Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition

[Sylthia]

It seems like Horrid Wilting affects your party and not just the enemies in IWD2. That really stinks, being party-friendly was my favorite part about that spell.

[Cespenar]

It seems like Horrid Wilting affects your party and not just the enemies in IWD2. That really stinks, being party-friendly was my favorite part about that spell.

It was supposed to do that anyway. And frankly, Horrid Wilting was (and probably still is) the most OP damage spell in the game.

[Sylthia]

It was supposed to do that anyway. And frankly, Horrid Wilting was (and probably still is) the most OP damage spell in the game.

I suppose if it's pen and paper, it's how your interpret the wording. It simply says targets, which can't be more than 60 ft apart, rather than ALL targets, creatures, what-have-you. In BG2, and I think maybe IWD, it only affected enemies. I guess I'll be able to get by with Chain Lightning.

I hope to finish IWD2 this weekend. Pokemon ORAS comes out next week, and I'm not sure if I'll have any time to play this coming week.

[jguy]

So hope this isn't thread necroing but I have a question. I just -finally- beat IWD II, I got it as part of a bundle on GOG. Now I had an old hard disk copy for a long time but there was a bug on it, wouldn't load a level and thus couldn't continue the game. Now my question is this, I remember that on the old disk I could select an option, out of game mind you, that turned on hardcore mode. It allowed me to restart the game with my full level 9 party but everything was scaled up higher. The first pack of goblin almost killed me and when I got to town all the gear in the stores were like +3 items at min. Is this still in the digital copies of the game or no? I'd like to try the game again with my level 16 party.

[Sylthia]

So hope this isn't thread necroing but I have a question. I just -finally- beat IWD II, I got it as part of a bundle on GOG. Now I had an old hard disk copy for a long time but there was a bug on it, wouldn't load a level and thus couldn't continue the game. Now my question is this, I remember that on the old disk I could select an option, out of game mind you, that turned on hardcore mode. It allowed me to restart the game with my full level 9 party but everything was scaled up higher. The first pack of goblin almost killed me and when I got to town all the gear in the stores were like +3 items at min. Is this still in the digital copies of the game or no? I'd like to try the game again with my level 16 party.

I'm pretty sure that it is, whether it be the GOG version or EE.

[jguy]

I have been unable to find it. Does anyone know how I can?

[Sylthia]

I have been unable to find it. Does anyone know how I can?

I think it's called Heary of Fury mode or something like that.

[LibraryOgre]

It is the Heart of Fury mod, and you'll want to check the config utility for it.

[Sylthia]

Do the Icewind Dale Enhanced Editions get the same patches as the Baldur's Gate games? I'm really liking some of the new features, like coloring scrolls you can still learn green and the group looting.

[Seharvepernfan]

When dual-classing, can you go from one specialist kit to another? So, from berserker to assassin?

Also, is there any way to permanently raise strength? Like from a tome?

[Sylthia]

When dual-classing, can you go from one specialist kit to another? So, from berserker to assassin?

Also, is there any way to permanently raise strength? Like from a tome?

No to the first question.

For the second, I can't recall, although you can always use DaleKeeper to bump a stat.

[Cheesegear]

Also, is there any way to permanently raise strength? Like from a tome?

There are a number of potions found RANDOMLY throughout the game which are permanent;

+1 STR, -1 CON
+1 DEX, -1 STR
+1 CON
+1 INT
+2 WIS, -1 DEX (not a typo)
+1 CHA, -1 DEX
...and a few others which deal with Resistances.

In any case, don't bother. As mentioned, the ability to find these potions is completely random. IWD isn't about your characters' stats, it's about your items. By the time you hit Level 12 or so (middle of Chapter 3, early Chapter 4), your characters' stats are meaningless. There are a number of items in the game which increase your stats when you wear them, and they're all plenty good enough if you randomly manage to snag them.

EDIT:
IIRC, there are a number of non-magical items early on in the game (in Kresselack's Tomb) that require 19 STR to use. But since they're non-magical, they're outclassed very quickly - probably by the next weapon you pick up.

[Seharvepernfan]

I'm asking because I want to use a halfling fighter/thief, but I want 18/?? or 19 str eventually, without having to use potions (but will if I have to, or else just make a gnome instead).

