Baldur's Gate 2: Throne of Bhaal questions (Spoilers)

[Luke M]

Just finished it. Great, great games, but the final fight with Amelyssan (sp?) was incredibly tough. Questions:

1) Is there any reason for me to keep my final Throne of Bhaal save? Any mods that let me pick up where I left off with my characters or something like that?

2) The final boss had a larger than human character model, but the artwork in the CD case seems to portray her as average human size. Is she a giant or something?

3) After finishing this, I'm jonesing for more Infinity Engine games. I love the combat engine. I really liked these games and Planescape. Would I enjoy Icewind Dale? What about Icewind Dale 2?

[Anaxagoras]

1) Is there any reason for me to keep my final Throne of Bhaal save? Any mods that let me pick up where I left off with my characters or something like that?
None that I know of.


3) After finishing this, I'm jonesing for more Infinity Engine games. I love the combat engine. I really liked these games and Planescape. Would I enjoy Icewind Dale? What about Icewind Dale 2?

If you liked the combat engine in Baldur's Gate, then you'll probably like the Icewind Dale games; they're basically hack and slash. Between the two of them, I thought that Icewind Dale 2 was better; both because it used 3rd edition rules and because the game seemed slightly better constructed.

[Shadari]

2) The final boss had a larger than human character model, but the artwork in the CD case seems to portray her as average human size. Is she a giant or something?
That never really registered with me before, but now that you mention it, yeah she was pretty darn big. My guess is that it had something to do with her ascension to divinity with the Bhaal essence that she had accumulated.

3) After finishing this, I'm jonesing for more Infinity Engine games. I love the combat engine. I really liked these games and Planescape. Would I enjoy Icewind Dale? What about Icewind Dale 2?
BG2 is one of my all-time favorites, but Icewind Dale was... well it was okay, but it was nowhere near the quality of BG2. It had its moments but overall it just seemed bland to me -- so many boring fights and such little else. And the fights were generally boring. Those classic mage battles and such from BG2 are pretty much non-existent in IWD. Almost every fight in IWD is just a boring slugfest with melee-based monsters. Overall though, it was still a halfway decent game.

I haven't gotten around to IWD2 yet. I do plan to get around to it eventually though.

[Thrrrpptt!]

I also think you'd love IWD if you liked BGII. There are also some nice mods for BGII (http://www.fileplanet.com/section.aspx?s=40863&v=0) that you might check out. I hear that Darkest Day is pretty good.

[Troy S Goodfellow]

IWD2 is pretty good, and much better than the first IWD. The 3rd edition rules are really neat and IWD2 has some interesting maps. The combats are all "themed" like in IWD, but seem to have much greater variety. The early "big fight" where you have to defend a town is pretty hairy, but a lot of fun.

Troy

[McBain]

You might not necessarily like IWD/IWD2 if you loved BG II. IWD/IWD2 just aren't in the same league. They're hack n slash RPGs, but definitely not on par with something like ToEE as far as the combat goes. Still, if you can find the IWD Saga (IWD + HoW + IWD2), it's definitely worth a grab. Especially since you can download the free Trials of the Luremaster add-on and basically get four games in one bargain-bin package. (I just checked, GoGamer has it for 25 bucks)

I'll say this, though. I wouldn't even think about playing IWD2 without the following mod: http://www.weidu.org/iwd2.html#iwd2-ease. The "Armor and Shields Provide Damage Resistance" component of that mod is a must. It basically makes armor useful, both for you and your enemies. I really can't understate the importance of this mod, I found IWD2 far too frustrating and obnoxious to play without it.

