Important:
- this mod works for classic IWD, IWD-in-BG2 and IWD:EE;
- Heart of Winter expansion is required;
- I recommend playing Heart of Winter after Chapter 3,4 or 5, since it's meant to be a part of the main campaign(it's not meant to start after the end of the main game, that is);
- Tales of the Luremaster expansion(free download) is recommended;
- before installing any mods, please, backup your override directory and your dialog.tlk(read more about clean backup here);
- in classic IWD(very rare, but happened once or twice, usually after petrification traps): if your party members, for any reason, crash the game, select them and pres K;
- in classic IWD: stop often, especially after entering a new area.Q: What is this mod about?
A: It adds five new original joinable companions to the game of Icewind Dale.
You will be able to create your protagonist in the first slot, and
import them alongside.
Q: What does this mod include?
A: In general, PC-NPC and NPC-NPC interaction. Banters between the companions,
banters with the protagonist, interjections, quest and scenery reactions,
player-initiated dialogue. Certain banters (plot-critical and not)
involve all party members.
Q: Are there friendships? Romances?
A: There are friendships, both between the NPCs and with the protagonist.
Some of these bonds may become something greater. Romances are available
to human, elven and half-elven protagonists.
Male protagonists can romance Teri or Nella. Holvir and Korin are
romanceable by female protagonists.
Q: What about player-initiated dialogue?
A: Yes, you will be able to initiate dialogue with your companions.
To do this, your protagonist will have to approach the selected NPC
in the game and click on him/her.
(Note that you can do it with another party member instead of your PC
in IWD, but it is NOT supported or recommended.)
Version 4 adds twelve new lovetalks for each romanceable character, two
new ones every chapter, from Chapter 1 to Chapter 6.
Q: Will it work with IWD or IWD: Heart of Winter? What about IWD: Trials
of the Luremaster, an additional free expansion for IWD: HoW?
A: Heart of Winter is required. The free Trials of the Luremaster
expansion is highly recommended. If you download and install it,
you do not have to patch your game.
Q: How does it work? What should I do to get banters and interactions?
A: Just play the game: enter new areas, slay monsters, complete quests
and find items. Due to the engine limitations, you will not get
dialogues at rest/at waking/every hour, the way it was done in BG2,
so resting excessively will not affect the game.
As for the interjections, your party members have to be alive
and in the visual range. In general, keeping your companions alive
and close together is recommended.
AND STOP OFTEN, ESPECIALLY AFTER ENTERING A NEW AREA.
(classic IWD only, not IWD:EE or IWD-in-BG2).
These limitations are not present in IWD-in-BG2 or IWD:EE conversion.
To trigger an interjection, your party member just has to be in the same area.
Q: Any special recommendations?
A: To see the banter with Player1, your protagonist will have to remain in
the first slot. Also, as you issue movement commands to the party, their
override scripts are temporarily suspended, so you will have to stop to hear
banter. You will not miss dialogues, but it is STRONGLY recommended to stop
for a few seconds from time to time, especially after entering a new area.
These limitations are not present in IWD-in-BG2 or IWD:EE conversion.
Q: Is the mod compatible with other Icewind Dale mods?
A: Yes, the mod installs using Weidu, it takes extra care not to interfere
too much, and it should be compatible with all other mods for Icewind Dale.
However, since some mods overwrite things, install older mods BEFORE IWD NPC,
for safety reasons, unless the mod's readme says otherwise. IWD NPC also uses
some code from IWD Tweak Pack, and has been extensively tested with it.
IWD Tweak Pack:
http://gibberlings3.net/daletweakQ: All right, I have a copy of IWD, HoW and ToTL, installed and working.
What will I have to do?
A: You will have to install the mod, start a new game and choose your
protagonist for the first slot. Then import the rest of the companions
and start playing.
If you are playing an IWD-in-BG2 or IWD:EE version of the game,
you'll find your companions in the Easthaven tavern.
Q: Does the mod forces a pre-defined background/biography on my protagonist?
A: No, it doesn't. You will be able to roleplay your protagonist however
you like.
Q: Can I use two or more custom characters?
A: Yes, you can. As long as your protagonist is in the first slot, IWD NPCs
will banter with him and between themselves.
However, you will get significantly fewer banters and interjections this way:
taking four companions instead of five will cut the amount of content by
about 1/3, and taking only three - by 1/2.
Q: I am not happy with some of the classes and stats, can I use Dale Keeper
or another program to change them?
A: Yes, you can. However, caution is recommended, so that the script
name/override script/dialogue file for the character remains unchanged.
The mod itself also gives you the opportunity to choose these classes:
Original Icewind Dale:
Holvir, paladin
Korin, ranger, alternate class: multiclass cleric/ranger
Nella, fighter, possible dual-class - cleric, druid, alternate class:
multiclass fighter/cleric, multiclass fighter/druid
Severn, bard, alternate class: mage, multiclass fighter/mage
Teri, multiclass fighter/thief, alternate class: thief, multiclass
mage/thief, multiclass fighter/mage/thief
Icewind Dale in Baldur's Gate 2 engine:
Holvir, paladin
alternate class: cavalier, inquisitor, undead hunter
Korin, ranger
alternate class: archer, beast master, stalker,
multiclass cleric/ranger
Nella, fighter, possible dual-class - cleric, druid
alternate class: berserker, kensai, wizard slayer, monk,
multiclass fighter/cleric, multiclass fighter/druid
Severn, bard
alternate class: blade, jester, skald, mage, sorcerer, wild mage,
multiclass fighter/mage
Teri, multiclass fighter/thief
alternate class: thief, assassin, bounty hunter, swashbuckler,
multiclass mage/thief, multiclass fighter/mage/thief
Note that these options are here for your convenience only. In terms of
roleplaying, Severn's story still implies that he is a bard, and the same is
true for other characters.
Level 1 NPCs mod from Gibberlings3.net is recommended to enhance
your experience and select more alternate classes for your party members.
Q: Can I choose alternate colors or portraits for my party members?
A: Yes, you shall be able to customize them in the game.
Q: Can I choose alternate soundsets for my party members?
A: Yes, you shall be able to customize them in the game. You will also have
to delete all .wav files which start with "o#" from the override directory.
Caution is recommended.
Q: I often hear select sounds when the banter begins. Can it be avoided?
A: Unfortunately, the engine prevents that. Just like the "stop often" rule,
it is one of the hardcoded limitations in classic IWD(not in IWD-in-BG2
or IWD:EE, though).
Q: The game crashed when we talked to character X! A party member stutters!
A: It happened because one of your characters died and "lost" his dialogue
file. Reload, select him and press K key. To be safe, select all your party
members and press K key on each of them in turn.
(classic IWD only, not IWD-in-BG2 or IWD:EE).
Q: I played BG2, but not IWD. What should I expect?
A: IWD does not have sorcerers, monks and barbarians, and spell animations
and incantations differ. Other than that, you won't notice the difference.
Naturally, if you're playing IWD-in-BG2 or IWD:EE conversion, you are going
to have all the advantages of Baldur's Gate 2 engine.
Q: I played Icewind Dale 2, but not Icewind Dale. Will IWD be different?
A: Yes. It is an entirely different story, and it is a very interesting game.
Q: I have a question about the game itself.
A: Download and read Dan Simpson's walthrough.
Q: I like the idea! Is there anything like this for other games?
A: Yes, BG1 NPC Project and IWD2 NPC Project.
BG1 NPC Project:
http://gibberlings3.net/bg1npcIWD2 NPC Project:
http://gibberlings3.net/iwd2npcQ: Does this work for IWD:EE?
A: Yes, it does.