Hey guys (and gals),
Is it possible to export your BG2 character to Icewind Dale?
I'm no-where near finishing BG2 but I found a really good price for the Icewind Dale box set with all the expansion thingies. They have it on special.
I worried, though, that I won't be able to export my BG2 character and I'll have to start all over again....
It won't be that bad but I like my current PC.
Exporting to Icewind Dale
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Galuf the Dwarf
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[QUOTE=tirann]Hey guys (and gals),
Is it possible to export your BG2 character to Icewind Dale?
I'm no-where near finishing BG2 but I found a really good price for the Icewind Dale box set with all the expansion thingies. They have it on special.
I worried, though, that I won't be able to export my BG2 character and I'll have to start all over again....
It won't be that bad but I like my current PC.[/QUOTE]
No, you can't export your character into either of the IWD games for these reasons:
- The rulesets for BG2, IWD, and IWD2 all differ. The big difference is that IWD2 is based upon 3rd Edition Dungeons & Dragons, while BG2 and IWD are Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (a.k.a.: 2nd Edition). IWD had some differences in some rules (someone else would be able to specify) than BG2, so that wouldn't work out either. Neverwinter Nights was supposed to allow your BG2 character to be exported into it, but the change from AD&D to 3rd Edition made that impossible, and so that idea was abandoned. Besides, your character would have to be reworked and wouldn't be the same.
- IWD and IWD2 are not in the same timeline as BG2.
Minor
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The Icewind Dale games take place almost 100 years before the events that made the first Baldur's Gate game possible (i.e.: The Time of Troubles).
Sorry if it seems like I threw a monkey wrench in your plans, but this is the awful truth, unfortunately.
Is it possible to export your BG2 character to Icewind Dale?
I'm no-where near finishing BG2 but I found a really good price for the Icewind Dale box set with all the expansion thingies. They have it on special.
I worried, though, that I won't be able to export my BG2 character and I'll have to start all over again....
It won't be that bad but I like my current PC.[/QUOTE]
No, you can't export your character into either of the IWD games for these reasons:
- The rulesets for BG2, IWD, and IWD2 all differ. The big difference is that IWD2 is based upon 3rd Edition Dungeons & Dragons, while BG2 and IWD are Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (a.k.a.: 2nd Edition). IWD had some differences in some rules (someone else would be able to specify) than BG2, so that wouldn't work out either. Neverwinter Nights was supposed to allow your BG2 character to be exported into it, but the change from AD&D to 3rd Edition made that impossible, and so that idea was abandoned. Besides, your character would have to be reworked and wouldn't be the same.
- IWD and IWD2 are not in the same timeline as BG2.
Minor
S
P
O
I
L
E
R
The Icewind Dale games take place almost 100 years before the events that made the first Baldur's Gate game possible (i.e.: The Time of Troubles).
Sorry if it seems like I threw a monkey wrench in your plans, but this is the awful truth, unfortunately.
Dungeon Crawl Inc.: It's the most fun you can have without 3 midgets and a whip! Character stats made by your's truly!
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Bloodstalker
- Posts: 15512
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http://www.mud-master.com/dalekeeper/index.html
You can get Dalekeeper there. I wouldn't recommend re-creating your character the way he/she will be at the end of BG. IWD is set up to start your party out at level 1. Starting with the level you would have from completeing BG will destroy any challenge the game has.
You can get Dalekeeper there. I wouldn't recommend re-creating your character the way he/she will be at the end of BG. IWD is set up to start your party out at level 1. Starting with the level you would have from completeing BG will destroy any challenge the game has.
Lord of Lurkers
Guess what? I got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell!
Guess what? I got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell!
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Galuf the Dwarf
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[QUOTE=tirann]No, that's cool. Is there a SK or similar program for IWD that I can use to 're-create' my character in IWD?[/QUOTE]
Well, there is DaleKeeper, but I don't know how well you could 're-create him'.
