Right, kmonster ...
I did accept pretty early rolls. I had to go do something else (watch the Dallas Mavericks beat the San Antonio Spurs for the Western Regional Title -- I moved to Dallas from San Antonio and love basketball, only that could tear me away). But I wanted to see what the Community would say to the first attempt before going into hundred-roll territory. In my haste I left out my cleric:
Dwarf Cleric: Str 18 (Halfling, you say? Will try that)
Dex 17
Con 18
Int 4
Wis 18
Cha 3
Proficiencies: Missile Weapons+
Hammers+
I am going to try to get the second Str number up for the Fighters, which I understand will increase DAM as Raedwulf described.
I tried but failed to save my character creations this time. I gather from what you said that you create one character, start the game with him and export him right away, and repeat this process until all six are created and exported. Then you don't have to create all at one sitting and start up a game with them to save them. I'm going to try to do one character and get him saved tonight and see if it works.
Many thanks again.
Character Death (Possible Spoiler)
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Murphypacker
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Here is my crew ...
all exported to and saved into a game. I think I'll go with these, unless someone detects a fatal error or a fixable flaw.
Leader - Human Bard:
Str 18
Dex 17
Con 16
Int 18
Wis 3
Cha 16
Proficiencies: Bows+, Large Swords+
Half-elf Fighter/Thief:
Str 18/97
Dex 18
Con 18
Int 18
Wis 14
Cha 5
Proficiencies: Crossbows++, Large Swords++
Human Ranger:
Str 18/80
Dex 18
Con 18
Int 12
Wis 18
Cha 5
Proficiencies: Bows++, Great Swords++
Favored Enemy: Cadaverous Undead
Halfling Cleric:
Str 17
Dex 18
Con 18
Int 10
Wis 17
Cha 3
Proficiencies: Missile Weapons+, Maces+
Human Illusionist:
Str 18
Dex 18
Con 18
Int 18
Wis 8
Cha 8
Proficiencies: Missile Weapons+
Dwarf Fighter:
Str 18/96
Dex 17
Con 19
Int 12
Wis 8
Cha 3
Proficiencies: Bows++, Axes++
The spells I chose reflect the advice I got from y'all: I won't list them.
This party is vastly better than my original, thanks to you all --that's obvious. Anything I really should change?
all exported to and saved into a game. I think I'll go with these, unless someone detects a fatal error or a fixable flaw.
Leader - Human Bard:
Str 18
Dex 17
Con 16
Int 18
Wis 3
Cha 16
Proficiencies: Bows+, Large Swords+
Half-elf Fighter/Thief:
Str 18/97
Dex 18
Con 18
Int 18
Wis 14
Cha 5
Proficiencies: Crossbows++, Large Swords++
Human Ranger:
Str 18/80
Dex 18
Con 18
Int 12
Wis 18
Cha 5
Proficiencies: Bows++, Great Swords++
Favored Enemy: Cadaverous Undead
Halfling Cleric:
Str 17
Dex 18
Con 18
Int 10
Wis 17
Cha 3
Proficiencies: Missile Weapons+, Maces+
Human Illusionist:
Str 18
Dex 18
Con 18
Int 18
Wis 8
Cha 8
Proficiencies: Missile Weapons+
Dwarf Fighter:
Str 18/96
Dex 17
Con 19
Int 12
Wis 8
Cha 3
Proficiencies: Bows++, Axes++
The spells I chose reflect the advice I got from y'all: I won't list them.
This party is vastly better than my original, thanks to you all --that's obvious. Anything I really should change?
Your first attempt was already more than good enough for the game, your second party is even stronger ...
But I would reroll the cleric.
Halflings can have 19 dex and 18 wis. One extra dex would give +1 missile thac0 bonus and one extra wis an extra level4 spell. Int is useless, but it shouldn't be very difficult to roll a total of 85 if you don't want to decrease it.
I'd also reroll the bard. 18 instead of 17 dex gives +5 pickpocket and +1 AC which can be a lifesaver since bards are nearly as vulnerable as mages. A total of 88 isn't that great for a bard since bard rolls are usually about 5 better than most other rolls. (My HE bard had a total of 98.)
It's not that bad that none of your characters has 18/00 strength, the strength spell (level2 mage or bard) can increase it to 18/00 for several hours.
