Playing style

Celeborn · Post by **Celeborn** » Sun Sep 21, 2003 2:29 pm

I would love to hear about your playing style. This seems rather vague so I'll make a list of questions. Feel free to add to these questions or only address a couple. Comment anyway you like. It seems like there are a lot of posts on tactics for battles and party building and of course requests for aid, but not so many on the more mundane aspects. Also I want to say that any style is valid as long as you are having fun with it. It doesn't matter if you cheat a little or a lot; I would just like to hear what people do to make the game more fun for them. Maybe it will give me some ideas.

1. Do you care about the game clock? Do you try to minimize your time? Do you rest between each battle for days or do you only rest 6 times in the whole game? When you rest do you make sure it's only for 8 hours or you don't care?

2. How much and what kind of healing do you use? Do you always include a healer in your party? Do you use an npc cleric if he is available? Is there a distance that is too far to travel to go to an npc for healing or are you willing to travel back several screens to use that npc before you dip into your potions? When do you use your healing potions?

3. Do you cheat at all? Do you cheat a lot or just in one very specific way? Maybe you have a favorite weapon you just have to have.

4. Party size? Do you always use the same party size or do you change a lot? What is your favorite number of pc's to have?

5. How many times have you completed the game? How many times have you started a new game?

6. Do prefer the game with certain mods installed or do you prefer the un-modded game?

7. Do you go for a minimalist approach in battles where you try to use the fewest number of spells and buffs or do you attack with all your best stuff each time and go rest if your best stuff is not available?

8. Do you feel like the game plays a bit slow and you try to get through battles as quickly as possible? Or do you like exploring the minutia of what's possible in each situation.

9. Do you reload a lot or try to avoid it? When do you reload? When the battle is going sour or only if someone dies or only if everyone dies? Do you use resurection often from an npc cleric or only when your cleric has the ability?

10. How often does one of your pc's die? Rarely or every couple of battles?

11. Do you allow yourself to run away from battles to save and heal or do you feel that once a battle is started you have to see it through?

12. Do you level up right away when it's available or do you squat in an attempt to maximize monster xp?

I'm sure I've missed a ton of other things that we can compare. Don't feel you have to address everything; I'd like to hear about any aspect of your game. I guess I should take the first shot at these questions.

1. I'm not super strict with the game clock, but I try to minimize. Try to rest for only 8 hrs.
2. I've been playing without a healer a lot, so I will travel several screens to go back to that npc cleric.
3. In my first game I cheated some, mainly ctrl-r to heal, but no cheating since the first.
4. Been trying small party sizes lately. Currently in ch 6 with a 2 char party. Also started a couple of solo games.
5. Haven't completed the game yet and I have started 4 games total. The first was a 6 char group, then a 2 character group. The last two a solo monk and solo sorc.
6. Haven't tried any mods yet.
7. I try for the minimalist approach in battle, but it feels good to rip them a new one sometimes. Of course some battles I do everything I can and still feel like I just barely made it through.
8. I feel like the game plays a bit slow in the sense that if I need healing I have to do quite a bit of travelling. This maybe mainly because I don't have a healer in the party.
9. I reload a lot. Sometimes I just get frustrated with the way the battle goes, but usually only when I lose a character.
10. I will lose a character somewhat often. Maybe once every 4 battles and then I have to reload.
11. Early first chapter I run away a lot, later in the game I try to avoid it, but still need to at times.
12. Usually level up right away. Have tried the squatting technique to skip every other level.

Gaal Dornik · Post by **Gaal Dornik** » Mon Sep 22, 2003 5:57 am

Wow nice questions, apply also to other D&D CRPG

1.Rest: I care about a clock and try to minimize the rests. If a party is in a town and at full health after 24h I still rest, coz they surely want to

cannot understand those people who rest after each battle or for 5 weeks. I always rest only for 8 hours

2.Healing: since no "rest-heal" exploit, a cleric is a must-have for me. I use an NPC healer if available ofcourse

Why not.

3. Cheating: "cheat" is a very vague definition. Having Dalekeeper makes sure no bugs or wrong decisions can harm your (save)-game.But still it may be considered as a cheat if i take away a point from "rapid shot" f.e after realising it is useless with a crossbow. But "cheats" like "ctrl-r"? - never heard and never used.