[Seharvepernfan]

Could I get some suggestions or critiquing of my party? I haven't bought the EE edition yet, but I will soon. I intend to engage in high-level stat munchkinery.

Spoiler: Party

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Human Paladin (or Cavalier, not sure)
-longswords
-sword & shield
-sling
Str 18/??, Dex 18, Con 18, Int 3, Wis everything I have left, Cha 18

CG Human Berserker 13 then dual to thief
-grandmastery in some backstabbing weapon, not sure what yet
-dual weapon style
-throwing weapon that isn't darts
Str 18/00, Dex 18, Con 18, Int 3, Wis 18, Cha 3
-focuses on stealth skills

CN Half-elf Bard (kitless)
Str 15+, Dex 18, Con 16, Int 15+, Wis 10+, Cha minimum
-slings
-sword & shield style

CE Elf Fighter/Mage
-longswords
-longbow
-single weapon style *or* sword & shield style
Str 18/??, Dex 19, Con 17, Int 15+, Wis 10+, Cha 8

CG Half-orc Fighter/Cleric or Cleric (with halforc, it isn't as big a deal, but I dont know)
-mace
-warhammer
-sword & shield style
-sling
Str 19, Dex 18, Con 19, Int min, Wis 18, Cha everything I have left

CG shorty fighter/thief (cant choose between dwarf for high str/con, halfling for highest dex/saves/skills, or gnome for a mix - also helm of the defender)
-backstabbing weapon?
-sling
-sword & shield style
Str max, Dex max, Con max, Int min, Wis 15+, Cha min
focuses on traps/locks/illusions, then stealth, then setting traps

I don't have any two-handers.

I also want to run a two-person party, perhaps later on.

Spoiler: 2-person party

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CG Female Elf Fighter/Mage/Thief
-longswords
-longbows
-single weapon style *or* sword & shield style (not sure)
Str 18/??, Dex 19, Con 7, Int 15+, Wis 15+, Cha 8

maybe CE instead, for that good sword

CG Female Half-elf Ranger/Cleric
-melee weapon? mace? warhammer? what would be ideal?
-slings
-sword & shield style
Str 18/??, Dex 18, Con 18, Int 3, Wis 18, Cha high as I can get

[Cheesegear]

Human Paladin (or Cavalier, not sure)

In the early game, Bows help a lot. Bows are so stupid strong. But, if you're going to have 'tank' character, a Paladin is a very respectable choice. Start with two stars in a Blunt weapon of your choice, and pick up Long Swords later. The Vale of Shadows is so stupidly easy if your front-line damage dealers have Blunt weapons in hand, there's a lot of levels, you'll get your proficiencies in Long Swords eventually.

Having a character properly good at using War Hammers is a must, if you want Chapter 3's boss to not be rage-inducing.

CG Human Berserker 13 then dual to thief

Meh. I'm not a fan. Fighter 9-Thief or Thief 12-Mage is probably a better class. Especially given the rest of your characters.

CN Half-elf Bard (kitless)

Does the BG2 engine give the Regenerate at-will song at Level 11? Probably not. In any case, Icewind Dale has a lot of magic items, and gold isn't so prevalent as it is in Baldur's Gate, so a Bard is always useful, just for being a Lore monkey, and netting 2500 extra XP for your party in the Prologue. Start with Proficiencies in a Blunt weapon, just in case.

CE Elf Fighter/Mage

Long Bow and Long Sword and you're good to go. Sword & Shield is a waste, unless you like going to your Inventory screen every time you want to change weapons, you could do Sword & Shield and Longbows, for sure, it's just very clumsy.

CG Half-orc Fighter/Cleric or Cleric

Half-Elf Ranger/Cleric or Human Ranger-Cleric is straight up one of the best classes in the game. Fighter/Cleric is basically a waste. If you're serious, a Fighter/Druid is even better because this is IWD where magical stuff is all around, not Baldur's Gate where there are only a handful of good Druid items in the entire game. Second, Half-Orcs are rubbish. The best races are Human or Half-Elf, and Elf, in that order. The only other race worth considering is a Halfling Fighter/Thief, and only for that exact class.
AFAIK, it's highly unlikely that the EE added in any Half-Orc only items to the game, so it's not like there's anything to be had there.

