Your favourite IE game (exluding BG1/2)

[euskeron]

need a break from the bg games, so...

what are the IWD games like?

what makes em worth it?

what suck about em?

[Borsook]

They're a mix of tactical combat games and RPG. You might try IWD2.
-You create 6 characters (so no Npcs, no banter, no romance)
-Plot is linear and with no twists (only 1 ending, though at times you may do things several ways, avoiding violence all together)
-some dialogues are badly written
+some dialogues are very well written
+3e rules
+new interface with configurable buttons
+subraces
+a lot of interesting combat
+difficulty system that does something (not just bonus to enemy damage)
+some interesting engine implementaions (breakable objects, golblin wolfriders - you can kill only goblin or only wolf)
+different dialogue choices depending on your class/race (e.g. paladins&monks won't take money as a reward)
+good scalability (the game does not get easier the further you get like in bg)
+some great ares (enchanted forest you can lose yourself in, time travel)
+good jokes (though few)

[Veloxyll]

THat's specifically IWD2.

For IWD 1 it's much the same.
Your own 6 characters (they can still romance, you just have to write it all yourself)
Linear plot
Some of the best dungeon crawling ever. And while it's a dungeon crawl, the plot is actually pretty neat.

I definately enjoyed them both (IWD+HOF more than IWD2, even with 3E Rules IWD2 still lacked something)

[Borsook]

Yeah, I said it was about IWD2. I think for someone who played none 2 may be more interesting than 1, because it brings more changes to the gameplay. It seems to me that main fault of 2 is that it revisits too many places from 1 thus lacking a bit in originallity. But if you've not played 1 it doesn't matter, and you don't have to know it to enjoy 2 as there's almost none connection between the plots.

[jester]

I think that not being able to revisit places you have been to is a major shortfall of BG2. After all it is not some time warp/planar travel accident, but the area right next to where we are now. I know it might not be overly exciting, but I would love to play a mod that takes you back to new adventures around Baldur's Gate complete with reactions by the citizens and all. Coming back to Kuldahar gave me a warm fuzzy feeling inside, but perhaps it was just the oak tree.

[DrattedTin]

I think that not being able to revisit places you have been to is a major shortfall of BG2. After all it is not some time warp/planar travel accident, but the area right next to where we are now. I know it might not be overly exciting, but I would love to play a mod that takes you back to new adventures around Baldur's Gate complete with reactions by the citizens and all. Coming back to Kuldahar gave me a warm fuzzy feeling inside, but perhaps it was just the oak tree.

Actually, I thought this might make an interesting (and actually vaguely feasible) "total conversion" mod. You could just use the area graphics from BG1 (well, if the Tutu guys tell us what the hell is up with those fireplaces, anyway) and thus avoid a lot of the graphic/area musclework involved in TCs.

Imagine taking over the Iron Throne as a stronghold. Now that'd be some rock right there.

[Borsook]

Well, as always extrimes are bad, I feel there was too much revisiting in IWD2 (kuldahar is fine, but dragon's eye, severed hand...) and BG2 could definetly use at least some. I thought it would be nice to make a transition mod, taking place in baldur's gate before the abudction (and ending with it). It would have to be clevelrly written - like "tricking" the player into getting kidnapped (drinking something?) avoiding "force" scenario cause people would say "I'd win anyway". Then to make BG2 less linear player after escaping CI could have the option of short come back to Baldur's Gate to take revenge on "friends used by I in the trick"

[Veloxyll]

I liked Severed hand ;_;
Dragons eye was mean though.

I did quite like revisiting the areas, and hearing the legends of the things you got up to in the first game.

I'd definately recommend #1 cause it's a better game. Also, all the classes are at least somewhat useful in the IWDs (druids for example are a mainstay of my IWD/2 parties, but BG/2 parties pretty much never have them.)

[Borsook]

I'd definately recommend #1 cause it's a better game. Also, all the classes are at least somewhat useful in the IWDs (druids for example are a mainstay of my IWD/2 parties, but BG/2 parties pretty much never have them.)

In what way? Did you play IWD1 before 2? After taking to some people I have an impression that whichever game a person encountered first this game he/she likes best. Well, I played 2 first and prefer 2 over 1. Exept maybe for TotLM which is really something.

[Veloxyll]

Partly cause of all the Nostalgia you'll get playing 2. it does enhance the experience (I did miss the Orcs going Zug Zug in Lower Severed Hand). Plus it's really hard to go from the beauty that is 3E back to 2E. But if you play IWD-HOW first then you're still on the 2E rules that BG/2 was on, then you can migrate to 3E and never go back!