It's really either getting that mod or going to GameFAQs and reading the "powergaming party" FAQ where the guy describes how you can get +72 AC by making a Paladin and taking a level each of monk, sorcerer, and something else. :)

[Vic Davis]

I started out really liking IWD 2. The fight to save the city from the assault like somebody mentioned was pretty hairy. I didn't have to reload a save game to do it but I just barely made it thru with all my characters still alive. I was thinking wow this is pretty well balanced and has some great design. Then the mid game hit me and somewhere I just lost interest.
***Spoiler***
The Fell Wood in chapter 3 was what did it. I got sick of macking a wrong turn and fighting some undead. It was also like a FedEx maze nightmare. I got thru it but then the next couple of battles just really put me off.....like the joy of the game had been sucked right out of me by a +2 Lifestealing sword.
**End Spoiler**

[Bill Dungsroman]

Ze Fell Wood maze, she was terrible. A secret sidequest before tackling the woods is to go straight to gamefaqs and read how to get through it. There is simply no fucking point in wandering that cock-knocking forest. Why? The old lady says "Head west to escape" and sure enough, no matter how deep you are in the forest, you end up back outside it if you go west. Oh, except once in one seemingly-at-random spot, otherwise you won't be able to progress to any of the actual points of interest. That, and wandering through the exact same map three times before it suddenly changes into the area you want. KER-GAY.

If that doesn't get you to put the walkthrough on a Favorites tab, the Eight Chambers of Gitcheegoomee (name changed to limit spoilage) will. When a game guide says "I figured this out after a long time, with trial and error," you know it's bad. That, and it's one of those HEElarious one-character-alone-with-no-equipment dealios.

Actually, IWD1 is still pretty fun, and I'd play it first, with all the requisite patches. Hell, it's the only game in the whole BIS D&D collection where Bards are actually useful. Pick two fighter types (make one a ranger), a priest, a mage, a mage-thief, and a bard. The bard makes a great extra sword early (and late, if necessary) in the game, plus his songs (no really) are great for combat. There is no restriction in IWD1 and IWD1 alone for putting on and taking off armor, so if you are a cheating bastard, you can whip your bard's armor on or off as the situation dictates. WELL I SURE DIDN'T THAT'S CHEATING AND I'D HAVE NONE OF IT. Later in the game you get armor a bard can wear and cast spells with, anyway. There are a ton of bard-only items in the game, his lore is indispensible, his spell complement later in the game are useful (mobs die almost anticlimactically when your two mages and your bard fireball them), his mandatory high (he should have the best stats of any character) CHA means you can put him in charge in town for dialogues and bartering (you can lower everyone else's CHA if you want to put in other skills, you filthy min-maxer), and his pickpocketing skill, coupled with a ranger's sneak, means your thief can dump all his points into traps and lockpick. LOTS of traps and locked chests in this game. In the first map, there are dudes begging to be PPed and chests that won't open unless your thief puts a lot of points in LP. Conserve magic arrows and stones until later, but hell, ranged weaponry is so overpowered in this game, normal arrows and stones will nuke anything before it gets near you most of the time. The expansions are okay, but they will kind of set you up where you will fight three Big Bad End Boss Finales nearly in a row, which is fruity. I'd at least play Heart of Winter, though, because it's well-made and fun.

That's why it's cool to play IWD1 first. It's simpler and you know, bards and all. Plus, you get more out of the story (such as it is) in IWD2. Then, forget bards completely and paladins and thieves mostly for IWD2. Make a first level thief that switch him to mage immediately; that's all the thief skill you're going to need (you can upgrade theif skills every level, plus you get spell slots as a mage). Give a cleric (of oh, Lathander maybe) one level in paladin and he can use the Holy Avenger or any other pally-only items. Make a few sorcs (use one as a town party leader here as well, since sorcs rely on CHA) and you're once again plowing through mobs. One fun thing about IWD2 is you can make characters as 1337 as the ones you had in Bhaal, in shorter time. The 3rd ed rules are fun, with fighters growing in strength and such. Missile weapons have been reduced heavily in strength, though, so you'll be meleeing more and using more spells.

[Anaxagoras]

Quick thing about the Fellwood Forests. While I fully agree that that section of the game sucked donkey balls, there is an easy way around it. Wilderness Survival. Make sure one of your characters has a high score in that skill, and little arrows (or something like that) appear that tell you which way to go.

Anyways. Other than that incredibly lame section of the game, the rest of it was pretty enjoyable, right guys? RIGHT????