But you can of course try to roll 18/00 for your ranger if you like rolling ...
But I would reroll the cleric.
Halflings can have 19 dex and 18 wis. One extra dex would give +1 missile thac0 bonus and one extra wis an extra level4 spell. Int is useless, but it shouldn't be very difficult to roll a total of 85 if you don't want to decrease it.
I'd also reroll the bard. 18 instead of 17 dex gives +5 pickpocket and +1 AC which can be a lifesaver since bards are nearly as vulnerable as mages. A total of 88 isn't that great for a bard since bard rolls are usually about 5 better than most other rolls. (My HE bard had a total of 98.)
It's not that bad that none of your characters has 18/00 strength, the strength spell (level2 mage or bard) can increase it to 18/00 for several hours.
But you can of course try to roll 18/00 for your ranger if you like rolling ...
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Murphypacker
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kmonster, your suggestions sound worthwhile ...
would you mind my asking what would be the most foolproof way to reroll these characters? As I said, I already have them exported into a game which is ready to play, and I don't mind rerolling and fixing them but I would mind messing up altogether and having to pretty much start over and losing some of the good rolls I got for the other characters. Your export instructions were good, and I would be afraid to try it hit-or-miss.
would you mind my asking what would be the most foolproof way to reroll these characters? As I said, I already have them exported into a game which is ready to play, and I don't mind rerolling and fixing them but I would mind messing up altogether and having to pretty much start over and losing some of the good rolls I got for the other characters. Your export instructions were good, and I would be afraid to try it hit-or-miss.
You probably have a save from the very beginning before you changed your equipment or earned experience.
Load this game, go onto the character arbitration screen and delete one character you want to replace.
Then create a new character for this empty slot. If you are pleased add him/her to your party and save your game afterwards.
Repeat this if you want to replace another character.
Another method:
You can also export and save each of the characters you want to keep(choose a filename you can remember easily (like illusionist for your illusionist)) . You should be able to reimport them anytime just like the pregenerated characters.
Load this game, go onto the character arbitration screen and delete one character you want to replace.
Then create a new character for this empty slot. If you are pleased add him/her to your party and save your game afterwards.
Repeat this if you want to replace another character.
Another method:
You can also export and save each of the characters you want to keep(choose a filename you can remember easily (like illusionist for your illusionist)) . You should be able to reimport them anytime just like the pregenerated characters.
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Murphypacker
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kmonster, I did as you said, I think ...
I loaded the game, where I've done nothing but talked to Hrothgar, went into the character arbitration screen, clicked on Modify Character, but didn't get any options but DONE and EXIT. (I thought the character arbitration screen was just for multiplayer games.) Selecting the cleric's portrait did nothing, right or left click. What am I doing wrong? If this doesn't work I will just proceed as I am.
Also, I don't remember a 'Save' option when I was exporting. The importing all went well except for the dwarf fighter. I imported the fighter/thief OK, but when I went to import another FIGHTER the fighter/thief kept coming up. I just went ahead and recreated the dwarf fighter in the game.
Thanks again for all this help!
I loaded the game, where I've done nothing but talked to Hrothgar, went into the character arbitration screen, clicked on Modify Character, but didn't get any options but DONE and EXIT. (I thought the character arbitration screen was just for multiplayer games.) Selecting the cleric's portrait did nothing, right or left click. What am I doing wrong? If this doesn't work I will just proceed as I am.
Also, I don't remember a 'Save' option when I was exporting. The importing all went well except for the dwarf fighter. I imported the fighter/thief OK, but when I went to import another FIGHTER the fighter/thief kept coming up. I just went ahead and recreated the dwarf fighter in the game.
Thanks again for all this help!
When you load the game the "party formation" screen appears, where you have to click "done" to start the game.
(You can also get to this screen from the game via the character arbitration button, but then you have to click at "modify characters" before you can change anything.)
Instead of clicking "done" you can click at a character name (not at the picture), then a small window should open where you can click to delete this character.
You can create a new character for this empty slot afterwards.
About exporting: When you export a character by clicking export at the character screen you can choose a file name for the character file which you can import at the character creation screen.
You probably used FIGHTER for both characters, overwriting the first one with the second.
