Help And Advice needed please!

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Thu Jan 17, 2002 4:06 pm

I never played icewind dale, but i did finsisch bladur's gate 1&2 multiple times. So is it recommanded to start a 6 people party, and if so what classes (how many mages/clerics etc.) or is it recommanded to create a 3people party in witch all clases are represented (cleric/thief/mage/fighter?) Please give some advice before i start the game!

T'lainya · Post by **T'lainya** » Thu Jan 17, 2002 7:06 pm

It really depends on your playing style..A cleric is good to start with as is a thief or multi/dual thief combo. I would recommend that one of the fighters or the thief be proficient in range weapons ..it makes life a lot easier

Skuld · Post by **Skuld** » Fri Jan 18, 2002 12:07 am

I got through Baldur's Gate almost half way and started a game of Icewind Dale before my computer crashed. And I didn't like BG 2. But I do reccommend a 6 person party, since you don't accumulate NPC's like BG or at least to my knowledge. Just last night I started Icewind Dale again and here's my party: Fighter/Cleric/Thief/Mage/Ranger/Bard. My playing strategy is to have all but two guys equipped with ranged weapons and 2 with melee weapons(the fighter and the cleric). the two in front draw the attention rarely even hitting while the others fire away. One more thing un-like BG there are a lot more traps so don't forget the Thief. And if you're wondering about the Bard he/she's in there for identification purposes. So I don't waste either 100 gold a pop or a valuable spell slot on identification.

Onyx · Post by **Onyx** » Fri Jan 18, 2002 2:22 am

Accually, i just finished IceWind Dale with a party of 4.
Lot's of XP's.
Party: fighter, druid, thief, mage.

Next time i plan of using a party of 2 only.
Party: fighter/cleric, thief/mage.

Onyx

Aegis · Post by **Aegis** » Sat Jan 19, 2002 10:55 pm

I'm currently working through with a party of 5 (two rangers, mage, cleric, and theif) and I'm about level 10 average. I'm alos currently in Dorn's Deep. Next time through though, I intend to play through a party of three.

Skuld · Post by **Skuld** » Sun Jan 20, 2002 2:21 am

My first question is for Onyx, why would you pick a Druid over a Cleric. Sure a druid gets Shapechange, but they are very limited in the amount of armor and weaponry they can use. My second question is a general one. How come in games using 3rd edition rules(PoR) the Turn Undead ability make all the difference in the world if you're adventuring with anything less than a full party, but in IWD, which used AD&D rules I find that Turn Undead doesn't do a damn thing for you. I was just reading the manual and it says that it increases with level, but the only undead I've encountered so far were in chapter one, and I can see where it would be useful for someone going with a smaller party. If anyone has any insight on this please lemme know. Third why doesn't anyone have a bard in their parties? In the game i'm in now I have my bard stripped of armor, and I have his AC at 2 using magical items so that I have two combat casters and when he runs outta spells he just starts shooting with a ranged weapon. I also find the bard very effective in that in Kuldahar there is a magical horn that creates 1-4 berzerkers for a certain duration(usable only by bards). And those guys are a godsend on sertain occassions. Basically I'm kinda putting out propaganda for the Bard class. These guys are awesome, they learn mage spells at almost the same levels as mages do, and if you want to you can armor them up and send them into battle. But the Horn of Valhalla is what sold be on 'em in IWD, also they level up at the same rate as a theif(quite fast), and have a greater hit die than a mage. Here's how I use my Bard. In the beginning I armor him up and give him a ranged weapon. This stays till about lvl 5-6 when he gains 3 lvl 1 spell slots, and 2 lvl 2 slots. Ok I'm gonna be done babbling now, but if anyone does have any serious questions lemme know.

Trym · Post by **Trym** » Sun Jan 20, 2002 1:30 pm

I'd think twice before I'd go adventuring with a small party consisting merely of spellcasters. The final boss is a very tough opponent and completly immune to magic.

Sojourner · Post by **Sojourner** » Sun Jan 20, 2002 3:28 pm

Originally posted by Skuld:
My first question is for Onyx, why would you pick a Druid over a Cleric. Sure a druid gets Shapechange, but they are very limited in the amount of armor and weaponry they can use.

If you have the HoW expansion, druids have outstanding offensive spells, such as Spike Growth, which damages even some of the bosses, and Star Metal Cudgel (think Mace of Disruption). I always play a multi-class druid, so armor is not a problem, and in the expansion, there are plenty of weapons.

Originally posted by Skuld:
Third why doesn't anyone have a bard in their parties?.

