT 01/09/06
Posts: 2836
Thanks for the info so far.
I do have a Broadcom WLAN adapter on this laptop, so good to know that I will have to watch for this. The graphics card is an Intel card that is part of the system (not dedicated, shared memory), so I will look to see if there are any known issues here.
The version of NWN I will be loading is Diamond (from my old discs). If this goes as expected, there is a linux client on the disc (according to the 5 minutes of web searching done) so I should be okay. I was just wanting to make sure I cover the basics and should be okay.
And thanks Amber. I knew the toolset didn't work on Macs, but good to know this includes Linux too. Might have to see if an installation through Wine will allow it to work. If not, this is not a huge loss as building on this system was trying at best.
Registered Member #785
Joined: 6:06:48 am GMT 05/27/06
Posts: 526
You can still get NWN to run on a Mac, too.... you just have to use a WINE wrapper for the PC version instead of running the native app since the removal of Rosetta.
Or run 10.6 in a VM and run it that way.
For Ubuntu (ive been playing with it in a VM lately) i recommend Chromium (the open source build of Chrome) and VLC. Ubuntu comes with most of the other basic stuff you need other than that.
It has a very OSX-like Software Update center to keep your apps and OS up to date, too, which is very nice. Ubuntu is very consumer/regular user friendly compared to every other Linux ive tried.
Registered Member #191
Joined: 2:06:27 pm GMT 07/31/04
Posts: 443
C_McG wrote ...
...
1. Anything I need to be aware of, regarding drivers?
2. Any tips for installing NWN on linux? Or just follow the instructions that are several years old on the web?
3. Assuming all goes well, does the NWN toolset work on linux? Just curious if I can keep this as a backup build computer.
4. Outside of the standard programs included in Unubutu, are there any other "must haves" out there?
Thanks for any help or advice you guys/gals can offer.
I've been running various linuxen on my herd of 'puters since '06. A lot of issues that one would encounter years ago (problematic hardware - read 'broadcom', drivers and such) are more readily solved today. Some companies (rude stare at Epson, Canon) still give linux the cold shoulder. All that being said, to your questions:
1. You mentioned using an Ubuntu based distro. Many of those have a package installed that will check for the additional drivers needed for your particular setup. Some do it automagically. I don't think you'll have any issues, here.
2. I've been using the same routine for years, can install NwN in a few minutes. Probably the same one you've seen on-line, but if you want to see what I have give a shout. You may have to find a few 32 bit lib files if you're running on a 64 bit linux distro. Things like libSDL-1.2.so.0, libgcc_s.so.1 and libstdc++so.6.18 (no, Cain ... not THAT kind of std) are ones that I run into needing at times. Sometimes I have to remove ./lib from the LD_LIBRARY_PATH in .nwn to get sound working properly. Cut scenes and movies in the OC and expansions won't display without jumping through some extra 'hoops', but, really, who needs them. Running NwN in window mode causes control issues (for me, at least), so I usually have a second computer running a web browser to watch the Thain Chatbox while IG. Otherwise, if your computer has the graphics horsepower to run NwN you should be good to go.
3. I never had the toolset running (not much of a builder), though I've been meaning to give it a try with the PC version (I refuse to mention the name of the Evil Empire or its products) of NwN running under WINE or some other emulator.
4. I gravitate towards linux distros that use LXDE or install it if I'm using a 'bare bones' distro (Manjaro linux at the moment on my main desktop and lappies, Zorin or PCLOS on the wife's and daughter's computers), so I go for the lx packages that I like if they're not present. VLC (as mentioned above) for multimedia. GIMP for messing with NwN screenshots.
Registered Member #1428
Joined: 12:46:47 pm GMT 05/02/09
Posts: 344
I run NWN under Linux since the beginning. As long as you get a nVidia card, and you install the nVidia proprietary driver, NWN will run perfectly and natively. DM Client as well. NWN will NOT run with an integrated Intel chip. I have not much experience with AMD, but I would advise against them, my limited experience with them and Linux always ended up in disaster. nVidia is the safe choice when it comes to gaming under Linux. Even a entry-level nVidia card will work but I would advise something in the middle range to have a perfectly fluid game.
I ran NWN under Linux with the following cards: Geforce 7300 LE (but I suffered slowdown), Geforce 7600 GS (fast at last!), Geforce GT 240, Geforce GTS 450.
The toolset can run under wine (Windows emulation), but it does not work very well, there are many glichtes. There are workarounds (I can help with that) and it's usuable to build or edit a module, but it's easier to build under Windows.
About Broadcomm WLAN, it used to be a problem but I believe recent versions of Ubuntu can take care of them. I can't be sure though, since I don't have access to such computers nowadays.
Registered Member #191
Joined: 2:06:27 pm GMT 07/31/04
Posts: 443
Just a few quick comments w/r to FG's post:
Broadcom WLAN has not been a problem for me with most recent linuxen (I have a few boxes with Broadcom chips). *buntus included. Should not be a problem.
Yes, nVidia is the the 'safest' bet for a graphics solution under linux. But, if you don't have that, just try it with what you do have. Test which distro 'works' for you, it doesn't take much time. Most distro's these days can be installed in a matter of minutes (15-30) and a few more minutes to install NwN to see if you have 'happiness'. FWIW, my current 'main' box for NwN has AMD graphics (Radeon HD7480D on the CPU) and it runs smoother with the NwN graphics options maxed than my older boxes with nVidia cards. So, you can use AMD if that's what you have. Look for AMD/ATI Catalyst drivers for linux.
*lurks from behind the screen* Registered Member #682
Joined: 11:18:25 pm GMT 01/09/06
Posts: 2836
Well adding a graphics card is not possible with this laptop. So if an integrated Intel chipset won't work, then I will be out of luck with NWN (or just will not change systems or will dual-boot).
With the Broadcom, I think you are right FlowerGolem. Most of what I have been reading, based on the previous comment, says that Ubuntu has increased their native support for these adapters. So my guess is that all may go well on that front, but I will still see if there are drivers, just in case.
[ The Island of Thain ]
Linux and NWN