4.Party-size: Depends. A party of 6 is easy, but interesting in a plot driven game like BG2. A party of 3 provides more interesting battle tactiks and characters development. My favorite is 3.
One more point to a smaller party is that is just silly then some mage is surrounded by 6 people and tells them he's going to kill them. unrealistic imho, a party of 3 fits more in.

5. IWD2 not completed yet. Other D&D CRPG many times. Then i start i start and play through, but in takes a long time to create a good party.

6.Mods: Bugfixing mods are welcome, balance/story changing mods not.(IF a game is balanced

, f.e in IWD2 "Armor-gives-damage-resistance" is a very good decision imho.
7. Battle: Since i try to rest like normal people do, i try to minimize a number of spells used in a given batte. Makes it harder also

8. speed OK

..Second part later..

Gaal Dornik · Post by **Gaal Dornik** » Mon Sep 22, 2003 1:11 pm

9.Reloading: If im dead i reload, happend often

, never memorized "ressurection" since "reload" spell is more effective and in BG2 there were magic devices for this.
10. NPC dieing: not so far in IWD2 but in BG2 - rarely, since if one NPC die, another die soon also,most probably -> reloading time
11. Run away: unclear definition, you mean escaping to another map and heal then there and go back? No dont do this. It's a cheesy tactik, almost a cheat imho
12 dunno

, i leveled always as soon as i advanced to the next level
Phew that was long

BG2 forum would be probably better for it

@Celeborn
hey, we have almost the same gaming style

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Mon Sep 22, 2003 3:06 pm

1. Nope dont care
2. I always have a healer, but potions enough in the game. But i like healers more cause they also have some good offensive spells
3. Nope, never cheat in RPG's that just ruins the game
4. Untill now i always had a fullparty, next run i want to try 3/4 sized party
5. Completed: never (i'm so ashamed, but i always start over, and now i'm to hooked up on Lionheart to continue, but i will finish the game)
Started over: I think about 20 times like in every RPG that I play
6. I first want to finish it unmodded, but i'm looking forward to the IWG2-mod (any news on this one BTW)
7. First try minimum, if that doesnt work, everything i got (and i always have 2 or more spellcasters)
8. Sometimes, unlike in RPG's like BG i found almost every battle rather tough so i rest often cause i mainly rely on my spellcasters. So battles take a long time, but that has it's charme
9. Most of the times I reload if someone dies, if more then 1person dies i reload.
10. Most of the times in the first trie of a battle, I ususally see waht strengt/weaknesses the enemy has
11. Once i start it, i finish it.
12. Right away, never though about that second option.

Celeborn · Post by **Celeborn** » Mon Sep 22, 2003 5:40 pm

Thanks for the response, I hope more will chime in. Glad you liked the questions Gaal Dornick feel free to port them to another forum if you care to have the same discussion with another game, BG2 for instance. I just recently purchased BG2, but I'm trying to avoid getting too distracted from finishing IWDII first. I definitely have the same affliction as Stilgar. I don't know why I have such a hard time finishing these games. Maybe they take me too long and I get distracted. Of course, I've only played BG1 and Diablo2 (don't know if you would call Diablo 2 a CRPG). Played BG1 nearly to the end twice. Completed Diablo 2 at least, with most the player classes even. I'm determined to finish iwdii at least once, but I've hit a bit of a slump in ch6. I started a solo sorc game where I've changed my style a bit: rest often and making more of a medium (instead of minimalist) effort in battles. Although I do try to use up all spells before I rest. Anyway that game is going really easy and seems a bit more fun at the moment.

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Mon Sep 22, 2003 5:44 pm

Your gonna love BG2, less action, more story then IWD2.

