Should I finish playing IWD first before playing HoW?

[bariumdose]

Hello,

I'm a newbie to the first IWD and just barely scratched its surface in experiencing the game. So far I like it a lot.

However, I've alos heard that installing Heart of Winter makes the game even better. Should I install HoW and replay? My party's still first-level - can I export my party to HoW or do I have to attain a certain a level b4 I'm allowed to switch to HoW?

Also, I did some checking and found "downloads" of the HoW expansion pack on Fileplanet and Gamezone. Are these legit, full downloads of HoW? If not, where can I download HoW?

Thanks for listening.

[Ravager]

Originally Posted by bariumdose

However, I've alos heard that installing Heart of Winter makes the game even better. Should I install HoW and replay? My party's still first-level - can I export my party to HoW or do I have to attain a certain a level b4 I'm allowed to switch to HoW?

HoW adds extra features- better graphics, some more spells, extra containers and weapons. Plus the expansion area once you've finished the main IWD area (or you can finish the expansion areas before you finish IWD and return later- never tried that out though). AFAIK you can install it and the saved games automatically update so you shouldn't need to restart and I wouldn't recommend it, unless you really want to.
You can play HoW either by selecting Play Expansion Only from the starting menu of the game, playing through your current one and talking to the barbarian shaman in Kuldahar- he can be found in one of the houses (and will tell you when you're high enough level to access them) or playing right through IWD and you'll automatically start HoW areas after.

Originally Posted by bariumdose

Also, I did some checking and found "downloads" of the HoW expansion pack on Fileplanet and Gamezone. Are these legit, full downloads of HoW? If not, where can I download HoW?

Once you've installed HoW there is an expansion only available on the Internet called Trials of the Luremaster which is definitely worth downloading. Those websites may be referring to that. It's a free download with a big quest plus new items and monsters.
If you see Heart of Winter offered as a download itself (and it's not some sort of demo) then it most likely isn't legit.

Hope that helps you.

[bariumdose]

Originally Posted by Ravager

If you see Heart of Winter offered as a download itself (and it's not some sort of demo) then it most likely isn't legit.

Hope that helps you.

Wow, thanks for the info on HoW.

I'm a little confused. This is the download I found on GameZone:

http://downloads.gamezone.com/demos/d8764.htm

Is this Heart of Winter? Or, is this the ToL expansion pack you were talking about? Can I install ToL without installing HoW first?

[Ravager]

That link refers to Trials of the Luremaster (or you may see it elsewhere as TotL). It's under the description on the page.

You need HoW installed to run TotL. It starts from a HoW location.

Some websites may show TotL as Heart of Winter: Trials of the Luremaster as that weblink showed.

[Lucita]

Play the main game first and then the Add-ons....gives you the opportunity to receive the best sword in the game and to improve it in the Add-on.




SPOILER:


The broken sword you gave to the fisher Jolee at the beginning will be remade for the final battle in IWD, you can give the sword to a dwarven smith in HOW who can even improve it more...

[Aerich]

In answer to your first post...

Keep playing even if you don't have HoW. The game plays just fine on its own, although anybody who has HoW probably wouldn't voluntarily remove it and go back to just playing IWD without the modifications of HoW. As your party is first level, I'd keep playing it just to see how you like it. A six-character party on normal difficulty will get about one million experience points in the main game, and better than double that with the HoW and TotL expansions. It's not a hardship to rebuild a party even if you get up to lvl 5 or so.

If you have HoW right now, install it immediately and keep playing. I can confirm that it automatically updates, so you won't have to restart.

You could export your party to HoW as it is, but I would not recommend it. HoW is designed for lvl 9+ characters. A lvl 1 party will be slaughtered, unless it is being played by a canny and patient veteran of the game.

For future reference, if you want to play the game exactly in order, it should go like this:
Start in IWD, go to HoW sometime before point of no return (about 19/20ths of the way through IWD). Start TotL partway through HoW (about 3/4 of the way through HoW). Finish TotL, then finish HoW, then finish IWD.
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There are two ways to go about getting a party into HoW. I know some of this has been said above, but bear with me. I tend to forget things if I don't organize my thoughts, and I've set out some advantages of each method.

1) Finish IWD and export party into expansion-only (HoW) game. Advantage: possession of the sword referred to by Lucita, although I might disagree with the statement that it is the absolute best sword. It can only be upgraded if you go to HoW after you have passed the point of no return (e.g. finished the main game and entered HoW after that).

2) Play IWD until anytime before the point of no return, then go to HoW through the in-game access point in Kuldahar. Must have average party level of at least 9 (or maybe it's 8) before going to HoW. I'd recommend higher. Go right to the point of no return and turn back. Advantages: lots of goodies from the main game, consistency of storyline, HoW gives more experience points and so may make the main game seem too easy if a party returns from HoW with a significant portion of IWD still to go.

Point of no return is once you have all six b____ and have to place them to advance the game. Stash the six b____ in a container before going to HoW, if that's what you decide to do.