1. SPS Accounts:
    Do you find yourself coming back time after time? Do you appreciate the ongoing hard work to keep this community focused and successful in its mission? Please consider supporting us by upgrading to an SPS Account. Besides the warm and fuzzy feeling that comes from supporting a good cause, you'll also get a significant number of ever-expanding perks and benefits on the site and the forums. Click here to find out more.
    Dismiss Notice
Dismiss Notice
You are currently viewing Boards o' Magick as a guest, but you can register an account here. Registration is fast, easy and free. Once registered you will have access to search the forums, create and respond to threads, PM other members, upload screenshots and access many other features unavailable to guests.

BoM cultivates a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. We have been aiming for quality over quantity with our forums from their inception, and believe that this distinction is truly tangible and valued by our members. We'd love to have you join us today!

(If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you've forgotten your username or password, click here.)

Worth starting?

Discussion in 'Icewind Dale 2' started by Arath, Jan 3, 2004.

  1. Arath Gems: 3/31
    Latest gem: Lynx Eye


    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2003
    Messages:
    62
    Likes Received:
    0
    Hi, I have played BG and BGII for some time, and I have considered purchaseing icewind dale II.
    but I would like to know something about it first.

    1. Is it as good as BG or better?? and are they even a little alike?

    2. How different is the interface, I have seen it shortly and from what I remember then the controls are more complex and difficult, is this true??


    3. The story. Is the story worth playing?? dont tell me the story, just if its worth it.

    edit: Is it a good thing to play the first Icewind dale before starting on the second?
     
  2. Hellheart Gems: 3/31
    Latest gem: Lynx Eye


    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2003
    Messages:
    64
    Likes Received:
    0
    1.IWD2 is different and a very good game. This one is linear , has no NPC's , has 3Ed Rules and you can create your own party!

    2.In the beginning you have to get used to it , especially if you've been playing a lot of other rpg's. The most important are the keys for the different screens which are quite easy.

    3.As far as I have played it the story is quite good and alot of details are revealed according to the different races/skills you use.

    4.You might do that if you really want the story behind it , because the two are a bit connected. But other from that you can just play IWD2 right now!
     
  3. Arath Gems: 3/31
    Latest gem: Lynx Eye


    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2003
    Messages:
    62
    Likes Received:
    0
    k, thx
     
  4. Baronius

    Baronius Mental harmony dispels the darkness ★ SPS Account Holder Veteran

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2002
    Messages:
    1,783
    Likes Received:
    14
    I played BG and BGII many times, and IWD2 was not so good in my opinion. Yes, entirely new style, you might like it. I know several people who liked BG, and did not like IWD2, however.
    Well, I do not want to make you already full of prejudices against IWD2, it is simply different style.
     
  5. ArrynMorgerim Gems: 9/31
    Latest gem: Iol


    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2002
    Messages:
    320
    Likes Received:
    0
    The story isn't worth it at all.
    Just kill all and proceed to next area. And you'll get all you want. A drow or two, duergars, undead, monks, mind flayers, dragons (awfuly weak), even yuan-tis and (!)goblins. Boring.
     
  6. Xindell Gems: 6/31
    Latest gem: Jasper


    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2003
    Messages:
    189
    Likes Received:
    0
    Here's the deal. IWDII is a fun game. Character cration and development is great, what with the 3rd ed rules. In that way it is supremely better than BG.

    I personally prefer the interface over BG's as well. It's more compact and it's all in one place, so you're not moving your mouse all over the screen to select different characters or do different things. It's definitely different, but it'll take you all of 10 minute to get used to it. Plus, it's much more flexible than BG's interface. You can set many of the buttons up yourself, which allows quick and easy access to any spells or abilities you choose.

    The storyline is decent, though certainly not the epic that the BG series is. There is no need to play Icewind Dale 1 at all. BIS did a good job of making IWDII a stand alone game. There are references to the first game here and there, but nothing important, just the occasional comment by an NPC or reappearance of an NPC from the first one. You won't know the difference for not having played the first one.

