What is the reason behind forcing players to send e-mails with CD-key requests? Couldn't GOG automate CD-key handling?

Also, why won't GOG update the game to utilize patch 1.69 correctly? As far as I know, there is still an issue of the game reporting as 1.69, but missing some key bits, which cause numerous problems to occur. At this point it would be better to have NWN at version 1.68 - at least players would know their game isn't fully patched.

I'd really appreciate a blue's answer on these matters.

I had heard rumors about GOG version is not a proper 1.69 patch. However I played everything the game has to offer without any problems and so did my friends. Ofcourse this doesnt prove anything but some persistant worlds that say unpatched GOG version wouldnt work were all wrong.

Yes, I've also heard some claim that this has been fixed, but others claim it hasn't. I'd really appreciate some clarification.

The GOG version IS version 1.69. This has been done to death, and the information that occasionally gets propagated is completely false. If it were not v1.69 you would not be seeing new content, such as Purple Dragon Knight, horse riding and others.

Are you implying the game's version has ALWAYS been the correct 1.69? If so, then I hate to point out the fact that people experienced (and maybe still do) various crashes and other problems that disappeared after applying a 1.69 critical rebuild patch. Even though their game reported 1.69.

And the presence of 1.69 content does not prove in any meaningful way that the patch applied is not corrupted.

I'm telling you that GOG's version is 1.69, and those few who experience crashes and other issues that MAY be resolved by re-applying the 1.69 build do so because of borked installations. It is NOT the fault of the GOG version of NWN, no matter what anybody tells you, or what you think.

Naturally. Neverwinter Nights is not alone in this.

If anyone tells you the GOG version is incomplete in any way, ask them to name the missing of corrupt files so yo can compere them. When they can't, ask them to name a any single player module Bioware or usermade that you can't play with an unpatched GOG version. If they can suggest one, play it with your unpatched GOG version & make up your own mind.

I have been using the GOG version for years without any patching & have played most of the top rated modules & a lot of the low rated modules.

Where did you get the information that you have to send an e-mail?
They have set up a request form 6 years ago :
https://www.gog.com/forum/neverwinter_nights_series/request_for_cd_key_1/page1
https://www.gog.com/forum/neverwinter_nights_series/cd_key_info/page1

Yeah, well, that's a minor detail. The point I made is you still need to manually send a request to GOG for your CD-key, which then they need to manually reply to and send you this key. Whether it's an actual e-mail or another form of online message is irrelevant here.

Fair point.

Since you've installed it recently
(and I can't really be bothered to clear up the space, download, and install the game if I'm not going to play it),
could you please tell me whether you have to input the cd keys at some point during the installation,
or if it's all done "transparently" to the user
(until the point where you want to play online and have the bad luck to run into someone with the same cd key).

( It's for this discussion :
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2016/06/transfer-steam-games-to-gog-connect-drm-free/?comments=1&post=31324745 )

Well, I haven't installed it recently - quite the opposite, I've had the game for a long time now. :)

But to answer your question - you don't need to input your keys anywhere to play offline, whether you're installing the game via Galaxy or without it. The game is automatically assigned default GOG keys, so there's that.

On the other hand, CD-keys are important in more situations than just running into someone else with the same key on the server. The master server of Neverwinter Nights is no longer functional, so many servers use keys instead of password. That is, on your first login your current CD-keys are assigned to your account name and if you (or someone else) ever tries to log-in with this account with a different set of keys, they're immediately kicked out.

Plus, some servers also kick out players with default GOG keys.

Like Taro already said, you dont need unique CD keys to play singleplayer.

However, For most servers you need a unique key which you request from GOG and install via "Premium Modules Re-installer" which can be found in the extras (game goodies).