[Bill Dungsroman]

Quick thing about the Fellwood Forests. While I fully agree that that section of the game sucked donkey balls, there is an easy way around it. Wilderness Survival. Make sure one of your characters has a high score in that skill, and little arrows (or something like that) appear that tell you which way to go.

Okay! Oops, too late :( I don't know if that's a neat feature or a lame overly-esoteric one. I say both! Incidentally, Anax my pal, does Wilderness Survival ever come in handy ever again, or before? Like, does it help in resting outdoors , which is at least half the time motherhumpin' impossible due to those pesky (non)random encounters?

Anyways. Other than that incredibly lame section of the game, the rest of it was pretty enjoyable, right guys? RIGHT????
No! Well, yes. Any and all parts where BAM enemies appear around you THEY'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE! THERE'S NOTHING BACK HERE! all up on yo' shit. I'll bet your fookin' Wildy Skill doesn't do jack squat in those situations. Fotunately, ha ha, I've totally maxed my fucking Reload Skill (imported from IWD1; well, BG1 really. THE CODE IS TOO UNSTABLE CAPTAIN I CANNAE HOLD IT MUCH LONGER).

[McBain]

Even better, with the aforementioned Ease of Use Mod, there's a "teleport" feature that lets you pretty much sail through the Fellwood bullshit. You can even skip it entirely if you don't mind missing out on a little exp and some lame-ass +1 magic items.

[Anaxagoras]

Incidentally, Anax my pal, does Wilderness Survival ever come in handy ever again, or before?
No. That's its one and only purpose in the game. No, I'm not kidding. You get a couple extra messages here and there like "Goblins have passed through here". Swell. So I know there are goblins around. Which I couldn't have guessed from the 30 goblin soldiers I just killed.

Like, does it help in resting outdoors , which is at least half the time motherhumpin' impossible due to those pesky (non)random encounters?
It doesn't help in the slightest with random encounters. You'll note that I never said that Icewind Dale II is the best game EVAR.... just that it's a pretty fun game. Its gross underuse of most of the available skills is probably its greatest flaw. Well, that, and the entire Fellwood Forest Schtick.


Even better, with the aforementioned Ease of Use Mod, there's a "teleport" feature that lets you pretty much sail through the Fellwood bullshit. You can even skip it entirely if you don't mind missing out on a little exp and some lame-ass +1 magic items.
Yeah, that Ease of Use Mod is really great. I disagree you on the armor protection mod, though. I thought it made the game too easy. But hey... it's good to know the mod's out there in case someone finds the game too hard & frustrating as is.

[McBain]

Yeah, that Ease of Use Mod is really great. I disagree you on the armor protection mod, though. I thought it made the game too easy. But hey... it's good to know the mod's out there in case someone finds the game too hard & frustrating as is.

I agree that on normal difficulty with the mod, things are too easy. Cranking things up to "Insane" (early game) and "Hard" (late game) puts things about right, IMO.

To be perfectly honest, it's still much harder to play the game with a standard party + the DR mod than to play with an "abuse the 3e rules" party. The Fighter(10)/Sorcerer(1)/Monk(1)/Rogue(2)/Paladin(1) is a lot more powerful than the vanilla Fighter(15) no matter what mod you're using. I just prefer to play it a little more vanilla. Shrugs.

I'm guessing you were somehow involved in IWD2? Let's face it, the 3e armor system sucks ass when you start dealing with large attack bonuses. Not your fault. :)

[Anaxagoras]

I'm guessing you were somehow involved in IWD2?
Nope. I've never in any manner, shape, or form worked in the gaming industry. I've just played a lot of them.

Let's face it, the 3e armor system sucks ass when you start dealing with large attack bonuses. Not your fault. :)
I dunno... they also have parry rules, plus you get lots and lots of feats that help balance out the insane high level attack bonuses. However, in IW2 I agree the whole thing didn't balance real well; you didn't get decent armor until later, and by the time "later" comes you need really good armor, not just decent armor.