(You can also get to this screen from the game via the character arbitration button, but then you have to click at "modify characters" before you can change anything.)
Instead of clicking "done" you can click at a character name (not at the picture), then a small window should open where you can click to delete this character.
You can create a new character for this empty slot afterwards.
About exporting: When you export a character by clicking export at the character screen you can choose a file name for the character file which you can import at the character creation screen.
You probably used FIGHTER for both characters, overwriting the first one with the second.
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Murphypacker
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I found a way ...
I'm going out now, but when I get back to the computer I will try to work with Export to be able to name my exported character more specifically. As far as I could see, I had only the choice of the different single classes and that's how I overwrote my fighter. I am also failing to get my character arbitration screen working.
However, I've found a way to set up my party. I had created a separate game for each character and saved them. When you do this you have to put the character in the first, or party leader, slot for that game. So I've used up my game where the bard is the party leader -- it's got characters in it that need rerolling.
I have one where one of my 'keepers', the fighter/thief, would be the leader -- also one where the other 'keeper', the illusionist, is first. I'm going to go with the fighter/thief --hey, Robin Hood! I've already imported the illusionist into that game, and I will recreate and reroll the other four. Three of them we wanted to reroll (the cleric, I agree with you, we Must reroll), and the dwarf fighter got overwritten so I have to reroll him. Not a problem, it's easy to get a good roll for a dwarf fighter.
You know, I messed up that cleric by shortchanging his wisdom because the roll wouldn't let me increase Wis any more than 17. (Of course I would have taken the point from another ability if I could have.) So I thought I wouldn't be able to on any roll with a halfling, and since you recommended a halfling for cleric I thought that 17 would be OK. I see now it must have been just that particular roll -- to say a halfling couldn't be completely wise doesn't fit the logic of the game (my original dwarf cleric had 18 wis). I also see the need for full Wis for a cleric, thanks to you for pointing it out.
Well, out into the hard, cruel, dull world, and then back to rerolling!
I'm going out now, but when I get back to the computer I will try to work with Export to be able to name my exported character more specifically. As far as I could see, I had only the choice of the different single classes and that's how I overwrote my fighter. I am also failing to get my character arbitration screen working.
However, I've found a way to set up my party. I had created a separate game for each character and saved them. When you do this you have to put the character in the first, or party leader, slot for that game. So I've used up my game where the bard is the party leader -- it's got characters in it that need rerolling.
I have one where one of my 'keepers', the fighter/thief, would be the leader -- also one where the other 'keeper', the illusionist, is first. I'm going to go with the fighter/thief --hey, Robin Hood! I've already imported the illusionist into that game, and I will recreate and reroll the other four. Three of them we wanted to reroll (the cleric, I agree with you, we Must reroll), and the dwarf fighter got overwritten so I have to reroll him. Not a problem, it's easy to get a good roll for a dwarf fighter.
You know, I messed up that cleric by shortchanging his wisdom because the roll wouldn't let me increase Wis any more than 17. (Of course I would have taken the point from another ability if I could have.) So I thought I wouldn't be able to on any roll with a halfling, and since you recommended a halfling for cleric I thought that 17 would be OK. I see now it must have been just that particular roll -- to say a halfling couldn't be completely wise doesn't fit the logic of the game (my original dwarf cleric had 18 wis). I also see the need for full Wis for a cleric, thanks to you for pointing it out.
Well, out into the hard, cruel, dull world, and then back to rerolling!
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Murphypacker
- Posts: 70
- Joined: Fri May 06, 2005 9:03 pm
- Contact:
Party Done and Active in Easthaven
I ended up starting a game over and importing my keepers, rerolling the other four. All are now up to suggested standards!!
My bard is party leader, which was a suggestion I liked, and has his 18 dex and higher cha than before. I got 18/00 str for my ranger with 18 dex, con and wis. And I did get 19 dex and 18 wis for my cleric, but to do so I had to make her an elf. Halflings can't indeed, on any roll, get 18 wis -- they max out at 17. A bunch of races maxed out dex at 18. But she also has 18 str and con, so hopefully she will survive and not need 'resurrection'!
We've earned a gem with a bard song, bought enough gear (I hope) to be OK in battle, and the bard and the dwarf fighter went down in the cellar and took care of the beetles. So it's onward from there...
