IWD 1 vs 2?

Borsook · Post by **Borsook** » Thu May 26, 2005 3:17 pm

Hi everybody. I haven't played IWD 1 as yet, but I finished IWD 2 and was taken aback by several things (e.g. "Welcome enemy! I shall answer all your questions and will fight" and general predictability of the plot). I've seen at least one opinion that is IWD 1 is better... and that's my question is the plot of 1 more interesting than 2? Or is it just as poorly written?

Erenor · Post by **Erenor** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 2:20 am

Both games are pertty linear, because they are dedicated to combat more than anything else. Icewind Dale is probably organized better than IDII, simply because it's the first game and has very little to follow. The storyline is less predictable, overall, in the first of the two titles. If you want a real twist, complete the first one and try the Trials of the Luremaster Expansion for some variety.

Brynn · Post by **Brynn** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 4:18 am

I think I like IWD2's scenes better.

Borsook · Post by **Borsook** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 7:05 am

Thanx for the reply.

Philos · Post by **Philos** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 3:36 pm

IWD vs IWD2

Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. I liked using AD&D version 3 in IWD2 and I agree that many of the graphics had been improved. But for amount of gameplay IWD to me was better since it has 2 expansions, Heart of Winter and Trials of the Luremaster. The IWD pack with 1 & 2 and HOW was a great value. You can get TotLM from a download site. Both are worthwhile, I lean slightly to IWD with its expansions. Without expansions I would take IWD2.

midnight_storm · Post by **midnight_storm** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 1:35 pm

How good is icewind dale? I've been debating on which game to purchase and complete next and I'm not really made of money, so I'm not sure if I should get this game or another that might be better.

Borsook · Post by **Borsook** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 2:15 pm

I only know IWD2 well... it has it's flaws (especially the plot at times, though at some points it's written very well) But as a whole it's a very good game, the best interface of all IE games, 3e rules, a lot of races/subraces to choose from, classe/race of character changing NPC reaction, interesting & challenging combat, great music, quite high difficulty level, and decent length. I'd imagine it can't be expensive right now so I'd say get it! Unless you don't like tactical combat that much...

midnight_storm · Post by **midnight_storm** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 10:12 pm

no, i like tactical combat
it's fun

alright
i've made up my mind
i'll get both of them

Curry · Post by **Curry** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 4:10 pm

IMO IWD1 is pretty crap. The plot is very linear and dull, IWD2 is much more interesting but neither beat BG1.

midnight_storm · Post by **midnight_storm** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 6:36 pm

awww!
now what would i do without BG
without it, i wouldn't be able to square of against liches that think they're bad to the bone and kick their arses every time(almost)

zmeii · Post by **zmeii** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 3:59 pm

I have played all of IWD series + all of BG with all expansions. On the top, in my oppinion, i s BG - magificient game! IWD I - interesting, but too many fights, not much role playing; IWD II - I enjoyed finishing it three times up to now - according to me it is better than one, very close to BG II - it's worth playing!

Philos · Post by **Philos** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 9:49 am

BG really is the best!!

As much as I enjoy both IWDs, BG is the best of the group. BG far outstrips IWD in depth and scope.

If IWD 1 didn't have the expansions it would be nearly as good. The expansions are the big bonus for it. I really like IWD 2 with the 3rd edition rules but wish it had expansions, I am finishing the underdark and dreading coming to the end of it.

Borsook · Post by **Borsook** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 9:54 am

While story of BG is as much supirior to IWD series as possible, IWD has better combat & pacing.

Coming back to the top, I'm just playing IWD1 and I must say I enjoy the storyline much more than in 2... though the rest (combat, difficulty etc) is better in 2. But 1 has 3d fog which I really miss in IWD2

keeB · Post by **keeB** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 2:13 pm

Really a Fan of 1, because i'm used to the 2ed Rules..

BG will never be touched, and therefore is probably the best crpg ever made.

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 1:57 pm

IMO, Icewind Dale 1 has a better storyline than IWDII.

The sequel felt less original as it used Dragon's Eye and Kuldahar again and felt more hack 'n' slash rather than a better balance of puzzles.

Lingwiloke · Post by **Lingwiloke** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 6:40 am

I've always liked IWD1 better.
In the beginning of IWD2 I kept feeling like I'm just walking down this one path without much choices and I have no idea what I was doing or any of the story lines...but then maybe I was comparing it to BG series where there are more choices in what to do.

