'Story mode'?

egalor_original

Announcement says: "A new "Story Mode" difficulty setting to allow players to experience all of the story with none of the Game Over screens"

Could someone please explain this feature for those intellectually challenged? I really can't get it.

Silverstar

Most likely it's just a really easy difficulty setting. So easy you're not likely to die at all if you bring a full party. ME3 has a similarily named difficulty available I believe. It could also just be really easy compared to regular ID which is actually quite hard, at least compared to BG.

egalor_original

So, a very easy mode? Ok. But no 'game over' means most likely, an immortal mode... Dubious form of entertainment if you ask me )

Jalily

Your characters are invulnerable in Story Mode.

Elrandir

Hmm... Not sure what I think about that. It's nice to have the option, but I was hoping it was a "Super Easy Mode." Oh well. The easiest difficulty will still be fine.

Silverstar

Elrandir said:

Hmm... Not sure what I think about that. It's nice to have the option, but I was hoping it was a "Super Easy Mode." Oh well. The easiest difficulty will still be fine.

More options is always a good thing. This one isn't something I'll use myself, but I can actually think of a couple of applications for it: it can be used to bypass a bugged situation/fight or it can be used as a "cheat" for tablet versions of the game which I don't think have access to the console and thus cheats.

SharGuidesMyHand

Jalily said:

Your characters are invulnerable in Story Mode.

In other words, a powergamer's paradise.

sepotter

Jalily said:

Your characters are invulnerable in Story Mode.

In that case you can count me out of this mode, I like a little challenge when I play

artificial_sunlight

Just like NWN2, you are only game over if every one dies. Else you will revive like trolls Without fire or acid.

Ardul

SharGuidesMyHand said:

Jalily said:

Your characters are invulnerable in Story Mode.

In other words, a powergamer's paradise.

Not in the slightest. Powergamers usually want the hardest possible experience, and then beat it by using all the tools available.

Buttercheese

This might come in handy for multiplayer.
I know that all those reloads where more than jarring in BG multiplayer.

AlexT

One thing to note, you can turn Story Mode on/off at any time.

It's not something that you select at the start of the game and are stuck with forevermore.

Buttercheese

Very good to know.
Still feels like cheating, though ... but I guess many keyboards, mouses and tablets will be saved from their untimely demise through this

BelegCuthalion

better that escape available than having a too easy game ...

karnor00

Seems an odd option. The hack-n-slash IWD storyline doesn't exactly blow my mind.

Now, if it had been story mode for PST:EE, I could have understood it.

Dee

I'm going to shamelessly steal the words out of one of my co-workers' mouths, because when we were talking the other day he expressed it very well I think:

If you're on these forums, chances are Story Mode isn't for you, because you care about the challenge of the game and want to test yourself (at any level) against the game's challenges. For anyone playing the game for the first time, Story Mode is a good introduction to the world and the D&D rules, allowing you to get access to the parts that make Icewind Dale memorable without suffering through the harder fights.

And since it can be turned off at will, players can adjust how much it impacts their game. If it doesn't interest you, it's super easy to turn it off.

Calmar

Can you combine Heart of Fury and Story Mode? ;P

The_New_Romance

Why would anybody play IWD for the story alone? It isn't exactly Planescape or Fallout New Vegas...

I don't really mind the feature, I'm all for options, but back in my day we used cheats for that purpose. Ctrl-Y and all that. What has gaming come to...

elminster

The_New_Romance said:

Why would anybody play IWD for the story alone? It isn't exactly Planescape or Fallout New Vegas...

I don't really mind the feature, I'm all for options, but back in my day we used cheats for that purpose. Ctrl-Y and all that. What has gaming come to...

I don't think you can do ctrl y on an ipad or android

Edit: Having looked into it a bit more you may be able to, but to be honest adding a story mode is just an easier way to make the game accessible for a casual tablet player.

element

I like story mode, it has its uses even for an experienced player imo.

DreadKhan

If the game is less brutal on a new player, this will allow them to notice the story, rather than just desperately hacking and slashing. The story suffers a great deal from being stretched thinner by some VERY unforgiving combat. I played IWD after having finished TotSC, and I had to make multiple restarts after hitting a wall. The way the game throws Yxonomei at you was like a trebuchet, and my party couldnt scratch her.