Patrick · Post by **Patrick** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 2:07 am

I just thought I would throw in my two cents.
1}Rest minimally, always 8 hours never longer. I try to keep the game clock down. I am currantly in my second game with the same charactors from the first, Now Heart Of Fury. I have not finished it, but the game clock is going to be a close one, Around 75 days or so.
2}I heal with everything and anything. I have many items that have healing functions or charges in them and use them as the need arises. Potions are good but usally a Heal spell is my choice. I have a six charactor party, and all exept my Evoker can cast some sort of healing spell. I have a lot (tons) of healing. Multiple heals and party heals. The cleric I think, in this campaigne is the most effective charactor and probably my favorite.
3}I did cheat, let me explain. I basically used the DaleKeeper2 editor to add spell to my bards known avialible spells. I also added spells to my evokers memerized spells.(I think a wiz or sorc. are peaked out at 21st level any thing beyond that is basiclly a waste of time to me. So I went to 21st the started over as a monk. I have like 12 stone skins, not to mention a ton of other spells memerized. I added a coulpe spell to my one cleric and at the begining of my second run through the game I gave myself like 10,000,000 gold. That was so I did not miss any thing I needed and could not afford. I still sold all my stuff but I think I'm down Like half my funds plus I have all my holding Bags full of stuff
4}I like to have every class in my party for fun and variation and multiplicty of items.
5}started twice and finished once
6}I don't know much about mods, but would like to learn how they are implamented.
7}I attack with the best basicly unless It's completly unnecessary.
8}Every battle is a little different, terain, ect....
9} I hate to reload and sometimes quit if I have to, but There are times I do resurrect or raise dead, but if more than two, three tops die, I reload. This also aplies in case my cleric dies.
10}I would have to say every one of my charactors has gone on to embrace the afterlife at least a few times. Sad, but I failed the no death no reload part.
11}I don't usually run, but anything to save a life. If I do I usually send in a healer to met the party member with a heal as he/she runs by.
12}I level up as soon as I can, after the battle.

I'll make mine Targos

lightningpig · Post by **lightningpig** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 5:07 am

1. I am irrevocably bound by the game clock, I try to rest as few times as possible and for as short a time as possible. This is not due to role-playing in any way - to me the game clock is a statistic I can manipulate.

2. I use whatever is most efficient at a given time (spells, npcs, potions) - I never drink potions out of a fight. I can't say I've always used a healer because I've played solo a couple of times and having a healer can't be helped there. The distance I would travel for a healing potion is gauged against the oppurtunity cost - in other words, I compute which action (round trip vs. natural rest) would use up less game time.

3. I do not cheat - I have found a way however to get an experience pump in the game, but I avoid that. And there is the luck bonus, of course (Tymora's Loop rocks!) - but that isn't cheating.

4. 4 is the most balanced - but solo is always fun. I started out with six, and I've played that party through Heart of Fury.

5. Seven times at least, only two of those in the Heart of Fury - it does get boring after a while. I don't know how many new games I've tried (usually just to test a build).

6. No mods.

7. I use just what I need and nothing more, unless I am particularly angry that day and need a beat down fix.

8. I've tried many different ways to play the game, but nevertheless it goes by pretty quickly.

9. I reload when the result of the battle or encounter is not satisfactory, i.e. I've taken more damage or used more spells than would allow me to stretch the game clock further.

10. Not very often, but there are some particular areas which are consistently nettlesome.

11. I always finish my battles.

12. I level up whenever it's available. If I level up during a battle, I usually wait until that resolves, unless I am in dire need of the hit point boost.

Anyway, this is a very interesting survey; I hope more people participate. Good job, Celeborn.

Dead end · Post by **Dead end** » Fri Oct 10, 2003 8:52 am

My game

Very interesting

1.Usually care about the clock and trying to rest the fewere time. If i have enough potion/(healing spell i try to hela till i can sleep only 8 hours.

2.I have 1 cleric/healer in my party also because of offensive spell (tremor!!!). I try not to go back often but if no time is needed between two screen i can do it. I use healer b4 potions. NPC healing when needed but usually keep my money for other.

3.I don't cheat. Don't know nor look4 it. Only kind of cheat was in HOF at the beginning (my party was level 1) when goblin doesn't follow you behind a door leaving you the chance to attack then run then attack again...

4.My min party size is 4 liked becasuse more xp and more easy to move in battle. I like also 6 party cause you can include some class you would avoid in smaller party (bard, druid, etc). Solo party is interestinfg bu what i appreciate most in a battle is to procede sloooowly giving different action each character so it is less interesting.

