just curious

luz · #1 (**permalink**) 01-18-2005, 07:20 PM

Is it just me, or is IceWind Dale II 100 times tougher than the original? I'm playing on Very Easy (please don't laugh, this is done to keep me from throwing my computer out the window in pure frustration), with a high level group (and a good one), and I'm having to rest constantly, raise my dead members, and use every heal potion known to mankind. I'm just curious if anyone else has noticed this. I'm dreading the final battle like an alcoholic dreads AA... not that I would know anything about that *whistles innocently*

Spikey_Creature · #2 (**permalink**) 01-18-2005, 08:18 PM

Yeh i had a similar problem, i found it hard not challenging like other games, in some games if it gets hard theres always a way round it, but i had a lot of trouble with icewind dale 2

luz · #3 (**permalink**) 01-18-2005, 10:12 PM

Yeah, IWD I was challenging and fun, but II is gonna make me destroy my computer. I realized that when it has become not uncommon for me to have to reload up to 25 times for a single fight,I end up leaving the computer and getting something to eat. I blame Black Isle for my weight problem! Yeah, and I blame Coca-COla too and, uh, I blame refrigerators too

Anyhow, I am now determined to get to the end, and pray both my computer and I come out of it in one piece.

Wrath-Of-Egg · #4 (**permalink**) 01-18-2005, 11:32 PM

Well... seriusly.. there have been many other like you two.. not on this forum but anyway..

There just seams to be though and easy version of this game. (I am ignoring Language)

Well i havent had any of those tyoe of problems even when playing ''insane''..

Could it be your strategy.. well could you describe it more?

Spikey_Creature · #5 (**permalink**) 01-19-2005, 03:46 AM

been a while since i played ice wind dale ii but i had a basic party of sorcerer, druid, barabrian, ranger, and a rogue as my party, and i used similar tactics i would use in baldurs gate 2 (i realise the classes are a little different) but also in temple of elemental evil, and i found early as the goblin fortress, that i was reloading battles a fair bit and it started to really put me off the gamei still havent finished it . . .

maybe im just too paranoid bout the survival of my party, i hate it when someone dies and it would normally result in me reloading

Brynn · #6 (**permalink**) 01-19-2005, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luz

Is it just me, or is IceWind Dale II 100 times tougher than the original? I'm playing on Very Easy (please don't laugh, this is done to keep me from throwing my computer out the window in pure frustration), with a high level group (and a good one), and I'm having to rest constantly, raise my dead members, and use every heal potion known to mankind. I'm just curious if anyone else has noticed this. I'm dreading the final battle like an alcoholic dreads AA... not that I would know anything about that *whistles innocently*

Relax, many (including me) felt the same way the first time playing IWD II. When I was at the very beginning (around Targos and the nearby areas) I tried to allocate my chars' ability points differently and started all over - reading the description of each class and ability helped a lot! For the third time I manaaged to create a full party able to deal with the tasks, and then, as I got to know the char types's strength and weaknesses, I tired with a party of four, and that went very well.

Why don't you give us the details (class, point, armor, weapon) of your chars?

lompo · #7 (**permalink**) 01-19-2005, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luz

Is it just me, or is IceWind Dale II 100 times tougher than the original? I'm playing on Very Easy (please don't laugh, this is done to keep me from throwing my computer out the window in pure frustration), with a high level group (and a good one), and I'm having to rest constantly, raise my dead members, and use every heal potion known to mankind. I'm just curious if anyone else has noticed this. I'm dreading the final battle like an alcoholic dreads AA... not that I would know anything about that *whistles innocently*

Maybe you are playing in HoF mode?
Anyway my exp. is that IWD2 (normal mode) start more difficoult than IWD! and BG series (first 2 chapt.), than become fairly easy except some very specific point (8th chamber ..), than the difficoulty start to increase again from the Field of Slaughter.

neocool00 · #8 (**permalink**) 01-19-2005, 08:21 AM

That's one of the things I like about IWD2. It requires a bit more thought than just a run in and hack everybody up. You have to change your tactics according to the battle at hand. Also, party creation will make or break you. The difficult of the game depends on your party. 6 members doesn't always mean easier too because you've got the micromanage factor (as in more of it). Personally, I like to take no more than 4 characters and currently I'm running a solo Monk. I've never beat this game ever but that's because I get 2 chapters into it and decide I don't like my party and start over with a new one. My solo Monk is the furtherest I've ever played (currently entering the Underdark chapter 4). But now it's real easy for me because he's level 25. Normally I would stop and start over because it's gotten too easy, but I'm eager to see how this is going to end.

