Question about tactics

Remove all ads!

Hi guys. I'm planning to start a game of IWDII with tactics installed. My question is, will tactics affect HOF mode if I decide to proceed to HOF? TIA

 

You mean Tactics4IWD2 right? The first version was normal mode only, the following versions are said to support HoF, since I don't play HoF I can't confirm.

One thing is for sure, this mod turns the difficulty in IWD2 one (if not several) notch(es) higher. Mke sure you take at least one Cleric with you and enjoy the show!

 

you get +20 bonus armour class, about 80 extra hitpoints, and weakened summons in HoF mode. So after you import your party, a script kicks in that does all this. Technically it was 5 AC and 20 HP per 5 levels, I believe....
The bonuses seem unbalancing, but you'll need them for the challenges ahead. I only played the final chapter with Tactics, but I enjoyed it - especially the Xvim battle (won't go into details, but it was awesome)
Summons start at 10-20% hitpoints (Near Death), so if you want to use them properly, you'll need to (Mass) Heal them. Mass Heal becomes a necessary buff then.
Personally I think Tactics is brilliant, because it forces you to use other tactics (hence the name) than the gamebreaking 'meat shields'. And the bonuses make that feasible.
Small hint; if you want to avoid an alignment change of your party, read the readme of Tactics. I have a file, directly from the Tactics author, with permission. Download it here:
65MAXHP.BCS is in IWD2_4dummies
and have fun!

 

Thanks for the feedback guys. I've never used the summons route though. Was always a fan of the high ac decoy myself.

 

Tactics is a fantastic mod but Tal Rasha doesn't recommend soloing so you'd better take a full party. Tactics4IWD2 is much better than Undead Targos because it uses what exists in game so that enemies will be more efficient (it doesn't turn all the goblins into undead to provide an excuse for giving you high level scrolls and a powerful magic weapon right from the start).

Spoiler

Spellcasters are FEARSOME. The first time I tried that mod I lost 3 characters out of 4 because of Caballus... They buff and huff and puff.
Enemies use Summons a lot (especially undead summons, expect boneguards) and some are known to use Improved Invisibility as well. So having a good party is necessary.

 

Well, as long as you can use varied tactics, then you'll have an enjoyable game. Tactics' readme even offers strategies for defeating big encounters, so that might help.
Caradhras:

Spoiler

I had more problems with his 'double trouble' twin Sullabac: he casts Fireballs way too early for my party to handle it. Actually, after 2 fireballs he usually kills the summons, and himself, and I'd have to raise the decoy i sent in from the dead. Fortunately, one time I managed to silence him with the Whispering Staff.

 

Nice one coineineagh!

I have to say that at that time all my party members had Evasion but it wasn't a powergaming party and I never completed the Ice Temple with it.

I have to start again with Tactics (if only for the Caravane Bridge fight, I love it with this mod).

 

I did the caravan bridge fight a couple days ago, and i was amazed by the level of difficulty. Invisibility Sphere would have made it a lot easier, but this way was much more enjoyable. If you want to be surprised in this encounter, don't read the spoiler.

Spoiler

After talking to Xuki, a gang of malarites appears at the start of the bridge. I had to run! The initial encounter already took time, so I needed to hurry to rescue the bridge... My druids' Entangle works wonders here, so I used it to stave them off, while going after the ogres first.

After countless reloads, i finally managed to kill the ogres, then Xuki, and keep everyone alive. I needed evey little spell i could use, even the drow's Faerie Fire helped a lot. One of the bridge supports was gone, so I only managed to save a weakened bridge. Slight disappointment at my limited succes, but definitely a satisfying battle. And I'm awestruck at how challenging it all is.

 

I'll be attempting this with a pretty standard party.

Paladin1/sorcx
rogue1/wizardx
Pure cleric
fighter5/pally5/wizardx or pallyx/sorcx (using a mod that allows pally to multi to sorc
high ac decoy

Plenty of blasting power, healing and tanking from pure cleric, and a fighter/mage as backup and melee

 

Why 5 Fighter levels? You only need 4 for specialization and if it's for a feat, it's better to take another spellcaster level.

Also I can't remember what are the benefits of 5 Paladin levels, most of the time for a multiclass I take either 1 or 3, am I missing something?

 

Agreed. Whenever I mixin Fighter and Paladin levels to another class, I typically go the Fighter4/Paladin3 route. I believe that's pretty standard. You're losing a lot more than you're gaining (effectively nothing) with those 3 levels.

 

I agree, but I wonder if Mongerman has a good reason for choosing 5 levels instead. Since it's a party for Tactics4IWD2 which is pretty hardcore, I assume he would but I can't fathom the rationale behind that build.

 

IMHO, Specialization is overrated. If you're mixing those levels into a spellchuckin' class, you might be better off with Fighter2/Paladin3 or Fighter2/Paladin1.

 

I agree to a certain extent, but taking 2 Fighter levels just for some extra feats is not such a good move when the number of good feats for any build is limited. At least you get something out of Specialization (although it does detract from your spellcasting -an awful lot) but two Fighter levels? It's even worse.

With a Sorcerer you get all you need with one Pally level (or three for Aura of Courage but I for one wouldn't bother).

 

Well. Its because I want a even mix of fighter and wizard levels, but I want to get the paladin bonuses as well. Also, I'm using drow, so my progression level is something like f1/w2/p3/w4. . . The level f5/p5 is just my expected level for HOF

 

That actually makes a lot of sense since you play HoF and don't want a pure spellcaster but a spellsword type. Drow is a very good choice for that kind of character and a Drow Paladin with a high Charisma is bound to be very resilient.

 

Thats the idea...have not actually tried it out yet though. I'm thinking stats may be too spread out, so I'm considering using a paladin of mystara x/sorc x now, with the fix that allows paladin of mystara to multi to sorc

 

Unfortunately not a Drow in that case, so no SR. But this character would benefit from the high CHA.

 

Why not a drow? Going p1/s2/p3/s4....will avoid xp penalties. stats will be

18 str
18 dex
16 con
int and wisdom as low as it can go. Who cares about a few piddling paladin spells anyway. Alternatively, take points from dex and pump into wisdom. That small ac bonus wont matter in the long run.
20 chr. Huge bonus to saving throws + MR. This spellsword can stand right in the middle of anything the 2 main casters are dishing out

 

True, it's a pity this character can't get Evasion.