So, thanks a million to all of you, from mr_sir at the beginning to kmonster at the end, for getting the newbie off to a fine start! So we started with character death and went on to character birth. I bet this string gets to mean a lot to other newbies, if anyone else is taking up IWD anew these days!
I'm sure I'll have other questions as we go along, but I'll start another string if I do.
I ended up starting a game over and importing my keepers, rerolling the other four. All are now up to suggested standards!!
My bard is party leader, which was a suggestion I liked, and has his 18 dex and higher cha than before. I got 18/00 str for my ranger with 18 dex, con and wis. And I did get 19 dex and 18 wis for my cleric, but to do so I had to make her an elf. Halflings can't indeed, on any roll, get 18 wis -- they max out at 17. A bunch of races maxed out dex at 18. But she also has 18 str and con, so hopefully she will survive and not need 'resurrection'!
We've earned a gem with a bard song, bought enough gear (I hope) to be OK in battle, and the bard and the dwarf fighter went down in the cellar and took care of the beetles. So it's onward from there...
So, thanks a million to all of you, from mr_sir at the beginning to kmonster at the end, for getting the newbie off to a fine start! So we started with character death and went on to character birth. I bet this string gets to mean a lot to other newbies, if anyone else is taking up IWD anew these days!
I'm sure I'll have other questions as we go along, but I'll start another string if I do.
Your cleric being an elf shouldn't be a problem, it doesn't matter if you have to pay too much for "raise dead" or far too much for "resurrection" if you can just reload.
In my game halflings can have 18 wis (only gnomes are limited to 17) and elves have maximum dex of 19 and con of 17.
But this doesn't matter much, you can have a fun game with your party.
The character creation is the only part where you have to know the 2E rules, you'll hardly need them for the rest of the game, you can't change stats at level up anymore. Just remember that your party's AC and thac0 have to be as low as possible.
If you get into trouble now it's not because of your party (unless you forget to have your mage and bard scribe the scrolls you find).
You just have to develop the right tactics to get through the hard battles.
Here's some concluding advice for the start:
- make sure you have the "max HP at level up" option enabled.
- there is a key which highlights doors and the items you can take. Use it to avoid overlooking treasures.
- Orrick's (the mage in Kuldahar's tower) inventory changes at the beginning of chapter 2 and 4, so buy the items you want from him in time. (But don't buy useless stuff, some spells and the "clasp of Bron's cloak" are the only available items in chapter1 which are useful for the rest of the game.)
- Not every merchant buys everything.
The money you get for selling varies, merchants usually pay less for things they already have a great numbers.
In Kuldahar Orrick pays the most, while the temple pays far less.
- Don't pay for identifying at the beginning, keep the items until your bard has enough lore or your illusionist has learned the spell. It will happen soon enough.
- Your bard doesn't always have to lead your party, he just has to do the talking. You only need the "friends" spell for optimal shop prices, with 15 cha you get all charisma based dialogue options.
Bards can't cast spells while wearing armor (exception: bracers and elven chain), but you can put off the armor just for casting or use the "shield" spell later.
- most important: Have fun !
In my game halflings can have 18 wis (only gnomes are limited to 17) and elves have maximum dex of 19 and con of 17.
But this doesn't matter much, you can have a fun game with your party.
The character creation is the only part where you have to know the 2E rules, you'll hardly need them for the rest of the game, you can't change stats at level up anymore. Just remember that your party's AC and thac0 have to be as low as possible.
If you get into trouble now it's not because of your party (unless you forget to have your mage and bard scribe the scrolls you find).
You just have to develop the right tactics to get through the hard battles.
Here's some concluding advice for the start:
- make sure you have the "max HP at level up" option enabled.
- there is a key which highlights doors and the items you can take. Use it to avoid overlooking treasures.
- Orrick's (the mage in Kuldahar's tower) inventory changes at the beginning of chapter 2 and 4, so buy the items you want from him in time. (But don't buy useless stuff, some spells and the "clasp of Bron's cloak" are the only available items in chapter1 which are useful for the rest of the game.)
- Not every merchant buys everything.
The money you get for selling varies, merchants usually pay less for things they already have a great numbers.
In Kuldahar Orrick pays the most, while the temple pays far less.
