Dialog

[Icewind]

hey, im going to get icewind dale and i was wondering how much dialog it has, from 1-10.
also please rate BG2, so i get an idea.
thanx

[Aegis]

To start, just a friendly notice.

For your IWD question, you should post in the IWD forum, same with the BG@ question.

Anyway, My ratings would be...

IWD=7 This is because it is more Dugeon scrawl than story, and I prefer story. So it gets a little tedious after a bit, but still a good game

BG2=9 Aside from a few bugs, this has a great story, and enough combat to keep anyone happy. It offers many paths, plenty of kits, and some great NPC interaction. A must get.


I hope that helps Bob.

[Nightmare]

Aegis is right on the money. IMHO, in IWD you can say much funnier things...

[reedimus]

IWD: not much dialogue at all when compared to BG2...which I prefer. I felt that bg2 had way too much dialogue. on my second time through I was pulling my hair out waiting for everyone to just shut the hell up and let me go on to the dungeon. but that's just me. From the dungeon perspective, I think Icewind dale is a much better game than bg2. The dungeons in icewind dale put those of BG2 to shame.

[Chingiz]

You can talk to plenty of people in IWD. The critical difference, I would say, is the difference the dialog makes. Nothing you say in Icewind Dale really effects what happens in the game beyond the immediate encounter. It's more along the lines of trading banter before you kick a person's butt, or talking to someone to get a quest necessary to finish the game (not much option in that). There are a few options in the game that change the outcome in the near term. For instance, cajoling someone into giving you something you want, instead of kicking the crap out of them and then looting their corpse. But that really don't change anything about the game. In fact, you can usually attack aforementioned character right after you finished cajoling them and suffer no penalty (in fact you just get more experience). So there's not really much role playing if that's what you're looking for.

BG2 on the other hand is almost crazy with options. Everything from recruiting the NPCs, to romancing them, to siding with different forces, to determing how you will spend your remaining days (I'm trying to not spoil anything here with specifics). And dialog choices you make have profound choices on how the game goes. Charisma and Wisdom are much more a factor in interaction in BG2, even determining what dialog choices you do have. BG2 also factors in reputation and alignment much more. Alignment shifts in BG2 and you can actually lose your Paladin or Ranger status.

If you're looking for roleplaying I'd recommend BG2 over IWD anyday. But before everyone else rips my head off, I should add that IWD is a great for powergaming, which is an aspect of CRPGs that I love (I grew up on Wizardry and Ultima -- talk about focus on character ability and equipment development, there's not an ounce of dialog in either of the early versions of those games). Tailoring your characters exactly the way you want them and building up a powerful party is great. In BG2, you often have to deal with what's dealt, which is fun in its own way, but often a bit frustrating.

I've gotten much more into the roleplaying in BG2 myself, but I'm really enjoying my romp through IWD. In some ways I look at as training for BG2. You start out at level 1 and have to very resourceful about how you use your limited abilities. Plus you really feel like you've earned your higher level abilities when you get them. My only complaint about IWD is what seems like the endless repetitive onslaughts by the same type of monster. If I encounter another shadowed goblin, skeleton or Yeti I think I'll fall asleep rather than fight. The battles get much better later in the game. The opponents are more varied and really test your abilities, much more than in BG2. In much of BG2 I was much to lazy to do things like cast stoneskin or mirror image to protect my spellcasters. If you don't in IWD, your mages get womped. Strategically, IWD can be a much more satisfying game.

Okay, I've gone way beyond the scope of the question. So, I'll shut up now. But does anyone else agree with my assessment, or am I just speaking blasphemy on the IWD board?

[ 08-29-2001: Message edited by: Chingiz ]

[Gruntboy]

Blasphemy?!

No, were all entitled to opinions. I agree with most of yours Chingiz.

BG2 and IWD are 2 different styles of game. IWD is more about the fighting than the dialogue. Often with the dialogue options, it does matter what you say adn who you say it to in terms of immediate rewards and reactions. But it has no other impact on the gameplay. E.G. You can fight an ogre, or talk to him and cure his headache, or cure him and fight him. But it has no impact on the game.

Though I must say, I think the 'repetitive monsters' add to the strategy element. You have to wade through hordes of the things in different scenarios (and I don't think they're *that* repetitive in IWD - just wait till you do HoW). That adds to the challenge of IWD.

[Nightmare]

Some of the dialogue is fun though, espicially the sarcasm you can direct at Pomab at the begining.

[Mr Sleep]

Originally posted by Gaxx_Firkraag:
<STRONG>Some of the dialogue is fun though, espicially the sarcasm you can direct at Pomab at the begining. </STRONG>

LOL, you have a point i go around insulting everyone in IWD it is just so much fun