Hey there, I've been through most of the game, and I've been trying to convince my brother to play it, since he's a fan/player of games like Diablo II and Asheron's Call (anyone familiar with that game?). I thought that since he likes random treasures and generating characters (though he likes going solo), and is not really used to D&D. What are some of the best things about it?
I do understand that there aren't as many random treasure as in IWD1, but I got the game last summer with the promises of character generation and experience with the 3rd Edition Dungeons and Dragons system. Not too bad, but a little too linear for my personal taste. Also, I understand that my brother, if he were to play it would have to download the patch to get alot of those sets of magic armor. Many of those that were in some other topic I saw were ones I didn't recognize at all.
So, how is the game overall, and what are some highlights that really make the game shine?
Pros and Cons of IWDII *trying to suggest this to someone else IRL*
-
Galuf the Dwarf
- Posts: 3160
- Joined: Wed May 07, 2003 11:00 am
- Location: Connecticut, a place of open land, hills, forests,
- Contact:
Pros and Cons of IWDII *trying to suggest this to someone else IRL*
Dungeon Crawl Inc.: It's the most fun you can have without 3 midgets and a whip! Character stats made by your's truly!
Speaking as a "veteran" who has played through the Baldur's Gate series and Planescape: Torment several times, I don't think that IWD2 is suitable for players who have never played such games before. IWD2 was so overwhelming, it made my brain go numb. Get your brother hooked on those other games (or IWD) first. 
-
Galuf the Dwarf
- Posts: 3160
- Joined: Wed May 07, 2003 11:00 am
- Location: Connecticut, a place of open land, hills, forests,
- Contact:
Originally posted by VonDondu
Speaking as a "veteran" who has played through the Baldur's Gate series and Planescape: Torment several times, I don't think that IWD2 is suitable for players who have never played such games before. IWD2 was so overwhelming, it made my brain go numb. Get your brother hooked on those other games (or IWD) first.
Well, my brother tried BG2 when we got it back in '99 (we got BG1 about 1 or 2 years after), and he didn't care for it. Of course, my brother doesn't mind a bit of a challenge. He's faced demons in Diablo II that kicked his but, but eventually conquered. Still, IWD2 may be worth a shot.
Dungeon Crawl Inc.: It's the most fun you can have without 3 midgets and a whip! Character stats made by your's truly!
-
Stilgar
- Posts: 4079
- Joined: Fri Jun 15, 2001 11:00 am
- Location: The Netherlands - Sietch Tabr
- Contact:
Try planescape if you want to rollplay the most.
If not, IWD2 is a great option.
It's harder then BG(2) and the 3d edition rules make it alot more fun to create and personalize you're character(s).
I like it more then BG(2) for this reason, but it's a little to linear to make it the best RPG ever.
If not, IWD2 is a great option.
It's harder then BG(2) and the 3d edition rules make it alot more fun to create and personalize you're character(s).
I like it more then BG(2) for this reason, but it's a little to linear to make it the best RPG ever.
I do not have the touch, nor do I have the power.
-
Galuf the Dwarf
- Posts: 3160
- Joined: Wed May 07, 2003 11:00 am
- Location: Connecticut, a place of open land, hills, forests,
- Contact:
Still in desperation for answers
Come on, guys, I need DETAILS! What makes this game really shine. I need someone to show me what are the best parts of the game, nothing else.
Come on, guys, I need DETAILS! What makes this game really shine. I need someone to show me what are the best parts of the game, nothing else.
Dungeon Crawl Inc.: It's the most fun you can have without 3 midgets and a whip! Character stats made by your's truly!
-
lonely wolf
- Posts: 270
- Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2003 11:09 am
- Location: israel
- Contact:
Hey I want to tell you but I know somebody is going to get steamed. Tell Him about the Battle Squares. I like the battle squares is chapter two. You can go up to chapter four to finnish them. It basically is this room in an ice temple were set up in the middle is a basically tick tac toe board. There are ten ranks. for every rank there is 5 levels. You select which charactor wants to run through a level. Mode activated you fight a summoned creature for one minute. You have to kill the creature to get a square. You have to get three quares in a row to pass a level. Every sqaure in addition to the three in a row that you get corrisponds to a higher level for that rank. Thus three suares lvl.1, four squares lvl.2, five suares lvl.3, ect.. up to levl. five.. This is tons of fun for addional hours of game play. You get some 'little spiffy' for every level and rank. I usually get creative and see who is the biggest cheese, "tank", of my party by a simple process of character illimination.
