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Icewind Dale

ererer565ererer565 Member Posts: 10
After finishing the Baldur's Gate series, I now want to begin the Icewind Dale series. I've heard that the games are much more combat oriented(I'm totally fine with that) and much more challenging. I also need to create my own party. It is based on a modded version of the 2nd dnd ruleset am I right? I'm pretty sure I have a full capability of getting used to the mechanics of the Infinity Engine games. Any advice before I start?
MeanbunnyAstroBryGuy

Comments

  • mch202mch202 Member Posts: 1,455
    Don't forget to install Heart Of Winter expansion which also allows higher resolution and Trials Of The Lure Master ( official free HoW expansion ) which is very cool edition to the game.

  • DJKajuruDJKajuru Member Posts: 3,300
    Icewind Dale is quite fun with all of its interesting story, dungeon exploration and party creation.
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  • ArchaosArchaos Member Posts: 1,421
    Icewind Dale 1 has the same races/classes as BG1. No kits or Sorcerers for example.

    Icewind Dale II is entirely in 3E. Subraces, different rules and spells.

    And yes they're worth it.

    There are no NPCs so you have to create your full party from the beginning, but that's the fun of them. Freedom to create a party of six as you want, with lots of portraits.
  • jjstraka34jjstraka34 Member Posts: 9,850
    edited July 2014
    Icewind Dale is fantastic, both of them. Even though 2 introduces feats and 3E rules, the game still plays essentially thing same, but offers some variety. IWD IS more challenging because of the simple fact that there is a pack of enemies around every corner. Even the first battle in the Orc caves is going to be hell if you don't have a Sleep spell handy (I went with an Invoker my first play through and they are locked out of that spell lol). IWD is about combat, and tons of it, and you also get a pretty nice story and a fantastic atmosphere, plus the sequel is the only Infinity Engine game with 3E rules. Also get Planescape: Torment to round out your Black Isle collection. Between the five of them you could keep yourself entertained for decades, imo.
    Post edited by jjstraka34 on
  • DazzuDazzu Member Posts: 950
    HoW is a mixed bag. I find some of the changes crippling. There's no way to get the once (and still) best weapon in the game because the loot tables were changed and a lot of specialist mages were made more crippling.

    It's a fun game, but be ready to reload outside of a room to get the item you need. Also, never go for a single class thief; always dual or multi with something else. Have one gnome of halfling in every party: best helmet in the game is limited to them.
    Fandraxx
  • FandraxxFandraxx Member Posts: 193
    ^
    Plus with all the fighting you do a thief will level up very quickly, and you will never need that many points skill points. Do yourself a favor and give yourself a back up mage or cleric for those sticky situations.
  • SCARY_WIZARDSCARY_WIZARD Member Posts: 1,438
    edited July 2014
    mch202 said:

    Don't forget to install Heart Of Winter expansion which also allows higher resolution and Trials Of The Lure Master ( official free HoW expansion ) which is very cool edition to the game.

    But but but that voids some really cool items on the random loot tables! :(!
  • CamDawgCamDawg Member, Developer Posts: 3,438
    If you really want those items restored to the tables, the 'Restore Random Drops' component in Unfinished Business that does it.
    SCARY_WIZARDelminsterCrevsDaakjackjack
  • MeanbunnyMeanbunny Member Posts: 107
    I love the game. I am thinking about doing a playthrough myself right now. I really wanted to try to solo it with a druid, but I am trying to weigh the consequences of not having thief skills on a solo run. Especially since I cannot even temporarily hire a thief for some of those critical parts. Still though, an amazing series.
  • AstroBryGuyAstroBryGuy Member Posts: 3,437
    If you prefer to just create one "CHARNAME" and then play with party of NPCs (with dialog - and romances!), check out @kulyok's IWD NPC mod.

    http://www.pocketplane.net/iwdnpc
    SharGuidesMyHandSapphireIce101
  • DazzuDazzu Member Posts: 950
    CamDawg said:

    If you really want those items restored to the tables, the 'Restore Random Drops' component in Unfinished Business that does it.

    If it were compatible with the mod that replaces the random drops with a guy who'll open the item table, I'd use it... abuse it even! Then again, I could just save outside the room before you ever enter where the treasure spawns: The first time you enter is when it all gets seeded.

    Anyways, more tips:

    There are some weapons you should rarely consider, and staves are one of them. BG2 has great staff choices... this game barely has any.

    On the other hand, Great Swords, Long Swords and maces (via morningstars) are great at all points and you'll get decent mileage out of axes and hammers to a lesser degree.
  • SCARY_WIZARDSCARY_WIZARD Member Posts: 1,438
    CamDawg said:

    If you really want those items restored to the tables, the 'Restore Random Drops' component in Unfinished Business that does it.

    There it is!
  • CamDawgCamDawg Member, Developer Posts: 3,438
    Dazzu said:

    CamDawg said:

    If you really want those items restored to the tables, the 'Restore Random Drops' component in Unfinished Business that does it.

    If it were compatible with the mod that replaces the random drops with a guy who'll open the item table, I'd use it... abuse it even!
    I'm guessing you mean the Friendly Random Drops component of IWD Tweaks? Fortunately, the authors of Tweaks and UB get along fairly well.

