Beamdog said that if someone already owns the other three premium modules (the ones not included in NWN:DE, and as such, in base NWN:EE, which includes everything from NWN:DE) you can still play them in NWN:EE without buying them again. It's even in their FAQ. In fact, if you wish, you can go to the Vault right now, download the premium modules from there and install them onto NWN:EE if you get it. They'll work.
(Not condoning piracy here, of course, just emphasizing that no one forces you to rebuy the premium modules if you already have them.)

Please understand that allowing multiplayer compatibility between different versions is simply not technically feasible. The same way you couldn't play with people who had NWN expansions installed if you did not have them. Did BioWare divide the community by releasing Shadows of Undrentide and Hordes of the Underdark?

The classic has not been supported for a long time now and this will not change. Why would it?

Mods are backwards-compatible - again, just like you can play vanilla NWN content with Hordes of the Underdark installed, but it's no brainer that you can't play Hordes of the Underdark content using vanilla NWN.

Steam workshop is actually not a bad idea at all, as long as everyone can download from there (and there is a workshop downloader for that).

This is a valid point. Beamdog certainly could acknowledge the current NWN owners and offer them a discount.

We'll see about that, but I'm optimistic about this one. I've already played the head start beta version and I can tell it's smoother than NWN:DE on my machine already. To me, the EE is like a game support, patching and development returning and I see no reason why it should return for free, so I don't mind paying for continued development of the game I love. Can Beamdog screw that up? Sure, but with the Vault admin being one of the main programmers I'm not that afraid of it. Do I think Beamdog makes bad moves? Yes, and I'd be very happy for them to stop handicapping their reputation by such cheap stunts as bundling various game versions together. They're not CD Projekt level of quality or customer service, but it could be much worse. And let's not forget they're mostly the developers behind the original NWN - if someone should do a remaster at all, it's them.

Maybe. I've created a thread on Beamdog's forums about the bundling controversy. I and some other users there would like them to change their mind about it, though I know the chances are rather slim.

In addition, I'm not entirely sure if Beamdog doesn't actually own the rights to NWN:DE, too. If they can remove it from the store, it looks like they do - but if they do, money from anyone buying NWN:DE would still go to Beamdog.

Nevertheless, questionable business practices aside, NWN:EE looks like a step in the right direction for me as far as the game itself is concerned.

Yes, they did. In fact, there were subtle differences in patches (some of which caused a lot of anger among players) that created similar rifts. But the last decade or so has been a golden age: you can pretty much expect every NWN player to have 1.69, and with the low prices, there is no longer much of an excuse to not own all the expansions, either.

Maybe, eventually, the EE will prove itself intrinsically superior to the old stuff. Until then, all they're doing is terminating the golden age.

I see. Can't argue with that if that's your opinion. Just wanted to point out that NWN:DE was ultimately much richer in content and stability than vanilla NWN, even if BioWare had to stir things up a bit along the way. I don't mind Beamdog doing the same if the end result is also a much better game.

If that requires the sacrifice in blood of the community, so be it!

Half-kidding. ;) Some blood will be sacrificed, but not much, I think. I certainly see it as worth it.

Touche! And I've heard Canadians were nice.
I've already presented my point - if you think it was bad of BioWare to release expansion packs because they divided the community temporarily, that's not my concern. I, myself, feel it's a small price to pay for what will very likely be a better game and am very happy that NWN currently features all the content present in Shadows of Undrentide and Hordes of the Underdark. And if it turns out not to be better in the end, everyone will go happily back to 1.69, reuniting the community. Fans win either way.

Nice work with the quotes, but I admit too lazy, so I condensed ;)

Didn't I say extra, "again for extra cash" ;)

But, this contradicts a bit with the statement they made, that older mods would need rework. And as the premium moduls are nothing else than mods, I think this has to be seen really skeptical....so either they will do (or did) some extra work to JUST make those running without modification or the moduls are not compatible....You see from were I am coming? (Kept it short ;) ) (and see a also below)

For Vanilla against whatever version, I must admit, I don't know for sure, but out of memory most servers do use the GOG version as the minimum requirement.
Hence your kind of legit reply is a bit faulty to begin with. You would have a point (hence my kind of remark) IF (yes big if ;) ) we would be like 10 years back. Nowadays the standard for NVN is the GOG-version, right? (for simplicity as a lot of people did also buy and still own the original as well ;) )

workshop downloader? Never heard about, just out of my own experience I only know if you do not own the game, no access. If you would have some other info, would be nice to know about!!!

Hence (for the moment) I still see this as a major drawback.

One point, which you kind of missed (me thinks), they could have done the same with a patch, maybe even with a patch you would have to pay for. From my perspective of over what? 30? years of gaming this would have been considered a patch and not a remake, hence my remark. (or even a DLC....)

This is not a remake, it is not even a NEW game (like NVN 2). Even that they got Vault admin on board (programmer? isn't he only on board as councilor?).....hmmm do you remember the free mod for a certain game which turned into a series of games? ;)....

The way how I see it in the moment (not only for beamdog) is that those devs/publishers seem to look (kind of) for games which are still played/active community and make a remake just to get a quick buck out of it. (General speaking there are exceptions). But this one seems to be just a quick cash grab. Especially as they decided to bundle it.