5.Completed 2 (1 difficult and 1 HOF mode) Started 3 :i started my first game in hof and couldn't understand why 1 goblin was able to kill all my party without arriving to "almost dead" ;-)

6.no mod

7.Usually go with the best, after exploring with some thief the area (when possible).

8.I explore all. some battle can take one hour real time or even more. Idon't skip any enememy/battle.

9. Basically i don't use resurrection or raise dead. If one member of the party die i usually reload.

10.I don't die so often cause i explore b4 getting involved in battles. Sometimes is not possible (area entry).

11. Usually when i battle start i don't run (with the goblin in the house/cave exception in HOF in Targos)

12. I level up qfter a battle, only if there is some spare enemy around i kill without levelling.

Ghazghkull · Post by **Ghazghkull** » Tue Nov 18, 2003 2:47 pm

Very cool thread

1. no i don't care about the game clock, i try to minimize my time, i rest when i can t use good spell anymore ( i like to play caster and more in iw2 than other game), i just rest for 8 hours

2. i used 2 cleric both with the level 6 heal and mass heal, i always use at least 1 healer in my team, i use potion in critical situation.

3. no i don't cheat, but i used dalekeeper to test skills since iw2 rules were all new to me and i had to know and test them before make my team.

4. 6 player possible so i play 6 players, for iw2 i used 6 all the time, for bg2 i used 1 pc + 5 npc, 4 pc + 2 npc and 6 pc

5. 3 times, and hmm prolly about 20 started game til i find my final team.

6. i like to play the game without mod at all til i know it well, then test some mod can be interesting

7. i like to use all possibility when it s time to fight, when i rest, i usualy got like 2-3 spell usuable left and all char almost dead

8. i like to explore but i hate being stuck in a zone for hours cuz i forgot to loot the key on a corpse ;/

9. i try to avoid reload, i do reload when i can t loot all my teamate stuff since it can disapear ( like it happened to me already :/ ) , i use resurection when 1 someone is dead whatever is able ( pc or npc )
and sometimes when i feel to redo a battle might be interesting ( to test different tactics ) and even if i won i can reload

10. very rarely

11. i allow myself to run, but i dont think it happened already

12. Right away, never though about that second option.

my team for info was 2 cleric, 2 sorc, 1 rogue/mage and 1 war/barb. if u never saw what i call a mass destuction team then you should try this

Lizzt · Post by **Lizzt** » Wed Nov 26, 2003 9:27 am

I haven't played enough to give details on everything, but I always rest until healed.

Gherald · Post by **Gherald** » Wed Nov 26, 2003 11:45 pm

1. I rest for 8 hours, then use healing to bring my party up to 80-90% health.

2. I sort of dislike clerics in general, so my first time through IWD2 on "normal" difficulty I used a bard with the "non-combat war chant of the sith" mod, which was pretty cool. Although, when in a safe place I'll admit to using Ctrl+R just to speed the chant up at times, when my party was _really_ damaged and the wait would have been too long

My second time through the normal game + HoF on "Insane", I had a single-classed Battleguard of Tempus as my second tank, plus a single classed Morninglord of Lathander, so healing was fairly easy to come by.

I never use NPC clerics, their prices are outrageous!

3. I used dalekeeper to customize my characters' look... e.g. make a shield dwarf or halfling rogue look like a regular human, since short people are ugly... but thats not cheating. The only thing I do that might be considered cheating is using unlimited stacking mods, bottomless bags, and giving my party feats like "strong back" for free.... but thats just because I hate inventory management, it's not really cheating!

4. I generally use a full party of 6 because I like to work with a lot of different characters at once. To me, thats the attraction of BG and IWD as opposed to stuff like Diablo and NWN.

5. Well, I usually complete the "prologue" or "introduction", e.g. Targos in IWD2 and Athkatla in BG2, just to get a feel for the game. Then I start over and play through 80% of the game. Then I start over and finally finish it...

