I must admit SJ, after playing more IWD my views have changed. I would still reccomend a newbie enlist the help of the trapped adventurers. However, you get far more XP if you put a paladin up front. Then using the ol' greas&gas + missile weapons, its easy money.
Addendum for HoW
Call to arms has drastically changed some of the set-piece battles in IWD. Instead of sneaking around and taking out enemies one at a time you must change tactics.
Easthaven - you don't need help here, do you?
Vale of Shadows - little has changed here, skeletons usually swamped you in the open areas anyway. Still large enough to allow sneaking.
Forgotten temple - again, no change. Verbeegs are spread out, though you may face a tough fight against 3 or more at once if unlucky.
Dragon's Eye - this is tougher. Swarms of bombardier beetles must be faced off by a tank with the solitary protection from acid scroll you pick up somewhere. There are a few tough lizardmen fights. Use narrow corridors/a bridge and gas/grease + missile weapons. The Trolls & priests battle is tough. But they can be lured into the passageway before the temple and gas/greased - the trolls need fire and the priests can be silenced/held or mown down. Massed Cold Wights can be turned or Smited (smitten?
). Prayer spells and defensive harmony are mandatory. Poison zombies will explode with a level 5/6 cleric turning them. Yuan-ti (when you discover them, the high archers room, the corridor before X and the Xuonemei herself fight) - lure them into corridors/doorways and use gas/grease/web and fireball (smite works on the elites and priests). One potion of fiery burning - use it wisely. I also found burning hands works better than magic missile at this point (but your mage must be well protected).
Severed Hand - With the ambushes and marksmen I found this no more difficult than before. Even the Skeletons are spread out.
Thats it so far. More later...
[ 08-03-2001: Message edited by: Gruntboy ]