[Chris Nahr]

IIRC you need a monk for those Eight Chambers in IWD2. If you have a monk it's easy, otherwise it's nearly impossible (due to the no equipment limitation).

[Alan Au]

About BG2:ToB, there's no reason to keep the save. I suppose you could export your character in case you wanted to re-import it into a new game...? About the last boss being larger in stature, probably it's because she's a unique boss and the artists wanted to put in more detail. I suppose the "collected all of Bhaal's cast off essence and trying to ascend to godhood" might also help to explain it.

As for Infinity Engine games, IWD1 is kind of fun. I managed it with three characters* because all XP was split evenly among party members. This was extremely tough in IWD2, where XP was adjusted to account for the differential in levels between your and the enemies.

For the Fellwood maze, you do have a ranger in your party, no? A ranger with the tracking skill? (hint, hint)

The 8 chambers things is annoyingly tough without a monk, particularly that last fight. I ended up adding a monk to my group just to get past that section, although I suppose I could have just gone on a beserker rampage and bypassed the test entirely...

- Alan

*originally The Fighter and Cleric Show, but I added a special guest star (Fighter/Cleric) later

[graller]

I loved IWD. Yes it was a hack and slash rail game but it was a heck of a lot of fun. Played IWD twice thru and the expansions. Played IWD 2 and found it nice but not as nice. BG2 is still my favorite and I will be playing it again this year as soon as KOTOR is done, which is what I am playing now. I think I am still in love with Viconia :oops:

[Luke M]

Thanks for the tips on IWD 1 & 2, but I think I'm gonna pass. Sounds like everything good in IWD is already in BG2 (plus a whole lot more). I'll just replay BG2 again sometime soon. Besides, I've got way too many games to play now, and many more on the horizon.

One more question: The final cutscene in Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn shows 7 robed figures sitting around a table. Who are those people? There were only 5 major Bhaalspawn in Throne of Bhaal, 6 with Melisaan.

[McBain]

One more question: The final cutscene in Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn shows 7 robed figures sitting around a table. Who are those people? There were only 5 major Bhaalspawn in Throne of Bhaal, 6 with Melisaan.

Maybe there were originally supposed to be 7 but they had to cut them out to ship the game out sooner? Don't we have a Bioware employee who frequents this board? Out with it, chief!

Thanks for the tips on IWD 1 & 2, but I think I'm gonna pass. Sounds like everything good in IWD is already in BG2 (plus a whole lot more).

Despite being somewhat negative on the IWD series above, I do think it's very worthy of a play if you have the time. Excellent games, but a hell of a lot of gameplay in there if you already have a backlog.

[Anaxagoras]

Thanks for the tips on IWD 1 & 2, but I think I'm gonna pass.
You mean we discussed the horror of the Fellwood Forest for nothing? Our suffering is all for naught? You ungrateful wretch! :)

Sounds like everything good in IWD is already in BG2 (plus a whole lot more).
Sort of. IWD (both 1 and 2) had some very nifty battles. Actually, the entirety of those games was a series of nifty battles. But I (and most people I've talked to) do think that BG2 was a vastly superior game to IWD 1 or 2.



One more question: The final cutscene in Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn shows 7 robed figures sitting around a table. Who are those people? There were only 5 major Bhaalspawn in Throne of Bhaal, 6 with Melisaan.
Ooh.. I hadn't noticed. I'd like to say something really shocking like... "Your twin sister. Search your feelings... you know it to be true." But I just can't say something like that with a straight face.

[Bill Dungsroman]

Thanks for the tips on IWD 1 & 2, but I think I'm gonna pass. Sounds like everything good in IWD is already in BG2 (plus a whole lot more). I'll just replay BG2 again sometime soon. Besides, I've got way too many games to play now, and many more on the horizon.

HOLD IT! You don't have time to play IWD 1 (and/or 2) but you have time to play BG2+ToB again? Dood, IWD1+expansions bundled is 20 bones, and will take you half the time of BG2+ToB, and it's a "new" (to you) game experience. It's fun whipping up your own six guys, too. IWD has great music, and the story isn't as weak as even the BIS guys made it out to be. Plus, David Ogden Stiers does the narration. Don't diss Charles Winchester, brah!