CG shorty fighter/thief (cant choose between dwarf for high str/con, halfling for highest dex/saves/skills, or gnome for a mix - also helm of the defender)

If you're interested in Helm of the Trusted Defender, you need to be Halfling or Gnome. Gnomes are terrible. Be a Halfling. Shoot Bows all game.

[Seharvepernfan]

Why are half-orcs so bad? 19 str/con is pretty good.

Don't halflings get a bonus to thrown weapons or slings?

[Winthur]

In the early game, Bows help a lot. Bows are so stupid strong. But, if you're going to have 'tank' character, a Paladin is a very respectable choice. Start with two stars in a Blunt weapon of your choice, and pick up Long Swords later. The Vale of Shadows is so stupidly easy if your front-line damage dealers have Blunt weapons in hand, there's a lot of levels, you'll get your proficiencies in Long Swords eventually.

A Cavalier paladin can still use thrown axes and daggers and become proficient in them, but of course nothing beats a bow. Might as well roll an Inquisitor IMHO, I suppose.
Note that none of the kits were balanced for IWDEE, so rolling kitless classes can be the best in some cases.

Half-Elf Ranger/Cleric or Human Ranger-Cleric is straight up one of the best classes in the game. Fighter/Cleric is basically a waste. If you're serious, a Fighter/Druid is even better because this is IWD where magical stuff is all around, not Baldur's Gate where there are only a handful of good Druid items in the entire game. Second, Half-Orcs are rubbish. The best races are Human or Half-Elf, and Elf, in that order. The only other race worth considering is a Halfling Fighter/Thief, and only for that exact class.

What's wrong with Dorf F/C's for the massive saving throws from high con? EDIT: Gave it some more thought and realized that it's basically that Fighter/Cleric is just straight-up inferior to F/D and R/C, and a Dwarf can't be either of those. This is the same problem with the half-orc - single-classed characters aren't the best possible thing you could have in this game, and those races have very limited multiclassing.
Anyway, spear-wielding Human Fighter (3)/Druid is a solid choice if you can roll the stats, and so is H-Elf multiclass F/D.

Don't halflings get a bonus to thrown weapons or slings?

+1 THAC0 to Slings and Darts, yes. (Not Thrown Daggers or Axes, AFAIK.)

@Cheesegear, do Mage/Clerics (or even Gnomish Illusionist/Clerics) fill any sort of cool niche like they do in BG2 or are they not worth rolling?

[Cheesegear]

Why are half-orcs so bad? 19 str/con is pretty good.

As I said, at high levels, stats are basically meaningless. In IWD, even your alignment is more important than your stats, since there are several items in the game only usable by Good/Evil or Lawful characters. Stats only help in the early game.

Don't halflings get a bonus to thrown weapons or slings?

Like that matters? You asked for a critique, I'm giving you one.

There are exactly two magical Slings in the game, not including generic Sling+1s.
One is a Sling +1, +4 vs. Giants, the other is a Sling +3. That's it. That's all you get for Slings. Slings are garbage, and if you do get one of the good Slings, it's going to your Bard, not to your Halfling Fighter/Thief with access to two stars in Bows. If for some reason you have two Sling users in your party, the other magical Sling is going to your Druid - if you have one. If you can use Bows, you should be. The EE even gives you access to Single Weapon Style which means you don't even need to be clumsily throwing on Shields then putting in a Bow every ten seconds. Single Weapon Style is one of the few things in the EE that I'll admit are actually any good. It's a godsend to Bow users.

Oh, there is a set of Gauntlets only usable by Multi-Classed Fighters which sets your STR to 18/51. Halfling Fighter/Thiefs can definitely make use of them, and the Ring of the Warrior Thief, which, as it's name implies, is for Multi-Classed Thiefs which give them +1 STR. There are a bunch of ways to improve your stats in IWD, they're just not permanent like in BG1 - except for the Potions, which I already mentioned and come with downsides.

@Cheesegear, do Mage/Clerics (or even Gnomish Illusionist/Clerics) fill any sort of cool niche like they do in BG2 or are they not worth rolling?

