Jorand Green – Human Male Transmuter 10/Fighter 4 (goal Transmuter 20/Fighter 10)
He’s the party leader and wields a mean 2 handed sword, with all his defensive spells he can take a lot of damage.
Durn Rockswallower – Male Grey Dwarf Fighter 13/Barbarian/3 (goal Fighter 13/Barbarian 17)
He is the official tank, with super high constitution and strength (both 20+). His two-handed axe skills are unsurpassed and had about 3 times as many kills as anyone else in the party. Although this will change in hof as the spell casters catch up.
Halter – Human Male Paladin of Helm 13/Watcher of Helm 3 (goal Paladin 13/Cleric 17)
The odd ball in the party. He is here for the Paladin Sword and free attribute bonuses, only, as he really doesn’t fit with the rest of the party. But he’s an OK tank, even though the Holy Avenger sword sucks. He might be swapped with someone more exciting in hof or someone who fits into the party better for roleplaing purposes.
Cindra – Female Tiefling Bard 12/Rogue 7 (goal Bard 23/Rogue 7)
She’s the diplomat, along with the thief and prankster. But Also she was a good tank, as she duel wielded a scimitar and short sword and would flank enemies and put on a hurting to foes. She’ll become a primary spellcaster in hof.
Sudazar Due’st – Female Drow Painbearer of Illmater 7/Druid 7 (goal Cleric 13/Druid 17)
I don’t know what she is really, as she wasn’t very effective in the game. But I think she was really built for hof, and she’ll do a lot better the next run through. She is a primary spellcaster
Durst Tra’ – Male Drow Necromancer 16 (goal necromancer 26/fighter 4)
Specialized in necromancy, and was damn lethal with those chromatic orbs and skull traps. He’ll rule with Wail of the Banshee in hof.
I started the game with 4 characters, and added some as the game went along, and even took Halter out for a while and brought him back into the party at a later date. So there are a lot of differences in levels with this group. I also think I dropped a player in the game (can’t remember?) and replaced that character with Sudazar Due’st.
The weird thing is I like the original IWD better, but I’ve only completed that game once, with about two other half runs. BG1 and BG2 I've played each more than 4 runs, but then it would be IWD2 over PS:T and IWD. Odd, as the stories are better in both of those games? I think it’s the 3rd edition rules with a party that keeps me coming back. The IWD games are built for combat and the IWDII character generation can be so fun. I think coming up with the different builds for characters and all the combat that gives you the chance to use these character builds to their fullest is what brings me back to replaying IWDII. Plus even though I like the IWD story better, I still think the IWDII story is very well written and engrossing. I just don’t care for the idea as much as the story in IWD. But 3 rd rules are just so much more fun to play with, plus you have the barbarian, sorcerer and monk that you didn’t have in IWD.
Also I think the game is the perfect length. It’s a long game that is fulfilling when you finish it, but not too long like a BG that you have trouble replaying because you know it is such a long commitment to do so. After saying that, I would have loved to see an expansion with this game. Too bad it didn’t happen.
Oh and just a last note. Targos and the goblin fortress were great, but I’ll admit it lags a bit in the middle, but then you get to the hand and you get to the best part of the game. Imo. The Hand has so many things going on and what you can do within it impresses me.
Just curious if I was the only one who keeps on playing this game, and why is it?
