POLL: Make a tactical mod for IWD2?

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@Mudde:
You can't level up that many in normal games, remember? Only HoF mode can give you so many levels. And if you muticlass in low levels, you won't gain high level spells or high BAB, which means you can't damage your enemy to much.

And I think HoF is boring, so I won't test my mod in HoF.

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Btw, progress report: Chapter 1 Completed.
I won't tell you guys what I have done, for people like suprises I think.

 

4 of my casters get high-lvl spells in hof (since they have at most 1 lvl other than their primary class. The other 2 (bard/sorc and decoy) have enough levels to be useful (the decoy only need one monk and one rogue-level to be useful as decoy). The lower saving throws is compensated by lower stats of enemy casters, combined with lower level spells.
This party is hard to beat as soon as one caster gains lvl 3 spells (fireball!!!). From there on the rest of the game is just a walk in the park.

Sure I can test your mod! I will start playing this game again soon enough (I'm stuck with rpg:s on snes-emulators for now, but I always go back to IWD2 after some time).

 

@mudde: Mate...meta-gaming is dodgy is best...you could come up with 20 scenarios for which I will have 40 counters...which you will have 80 counter-counters for...we could be at this all day...

Lets just say that IWD2 AI could take a LOT of tweaking and leave it at that, shall we??

PS: Tal Rasha...mate, I am VERY eagerly looking forward to your mod!! Hurry up!!

 

Tell us what you are planning, Tal, pleaaase!

 

If you want the game to be more difficult, then play it with fewer party members!

I am currently playing a two character party - and let me tell, it is NOT easy. I'm currently stuck at the end of chapter 5, where I am to face 4 Earth Elementals (2 of which go straight for my Sorcerer), 16 Harpies and Mirabel and Majras. It is my own fault, as my one arcane spellcaster (Sorcerer) does not have any invisibility spells!
It does, however, provide a new challenge by adopting less predictable magic tactics...

 

@Da Rock: I've played the game solo in Heart of Fury mode...trust me...this game is p*ss easy...

 

@Silverstar:
I can't tell you the detail now, dude. But I can tell you my main plans. The difficulty of the entire game will be slightly increased, and some champions will be a bit more improved, and the bosses will be greatly improved, and of cource Isair and Madae will be ultimately improved.
I can tell you nothing more.

@Da Rock
Buff up your Sorcerer with mage armor,shield,mirror image,improved invisibility,haste,and use the feat Expertise. I think you will have enough time to blast or summon before they hurt you.

 

@Tal Rasha: Can you make key battles customised by the mod? As in the part where you get mobbed by all those Yuan Ti after you close the Cross-Roads in Kuldahar could be so MUCH better if you get a few high level casters in there and maybe tweak the AI a bit?? Maybe give them better weapons etc...

 

I will consider your suggestion, Faraaz.

 

My mini-wishlist for caster improvements:

1. Appreciable use of Concentration skill. Non-HoF casters are far too easy to disrupt.
2. Reduction in use of area-damage spells or better targetting for them, because most enemy casters hurt their allies (and often themselves) more with area-damage spells than the party. No more completely suicidal fireballs by Xuki, etc.
3. Increased use of Dispel Magic at commencement of battle.
4. Targetting of Drow (and Gray Dwarf) PCs with Fire-blinding spells (Sol's Searing Orb, etc.)
5. Targetting of Tanks with Ray of Enfeeblement in early Chapters. (This is a killer tactic when it comes off for the party vs. opponents in the early Chapters.)
6. Enemy casters to use Stoneskin *early* in battle (and to use it as a buff for their own tanks).
7. In situations where there are multiple enemy casters their casting sequences should work in concert rather than being practically identical. e.g. One caster throws a Malison while another casts Chaos, rather than both casting the same spell.
8. Enemy mages to respond to being magic-missiled with Shield.
9. Smarter healing from enemy clerics. Rather than keep trying (and failing) to cast Cure x Wounds, use of Sanctuary -> move away -> quaff potion. (Yes, Aurilities, I'm including you.)
10. Enemy clerics with strong physical attacks (ie, highish attack bonus) to attempt Inflict and Harm spells with greater frequency.
11. Other spells that players often make good use of that enemy casters rarely do (and should) : Improved Invisibility, Mass Haste, Fireshields, Protection from <element>, Champion's Strength, DUHM, Beltyn's Burning Blood.
12. Ensure enemy casters employ PfE before Gateing, etc.

 

Thanks for your advices. I will try my best, though I think some of your advices are hard to implement.

 

@Tal Rasha:

My Sorcerer doesn't have any of the buff spells you mentioned (nor the Expertise feat) - remember my comment about "predictable magic tactics"? Which spells do you usually avoid? They are the ones I am picking...
...although some I have picked are "predictable".

To get where I have got (about to face the Guardian), I have only needed Mirror Image on my Tank (part Demarch of Mask). Apart from that, I have managed so far without buffing at all.

 

Yes, I do not expect something as hardcore as 'slightly (pun intended) smarter mages&liches' component of that wonderful tactics mod, but you should really beef up the AI of spell-casting enemies. Only caster enemies who gave me head ache was the Lich (smart use of Imp. Inv.), Saablic Taan,( uses highest level spells first, like WoB and Mass Dominate) and Isair&Madae. (they come pre-buffed, maybe all enemies shuld be buffed to the max beforehand?)

I checked Saablic's apprentices via DK. They had deadly spells such as Disintegrate which could make me jump in terror as it kills irreversibly, but for some reason they NEVER get to use that. WHY?

 

Progress Report: Chapter 3 Complete.

Now I am in Chatper 4.
Malavon Despana would be impossibly hard to defeat. So I recommend that you cooperate with him.

 

Impossible to defeat? Now you are just encouraging me to challenge him!

 

That's great idea and also is exactly what I want!