I hope this helps, you have to realize that the game is kind of linnier. Let me know and I can fill you in on other stuff. I would also have to say that if you play Icewind Dale 2, I think it would be funner to start on the first one including Heart of Winter.
I hope this helps, you have to realize that the game is kind of linnier. Let me know and I can fill you in on other stuff. I would also have to say that if you play Icewind Dale 2, I think it would be funner to start on the first one including Heart of Winter.
Screamming!!!!!!!!!!!!
Galuf, IWDII is not the worst game ever, but it's not great either. I found it to be quite monotonous. There are a lot of fights (maybe too many) that all have this 'been there, done that'-feeling to them. Besides, the only tactic you'll ever use is making sure your melee-guys are placed so they'll protect your casters.
There's very little chance to roleplay and there are (IMHO) no interesting npc's. That, and the game starts with some very, very boring mini-quests like fetch-this-npc-a-potion-so-you'll-get-xp/coin/info, like you've done a hundred times in BG.
Also, in midgame, there's a (far too large) labyrinth that's so annoying it'll make you run for a walkthrough after one try.
The sound and the music are absolutely marvelous. The 3e rules are nice, much more flexible than 2e.
If you want a great game, go get Planescape: Torment as suggested by Stilgar.
Or wait for the BG2 mod... a 3e rules version of SoA is apparently in the works!
There's very little chance to roleplay and there are (IMHO) no interesting npc's. That, and the game starts with some very, very boring mini-quests like fetch-this-npc-a-potion-so-you'll-get-xp/coin/info, like you've done a hundred times in BG.
Also, in midgame, there's a (far too large) labyrinth that's so annoying it'll make you run for a walkthrough after one try.
The sound and the music are absolutely marvelous. The 3e rules are nice, much more flexible than 2e.
If you want a great game, go get Planescape: Torment as suggested by Stilgar.
Or wait for the BG2 mod... a 3e rules version of SoA is apparently in the works!
She says: Lou, it's the Beginning of a Great Adventure
-
Galuf the Dwarf
- Posts: 3160
- Joined: Wed May 07, 2003 11:00 am
- Location: Connecticut, a place of open land, hills, forests,
- Contact:
Originally posted by lonely wolf
do you mean the geatest part of the campaign or the thing that is the best from the game itself (D&D rules, multicharecter games etc...)?
Well, both.
Patrick, I've been through the game up until Dragon's Eye, so I've known of the Battle Square all along. At least you've made it a little clearer as to how it works. And yes, I know it's quite linear.
By the way, anyone know how to conclude the quest of identifying that dead cat from the warehouse. I know it belongs to Herdon (sp?) Kerdos' mother, and you talk to one of the guys at the palisade to admits to dumping it in there to take care of the rats, and talk to Herdon's mother about that afterwards, but isn't there any EXP to found out of that?
Too bad there isn't a patch or mod to make more side areas and quests for different areas in the game, just to soften the linearity a bit.
Dungeon Crawl Inc.: It's the most fun you can have without 3 midgets and a whip! Character stats made by your's truly!
-
lonely wolf
- Posts: 270
- Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2003 11:09 am
- Location: israel
- Contact:
about the campaign, I can't say any good things, 'cause I didn't finish it. but I can say bad things.
firstly, is he a fight-lover? if he is, the quests that require alot of logic and a bit of fighting or just logic will not be a good thing for him. if he is bored from alot of fighting (not just a litttle here little there), like there is in the ice castle, he will not like the ice castle or the other places, including the place under the dragon's nest.
about the game itself...
the greatest things are that you can choose to play with one player or a team (up to six), and that it dosen't take loads of time to load a place (not a chapter).
the bad thing is that their is not a campaign builder, like in NWN.
that's all I think. hope I helped!
firstly, is he a fight-lover? if he is, the quests that require alot of logic and a bit of fighting or just logic will not be a good thing for him. if he is bored from alot of fighting (not just a litttle here little there), like there is in the ice castle, he will not like the ice castle or the other places, including the place under the dragon's nest.
about the game itself...
the greatest things are that you can choose to play with one player or a team (up to six), and that it dosen't take loads of time to load a place (not a chapter).
the bad thing is that their is not a campaign builder, like in NWN.
that's all I think. hope I helped!
