Playing style

[Valahan]

I like going into detail...


1 - Game Clock : No, I don't really care about game clock. Not in IWD2, IWD1 or any of the BG Games and what not. I rest after battles ONLY if I am heavily damaged. I rest for days at a time usually.

2 - Healing : I only use healing potions in critical situations, and they cost alot!! I usually don't return to Healers, since I usually rest after battles.

3 - Cheating : I have played (extensively)BG1 & TotSC, BG2: SoA and ToB, IWD & HoW & TotL, and IWD2(just started). I never cheat when I first start. But eventually I do, once I get used to the game and I hate travelling from one area to the next(ctrl+J to move around real quick[explored areas only] and ctrl+R to heal after battle[doesn't require 10 seconds to rest]. Seldom used createitem in any of the games.

4 - Party Size : Well, in BG1 I had 6PC and beat it. Re-done with a 4 PC Party. BG2 I played with 3(funnest party), a Cavalier, an Assassin and a Sorcerer(on hardest setting, all are maximum levels, all items i wanted found/obtained, most side quests finished, no cheats used[hardest fights in the game... Final Seals - Watcher's Keep | hardest area... Watcher's Keep/Beholder Tunnels!]). IWD1 I had a 3 party(fighter/sorcerer/rogue). IWD2... I only just got it 3 days ago and so I am just now getting used to all these 3e rules. I think I will try a 4 party(solo too hard).

5 - Complete : I have not completed the game yet. I have started at least 10 times... Still getting used to these feats/useless skills(most) and the new multiclass system(pain in the butt!).

6 - Mods : Well I have some mods installed, basically the Ease-of-Use mod. Not all components are installed. Basically stackable items, Holy Avenger 2handed + fixed, bug fixes, skip Square Battle(no clue where this is, doubt I will ever use it tho), and Item Randomization(not that good a thing... I found a tower shield off a goblin because of this, like gimme a break, and bucklers are never found anymore)

7 - Battles & Spells : Well, my BG2 Party was highly dependent of my Sorcerer(always Stoneskin/Blur/Mirror Image/Improved Invisible) to kill the BIG bosses(dragons etc.). Time Stop + Greater Alacrity + cast time reduction items(robe of Vecna, Staff of Magi etc) + 2 Lower Res + 2 Greater Malison + Horrid Wilting + 2 Finger of Death(optional) + Comet + Dragons Breath, GG bosses. If not dead yet, resort to Ray of Enfeeblement and Contagion, then let the Cavalier/Assassin finish it off. Like I said, I usually rest if I need healing, also applies to Spells wasted(I waste alot, hehe)

8 - Battle Speed : I have a solo fighter in IWD2, I can't beat the 'bridge part' in Chapter 1... ? where the ogres are chopping the bridge up and you gotta stop them... I die all the time. Nothing I do is possible in that battle. It's slow when all there is are like, 50 orcs and it takes about 3 hits to kill them each... takes forever.

I have come to the conclusion that, until I understand all the new rules and multi-classing, that it is impossible for me to solo(so different from BG2)

9 - Reload : In BG2 I barely reloaded... no, I never did. And I reloaded 400 times in IWD2 at the bridge, and it's on EASY(always play through game first time on easy, then go normal, then one higher, etc)!!!!

10 - PC Death : BG2, never! IWD2, alot(because of solo and only at tough battles)

11 - Run/Escape : If I can run, I do(I did in the cave behind Torak, almost died! but I did get selune's moonblade!)

12 - Leveling : I level right away...

I like to clear and explore every area... hence why Beholder Tunnels was such a pain in the keister!

@Tobias: I had a party of 4 bards in BG2! They rocked the house! Casting spells like a wizard and singing songs, and using xbows and 2handed swords... it was fun! Bards are good!