I use them, if only for their new, improved bard songs in the expansion. BGII Skald, eat your heart out.

Sailor Saturn · Post by **Sailor Saturn** » Sun Jan 20, 2002 10:50 pm

@Skuld Most my IWD parties have a bard in them. I started using the bard because my mages kept getting killed. The farthest I've gotten with a multi-person party, though, is last level of Dragon's Eye. With my solo game, I'm currently in Lower Dorn's Deep. I love casting stoneskin, haste, Ghost Armor, and Globe of Invulnerability, then casting Fireball on my position as soon as I'm surrounded by enemies, then cutting down what's left with my sword.

Gruntboy · Post by **Gruntboy** » Mon Jan 21, 2002 2:13 am

Yeah, lots of bard player here.

I never leave the house without one - they're invaluable in IWD. Lots of bard specific items and some unique song abilities.

A mage heavy party will suffer in IWD - a bard is a useful compromise.

Re turning undead. There are lots of undead in IWD. The Vale of shadows has skeletons, cadaverous undead and shadows. Dragon's Teeth (chapter 3?) has loads of wights and zombies. Later there are huge skeleton warriors and armies of bladed skeletons.

I find turn undead and anti-undead weapons are a must. Just wait till you get to HoW.

Invincible121 · Post by **Invincible121** » Tue Jan 22, 2002 12:23 pm

i always a full set of characters.
I am currently in Dorns Deep, in that stupid aquarium place where they messed up the discs and i am stuck bacause of the stupid crashes(can you tell i am bitter

).
I have found that mages are much better to use in combat on IWD than BG.
In the myconnid cavern i have no qualms about sending my mage off to fight the myconnids and ettins.
She can single handedly take out the whole cave and destroy a big 'ol' clump 'o' ettins.
I use 2 rangers one with a bow and one with everans broad sword...spelling wrong?
I have a fighter with a bow... i wish i had created a paladin instead.
I have a cleric, quite good in melee.
And lastly a bard, i was wishing i did'nt have him, til i realised that without his armour he could cast spells( i feel a bit sheepish about not realising that til the myconnid cave), now he is just a crappy fighter with not very good spells, he is reasonable at theiving as well.

The bard is on 16, the mage on 15, the cleric, rangers and fighter on 13.
This are high levels but that is because i got stuck in some places and could'nt figure out what to do, so i just stayed there and did some training.
My clock shows that have been travelling for more than a 1000 days!
If anyone has a link to solve the dorns deep crashes please help

Sailor Saturn · Post by **Sailor Saturn** » Tue Jan 22, 2002 2:38 pm

Originally posted by Invincible121:
My clock shows that have been travelling for more than a 1000 days!

LoL, in my solo game, my most recent save is at Chapter Six, 1665 Days, 16 hours. That means I've been running around fighting various monsters and such in Icewind Dale for about 4½ years.

Onyx · Post by **Onyx** » Sat Jan 26, 2002 1:54 pm

@Skuld

Sorry, i didn't see your question there, so...
why did i choose a druid over a cleric. No reason, just a roleplaying aprroach, that's all. But i have to agree with Sojourner that druids have outstanding offensive spells like Spike Growth and more, And with HoW they do rock.

Onyx

DraySkullan · Post by **DraySkullan** » Sat Jan 26, 2002 4:26 pm

This is my first time through IWD, but I'm pretty happy with the success and overall balance of my party. Here's what I'm running:

Kylorin-Human Paladin
Vallyn-1/2 Elven Ranger
Ragnor-Dwarven Fighter/Priest
Dray-1/2 Elven Fighter/Thief
Falko-1/2 Elven Bard
Tolarin-Elven Mage

I like having a full 6 member party, it's more fun that way. I like playing bards, theyre good backup mages, but can still fight if need be. Plus, I really like some of the bard items so far. The Citarn that casts Courage, and the instrument that casts Cone of Cold are cool. And I'm only about halfway through the game, so I"m sure there's more.

The one thing I'm not liking so far is the lack of good Bracers of Defense.

KensaiRyu · Post by **KensaiRyu** » Mon Feb 25, 2002 5:17 pm

Originally posted by DraySkullan

The one thing I'm not liking so far is the lack of good Bracers of Defense.

Thanks for the idea, any more items you would like to see in IWD/HOW/TOTL?

jaxaxe · Post by **jaxaxe** » Thu Mar 07, 2002 1:31 pm

my party on iwd is:

elven fighter
halfling fighter/thief
half elven fighter/druid
halfelven fighter/cleric
gnome illusionist/thief
halfeleven mage cleric.

it's an amazing party