IWD2? Fun, if you care about sussing out the 3rd Ed. rules and D/L the Ease of Use mod mentioned above. These games are practically the last of iso 2D RPGs left worth playing that aren't Diablo-esque in execution. But, you know, whatever.

[DrCrypt]

I don't know why you wouldn't play Icewind Dale. There's just an assload of gaming in there, between Icewind Dale and Heart of Winter and Trials of the Luremaster. I really enjoyed it: I don't really see why you wouldn't give it a try. It's not Baldur's Gate 2, but it isn't going for the same thing. Bill's right - for 20 bucks, you've got like 80-100 hours of really solid RPG right there. The fact of the matter is that the Infinity Engine never had a game fostered upon it that wasn't at the very least damn enjoyable. I think you're crazy for not playing it just because people are like: "It's no BG2"... that doesn't mean it isn't damn good.

[Shadari]

To be fair, there's probably gonna be a huge letdown going from BG2 to IWD. You might wanna hold off playing IWD for a while. Go play something that's totally different or something, then maybe give IWD a try... that is, once the memory of BG2 fades somewhat. That's not to say that IWD is bad; it's that just going from an all-time classic like BG2 to an average hack and slash game like IWD could prove rather jarring.

[Troy S Goodfellow]

I'm with Crypt. If you expect epic plot developments and soap opera stuff in IWD, forget it. IWD is about making a party of six adventurers and killing a lot of stuff. I wasn't high on the original IWD but the expansions for it helped a lot. And IWD2 isn't just hack and slash - it's great hack and slash.

Yeah, it's a step down from BG2. Most games are, sadly. But so long as you know what to expect going in, I say suit up and slay something.

Troy

[graller]

I'm with Crypt. If you expect epic plot developments and soap opera stuff in IWD, forget it. IWD is about making a party of six adventurers and killing a lot of stuff. I wasn't high on the original IWD but the expansions for it helped a lot. And IWD2 isn't just hack and slash - it's great hack and slash.

Yeah, it's a step down from BG2. Most games are, sadly. But so long as you know what to expect going in, I say suit up and slay something.

Troy

In some ways it is better then BG2. Instead of canned party members with personality you get to lovingly craft the perfect set of complimentary team players in your group and then go take on some very nasty fights. The end goal is different in IWD but it is a great ride none the less

[DrCrypt]

Yeah, I don't agree with the "average" RPG thing. It is definitely an above average RPG in every way.

[Shadari]

In some ways it is better then BG2. Instead of canned party members with personality you get to lovingly craft the perfect set of complimentary team players in your group and then go take on some very nasty fights.
You can create a full party of generated characters in BG2 too, provided you select a multiplayer game at the outset. And you can play multiplayer games alone, so it's essentially a singleplayer game if you so choose.

[Shadari]

Yeah, I don't agree with the "average" RPG thing. It is definitely an above average RPG in every way.
I just can't see that at all. But to each their own. 8)

To me the game was precisely average, in almost every way.

[McBain]

IWD Average? I disagree. I played it after finishing BG2, and although BG2 is definitely the better game, I wasn't let down at all by IWD.

Of course, I'm an audiophile, and IWD had some really really great music and ambient sound, so I'm probably more than willing to forgive a few problems with the pacing of the game. :)

[Bill Dungsroman]

Yeah, I don't agree with the "average" RPG thing. It is definitely an above average RPG in every way.
I just can't see that at all. But to each their own. 8)

To me the game was precisely average, in almost every way.

B-but, Trials of the Luremaster had the funniest End Boss Battle ever. Target the Luremaster with your bows and slings, then watch your party run all over the big room trying to hit him, wearing him down over time. Turn off the game music and have the theme to Benny Hill playing on Winamp. Best. RPG Fight. Ever.