    Friendly Random Drops is supposed to read from the current state of the table so it should pick up changes from any source, though there are currently some other bugs with it that need fixing (the merchant leaves prematurely).
    AstroBryGuyCrevsDaakSCARY_WIZARD
  • ererer565ererer565 Member Posts: 10
    I see what you guys mean... this game is tough, but I'm till enjoying it myself! I've actually tried out IWD 2 for a bit. The interface is confusing so I will go in order instead. Thanks!
    DJKajuruSCARY_WIZARD
  • DazzuDazzu Member Posts: 950
    I honestly liked IWD2 UI, especially each 'weapon slot' being more its own set of hands. The ability to swiftly switch between dual wielding, or sword and shield, and archery would've been very convenient for earlier IE games.
    CrevsDaakSCARY_WIZARDElrandir
  • SCARY_WIZARDSCARY_WIZARD Member Posts: 1,438
    Dazzu said:

    I honestly liked IWD2 UI, especially each 'weapon slot' being more its own set of hands. The ability to swiftly switch between dual wielding, or sword and shield, and archery would've been very convenient for earlier IE games.

    Yesss. Want!
  • SapphireIce101SapphireIce101 Member Posts: 866
    Personally, I hate IWD2's UI. It drives me up a wall. All I would really want from it is switching weapons, and editing the skill bar how I want it to be.
  • AstroBryGuyAstroBryGuy Member Posts: 3,437
    Dazzu said:

    I honestly liked IWD2 UI, especially each 'weapon slot' being more its own set of hands. The ability to swiftly switch between dual wielding, or sword and shield, and archery would've been very convenient for earlier IE games.

    It was great for that, but lousy for switching just the weapon while keeping the same shield. If a PC is using a sword and shield and wants to switch the sword for a mace to fight skeletons, you can either change weapon sets and switch to the mace with a different shield, or go back to the inventory screen to swap the sword and mace. BG is better for PCs who use multiple weapons with a shield.
    jackjack
  • DazzuDazzu Member Posts: 950

    Personally, I hate IWD2's UI. It drives me up a wall. All I would really want from it is switching weapons, and editing the skill bar how I want it to be.

    Was there something more to it than that?
  • SapphireIce101SapphireIce101 Member Posts: 866
    I prefer the Baldur's Gate layout. You know, Inventory and stuff on a bar to the left, and character pictures on a bar to the right. I didn't really like that all of it was being squished to the bottom right corner. :(
    SCARY_WIZARD
  • Demonoid_LimewireDemonoid_Limewire Member Posts: 424
    edited August 2014
    If you liked BG rules set, then you will probably enjoy the Icewind Dale 1 the most. Get it with its two expansion packs, or even better, the entire, revamped package, at GoG's.

    It's like you controlling an entire multiplayer party, created entirely by you. And it is wonderful. Because this way you can get ideal stats from rerolling, and classes/combinations that you know they will get you easily and far.

    It has some differences from BG though, like druids being more powerful as a class here, elves being able to roll a druid (i couldn't resist making one), many spells are different, a neutral cleric won't get all spells (instead, you need a chaotic good one for getting good alignment exclusive divine spells and a chaotic evil one for getting evil alignment exclusive divine spells, because certain spells are available only to chaotic alignment...), game is much more combat oriented, multiclass characters here have the upper hand (they can hit max level in both or all classes, which is 30), bard is crazy kinky imba cheese stuff (especially if you happen to get the summon 4 berserkers item), druids kick ass, and certain spells are different, like the elemental summons (here there is water one instead of air).

    Also, with the expansions in, you have access to bags of holding, potions, scrolls and whatever else it was. Very good game. Also, it has 2 handed axes (and 2 handed hammers, if i remember well?). But no class kits, or the very crazy broken overpowered spells BG 2 had. A little gem. I never liked 2. It had the 3 rules set and you couldn't import over characters from 1, like in BG 2 from BG 1 you could...

    My advice is:

    Make one Chaotic Good, Cleric/Ranger MULTICLASS.
    Make one Chaotic Evil, Cleric/Mage, or a Fighter/Mage/Cleric MULTICLASS.
    You have to make one elven druid.
    You have to make one bard.
    You have to make a MULTICLASS Fighter/Thief, probably elf, or a Fighter/Mage/Thief; remember to avoid single thief class.
    And a paladin would also be good.

    This way, you have ALL classes covered exactly at six slots. Avoid dual classing. Stick to multi. Both for racial bonuses, and because you can hit max level anyway to all classes involved...
  • SharGuidesMyHandSharGuidesMyHand Member Posts: 2,579

    If you prefer to just create one "CHARNAME" and then play with party of NPCs (with dialog - and romances!), check out @kulyok's IWD NPC mod.

    http://www.pocketplane.net/iwdnpc

    I know nothing about this mod, but just the very suggestion warrants a "like" for your post. ;-)
    AstroBryGuyCrevsDaak
  • DazzuDazzu Member Posts: 950
    I've come to believe that much like thieves, a single class priest is a waste of potential in IWD 1. 6-13 levels of fighter or ranger make a ton of difference, before dual classing... or multiclass. A C/T is always a good fit, being gnomish and an excellent utility character who can equip the best helmet in the game. Backstabbing will not be something that happens much anyway, especially with the best backstab weapon being a random drop +3 club until literally end game and there's a severe lack of awesome priest spells: no Righteous magic, holy power or Champion strength... only DUHM, which isn't bad but alone isn't worth it.

    Also this isn't a game where mages are gods. There are 2 Level 9 spells, both rather meh and both conjuration. Again, dual or multi mages serve far better.
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