HoW and HOF - New Items?

[bariumdose]

I heard somewhere that if u run IWD under HoF, you get more experience points per kill and newer items not found in the non-HoF mode. Is this true?

[kmonster]

The monsters in HoF mode have far more HP (x3+80),better AC, better thac0, attack twice as often and do double damage per attack.
XP gained per monster: 4x normal XP + 2000.
Quest XP is doubled (like in insane mode).

At a few places a few extra monsters appear in HoF or when you have beaten HoW. You won't get new items in HoF mode. (It is different in IWD2).

[bariumdose]

Thanks for the info.

If you start a game in HoF mode and don't like it, can you switch back to regular baby mode?

Originally Posted by kmonster

The monsters in HoF mode have far more HP (x3+80),better AC, better thac0, attack twice as often and do double damage per attack.
XP gained per monster: 4x normal XP + 2000.
Quest XP is doubled (like in insane mode).

At a few places a few extra monsters appear in HoF or when you have beaten HoW. You won't get new items in HoF mode. (It is different in IWD2).

[Aerich]

There are no new items in HoF. However, there are new items in HoW, compared to vanilla IWD.

As stated, monsters in HoF mode have gigantic HP. To give you an idea beyond the formula provided, I compared the party XP after the Vale of Shadows (near the end of the first chapter) on HoF compared to normal. The difference? A factor of 12.

I'm not sure if you can switch back or not. I somehow don't think so, but it should be possible. To start a game in HoF, you have to check the HoF box in the configuration menu. I would assume that switching back entails unchecking the box and loading that savegame.

Alternately, if you just want to save your characters, you could create them in HoF, export them, and test out HoF. If you don't like it, just create a new game in normal mode and import those characters.

A note on HoF: it is designed for characters who have been through the game once already and have 10+ levels. Starting from scratch requires excellent tactical skills and quite a lot of patience. Good luck.

[bariumdose]

A factor of 12??? Holy crap!

Thanks for the advice on saving and exporting. I think I'll give HoF a try after I'm through with IWD.

Originally Posted by Aerich

There are no new items in HoF. However, there are new items in HoW, compared to vanilla IWD.

As stated, monsters in HoF mode have gigantic HP. To give you an idea beyond the formula provided, I compared the party XP after the Vale of Shadows (near the end of the first chapter) on HoF compared to normal. The difference? A factor of 12.

I'm not sure if you can switch back or not. I somehow don't think so, but it should be possible. To start a game in HoF, you have to check the HoF box in the configuration menu. I would assume that switching back entails unchecking the box and loading that savegame.

Alternately, if you just want to save your characters, you could create them in HoF, export them, and test out HoF. If you don't like it, just create a new game in normal mode and import those characters.

A note on HoF: it is designed for characters who have been through the game once already and have 10+ levels. Starting from scratch requires excellent tactical skills and quite a lot of patience. Good luck.

[Aerich]

Yep, 12. That's not a typo. My bard hit lvl 11 and got War Chant of the Sith before I finished the Black Wolf Temple in the Vale. Every orc and skeleton is worth over 2000 XP, with HP to match. It's quite hard until you get to Kuldahar; before that, spell access for mages is pitiful. Enchantment and Summoning spells are the bread and butter of HoF, because your best fireball hardly singes your average monster.

[kmonster]

You can turn on/off HoF mode anytime using the external game configuration program.
Although it is possible to solo HoF starting from scratch you won't enjoy playing HoF mode on your first IwD game.
You can use insane(in fact even easier than normal mode) or very easy difficulty if you want to get twice as much XP or kill endlessly respawning monsters.

[bariumdose]

Thanks, kmonster, for the info.

After reading everyone's comments regarding HoF mode, I'm starting to get scared of even trying to playing the game under HoF. I don't want to end up swearing to high heaven and pulling my hair out every time I have to reload games and re-fight a seemingly impossible battle.

Originally Posted by kmonster

You can turn on/off HoF mode anytime using the external game configuration program.
Although it is possible to solo HoF starting from scratch you won't enjoy playing HoF mode on your first IwD game.
You can use insane(in fact even easier than normal mode) or very easy difficulty if you want to get twice as much XP or kill endlessly respawning monsters.

[Aerich]

It's not that bad, especially if you use a mid to high level party.

I'm currently in the Severed Hand, having started HoF with a rookie party, and I can honestly say that it has been a tactical challenge but not impossible.

The most important thing at the beginning is to downgrade your expectations. If you have to run out of the orc caves to rest after killing four orcs, do so. Divine casters are the keys to the early game; Hold Person and various druid spells are of vast importance.

[bariumdose]

All right, you convinced me. I won't wimp out. I'll be a man and take on these cretins in HoF mode! Arrgh! Die, monster, die!

Originally Posted by Aerich

It's not that bad, especially if you use a mid to high level party.

I'm currently in the Severed Hand, having started HoF with a rookie party, and I can honestly say that it has been a tactical challenge but not impossible.

The most important thing at the beginning is to downgrade your expectations. If you have to run out of the orc caves to rest after killing four orcs, do so. Divine casters are the keys to the early game; Hold Person and various druid spells are of vast importance.