Also, the Final Boss Fight in HoW is funny too, especially if you've already played BG2.

You: (sees Final Boss) SHIT! (briefly considers preemptive quickload, then says WHAT THE HELLL to self)

(Fireballs)

Boss: AARGH!!

You: Oh, okay (loots).

[Luke M]

Ok, now my mind is changing again. Shit. Thanks guys. I've already got Advance Wars 2, which is first TBS I've ever had fun with, as well as a shiny new D2 Ladder Druid already at Level 15, Warcraf 3 to get good at, Zero Hour and Titans campaigns to finish...and that's excluding PS2 and Xbox. But now Icewind Dale calls...

Where can I get the IWD collection for $20? It includes the printed manual only for IWD2, right?

[Bill Dungsroman]

Ok, now my mind is changing again. Shit. Thanks guys. I've already got Advance Wars 2, which is first TBS I've ever had fun with, as well as a shiny new D2 Ladder Druid already at Level 15, Warcraf 3 to get good at, Zero Hour and Titans campaigns to finish...and that's excluding PS2 and Xbox. But now Icewind Dale calls...

Where can I get the IWD collection for $20? It includes the printed manual only for IWD2, right?

I know you can get IWD1 + its expansions at Best Buy or Fry's for 20 bucks. I don't know if they've bundled IWD1 and 2, yet.

As for the Eighth Chamber in IWD2: I resorted to SUAHLAP* with my Theif1/Mage(x)



Summon Undead And Hide Like A Pussy

[DrCrypt]

Yeah, IWD1 + 2 with expansions have been bundled. GoGamer (http://www.gogamer.com/cgi-bin/GoGamer.storefront/40fcde8e01df43c4273fd0fedee2073f/Product/View/001ICEU) has it for $24.90.

[graller]

Ok, now my mind is changing again. Shit. Thanks guys. I've already got Advance Wars 2, which is first TBS I've ever had fun with, as well as a shiny new D2 Ladder Druid already at Level 15, Warcraf 3 to get good at, Zero Hour and Titans campaigns to finish...and that's excluding PS2 and Xbox. But now Icewind Dale calls...

Where can I get the IWD collection for $20? It includes the printed manual only for IWD2, right?

I know you can get IWD1 + its expansions at Best Buy or Fry's for 20 bucks. I don't know if they've bundled IWD1 and 2, yet.

As for the Eighth Chamber in IWD2: I resorted to SUAHLAP* with my Theif1/Mage(x)



Summon Undead And Hide Like A Pussy


LMAO. In the original BG that was the ultimate solution. Summon everything you can and watch the fight fallout. I hated when they changed the rules to limit you to one summon at a time.

[DrCrypt]

Does anyone have any recommendations for a party in IWD2? I decided to give it a shot again (never got past the first chapter before) because of the weidu.org mods (especially the new Undead Targos one, since I wasn't all that interested in replaying that section verbatim again) and I just remembered how much I hate rolling all the characters, mostly because I'm constantly worried I'm gonna pick something totally useless. I'm not interested in that munchkin power party, just some all-around guidelines in useful classes in IWD2. I was thinking a monk, a fighter, a sorceror, a cleric, a druid, and a rogue specializing in precise archery.

[graller]

Does anyone have any recommendations for a party in IWD2? I decided to give it a shot again (never got past the first chapter before) because of the weidu.org mods (especially the new Undead Targos one, since I wasn't all that interested in replaying that section verbatim again) and I just remembered how much I hate rolling all the characters, mostly because I'm constantly worried I'm gonna pick something totally useless. I'm not interested in that munchkin power party, just some all-around guidelines in useful classes in IWD2. I was thinking a monk, a fighter, a sorceror, a cleric, a druid, and a rogue specializing in precise archery.

I used my "typical" party

Fighter
Paladin
Ranger
Mage
Cleric
Thief

usually end up with 3-4 characters that can melee and 2 strong spell casters with backup healing in the paladin

[Dirt]

One thing I always liked about IWD was the balance. The Druid was actually useful.