However, here are some of the good things about Icewind Dale 2:
- Sub-races. Each race has some distinct sects of their kind that differ so much from the majority of the races. For example, a Gold Dwarf (who hail from the southern reaches of Faerun) gains a bonus to Constitution like Shield Dwarves (what is the classic Dwarf in the Forgotten realms), but have a penalty to Dexterity instead of Charisma.
- Differences in ability scores. Bonuses from stats come with every 2 - or every even - points. Example: A Half-Orc Barbarian with 20 Strength (the natural maximum it can have at creation) would get a +5 to attack and damage rolls. Also, a spellcaster needs 2 points to gain extra spells, and a minimum of 19 in one stat to access 9th-level spells (but that wouldn't be until you reach rather high levels, which won't be for a LONG time).
- Skills. Different classes require points in certain things to be really able to do their jobs. For instance, a Halfling Rogue needs points in Hide and Move Silently to sneak past opponents successfully. You could say the same thing for many skills.
- Feats. You get a certain number of these throughout the game, and they vary in usage. Combat feats, such as Whirlwind Attack, have requirements to be used, such as minimum stats, other feats, or what-not. The manual and the in-game glossary can define them all.
- Every 4 levels, you can add another point to the stat of your choice. Care to make your mage more intelligent? Go ahead!
Sound interesting?
Well, there is DaleKeeper, but I don't know how well you could 're-create him'.
However, here are some of the good things about Icewind Dale 2:
- Sub-races. Each race has some distinct sects of their kind that differ so much from the majority of the races. For example, a Gold Dwarf (who hail from the southern reaches of Faerun) gains a bonus to Constitution like Shield Dwarves (what is the classic Dwarf in the Forgotten realms), but have a penalty to Dexterity instead of Charisma.
- Differences in ability scores. Bonuses from stats come with every 2 - or every even - points. Example: A Half-Orc Barbarian with 20 Strength (the natural maximum it can have at creation) would get a +5 to attack and damage rolls. Also, a spellcaster needs 2 points to gain extra spells, and a minimum of 19 in one stat to access 9th-level spells (but that wouldn't be until you reach rather high levels, which won't be for a LONG time).
- Skills. Different classes require points in certain things to be really able to do their jobs. For instance, a Halfling Rogue needs points in Hide and Move Silently to sneak past opponents successfully. You could say the same thing for many skills.
- Feats. You get a certain number of these throughout the game, and they vary in usage. Combat feats, such as Whirlwind Attack, have requirements to be used, such as minimum stats, other feats, or what-not. The manual and the in-game glossary can define them all.
- Every 4 levels, you can add another point to the stat of your choice. Care to make your mage more intelligent? Go ahead!
Sound interesting?
Dungeon Crawl Inc.: It's the most fun you can have without 3 midgets and a whip! Character stats made by your's truly!
Graphics and gameplay wise IWD, IWDII, BG, BGII, and even PS:T all use the same engine with very slight variations as the times progressed and certain needs were met on a game to game basis, but the only two games in which characters can be transfered are from bg to BGII. I would say grab IWD because it's definately worth it if you can find a package deal on expansions and such. IWD is definately worth playing if you liked the BG series, but instead of being a balance between roleplay and hack n slash it's predominantly hack n slash. This isn't a bad thing because noone ever said otherwise. I've never palyed IWDII so I couldn't really tell you what's it's like, but I do know it's the same basic setting as IWD but used 3E rules instead of AD&D like the rest of the games mentioned. The order in which they were released is as follows: BG 11/30/1998, PS:T 11/30/1999, IWD 6/29/2000, BGII 9/22/2000, and IWDII 8/26/2002
"I'll take the stupid one who decided to threaten us, instead of shoot us when he had the chance" - Bao-Dur
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Galuf the Dwarf
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- Joined: Wed May 07, 2003 11:00 am
- Location: Connecticut, a place of open land, hills, forests,
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[QUOTE=tirann]Hmm, sounds interesting... I think I will get IWD anyway.
What is the difference between IWD 1 and 2? Should I play one then the other (never played BG1, only BG2)
They were both made after BG2 though... right?