- Don't pay for identifying at the beginning, keep the items until your bard has enough lore or your illusionist has learned the spell. It will happen soon enough.
- Your bard doesn't always have to lead your party, he just has to do the talking. You only need the "friends" spell for optimal shop prices, with 15 cha you get all charisma based dialogue options.
Bards can't cast spells while wearing armor (exception: bracers and elven chain), but you can put off the armor just for casting or use the "shield" spell later.
- most important: Have fun !
IWD manual
I'm a bit late to the party, having just stumbled across this thread. but oh well.
you might actually have the manual for IWD, just not in paper form. Check your CDs (opening or exploring, not the autorun) for a "Manuals" directory (I believe it is on disc 1). That should contain a PDF file with the IWD manual. It has alot of information and tables of stats and abilities and whatnot, which come in handy.
I'm a bit late to the party, having just stumbled across this thread. but oh well.
you might actually have the manual for IWD, just not in paper form. Check your CDs (opening or exploring, not the autorun) for a "Manuals" directory (I believe it is on disc 1). That should contain a PDF file with the IWD manual. It has alot of information and tables of stats and abilities and whatnot, which come in handy.
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Murphypacker
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Icewind Dale Manual
Yes, you're right, there is one -- I just didn't revisit Disc1 after installation (or examine it very carefully!). By the way, there was a kind of nice strategy guide but it disappeared! Now Windows says there's nothing on the disc! I have no idea what happened to the information on that disc. I had used it quite a few times. If I were in the habit of 'ripping' CD's, I would say I had done that by mistake, but I just haven't ever messed with burning or ripping CD's, so I don't know what happened.
Thanks for the help! I'm glad there are still some folks interested in Icewind Dale! I started it as an attempt at consolation for having to give up Shadows of Undrentide due to Devil and Hell in it, which I can do without. I know it's not as state-of-the-art as NWN, which I run different characters through with never-ending delight, but it is interesting in itself--the party of 6, for instance. I don't play Icewind all the time, but once in a while, but I am catching on to it pretty well.
Yes, you're right, there is one -- I just didn't revisit Disc1 after installation (or examine it very carefully!). By the way, there was a kind of nice strategy guide but it disappeared! Now Windows says there's nothing on the disc! I have no idea what happened to the information on that disc. I had used it quite a few times. If I were in the habit of 'ripping' CD's, I would say I had done that by mistake, but I just haven't ever messed with burning or ripping CD's, so I don't know what happened.
Thanks for the help! I'm glad there are still some folks interested in Icewind Dale! I started it as an attempt at consolation for having to give up Shadows of Undrentide due to Devil and Hell in it, which I can do without. I know it's not as state-of-the-art as NWN, which I run different characters through with never-ending delight, but it is interesting in itself--the party of 6, for instance. I don't play Icewind all the time, but once in a while, but I am catching on to it pretty well.
No problem. This forum thread came up when I googled something looking for a hint on IWD.
I had bought IWD a while back (not when it was new, but when it was somewhat recent), but couldn't play it very well on my old system. Recently, I bought a new computer, so of course it runs just fine. I've never really cared about super high-tech graphics, so this game is more than enough for me and I enjoy the character creation and whatnot.
O'course, now I need to track down the Heart of Winter expansion, and possibly IWD2, as I just have the first one. But that is what eBay and/or Amazon is for. hehe
I had bought IWD a while back (not when it was new, but when it was somewhat recent), but couldn't play it very well on my old system. Recently, I bought a new computer, so of course it runs just fine. I've never really cared about super high-tech graphics, so this game is more than enough for me and I enjoy the character creation and whatnot.
O'course, now I need to track down the Heart of Winter expansion, and possibly IWD2, as I just have the first one. But that is what eBay and/or Amazon is for. hehe
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Murphypacker
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Icewind Character Creation
JayJ, if you like Icewind-style character creation, then you must agree this was a great thread! I can't get over how much help I got. Whatever problems I have come from newbieness, which is gradually being remedied, and not from any failure in excellence of my party, thanks to this thread! Have fun!
JayJ, if you like Icewind-style character creation, then you must agree this was a great thread! I can't get over how much help I got. Whatever problems I have come from newbieness, which is gradually being remedied, and not from any failure in excellence of my party, thanks to this thread! Have fun!