Calmar

The_New_Romance said:

Why would anybody play IWD for the story alone? It isn't exactly Planescape or Fallout New Vegas...

No, it's high fantasy.

Don't confuse linearity with no-story (if you do so). The game is linear, like a book, and it has a clear plot and an end, and offers you no choices, like a book. To me, IWD is most immersive, because it's story has none of the weakness that games with many different paths and ends seem to have.

DreadKhan

Calmar said:

The_New_Romance said:

Why would anybody play IWD for the story alone? It isn't exactly Planescape or Fallout New Vegas...

No, it's high fantasy.

Don't confuse non-linearity with no-story (if you do so). The game is linear, like a book, and it has a clear plot and an end, and offers you no choices, like a book. To me, IWD is most immersive, because it's story has none of the weakness that games with many different paths and ends seem to have.

Very well put!

Twani

Hey, I freely admit to despite liking challenge, but still using that super easy/story mode difficulty in ME3 in later runs (yeah, I beat it on the highest difficulty, and... didn't really find it fun) when I'm just running through to see a different romance/kill off someone in new horrible ways.

I'm not sure I'll like total invulnerability, but... well, it could be useful. And I could let my niece play with it: she's a sweet kid, but if she dies in games, she gets all frustrated and often cries.

booinyoureyes

Jalily said:

Your characters are invulnerable in Story Mode.

Awww, shucks. I was really hoping it would be that when one of your adventurers dies, Biff the Understudy would come in and take his place

rufus_hobart

thanks for asking this, @egalor_original, had just read this myself on the site and was wondering what this mode would entail! Don't feel quite so intellectually challenged all on my own now! ;-)

elminster

booinyoureyes said:

Jalily said:

Your characters are invulnerable in Story Mode.

Awww, shucks. I was really hoping it would be that when one of your adventurers dies, Biff the Understudy would come in and take his place

What would happen if two of your characters died? What about 3? I don't think the realms could handle that many biffs

Kamigoroshi

elminster said:

booinyoureyes said:

Jalily said:

Your characters are invulnerable in Story Mode.

Awww, shucks. I was really hoping it would be that when one of your adventurers dies, Biff the Understudy would come in and take his place

What would happen if two of your characters died? What about 3? I don't think the realms could handle that many biffs

Easy: Larry, Daryl and Daryl would then appear. Or maybe one of their cousins who are also called Daryl, Daryl and Daryl.

Nimran

Kamigoroshi said:

elminster said:

booinyoureyes said:

Jalily said:

Your characters are invulnerable in Story Mode.

Awww, shucks. I was really hoping it would be that when one of your adventurers dies, Biff the Understudy would come in and take his place

What would happen if two of your characters died? What about 3? I don't think the realms could handle that many biffs

Easy: Larry, Daryl and Daryl would then appear. Or maybe one of their cousins who are also called Daryl, Daryl and Daryl.

"See, Daryl? I told you this was the right generation!"

Elrandir

elminster said:

booinyoureyes said:

Jalily said:

Your characters are invulnerable in Story Mode.

Awww, shucks. I was really hoping it would be that when one of your adventurers dies, Biff the Understudy would come in and take his place

What would happen if two of your characters died? What about 3? I don't think the realms could handle that many biffs

I'm pretty sure the game would just become a cakewalk. I mean, let's be frank. Biff's a monster. Have you seen him? Pretty sure he could solo Irenicus in a minute flat. With his fists. With one hand TIED BEHIND HIS BACK. Wait what? You say his stats are all terrible? Shut your blasphemous mouth! He's only an understudy because he's too busy fighting space demons on the planet K'ssithir to play an actual role! I remember one time... *continues to ramble*

AndrewFoley

booinyoureyes said:

Awww, shucks. I was really hoping it would be that when one of your adventurers dies, Biff the Understudy would come in and take his place

My suggestion of having all dead adventurers replaced by Noober and members of his extended family were (foolishly) rejected.