[Anaxagoras]

Does anyone have any recommendations for a party in IWD2? I decided to give it a shot again (never got past the first chapter before) because of the weidu.org mods (especially the new Undead Targos one, since I wasn't all that interested in replaying that section verbatim again) and I just remembered how much I hate rolling all the characters, mostly because I'm constantly worried I'm gonna pick something totally useless. I'm not interested in that munchkin power party, just some all-around guidelines in useful classes in IWD2. I was thinking a monk, a fighter, a sorceror, a cleric, a druid, and a rogue specializing in precise archery.

This is gonna sound like generic cop-out #43, but in IWD2 there weren't any useless classes. Seriously. The bard was prolly the least useful class, and I still had a great time including one in my party.... his +1 to hit & damage song was very nice, not to mention the additional healing and spellpower he provided.

The party you proposed is pretty solid, but the more "standard" party is the one graller is using. Still.... I personally usually have both a cleric and a druid, since I really like having lots of healing. Plus, I like druids. Plus, you need to make sure to have either a ranger or a druid for their Wilderness Survival (Fellwood Forest... yippee!!!), and I think rangers suck. So.... wait. I guess I consider the ranger a useless class. Although I have a feeling graller would take issue with that statement.

If you want to slightly increase the power of your party, I would replace the rogue with a wizard... the spellcasting power comes in very handy, and the wizard with his high intelligence & dexterity can handle what few thieving abilities you need. Actually, you don't need any, what with the knock spell, but it can come in handy to have a lock-picker anyways.

But whatever. The rogue will be perfectly useful, so if all you're looking for is a fun, workable party with no useless characters, the party you proposed will do just fine. But remember to have the druid learn as much Wilderness Survival as possible. Stupid forest.

[Kalle]

Sorcerors kick ass. For a comprehensive guide to a kick-ass IWD2 party I suggest the Ultimate Powergaming Party guide at Gamefaqs. (http://www.gamefaqs.com/computer/doswin/game/15119.html)

Sorecerors are your friend. Have two, if possible.

[Luke M]

Sorecerors are your friend. Have two, if possible.

Heh. In Throne of Bhaal, nothing quite satisfies like casting time stop, improved alacrity, and dragon's breath 4 consecutive times. It's amazing how much can die when you do that.[/list]

[Ranulf]

B-but, Trials of the Luremaster had the funniest End Boss Battle ever. Target the Luremaster with your bows and slings, then watch your party run all over the big room trying to hit him, wearing him down over time. Turn off the game music and have the theme to Benny Hill playing on Winamp. Best. RPG Fight. Ever.

Also, the Final Boss Fight in HoW is funny too, especially if you've already played BG2.

You: (sees Final Boss) SHIT! (briefly considers preemptive quickload, then says WHAT THE HELLL to self)

(Fireballs)

Boss: AARGH!!

You: Oh, okay (loots).

Hmm, I've forgotten who the boss was in HoW but wasn't the final fight in IWD similar? I remember it being a room full of clones or whatever and you had to find the original. It was disgustingly easy to just toss a fireball or two and kill all of them at once.

I should really reinstall bg2 and replay it with the mods and new npcs but I have too many nwn modules to play through.

[Kalle]

Sorecerors are your friend. Have two, if possible.

Heh. In Throne of Bhaal, nothing quite satisfies like casting time stop, improved alacrity, and dragon's breath 4 consecutive times. It's amazing how much can die when you do that.

In IWD2 the ultimate Sorc spell is Wail of the Banshee. Why bother going for high damage when you can just force a save-or-die on someone? Invisibility gets you in position, a nice high-level undead summon makes a temporary meatshield immune to the spell :twisted: , and then two Wail of the Banshee clears the screen. The leftovers, if there are any, can usually be handled by your summons and a Finger of Death or two.

[olaf]

So how are the BG2 mods? The big ones I mean. Is the new content they add worth playing?

I am craving some good single player party based RPG. I am considering playing IWD2 again, I never finished it. Or going through BG2/TOB again with some of the mods.

olaf