Some other games (example Duke 3d and megaton/world tour) you still can get the original.

For technical aspects, running smoother and similar, good to hear ;), although in the old days you would have just gotten a patch and end of story, right? Especially as GOG already got it running on modern systems.....so shall be even easier if you have the complete SW available and are allowed to change the SW as you like, right?

Mods being backwards compatible? I only read that they need to be adjusted. Which would be again an indication for how did you say it so nicely ;) handicapping their reputation ........And as NVN really lives from the mods this really gives me something to really think about. If they changed it now because of public pressure (did somebody say Battlefield and EA :D ) would make me even more skeptical.

Now with multiplayer......Why do they want to change something which is working? >IF< it would be only about certain moduls, see above, BUT (emphasis, not shouting ;) ) if they implement it in general this means that they do have other motives, right? From a technical standpoint it also doesn't really make sense, unfortunate they do not really give a clear indication/information there at all. I only see information which contradicts each other, if you take a closer look at it.

For your remark about for free, sorry have to bash you now a bit ;)

Let's take the price for the classic 8 Euros, the new one 20 Euros (plus extras), right?
So they do charge 12 Euros for what is mainly a patch, not a new game, right? No extra content, nothing..... (IMHO). They do not need to start from scratch, they have a working product without any major glitches. As you said, you played the new beta version, so you might be able too give a more qualified answer, did they rework the whole graphics, like really remaking the textures and so on? Or just patched it to have 4k support? (And to remind you, some modders did similar work for some games for FREE ;) )
And if we take the 20/12 Euros, look at what some minor studios did develop for this money (IIRC so don't shoot me if I remember wrong), nice example banished, new game new ideas, good implementation for far less (in comparison)., or even Battle World: Kronos (okay not all the way fair as Kickstarter and similar), but I think you get the idea?

For your point of the bundling: Either they own the rights or they got the license and or agreement with the owner of it, otherwise no bundling.

Sorry for the long reply (despite me trying to keep it short ;) )

There is no comparison at all. The expansions were high quality first party expansions with 20 hour campaigns, and new character classes, new feats, new skills.

Bioware expansions were high value for money.

Beamdog repackaging is just a superficial BS cash-grab, dividing the community needlessly.

The community won't come back together because there is no value for money for the Superficial cash-grab.

This doesn't grow the community it divides and diminishes it.

Are you really comparing SoU and HotU with what Beamdog is offering here? Each of those expansions offered new classes, new game mechanics, new sounds, new creatures, new tilesets for construction, and full-sized campaigns (which some users rated higher than the OC). I'm not even sure Beamdog's SoD has as much content as these expansions had. If Beamdog eventually does come up with a content-rich mod, it will almost certainly not be included in the additional cost for the EE edition: you can be sure they will sell it as a separate, overpriced premium module.

Or are you really comparing the BioWare main game patches to what Beamdog is offering here? These patches were made available to everyone, and the only cost was the effort to download and apply the patch, along with acceptance of whatever uncomfortable changes were made. As Goodaltgamer points out below, this is not the case with the EE.

I do not deny that BioWare's patches and expansions made NWN better over time, at the expense of stability. I don't think the game needs any more instability, especially not for a minor, and extremely overpriced, patch. Maybe I'd be willing to let it slide if it were a huge content addition other than an updated copy of CEP, but even then I'd rather they just work on a new game.

Waiting for things to get better, or to just see what happens, rarely works, and in this case, is ill advised. Beamdog has proven that they would rather deny you access to the old game than to compete fairly, so as the thread title says: buy NWN1 ASAP, and don't wait for the EE to deny you this ability. Note that this advice is based on known facts and past behavior, not fantasy wishlists, so I stand by this advice even if you somehow manage to convince Beamdog to adopt your compromise (which they can revoke at any time).

Thanks for the warning thread. Bought NWN 1 a little while ago and was going to buy 2 when I got done with 1. Figure I will buy 2 right now as who knows what Beamdog might do. I assume they have the rights to 2 since they have the rights to 1.

If you ever get done with 1, you probably played it the wrong way. ;)

There is no chance this is up to GOG.

Beamdog very almost certainly gets some control over distribution along with the rights to tweak and distribute a double priced version of NWN.

So Beamdog decides this and they will demand removal of the original.

I think it's better than nothing.
Demonstration of disagreement with the current GOG/Beamdog's policy in this matter will not be superfluous.

Unless you hear otherwise, I'd wait for a sale (since you just missed one). For one thing, 2 was mostly Obsidian's work, and Beamdog seems more interested in accumulating old BioWare properties. For another, even though the NWN 1 crackdown will likely happen very soon, it will take some time, and I expect that any NWN 2 grab will take time, as well.

Edit:

To be clear, there is nothing wrong with buying NWN2 whenever you want. Even at full price, you will get more than your money's worth.

I bought NWN1 and 2 on Gamestop years ago because I couldn't wait for a GOG sale. No CD image though, and now the Gamestop servers no longer make NWNs available for installation at all. I've been offered a refund, but really..

GOG sales, here I come!