I've been looking into downloading the community patch, but on the page it says for us using the 'Diamond' edition of the game that we should get the '1.69 Critical Rebuild' first. I'm thinking they're going by those who are playing this through the game disc. I'm not sure if the GoG version already has the critical rebuild patch installed by default so figured I'd check here first incase anyone knows.

It depends on the game version. If you have an English version installed, you don't really need the rebuild, but if you have any other, it's highly likely that you do.
And even if you don't, installing it won't break anything.

The critical rebuild was released by Bioware AFTER it's last patch, v1.69, to correct some of the graphics issues owners of the newer cards/drivers (at that time) were having (and some peripheral adjustments). With the advent of CC tilesets, newer animations and the shader, it becomes more important to run the CR. GoG's version applies only the v1.69 patch.

It's up to you. Wait until you begin to have graphics issues that slow or crash your sessions, or just apply the CR each time you install the game to avoid those instances. IMO once you start to consider customizations like the CPP, it should be no-brainer.

I don't believe that is what happened.

AFAIK, no one has ever shown their is even one byte of difference between an English GOG install before/after the Critical Rebuild patch.

Also, Foreign language versions is are still version 1.68.

From what I remember. 1.69 is the critical rebuild patch. They are one in the same.

But only the English version of 1.69 achieved full QA, and was production certified before funding was cut. All the foreign Language versions were deemed beta. So that is likely why they were not included in the final NWN package sent to distributors like GOG.

Anyone running a Foreign language version of NWN1 should get the patch and apply it. Bringing their game up to 1.69.

It is optional on the English language version, but should be harmless if you want to do it anyway.

Run a diff and you'll get educated quick enough PeterScott. You've missed some bits of variance. Foreign language version require custom haks and tlk files.

Don't make the common mistake of assuming that just because you haven't had any problems that the CR addresses doesn't mean your experience is community-wide. Swap out your AMD with Nvidia and then Intel along with OS ranging from Win95 through present. After that you can make generalizations with more weight.

But believe what you want. It doesn't change the facts.

You are either suffering from reading comprehension problem, or you haven't run that diff yourself.

I said the English version was identical to the patched version and it is.

On a fresh ENGLISH install of GoG NWN1, running the Critical Update Patch does NOTHING. It changes no files, it adds no files. It does NOTHING.

The Critical rebuild did not come after 1.69. The critical Rebuild is 1.69, and it is already applied to the English version of GoG NWN.

Foreign Language versions OTOH, did not a get a fully QA'd version of the 1.69 patch, and they appear to still be on 1.68 (I haven't verified every version). So as I also stated Foreign Language versions do benefit from the patch.

Read more carefully before you get condescending with other people.