Icewind Dale 2 is such a struggle
This has to be by far the hardest of the Infinity engine games. It's the only one I've never beaten, I think I just lose interest because almost every battle is multiple reloads. I have a well balanced party, I know what I'm doing, the game makes it so difficult though. You almost have to rest after every map area, but I'm determined to make it through. Does anyone else agree with me here?
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Yep, that answer was just as cryptic and generalised as its sounds
Some tactics that I've learned playing it were to scout a lot , always have my rogue and ranger use stealth and attack from a different angle, make good use of Illusion and charm/hold spells , and buy feats that boost my saves, specially Will.
Low lvl: Charm, Sleep, Power Word: Sleep, Dire Charm, Snilloc's Snowball Swarm, Web
Mid lvl: Chromatic Orb, hold person, Fireball, Skull Trap, Summon Monster, Ice Storm
High lvl: Chromatic Orb, hold person, Fireball, Skull Trap, Dominate Person, Animate Dead
I usually have 2 sorcerers and most of my fight are a total domination with; Chromatic Orb and hold person + Dominate Person and Animate Dead + Fireball and Skull Trap. The tactic is simple; Stun/meat shield/big fat damage. And of course your warriors and archers are there to hack and slash and snipe to drop down the enemies faster.
Personally, I think the wardrums section is probably the hardest challenge in all the infinity engine games.
Though it does do so with a few TPKs.
First, an all-dwarf, all-fighter/barbarian party (with one Cleric of Tempus). They tore through the first part of the game and (considering the killcounts of my earlier barbarian and paladin) I expected them to rip the rest of the game to pieces. However, around the Ice Temple they started to break up and the later game was a nightmare, with only 1 Cleric's worth of buffs, they quickly fell short.
After that, a party with 3 Wizards, 2 Sorcerers and one Cleric of Mystra. The start of the game (especially the goblin fortress) was very problematic but as levels increased, defenses became stronger and spells greater in number, they laid waste to many things, only struggling vs 'boss' monsters that simply had a lot of HP, couldn't be stunned/held/rooted and hit like a truck.
All four games were very awesome though. IWD2 doesn't have the plot of Baldur's Gate or Planescape (or hell, even IWD1) but as a combat game, I rank it as one of the best since you can really change the entire gameplay by changing your party.
Back on topic, the game is pretty tricky to start with, but it does become really easy towards the end. The key is Wail of the Banshee, which annhilates whole enemy groups (make sure you've got a necromancer to make it really deadly!).
The biggest issue difficulty wise is the ridiculous system of level contingent xp rewards. Later in the game I remember fighting extremely difficult battles, and getting precisely 0xp from them, because the game considered my party xp too high compared to the enemy.
Baldurs Gate 1 and 2 have the best all around. Planescape is good too and I might replay the game in future. Will need to see how Icewind Dale 1 turns out. I have yet to finish it but I doubt its as much of an abortion as IWD2.
Best party i played with consists of 6 clerics of bane. 4 of them multiclassed into warrior or barbarian at different stages. Self heal, sanctuary, massive summons, massive buffs to strength etc. and massive disable spells, like command, fear etc which are incredibly hard to resist. The bonus you gain in kuldahar is handy, too. Only thing that is missing is haste, but beside that, this party great to play through the regular game and heart of fury.
1.) The start and all the possible choises you can complete the quests on. Do you want to kill the guys at the tavern, or recruit them and then they actually fight with you against the goblings.
Do you want to steal the magical shield? Blackmail the trade merchant?
Did you ever pickpocket the sleeping soldier to find out about the doppelganger?
When you're at the priest or myrkul talking to the dead goblings, if you're a drow you can understand what they say.
I love the small errands you can run and do in town, all to improve the defenses when the goblings attack.
2.) Shangard (?) Bridge was awesome. The whole feeling of walking up the frozen mountain, saving the villagers and getting back the moonblade from the trolls. Then you actually get to the bridge and you see a huge bugbear that talk with the mage and then walk away, now a big battle over the bridge where you have to stop the ogres from destroying the beams.
3.) The enemies are so wonderful in this game. The way the two half dragons talk and their voices, the way their plans work and how devious they are. Also the huge bugbear that i was incredible frightened to fight against, almost like firekraag in BG2.
4.) The background maps and drawings. This is something both IWD and IWD2 has done right even to some point better than BG2. The last dungeon with the monks and getting back to kuldahar.
But as much as i love this game, there is one place i hate more than anything else in any of the Infinite games. That bloody annoying ice castle. It's annoying and the puzzles aren't interesting and then it's buggy as hell and the frost golem respawn, the only nice thing about that place was the rogue breaking out and ambushing that guard.
It really is a great game, once you get past that incredible annoying ice castle.