ELVES RULE!!!!!
if he really liked DII, you can compare it to that...
though I am loathe to compare pseudo-roleplaying games like IwDII to almost pure hack and slash games like DII, there *can* be a lot of similarity depending on how you play...
if he really likes the hack and slash aspect of DII, but perhaps would like a little more substance to the story to go along with it, IwDII could be a good fit...
if he really likes developing his character into a powerful one, with great items and great abilities, IwDII can also be similar to DII, with many options considering the variety of races, classes, multiclass combos, and party combos available...
if he likes powergaming, he can do that in IwDII as well, by min/maxing stats, using guides and walkthroughs to get the best equipment, etc
if he likes the battles in DII, he might like the IwDII battles as well, which there are many of, and many require different strategies to get through (i.e. crystal golems being immune to anything but bludgeoning damage, while others are immune to bludgeoning but take extra damage from slashing, elemental resists, etc) plus there are a great many ways to play the game and get through the battles... you can play a melee heavy or melee only party, and truly hack and slash your way thru... you can play a party that relies on charming opponents and using them against each other... you can choose a caster-heavy or caster only party that relies on bombarding enemies with spells, etc, etc...
if he likes the solo character play of DII, he can play IwDII solo as well, though it can be difficult at times... or he can play with a variety of party members, i.e. a party of just 2, a party of 3, etc
imho, IwDII is what you make of it... I personally feel that it is weak in the story and dialog options (especially when it comes to making alignment matter, and having alternate endings to the game) but you can add your own roleplay elements if you want to... you can also powergame in IwDII, and HoF is a great challenge for anyone who really likes the battle/fighting/hack&slash aspect of the game... there is an absurd amount of combinations available due to the choices for race and class, as well as great multiclass combinations...
for me personally, I like creating my parties and dictating their growth... I like to see how powerful I can make the party that I designed, and how well they do in teh game... I also like to later create a different party that uses different methods to get through the game... and then later still I begin to create different parties that are unusual, to see if I can beat the game with them...
imho, IwDII is sort of on the fence when it comes to being a hack n slash game, or a roleplaying game, and I think it can be one or the other, or both, depending on how each person wants to play it...
though I am loathe to compare pseudo-roleplaying games like IwDII to almost pure hack and slash games like DII, there *can* be a lot of similarity depending on how you play...
if he really likes the hack and slash aspect of DII, but perhaps would like a little more substance to the story to go along with it, IwDII could be a good fit...
if he really likes developing his character into a powerful one, with great items and great abilities, IwDII can also be similar to DII, with many options considering the variety of races, classes, multiclass combos, and party combos available...
if he likes powergaming, he can do that in IwDII as well, by min/maxing stats, using guides and walkthroughs to get the best equipment, etc
if he likes the battles in DII, he might like the IwDII battles as well, which there are many of, and many require different strategies to get through (i.e. crystal golems being immune to anything but bludgeoning damage, while others are immune to bludgeoning but take extra damage from slashing, elemental resists, etc) plus there are a great many ways to play the game and get through the battles... you can play a melee heavy or melee only party, and truly hack and slash your way thru... you can play a party that relies on charming opponents and using them against each other... you can choose a caster-heavy or caster only party that relies on bombarding enemies with spells, etc, etc...
if he likes the solo character play of DII, he can play IwDII solo as well, though it can be difficult at times... or he can play with a variety of party members, i.e. a party of just 2, a party of 3, etc
imho, IwDII is what you make of it... I personally feel that it is weak in the story and dialog options (especially when it comes to making alignment matter, and having alternate endings to the game) but you can add your own roleplay elements if you want to... you can also powergame in IwDII, and HoF is a great challenge for anyone who really likes the battle/fighting/hack&slash aspect of the game... there is an absurd amount of combinations available due to the choices for race and class, as well as great multiclass combinations...
for me personally, I like creating my parties and dictating their growth... I like to see how powerful I can make the party that I designed, and how well they do in teh game... I also like to later create a different party that uses different methods to get through the game... and then later still I begin to create different parties that are unusual, to see if I can beat the game with them...
imho, IwDII is sort of on the fence when it comes to being a hack n slash game, or a roleplaying game, and I think it can be one or the other, or both, depending on how each person wants to play it...
-
Galuf the Dwarf
- Posts: 3160
- Joined: Wed May 07, 2003 11:00 am
- Location: Connecticut, a place of open land, hills, forests,
- Contact:
lonelywolf, Krysalyn: Well, from reading what both of you have to post, it seems like I've finally found the information I need.
Well, I'll just have to see if this would work out with my brother now. Thanks alot!
Well, I'll just have to see if this would work out with my brother now. Thanks alot!
Dungeon Crawl Inc.: It's the most fun you can have without 3 midgets and a whip! Character stats made by your's truly!
-
lightningpig
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Mon May 19, 2003 8:15 am
- Location: Chicago
- Contact:
Sorry this is a bit late, I've been pretty busy lately.