    So, IMHO, interface is better than BG. Character creation and development is better than BG. Storyline isn't great, but isn't bad. All that being said, if you choose to play it (and I would recommend you do), do NOT expect the same experience you got from BG. IWDII is a fun game, but it's no Baldur's Gate. I don't know that anything will bring quite that kind of experience again.

    Good luck!
     
  7. Quicho Gems: 6/31
    Latest gem: Jasper


    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2003
    Messages:
    157
    Likes Received:
    0
    There is a thread here on SP on making IceWind Gate.

    It should be a IWDII mod that implements Baldur's Gate story into IWDII.

    Maybe this will be a great thing when it's ready. I for myself would be ready to pay for a good Baldur's Gate adaptation into IWDII and so forth in 3e.

    :shake: 3.5 would be better.
     
  8. VStyle_Gove Gems: 2/31
    Latest gem: Fire Agate


    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2003
    Messages:
    28
    Likes Received:
    0
    I like 3rd DnD better, but no multiclassing and no monk animation in IWD2 is no good! :eek:
     
  9. Tassadar Gems: 23/31
    Latest gem: Black Opal


    Veteran

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2001
    Messages:
    1,520
    Likes Received:
    8
    IWD2 is lightyears better in terms of combat, and since you'll be doing that a lot, this is a good thing. The rules (3rd ed) are infinitely better, and there is more variety with races and whatnots. *All* stats are now important (some more important than others depending on class) so none of this 3 intelligence stuff (although I still do this occasionally). No uberpowered wizard spell protections, no cheap contingencies or timestops. Major penalties for dual wielding. You start from scratch at level 1 (good, IMO). Spell effects are phenomenal in this game.

    Story is nothing special, due to the linear nature of the game, but has potential and is good enough, ie - if they took the skeleton of the story, expanded it and gave characters more depth, it could be BG3. Lord of the Rings it's not. However, I found the villains in this game more interesting than boring old Irenicus and like I said, there was potential here.

    Definitely worth getting however.
     
  10. Imost Gems: 2/31
    Latest gem: Fire Agate


    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2002
    Messages:
    33
    Likes Received:
    0
    [​IMG] @ VStyle:
    Actually, I think the way they multiclass here is loads better. First of all, you get loads of experience and you level up a lot quicker. Second, you get to put as many or as little levels in one class or the other as you want (multiclassing penalty NOT withstanding). Also, why wait for 100,000 exp to level up all classes when you can level up one at a time, which makes you stronger in your adventures? I prefer multiclassing in IWD 2 to the BG series, but that's just me. ;)
    In IWD 2, the game interface is much more helpful, and I enjoy what they did to the stats and stat modifiers (2 to a stat= +1). I have a better time understanding the how and the why when I am battling, etc.
     
  11. Harbourboy

    Harbourboy Take thy form from off my door! Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    May 29, 2003
    Messages:
    13,346
    Likes Received:
    97
    I agree with most of the comments here. In summary, Icewind Dale II's main appeal is the infinitely flexible character options (try a group of 6 monks, or solo a dwarf druid rogue - whatever you want) whilst the main criticism is the somewhat less flexible storyline (but how many times do you want to replay a game anyway?). I rate it a 'definite buy' especially as it is quite old now so you should be able to pick it up pretty cheaply.
     
  12. Grey Magistrate Gems: 14/31
    Latest gem: Chrysoberyl


    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2003
    Messages:
    632
    Likes Received:
    2
    I recommend that you pick it up. The 3E rules are much better than BG's 2E, and it has the same Black Isle sense of humor and style.

    The story is less than epic, but the icy atmosphere is fun. Bring on the ice and snow!
     
Sorcerer's Place is a project run entirely by fans and for fans. Maintaining Sorcerer's Place and a stable environment for all our hosted sites requires a substantial amount of our time and funds on a regular basis, so please consider supporting us to keep the site up & running smoothly. Thank you!

Sorcerers.net is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products on amazon.com, amazon.ca and amazon.co.uk. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.