6. Do prefer the game with certain mods installed or do you prefer the un-modded game?

I love mods, but they must be of high-quality and non-disruptive for me to consider using them. In IWD2 I keep most of ease-of-use, undead targos, and bottomless ammo bags installed. But in particular, I don't use the "Improved Holy Avenger" and "Improved Bastard swords" components, since I think they go a little too far, especially the bastard sword one.

In BG2 I've used baldurdash, kelsey, tashia, solaufein, ease-of-use, and ascension, which I thought were all very well balanced.

7. I generally try a hard fight several times w/o resting, just to get a feel for it. If I don't fare well, I'll reload, rest, and come in with guns... err, wail of the banshees blazing

8. I like to do things as fast as possible. In particular, I click through dialogs VERY fast, because I am a speed reader. But I do open every box, and talk to every unique NPC. I don't do things like waste time pickpocketing everyone, though...

9. I probably reload on average 3x per major battle. I know thats a lot, but I like playing on "Insane" difficulty. Sure, I could reload less if I played on "Normal", but it just isn't as fun...

10. Well, working my way through "Insane" undead targos with lots of level 1 spellcasters, I'd say my characters die a lot! But once I get a couple chapters into the game, things get dandy and a character dies maybe one out of every 10 battles.

11. I'll run away if I have to... whatever it takes. On a smaller scale, in IWD2 I think it is very humorous to have a single pc run in circles around your party while the whole enemy force chases it.

12. Hrrrm, never thought of postponing level ups to get more exp. But that sounds like too much trouble to really be worth it. I guess what I usually end up doing is wait untill my whole party has enough experience to level up all at once. That way I end up doing it when I am bored and not in the middle of something interesting.

Ubik · Post by **Ubik** » Thu Nov 27, 2003 2:42 am

Being a IWD2 Newbie (got the game 10 days ago) and having played only through last weekend (and that because ms Ubik was visiting mom

) I can give only limited feedback. But I’ll try – I am a BG-BG2 veteran after all

1. I try to keep it realistic – rest 8 hours out of 24. Sometimes I rest until healed, but only under certain circumstances.

2. All the healing available! I do have a healer (a multiclassed cleric-fighter, actually) in my current party, but he’s not much a healer, more a buffer-up and secondary tank. I am not reluctant into using potions – seems they abound anyway.

3. That would take away half the fun, I think. When I finish the game for the first time, I may used DK2 to create an uber-character and solo it, but for now no cheating.

4. I started over 5-6 times until I found what seems like the ideal party for my first run through the game. 4 is the number I prefer. Using tieflings and drow, a 6 person party advances too slow. 4 are also more manageable and with the multiclassing options they can deliver quite a punch.

5. None, yet. Restarted 5-6 times, until I found a pretty balanced party.

6. I’ll tell you when I finish the game un-modded. Said that, I enjoyed BG-BG2 mods a lot.

7. I do you go for a minimalist approach in battles, but when it doesn’t work out I use whatever I got.

8. Not really, I enjoy the pace – for the time being, at least.

9. In my first attempts I reloaded a lot. With this party I have yet to reload (just approaching the goblin fortress, so it’s pretty early). I do reload when I loose a character, at least when I have saved before the battle (I will NOT replay a large portion of the game in order to avoid to pay for resurrection).

10. This part I shall call “the immortals”

None of them has died as to yet. But the other parties… especially my first 6-person all-human, party… they fell like flies

11. Cheesy tactic, but I would use it when needed.

12. Having read a powergaming-guide, I realized that in advanced levels it seems to pay off not to level right away, but my party is still fairly low, so I haven’t yet tried it.

Tobias · Post by **Tobias** » Mon Dec 01, 2003 7:03 am

1. No I don't you care about the game clock. No I don't try to minimize your time. I rest generally when I run out of spells or to waste time on time dependent quests. Usually I rest for 8 Hours.

2. You name it I use it. Cleric usually. Never an npc except for resurrections if too low a level. Distance is usually to far so I just wait until I am passing by. I use healing potions sparingly often when party will die without them.

3. Not often and usually only when I have a suspicion of a bug, e.g. time travel. Favorite weapon=fireball.

4. 6 or solo- never in between funnily enough.

5. 4 and too many times.