Anyway, Krysalyn has already done an excellent job on tying in the aspects of DII with IWDII, so there isn't really much left for me to say except this:
Once I RP-ed the game, I switched to collector-mode which is very much like the way I play Diablo - going after getting all the good stuff and amassing max-leveled characters of all types just to see if I can.
Point 1: Getting all the Good Stuff
While there is a severe lack of randomness in 90% of the items you receive, collecting all the items is no mean feat. First off, you'd have to have to completed the game in Heart of Fury (meaning you'v also played through normal) - this is similar to the 'exceptional, elite' weapon system in Diablo where the coolest stuff is only found at the toughest difficulty setting (think Hell-Baal runs) since you also find upgraded versions of the stuff you find at Normal.
Also, finishing the game in HoF will not guarantee you all the items. I've played through the game a number of times and I still have no clue where Sanctity of Being and Mighty Scalcleaver are. This is incentive to play the game again - and since he's a DII player, he won't mind playing the same areas again and again to maximize the loot.
Point 2: Amassing Max-leveled Characters
So that you don't have to play the game over and over with the same set of people, IWDII has a plethora of classes to choose from (much more possibilities and 'skill tree paths' than DII). If you loved getting that max-level bowazon, spearazon, necro, paladin, etc. you're sure to enjoy maxing out the different classes (a lot more than usual coz it's in 3rd ed.) like, let's say: the monk, the paladin, the conjurer or the demarch of mask (which are some of the best classes to max level). each class (especially if played solo) forces you to adapt varying gaming styles - and the game is no pushover so you'll always be on your toes.
Plus since you can export characters around, you can put all your mega-characters into the same party once you've boosted them and play through the game just to see supreme amounts of ownage. Imagine having all your uber-characters in DII in the same game, with you controlling all of them (not some squirty kid who is a wannabe-PK). Fun!
Conclusion:
Of course the main draw for the above points is the thrill of the chase. You want to know if you can own the game on many different levels - and you DESIRE the satisfaction that comes from knowing that can indeed do this.
And, you don't have to worry about some hack-running jerk ruining the game for you.
PS. Isair and Madae can be hard - and I mean Hell-difficulty Ancients-like-oh-god-i'm-playing-solo-dear-mother-come-save-me-now hard. Challenge is always good.
Anyway, Krysalyn has already done an excellent job on tying in the aspects of DII with IWDII, so there isn't really much left for me to say except this:
Once I RP-ed the game, I switched to collector-mode which is very much like the way I play Diablo - going after getting all the good stuff and amassing max-leveled characters of all types just to see if I can.
Point 1: Getting all the Good Stuff
While there is a severe lack of randomness in 90% of the items you receive, collecting all the items is no mean feat. First off, you'd have to have to completed the game in Heart of Fury (meaning you'v also played through normal) - this is similar to the 'exceptional, elite' weapon system in Diablo where the coolest stuff is only found at the toughest difficulty setting (think Hell-Baal runs) since you also find upgraded versions of the stuff you find at Normal.
Also, finishing the game in HoF will not guarantee you all the items. I've played through the game a number of times and I still have no clue where Sanctity of Being and Mighty Scalcleaver are. This is incentive to play the game again - and since he's a DII player, he won't mind playing the same areas again and again to maximize the loot.
Point 2: Amassing Max-leveled Characters
So that you don't have to play the game over and over with the same set of people, IWDII has a plethora of classes to choose from (much more possibilities and 'skill tree paths' than DII). If you loved getting that max-level bowazon, spearazon, necro, paladin, etc. you're sure to enjoy maxing out the different classes (a lot more than usual coz it's in 3rd ed.) like, let's say: the monk, the paladin, the conjurer or the demarch of mask (which are some of the best classes to max level). each class (especially if played solo) forces you to adapt varying gaming styles - and the game is no pushover so you'll always be on your toes.
Plus since you can export characters around, you can put all your mega-characters into the same party once you've boosted them and play through the game just to see supreme amounts of ownage. Imagine having all your uber-characters in DII in the same game, with you controlling all of them (not some squirty kid who is a wannabe-PK). Fun!
Conclusion:
Of course the main draw for the above points is the thrill of the chase. You want to know if you can own the game on many different levels - and you DESIRE the satisfaction that comes from knowing that can indeed do this.
And, you don't have to worry about some hack-running jerk ruining the game for you.
PS. Isair and Madae can be hard - and I mean Hell-difficulty Ancients-like-oh-god-i'm-playing-solo-dear-mother-come-save-me-now hard. Challenge is always good.