How do they differ from BG2? Graphics, interface etc?[/QUOTE]
No, IWD1 was made before BG2. IWD2 came after BG2.
Like Skuld mentioned, all three game use the same game engine - the famed Infinity' engine. However, the interface differs between all three games (I've read of the differences between the IWD1 and IWD2 interfaces in a magazine article about IWD2 before it came out). I've only really seen the in-game graphics of both BG2 and IWD2, and I can say that little has changed between those two games, except that some newer monster models (mostly of monsters that never appeared in BG2) are in IWD2. Unfortunately, I'll have to leave it to someone else who has played IWD1 to fully describe the graphics in there.
The IWD2 interface has some nifty things going for it. For instance, the game allows you to switch between 4 different sets of weapons. You can have a fighter go from one set of weapons thats, say, a sword and shield, to a crossbow that's one of your other weapon sets. Remeber how bothersome it was to switch between different types of weapons in BG2? Not such with IWD2!
For back-story purpose, I'd advise to play IWD1 first. Still, don't expect to export characters from IWD1 to IWD2. The differentces in rules (particularly in how characters and classes function) make the games incompatible. Overall, you'll understand some story stuff from IWD2 by playing IWD1.
What is the difference between IWD 1 and 2? Should I play one then the other (never played BG1, only BG2)
They were both made after BG2 though... right?
How do they differ from BG2? Graphics, interface etc?[/QUOTE]
No, IWD1 was made before BG2. IWD2 came after BG2.
Like Skuld mentioned, all three game use the same game engine - the famed Infinity' engine. However, the interface differs between all three games (I've read of the differences between the IWD1 and IWD2 interfaces in a magazine article about IWD2 before it came out). I've only really seen the in-game graphics of both BG2 and IWD2, and I can say that little has changed between those two games, except that some newer monster models (mostly of monsters that never appeared in BG2) are in IWD2. Unfortunately, I'll have to leave it to someone else who has played IWD1 to fully describe the graphics in there.
The IWD2 interface has some nifty things going for it. For instance, the game allows you to switch between 4 different sets of weapons. You can have a fighter go from one set of weapons thats, say, a sword and shield, to a crossbow that's one of your other weapon sets. Remeber how bothersome it was to switch between different types of weapons in BG2? Not such with IWD2!
For back-story purpose, I'd advise to play IWD1 first. Still, don't expect to export characters from IWD1 to IWD2. The differentces in rules (particularly in how characters and classes function) make the games incompatible. Overall, you'll understand some story stuff from IWD2 by playing IWD1.
Dungeon Crawl Inc.: It's the most fun you can have without 3 midgets and a whip! Character stats made by your's truly!
I haven't played IWD I, but I played and loved IWD2. It's a bit frustrating on character creation because all of your characters will be relatively weak, and even with the extra point every 4 levels, feats, and a ridiculously high experience point cap (I never even got close, even with three characters), your IWD characters will never be as powerful as your BG2 characters. However, the game is still awesome. Feats, just like in real 3rd ed, can make the game much more enjoyable because they allow you to truly customize your character, or they can make the game much less enjoyable because many of the feats are just cheesy. But that leads into my 3rd edition rant and really isn't the fault of IWD2.
It's a great game, and definitely worth the money.
Random sidenote: Soloing IWD2 is very difficult. The game just keeps adding more and more enemies linearly with level increases. If you don't play a drow, duergar, or deep gnome, you'll be overwhelmed a quarter of the way through the game. Still fun as heck, though.
It's a great game, and definitely worth the money.
Random sidenote: Soloing IWD2 is very difficult. The game just keeps adding more and more enemies linearly with level increases. If you don't play a drow, duergar, or deep gnome, you'll be overwhelmed a quarter of the way through the game. Still fun as heck, though.
While everyone's extolling the virtues of the various Black Isle games that have been released, let's not forget Planescape Torment. Personally that was my favorite out of all of them. Less running around this zone to that zone doing menial chores and such for one.
But the game itself was WEIRD...
But the game itself was WEIRD...
Tact is for people not witty enough to be sarcastic