6. Un-modded save patched and bug free.

7. Usually what is necessary to win, spells when I need the if my tanks are getting tired.

8. I like exploring the minutia of what's possible in each situation at least once then rush through the next time.

9. I reload lots the first time through, trying out different tactics but never to resurrect a character(s).

10. Rarely as I'm very cautious.

11. Run away!!!

12. Squat unless I cannot defeat a certain monster.

Another question might be:

13. Who plays bards and are they really as useless as they appear to be? I do and no they're not.

Lizzt · Post by **Lizzt** » Mon Dec 01, 2003 12:55 pm

I wasn't even aware there is a game clock. And if there is, I'm sure ignoring it.

Patrick · Post by **Patrick** » Mon Dec 01, 2003 8:35 pm

Memo to LIZZT,
I beleieve if you hold you curser over the sun moon spinning globe thing in the lower right corner of the screen it will give you the currant game clock. Also when you save, this is you currant game time.

Galuf the Dwarf · Post by **Galuf the Dwarf** » Mon Dec 01, 2003 9:06 pm

Originally posted by Patrick
Memo to LIZZT,
I beleieve if you hold you curser over the sun moon spinning globe thing in the lower right corner of the screen it will give you the currant game clock. Also when you save, this is you currant game time.

Correct, Patrick. Also, if you click on the wizard's eyes, you can toggle the artificial intelligence (AI) on and off (glowing yellow = on, not glowing = off).

My favorite playing style, for IWD 2, incorporates alot of melee accompanied with massive spellcasting (coming from my arcane and divine casters), and my rogue coming in from behind or the side of a target (my warriors providing a diversion by engaging in melee) and pulling off a sneak attack.

Surprisingly, if I have a Bard, I generally use them as a compination of warrior, caster, healer, and rogue in one (though I will have character types to cover these departments anyways).

Patrick · Post by **Patrick** » Mon Dec 01, 2003 10:25 pm

Memo to Tobias, I appoligize I should have posted this last post.
I had a Bard/ Ranger 13th in each after heart of fury. She was a total tank, up there with my paladin26 and sheild dwarf fighter6/ cleric20. I had a great deal od role playing genius with this female charactor. I would love to play a straight bard to 26th level or there abouts to see her/him peak in spell progession.

I am not sure, I have never played a sorcerer, but I feel this class is comprable to one, maybe with an edge.

Well sorry to ramble this thread but I consider it addional to what I have already posted, and this is all acording to role playing style not criticle cheese.

Back to you Celeborn,.................

Lizzt · Post by **Lizzt** » Tue Dec 02, 2003 12:42 pm

Other than to track the days and months, why is there a game clock? I haven't paid any attention to it at all, and I've read that I can take my time, that there is no set limit to anything.

As for my style, I'm trying an all-melee party, with just a cleric for healing.

My party is led by Zima, a half-elf female bard. She has the charisma and diplomacy skills, plus a feat in the bow.

The rest of the party:

Beckah - Human female barbarian, dodge ability

Hackack - Half-orc male barbarian, greatsword proficiency

Nicotinius - Human Monk, proficiency with the axe.

D'a**** - Human male fighter with axe, bow, hammer, and ambidexterity.

Theodore - Human male cleric, with a mace proficiency.

The censors here blocked the name of my male fighter. His name is basically 'dash it' with the D' and the rest after.

Also, I'm not multiclassing anyone. I want to concentrate on pure fighting, and keeping everyone single class as they level up.

I hope this way to have a party that doesn't require a sorcerer or wizard.

Ubik · Post by **Ubik** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 4:12 am

update on my super-4 party

-----MINOR SPOILERS-------------

After some minor difficulties in the goblin fort, and after quick (due to splitting the XP only between 4 members) leveling up, the party has sliced it's way through the glacier and Ice Temple like a hot knife through butter.

It is not fun - this party is far too easy to manage and play with, too darn easy (and I am playing on highest - save HOF - difficulty). So I started again with a five-person party, ALL-level penalized races (Drow, Aasimar and Tiefling, to be precise) to make leveling up a bit slower. I played around with the idea of an all-drow party, but decided against it.

I'll keep you updated (if you are interested, that is

)