[CobraCommander]

1. No, not really.
2. My cleric does this job, filling the role of second line tank to (Battleguard with throwing axes)
3. I like using Dalekeeper to implement my p&p characters or bring favoured ones from other AD&D games in. Sometimes I roll dice to determine characters. I really don`t like the point buying system without random elements. It turns the holy procedure of dice-rolling in something like my annual tax declaration IMHO.
4. Six this time. Probably two or three less next.
5. 1. And 4.
6. Unmodded this time.
7. It really depends on the enemy. Usually stoneskin on the arcanes. More buffing if I think it`s necessary.
8. I like the great battles in the game (f.e. the bridge, the lost followers...). The frequent mini battles versus few enemies are not so interesting and IMO unrealistic.
In the dragon eye you often have 1 sorcerer charging you without any fighter support nearby. That`s plain stupid.
9. Only if I made grave tactical mistakes.
10. Very rarely. That`s what`s the cleric for... I use micromanagement and swapping of the frontline characters to prevent fatalities.
11. Not for save&heal but sometimes a fighting retreat to a better position e.g. a narrow passage.
12. When I see it`s possible it`s level-up-time but usually not in a running battle (with the exception of my sorcerer; new spells in the middle of fighting are very nice).

[BlueEdge]

1. Clock thing- Nope not really, unless theres a secret unlocked by time but usually i like taking my time and training.

2. I use my clerics if it isnt an emergency, potions if it is and my paladin if i'm bored.

3. Usually in other games I cheat, but for this game I haven't cheated.

4. I just used the max (6) because I thought the more people helping the better)

5. 0, going to Dragon's Eye for the first time now

6. Havent tried modding

7. Currently one of my favourite strategies is to summon as many animate dead undead things I can and then have my rogue run around in cloak and have the undead kill, and its great since the undead don't disapper unless they die or I sleep/leave the map. Or else I just go attack with my characters, focus on one creature (usually the one with spells or the one that is killing me) and then let them kill whoever they want. I use speels every so often.

8. I try to get every single free and nice item in the game and keeping it (I haven't used any of my rare potions so far except for the thymn extract because I had to)

9. I recently reloaded like 10 times while trying to kill the guardian in the crossroads (super hard)

10. If they die I reload because then they lsoe a level right?

11.I usually just fight it ot and if I die then i reload.

12. Nope only when i remember. ^^;;

[Sirperry]

1. Do you care about the game clock?

Well I try not to waste time (I'm saving the world after all) but I also like to explore (so I don't miss things). I only rest when I run low on spells (I always have at least 1 mage and 1 cleric) or need to (for whatever reason).

2. How much and what kind of healing do you use?

I use whatever is available. My current party has a Cleric, a Paladin and a Ranger (multi-classed to Cleric among others) so healing is easy to come by. I would rather pay somebody else to heal me (if it's handy) than waste my own spells. I won't travel to find a healer though.

3. Do you cheat at all?

Define cheat. No, seriously, I rarely do. But I will use cheesy tactics (the computer does it!) like picking off enemies 1 by 1 and Fireballing from the edge of the screen. After beating the game several times I might play around with editors and such, but only when I start getting tired of the game.

4. Party size?

Always a party of 6. I don't mind sharing the XP, I do like having lots of options in battle and roleplay.

5. How many times have you completed the game?

I am in chapter 6 my 1st time thru. Nearly done !

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

I play with nothing but patches and bugfixes untill i start getting tired of the game.

7. Do you go for a minimalist approach in battle

Yes. Althought sometimes it is nice to leave behind a trail of destruction.

8. Do you feel like the game plays a bit slow

No, but after playing thru a couple times it might be. I like to go through slowly, explore and roleplay.

9. Do you reload a lot or try to avoid it?

I reload when I am unhappy with the outcome of a battle. Usually when I loose a PC but sometimes i will reload just to try out other options or to see if I can do it better.

10. How often does one of your pc's die?

Not very often. Every 10 battles or so maybe.

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?


Not usually, but if I need to I will.

12. Do you level up right away

Yes, as soon as the battle is done.

BARDS

Bards rock. Mine usually just sings, but having an extra spellcaster has saved my but many a time. He is also a great back up fighter. Once they can sing the regenerating song, you rarely ever need to heal or rest again.