Some small problems...

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G'Day,

I have just got my hands on Icewind Dale 2, and have only just got past the first town, but have had a couple of problems already. Firstly, my Tab key does not seem to do anything (it does in Baldur's Gate 2). Secondly, I cannot seem to work out how to assign spells to the quick slots --- when I right-click on them for my Cleric or Wizard, it allows me instead to change what the icon is for.

I also had a crash problem, but found that solution myself. If anyone could help with these, it would surely make things a lot more enjoyable.

 

IWD2 has slightly different keys. Use the Alt key to see all items (containers and treasure from dead bodies), while Space pauses, allowing you to see barrels and enemies.

The right-clicking for spells is correct. You right click the spell icons:
Moon & stars = general/single classed spellcaster;
Shepherd staff head = cleric;
Crown = cleric domain;
Clock = wizard/sorcerer;
Instrument = bard
Leaf = druid
Sword = Paladin
Bow = Ranger
By right clicking through these, you should eventually get to your spells - left click the spell you want. It should now in in the quick slot. Be careful, as your cursor will change to the magic cursor for non-self-casting spells (right click to prevent the spell casting).
I personally rarely put a spell in there, but leave the magic icon (see above) because I generally use more than 3 spells per character!

 

Alt seems to work. I could have sworn I read it was Tab, but I may have imagined that.

The right-clicking on the quick-spell spots does not seem to work though. When I do it, I get the base icons (eg `Cast Spell', `Use Item', etc), but nothing else. Selecting one of these simply exchanges the quick spell icon with whatever I selected. None of the other icons you mentioned seem to be there. I have the latest patch installed. I want to keep the Cast Spell icon, but since I have the room I would also like to put the most commonly used spells at easier access.

I also have a bit of a question about 3E rules. I already knew 2E rules before I played Baldur's Gate so, despite a few inconsistencies, I found that game quite intuitive. Icewind Dale II, on the other hand, makes no sense. 5 Cold Resistance... wow... what is that? 7 Lock Picking... OK... is that good, bad, otherwise? Is there anywhere that explains the basics for transitioning from 2E to 3E so I can better understand how to develop a character.

Just a small, additional question. Baldur's Gate II did not really lend itself to playing an evil party (IMO)... is Icewind Dale II more flexible in this regard?

Thanks for the help so far!

 

Keep right-clicking until you get to the spell icon.

3E rules are much simler and more intuitve than 2E was. Once you make the switch you won't go back (except to play classic CRPGs). There's probably a 2E-->3E explanation/guide somewhere on this site. If not, google for one.

IWD2 party alignment doesn't matter too much as far as I can tell. I've played heavily lawful good parties, including paladins, that just randomly slaughtered peaceful NPCs after completeing quiests for them.

 

The short description is that everything goes the same way, a positive number is allwas good, and a negative number always bad. And all stats for example now have all bonuses divided equally over all variations (unlike 2E where only the highest stats got any bonuses at all, and the bonuses climbed heavilly teh higher you got). So a character with Strength 12 is a bit better in combat than strength 10, and still much worse than a strength 18 for ex.

In basic it is very simple. Just keep upgrading everything you want a character to be good at. a rogue likes dexterity and inteligence and skills, so maximise those. a spellcaster likes spell focus feats, and casting ability (inteligence for mages for ex) so get them as high as possible and keep upgrading them when given oppertunity. a Fighter would focus on stength and constitution most likelly, and get as many feats as possible that enhance hes close combat (dodge, cleave, weapon specialisation for ex).

In reality it is not so different from 2E as one might belive. they basically "tiddied it up a bit"

My first experience with D&D was old game DungeonMaster, i never figured out why my ranger got a "worse" armor everytime i tried giving him a high dexterity, so i ended up with dexterity 14.

 

The short answer is that the 3e rules make more sense than the 2e ones. What Raptor said.

 

Thanks for the help. I now have things set up much more suitably for my play-style, and between reading things here-and-there and experimenting I have been able to work most things out.

As far as 2E vs 3E goes, there are some things I find to be great changes, and others I am not so hot on, but that is to be expected with any change