Mage/Clerics are fine. They're just not great. As I've said, what matters in IWD is your ability to use the more powerful items in the game. There's only one Ring in the game that pertains to Cleric/Mages, and that's a Ring that gives the wearer a permanent Shield spell. The Ring is also wearable by a Mage or Mage/Thief, so it's not like it's specific to Cleric/Mages. Fighter/Mages are simply straight up better, once you go Tenser's Transformation, it stacks onto the Fighter portion of your character and then boom city.

If you mean that a Mage/Cleric's niche is lots and lots and lots of spells, then you can do that. Just be aware that stacking your party with too many Acane spellcasters is actually a really bad idea since Scroll pickup - like everything else in the game - is random. Although, if you're running EE, Sorcerers would actually be really handy, but then, Sorcerers don't multi-class, and I highly doubt that the EE added in any Sorcerer-only items to the game, and if you're not multi-classed with +90 HPs and at least +6 THAC0 to not suck and don't have any powerful items only you can use, what's the point of you?

Gnomes - like Halflings - can wear the second-best Helmet in the game. But, chances are that you already have a Fighter/Mage and Bard, and possibly have a Thief/Mage as well if you're really brave, so any and all Scrolls already have priority to other characters in your party. But, that character slot can easily be used for a Halfling Fighter/Thief who isn't going to try and hog the taller - and better - Mages' Scrolls.

[Sylthia]

I haven't played IWD1 for a while, does it roll or use a point buy system for stats?

[Cheesegear]

I haven't played IWD1 for a while, does it roll or use a point buy system for stats?

Rolls. IWD2 uses point buy.

[LibraryOgre]

I do wish that Druid/Mages were a valid multiclass.

[Seharvepernfan]

I just got confirmation that the war chant of the sith is in IWD EE, but only for non-kitted bards. So, yeah, bard is definitely in the party.

Anyway, I'm just surprised that shortbows would be better for the fighter/thief, because he'd have high str (eventually, if a halfling), and don't you get str bonus to damage with slings? Are the magical shortbows available really that much better than a sling+shield? It's just surprising to me.

[Sylthia]

Rolls. IWD2 uses point buy.

If that's the case, you can always get pretty good stats in everything that matters. In Baldur's Gate it's not uncommon to have 18s in 3-4 different stats.

[LibraryOgre]

If that's the case, you can always get pretty good stats in everything that matters. In Baldur's Gate it's not uncommon to have 18s in 3-4 different stats.

The EE development of giving you the total at the bottom makes it a lot easier to quickly reroll with a total in mind.

[Cheesegear]

Are the magical shortbows available really that much better than a sling+shield?

Yes. But who said anything about Short Bows? A Fighter/Thief can use Long Bows. Once you get the Long Bow: Protector +2, which gives you +2 to your AC, why would you want a Sling and Shield, when you have Bow that is also a Shield?
+1 To Hit with Slings is crap. STR damage on Slings is also crap because Slings are crap. Polished turds are still turds. If there was a worthwhile Sling in the game that was actually interesting, sure. It'd be worth having a Sling user. But since there are only exactly two non-generic Slings in the game - both still really ordinary anyway - Slings just aren't that good. Give your Sling to your Bard - there's an item available in Kuldahar for Bards that takes the Shield slot which you should never, ever put down, so Bards can only really use one-handed weapons - and hope your Bard almost does damage sometimes. Slings go to Bards. Not to characters with the ability to use Bows.

[Seharvepernfan]

So, I started playing. The default party is actually really good. I redid the bard so she had better proficiencies, and somewhat altered stats (I wanted one character who had 18 Int & Cha for conversation options and leadership). I also redid the mage to be a CE fighter/mage instead of just mage. The ranger really ought to have an 18/?? str score too. Otherwise it's pretty optimal.

[Sylthia]

The EE development of giving you the total at the bottom makes it a lot easier to quickly reroll with a total in mind.

Yeah, I would spend hours minning all the stats to see what my total was.

[Seharvepernfan]

Speaking of totals, I saw a 95 while rolling a paladin today.

[Sylthia]

Speaking of totals, I saw a 95 while rolling a paladin today.

The Avatar asks, "What's a paladin?"

I thought of this the other day, because playing BG2, Neeber asked me "What's a cleric?"

[Seharvepernfan]

Spoiler: Dragon's Eye

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Did the secret yuan-ti torture room always exist? Or is it new to the EE? Is there any conversation option of note connected to it?