Tons of Newbie Questions for y'all

Remove all ads!

1) Identifying magic stuff: I'm used to BG and IWDI where there is the Lore stat. How does it work in IWD2 and what stats/classes/skills are needed to be best at it?

2)Do Barbarians get the Uncanny Dodge ability? This is important to one of my builds, and is listed for Barbarians in the Player's Handbook, but not the Instruction Manual.

3)Difficulty. If I have IWD2 set on "Insane" mode, what changes in the game? In IWD1, going on "Insane" would grant more xp per kill, more xp per quest reward, and add in more baddies. How does it work in IWD2?

4)Ranger/Druids. Does the shapeshifted Druid with one level of Ranger really gain the benefits from the Two Weapon Fighting and Ambidexterity feats? IMHO, if she does, one Ranger level is as essential to the Druid builds as it is to the Rogue builds that plan on using sneak attacks.

5)Multiclassed Druids. Do these guys suffer any weapon restrictions, or if another class is added (Ranger, for example) can they use different weapons like bows and greatswords?

6)Is there any way I can fiddle with changing a character's Favored Class? In D&D 3e, Gnomes had their Favored Class changed from Illusionist to Bard. This would make my party a bit more interesting if I could do this.

7)Treasure: Is it random or set? Is the treasure in this game random (like in IWD1) or is it set throughout (like in BG2)?

I know that's a lot of questions, and I thank y'all for reading through them. Don't be shy if you can only answer one or two of the questions, I'm looking forward to responses!

TIA.

 

1) All dependent on your Knowledge: Arcana skill which is boosted by intelligence. Except for potions which are dependent on alchemy. I think you get bonuses to these if you're a gnome, bard or a priest of Oghma too.

2) Yeah, I think they do, although it might not be as great as in proper 3e rules. Not too sure.

3) I think the HP and damage dealt just gets higher. XP is unlikely to be affected as IWD2 adjusts XP according to average party level. Again, not too sure.

4) Dont think so. The only stuff that works in shapeshifted form, as far as I know, is monk's wisdom based AC bonus, barbarian rage and deep gnome racial abilities. Any spell buffs cast before shapeshifting carry over, but you cant cast any non-inherent spells while in animal form. Oh, you can sing if you're a bard/druid, though.

5) Nope. You can use whatever weapons you like, even if you're not proficient in 'em.

6) Not as far as I know. Presumably would take some modding know-how.

7) Kind of like in IWD 1. Some is random, some is set. Probably less random stuff than the first game, though.

 

Identifying stuff - Alchemy will do for potions. Knwo: Arcana can help with most things. Bardic knowledge from a bard is good, too. Mages will have these skills maxed (or should), so it falls to them for IDing things.

Uncanny Dodge - I think barbys get it at level 2.

Druids and Weapons - I don't believe there're any restrictions if combined with another class like ranger or fighter.

Hope this helps at least a little bit.

 

1) Identifying magic stuff:
Based on “Knowledge: Arcana” and “Alchemy” skills for items and potions respectively

2)Do Barbarians get the Uncanny Dodge ability?
I can’t remember but I seem to remember that they do.

3)Difficulty. If I have IWD2 set on "Insane" mode, what changes in the game?
The monsters have more HP and do more damage, but you don’t get any more XP.

4)Ranger/Druids. Does the shapeshifted Druid with one level of Ranger really gain the benefits from the Two Weapon Fighting and Ambidexterity feats?
I have no idea

5)Multiclassed Druids. Do these guys suffer any weapon restrictions, or if another class is added (Ranger, for example) can they use different weapons like bows and greatswords?
No weapon restrictions for multiclassed druids

6)Is there any way I can fiddle with changing a character's Favored Class? In D&D 3e, Gnomes had their Favored Class changed from Illusionist to Bard. This would make my party a bit more interesting if I could do this.
Not that I am aware of. If there is, it would involve use of Dalekeeper.

7)Treasure: Is it random or set? Is the treasure in this game random (like in IWD1) or is it set throughout (like in BG2)?
It is mostly set although there are some designated random drops around the place and there is at least one realty cool weapon that you can only get from a random drop. There is a mod that allows you to randomise items but that is more trouble than its worth because you get too many odd outcomes.

 

Taking a single ranger level and switching to another will have the character keep the ambidexterity and two weapon fighting bonuses.

Barbarians do get uncanny dodge, however, it is simply that they cannot be flanked I think.

No restrictions on weapons, any class can use any weapon and armour, so you can have a wizard weilding a greatsword and a heavy armour, of course, you get penalties if you don't have profiencies in such weapons, also, a wizard wearing a heavy armour is perhaps the worst idea one could have, what with the spellcasting failure penalty.

You cannot change the favored class of any races except for humans and half-elf (seeing their favored class is the class with the highest level), as said above however, it can most likely be done with modding.

Insane difficulty only makes the monsters thougher to defeat, if you want the experience coming with the difficulty you'll either need a mod or play in HoF, the latter being only for high level parties, lest you wish to be falling dead to a bunch of goblins at the beginning.

 

This explains the tough time I had in the prologue last night!

 

What is the cool weapon you can only get through a random drop and where is the drop likely to happen?

What shapeshifted form dual wields? cause i dont get which one does for ranger to give them any help

BTW HoF isnt THAT hard with a starting party i managed to finish targos with one then i got bored and went to normal insane mode

 

Massive GreatAxe of Flame +5 is a pure random drop which few, if any, have seen without cheating. It is the absolute best weapon with regards to damage.

Dualweilding does not work while shapeshifted. Others have already posted the same.

I don't know how Uncanny Dodge is supposed to work but in IWD II it only means that thieves don't automatically get sneak attack just because they are standing behind the Barb.

Even DK II can not change Racial Enemies. That part is hard coded iirc.

 

Curious about the weapon proficiencies thingy, a Druid should stil be bound by the druidic oath etc in regard to weapons, it would not suprise me if they screwed that up in regards to multiclassing though.

by the books, a druid using anything but the druidic accepted weapons, would loose all druidic abilities etc, spells, wildshape and so on. I know ToEE messed that up, and an elf druid could automatically use bow and swords (elf free martial prof longsword and bow)

 

WOW that axe does around twice as much damage with a max roll and the extra chance based fire damage as my current greataxe can. I WANT IT SOOO BAD

 

I have only ever encountered that massive greataxe once. I reckon having random stuff like that is a great idea. A bit like the hidden Abominable Snowman encounter. What a cool game this is.

 

Theres a hidden abominable snowman encounter?

 

The Abominable Snowman is one of the coolest, most pointless hidden encounters in any game. It's just after the rolling rock barbarian gate. You take a path up into the mountains and end up fighting an Abominable Snowman. He has some minor treasure but nothing else going for him other than a general surreal feeling of "Why did they put THAT there?"

 

Is it on the same map as the barbarian gate?

 

Personally I love that they do the Kool-Aid thing with the Umber Hulks just before the Beastlord Harshom fight ...

Oh, no
Oh, no
Oh, no


OH, YEAH!

 

It's just after the barbarian gate, but before the cave entrance. It's up in the hills to the left.

 

I searched the forum and found its location (which was a long way back im really happy ive got the non-linear teleporting on) . It was a semi hard fight but i managed to kill it and claim the pathetic loot but i find it pretty cool they have that character and im amazed no walkthrough ive looked at has talked about it.

[ November 04, 2005, 06:38: Message edited by: Goon66 ]