Post your party and their stats and any tactics that you use and we'd be glad to offer some advice that might make things easier.

ishuman · #9 (**permalink**) 01-19-2005, 07:04 PM

I don't want to spoil the party but I really haven't found it too hard. I did turn on the "max hp per level" option for the first 3 or 4 character levels so that could have made a big difference. I've had a character die a few times but very seldom (and usually when I've gotten lazy).

I'm playing on the normal mode with average difficulty. At level 13 right now in Hrothgar's Glen with a Fighter 10/Cleric3, Barbarian9/Fighter4, Cleric 13, Cleric10/Rogue3, Wizard 11/Rogue2 and a Sorcerer 13.

-ishuman

luz · #10 (**permalink**) 01-19-2005, 09:21 PM

My party:
Human Aasimar Paladin- Level 12, Str. 18 Dex 11 Con. 10 Int. 10 Wis. 12 Cha. 21
Wild Elf Sorceror- Level 12, Str. 10, Dex. 22, Con. 10, Int. 8, Wis. 10, Cha. 19
Moon Elf Wizard- Level 12, Str. 10, Dex. 23, Con. 8, Int. 19, Wis. 10, Cha. 10
Half Elf Cleric/Fighter- Level 7 cleric, Level 5 fighter, Str. 19, Dex. 10, Con. 10, Int. 10, Wis. 20, Cha. 10
Ghostwise Halfling Rogue- Level 12, Str. 16, Dex. 23, Con. 10, Int. 10, Wis. 10, Cha. 10
Hlaf-Orc Barbarian- Level 12, Str. 21, Dex. 20, Con. 10, Int. 8, Wis. 10, Cha. 8

Wrath-Of-Egg · #11 (**permalink**) 01-19-2005, 11:18 PM

that party should be jsut fine... but your cleric has one fighter level too much..

It would have been smarter to take those levels when you are on HoF becuse now your cleric will miss quite many good spells.

Brynn · #12 (**permalink**) 01-20-2005, 01:23 AM

I think both your paladin's and fighter/cleric's DEX and CON are a bit low. Maybe they die so quickly b/c of the low AC...?

ishuman · #13 (**permalink**) 01-20-2005, 06:38 PM

Yeah, I'd also be worried about having such low con on your tanks. They aren't getting any bonus hp- even a con of 16 at level 12 would be an extra 36 hp! I'd think you'd need that bonus if your cleric is going to take fighter levels (thats 5 levels later into the game before you get the heal or raise dead spells). Con is also really important for your cleric because it improves concentration (not getting interupted when casting spells like heal).

-ishuman

dark_raven · #14 (**permalink**) 01-20-2005, 08:10 PM

i don't know what you people are having problems with... i played it on hard (or mabe it was harder... i don't remember...) and beat it twice... and i never carried healing potions... i admit, i did have a true nutral cleric of a very high level (i think i got her to level 27) and i used the healing from her... but i barly ever had to raise my people from the dead... i'm now playing it on hardest with heart of fury mode activated and that is difficult... so i've just now downloaded the dalekeeper II to modify my charatures... but i'm in the forest (chapter 3) without modifying any of my charatures. and i never activated the cheats...

currently, my party is as follows (after beating the game 2 and a half times):
(F) true nutral Half Elf Cleric-lv 30, (M) lawful good Aasimar Paliden-lv 30; (F) Moonelf Wizard-lv 30; (M) lawful evil Deep Gnome rouge-lv 30; (M) Half Orc Barbarian-lv 30; (F) true nutral Human Druid-lv 30

Spikey_Creature · #15 (**permalink**) 01-23-2005, 05:23 AM

HAHA YAY!!

I just started again, after not playing for about a yr or 2 . . i;m not sure how long though its been a while. . and i started with a party of

dual weilding, half orc barbarian 7/fighter 2

dual weilding, halfling rogue 8 with 1 level of fighter (gonna give more later)

great axe weildin shield dwarf cleric, battle gaurd of tempus (i like the +6 str ability and the free axe stuff) lvl 8 with 1 level of fighter (gonna give more later once he gets reviving spells)

and a drow invoker (wizard) lvl 8 and hes kikin ass!

now with this new party im going through the game great! i just crashed and ive only reloaded about 4- 5 times (thats pretty good for me . . .)