I thought IWD2 have cooler graphics though, and a better villain story, but killing a dragon or demon and only get a bit of experience point seems so unrewarding... Plus I had a bard and just couldn't resist the temptation of letting him heal everyone....sort of takes the fun of the game a bit.

Endugu · Post by **Endugu** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 4:54 am

Im a bit late, but Id like to add my 0.2c to the topic.

In regards to IWD & BG: Both games' (IWD & BG) storylines can probably summed up in a sentence or two...its just that Baldur has much more dialogue and -related quests than Icewind Dale, so it seems to be less about combat.
I dont think Icewind Dale's Story is less complex or interesting than Baldur's Gate's; its just not presented as dramatically and is kept more in the background of things (and it doesnt expand upon a whole series of games).
To me, this is indeed one of the reasons why I prefer Icewind Dale (and Heart Of Winter + Trials Of The Luremaster) to its sequel and the Baldur's Gate series.
I simply find it to be much more interesting to play through the "backyard" of Fâerun instead of having to deal with a "major" storyline involving the settings pantheon and meeting lots of cameos (Drizzt, Elminster etc). This got probably to do with me not liking the Forgotten Realms setting.
Of course, to others, this is one of the selling points for Baldur's Gate.

Anyway, I derail; this isnt about Baldur's Gate vs. Icewind Dale, but about the Icewind Dale series itself.

So how do I see them?
Well, as Ive already written, I prefer the predecessor over its sequel.
This is partly due to the things already mentioned by others, i.e. weird villain dialogues, which are absent in Icewind Dale.
I also somehow like the 2nd Edition AD&D rules more than the new ones, perhaps because I tend to focus more on the characters and the game itself instead of the mechanics behind it ("which feats are the most useful?") and the balancing.

Anyway, overall I think Icewind Dale has a much more intense atmosphere than its sequel: Everything (locations, enemies, music) fits together and feels more "nordic" than in Icewind Dale 2. This has probably to do with Icewind Dale 2's plot that leads you to many different locations (underdark, Targos, chult, fellwood etc) instead of focusing more on the spine of the world and its dungeons. In this case, I think less variation is actualy a good thing and helps to create a specific atmosphere.
Thats not to say that Icewind Dale doesnt have variety! The Dragon's Eye, forlorn mountain temples, ancient elven and dwarven ruins, glaciers, barbarian camps, burial isles etc are all there - but those are locations that are more tuned to the spirit of the place instead of having variety for variety's sake.
On the same note, the encounters in Icewind Dale are more interesting to me, because they, too, fit the setting (see a pattern here?) and somehow "make sense", i.e. they are for the most time not just a bunch of seemingly random selected monsters that are thrown at the party, like Icewind Dale 2 sometimes does (but there it is perhaps partly due to the storyline).

Besides that, I find Icewind Dale 2 to be much more "over the top" in regards to magic and fantasy, which, if you are someone who dislikes "high magic" settings like me, is not something you can look forward to.
I dont know if this is at least partly because of the 3rd Edition D&D rules, the inclusion of subraces (both are absent from Icewind Dale) or simply the designer's decisions to "top" its prequel...but you wont find as much teleporting goblin hordes, demons, dragons and such in the first game. Instead its more about battling orcs, trolls, undead, yuan-ti and the like. One could say its more "classic dungeon crawl" in this aspect. At least in the beginning.

Oh yeah, there are also fewer outdoor locations than in Icewind Dale 2, but not that many.

The storyline itself is much more local instead of Icewind Dale 2's epic "save the world from the gathered armies of the enemies". Of course, the fate of the north is still in your hands - but this time, the enemy is much more subtle in his scheming.

If you include the two expansion packs for Icewind Dale Id also say its bigger than its sequel. At least if I remember correctly.

All that said, I actually prefer Icewind Dale 2's interface and some minor things like the "useable landscape" (clicking on timbers frex), the spell icons etc.

Ok, so this was longer than I thought it would be...

As you may have noticed, my rambling concentrated much more on the "feel" of the games instead of the actual gameplay (difficulty, number of spells, balancing etc). This is just because I set my priorities this way and I also think other people can, and have already, give you more advice on those other parts.

Coot · Post by **Coot** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 6:06 am

IMHO the only things worthwhile about IWD2 were the 3e rules and the music. It was clearly made to earn some fast and easy money.
In PS:T, the BG-series and even IWD there was evidence that the guys making it cared about the game... I never, ever got that feeling in IWD2. I don't buy games easily and therefore I'm almost never sorry I acquire one, but I am sorry I bought IWD2.