Back in IWD, once again.

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Hello. Once again I've decided to pick up this game, and once again I'm telling myself that *this* time i'll finish it So no spoilers please
I have a 3CD box with IWD and the expansion, and I know of the TotL semi-expansion.
For someone who has never finished the game, would you recommend installing any mods? (If I get through it all, I'll probably look for some mod with more story, like Aurel's Bane, which is the only one I know about now )

Does the game end when I finish the IWD storyline, or can I go to HoW+TotL areas after that? Does the game end when I finish HoW+TotL storyline, or can I finish IWD after that?

Anything else you think I should know?

Thanks a lot for helping me getting back the interest in this great game

 

Ease-of-Use has some good components that make the game more enjoyable. Be wary of what you install though- some parts are akin to cheating and make the game less enjoyable. I've never used Auril's Bane so I can't comment on that.

You can go on to finish the game after completing the HoW and TotL sections- they are meant as extras near the end of the game.

As a side comment play the game on the Core difficulty. If you decrease the difficulty the game is less enjoyable. Oddly, increasing the difficulty makes the game easier in the end as you get so much more experience for higher difficulty that the bonus the monsters get to damage is simply not enough to cope.

 

No mods. The first time through all you need is the patches. I'm not a fan of ease-of-use in any of the games.

You can do HoW and ToTL either during the game or after you defeat the main baddy in IWD. However, HoW and ToTL are more mid-game add-ins. I went as soon as the game let me (it actually prevents a low level party from going). HoW, IIRC, does not scale up for higher level parties -- so while a mid-level party (9-10th) would find it challenging, a high level party would find it too easy. IWD, on the other hand, does scale to the level of the party, so although you get a boatload of experience and powerful weapons from HoW you still have a fun and challenging game.

If you choose to do HoW after you complete IWD you get to upgrade a powerful weapon from IWD (whoopee -- as if HoW wasn't boring enough for a powerful party).

 

HoW adds several things to the main game, like

- better resolution
- better monster AI
- more spells, special abilities and bard songs

So I'd install the expansion right at the start.

You don't have to switch to HoW during the regular game, you can start it with your exported party from the endgame.

I didn't use any mods and I don't recommend using any.

 

What is with different dropps in IWD with and without HOW?

 

At some places the items you find are random, you get one random item from a list of 2-6 items.
With HoW some of the lists are modified (mainly a few items considered overpowered were omitted), so you can get other items.

 

HOW is worth installing for a lot of reasons, especially if you like druids and bards.

Druids are arguably the most powerful solo class in IWD once HOW is installed.