You get a lot more loot playing 1 as well. 2's main feature is that it skimps heavily on the loot, making playing a Paladin or Monk a real financial problem.

[jester]

@financial troubles: I would say finally the goody-goody tinheads have a downside too. You can always solve this problem by not letting him/her get the quest rewards.

[Veloxyll]

That was the usual way yes. My Cleric and Bard were far better at it anyhow.

[Borsook]

Money in IWD2... that's the only thing I found unbalanced, I usually fight over every gp in first half of the game and in the second I have so much money I don't know what to do with it...
PS. As for 2e and IWD1 - while I like "baldur rule set" IWD1 has the most idiotic idea of all IE games - more xp on higher difficulty so you can't play on v.hard unless you want the game to be very easy.

[Veloxyll]

have you PLAYED on the higher difficulties? Trust me, you need the extra XP just to survive.

[Borsook]

Yes, I have. Allow me to disagree. For the large part you kill everyone from the distance, and a fighter with high DEX and good armour is impossible to hit for most monsters so the damage boost doesn't matter. There are fights which really are tougher on VH, true, but the main problem for me is that you have to play through out the whole game on the same difficulty, which makes the slider a strange thing. Imagine you're an average player, normal seems too easy, you deceide to switch to VH, all seems fine for quite a while, then things get really tough, you're unable to play through a given fight. Natural reaction is to lower difficulty back to normal, but then it appears you did 5 exp levels instead of 2 you would do on normal and the game is much, much too easy. I dunno, maybe it's just me, but I really find this idea nonsencical. Not to mention that I believe that BIOWARE don't know what influences the game difficulty, they're still giving only boost to damage. My first NWN character was a dwarven defender and I had to abandon him, he was impossible to hit. Now, IWD2 with bonus to damage, chance to hit and resistances is much better .

[Manveru]

My favourite IE game is of course Planescape: Torment, I think that Torment has a characteristics of the real piece of art, contrary to most of computer games that exist. Torment with its deep story is closer to interactive book, where player can experience deep immersion with his nameless character. Planescape's idea is very original as a computer games are concerned. Maybe except Fallout 1&2 I have not played a game that moved me so much.

It is hard to compare IWD with BG 1&2 and PS:T. First game is simply hack and slash with RPG elements, second one has very nice fantasy story but IMO BG can be treated the same way in cRPG world as Star Wars are treated in the SF movie industry: it was big popculture event, however for real connaiseur only PS:T is left, it is simply a game that not everyone can understand.

[Neffra]

PS:T hands down.

[balduran]

Definately PST. It has the best story ever.

[fallen demon]

PST is my favorite game ever.  And I probably never would have ended up actually aquiring a copy of it if it wasn't for the link above.  Thanks Jester.

I actually haven't ever played iwd 1 or 2, but based on the description I don't see myself liking it as much as PST or the BG games.

[balduran]

I actually haven't ever played iwd 1 or 2, but based on the description I don't see myself liking it as much as PST or the BG games.

Each of the Infinity games has its strong side. PST has wonderful plot with interesting and well developed characters. IWD games provide the gamer with great oldstyle Hardcore action. BG1/2 combine both.

[CoM_Solaufein]

Icewind Dale. Best musical soundtrack of any of the IE games, great replay value and it was the first game I made a mod for.

[balduran]

Icewind Dale. Best musical soundtrack of any of the IE games, great replay value and it was the first game I made a mod for.

I have to disagree. Again: Each game rellies on different strong sides. And the music is pretty much a part of the atmosphere that it is supposed to recreate. If you had the IWD music score into BG1, for example, it wouldn't sound that good. It's just right for where it is. Though I really like what this guy, Howard Drossin did with it. I tried to search the web for some other samples of his works, but couldn't find anything except for a list of composers, involved in the gaming industry.

[Ashara]

IWD2! And in another week or so I can finally start finishing it   

[balduran]

You must be joking! That's the wost game of the series.

[Ashara]

I like the ruleset, I like the art, I like the chapter introductions, and I hope to be able to mod in the inter-character banter. I find that the plot so far (I am in Chapter 4) is much better than IWD1. The only thing I really liked in IWD1 was Sevred Hand. The rest I can't remeber.

And I can't stand PS:T, even though the setting was great (before the dissolution of the Factions).