ToB vs IcewindDale

Rahvin · Post by **Rahvin** » Wed Feb 27, 2002 2:45 pm

I've almost beaten BG2 SOA and am now looking to the future. I've heard good things about both, which do you reccomend? Also, I would rather get neverwinter nights than either of them, when does that come out? SO please tell me which you think is better and why, and thanks in advance.

Aegis · Post by **Aegis** » Wed Feb 27, 2002 2:57 pm

Well, ToB is good if you wanna finish the Bhaalspawn Saga, while IWD is a good dungeon scrawl. It's your call.

Pebz · Post by **Pebz** » Wed Feb 27, 2002 3:03 pm

Well if you can afford it, get both

ToB is a must if you enjoyed the BG series as its the ending and adds alot to the storyline. IWD is quite different as it has no In-party interactions (you create your whole party as in a MP game in BG2), but the story is great nonetheless. In IWD you also start at level 1, and magical items are not quite so common as in the BG2.

As for NWN.... it wont be out for atlest another 2-3 months... dont hold your breath.

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Wed Feb 27, 2002 3:55 pm

Originally posted by Pebz
Well if you can afford it, get both ToB is a must if you enjoyed the BG series as its the ending and adds alot to the storyline. IWD is quite different as it has no In-party interactions (you create your whole party as in a MP game in BG2), but the story is great nonetheless. In IWD you also start at level 1, and magical items are not quite so common as in the BG2.

As for NWN.... it wont be out for atlest another 2-3 months... dont hold your breath.

Agreed, get both.

And when do you think we Scandinavians will get it? Before Christmas?

Pebz · Post by **Pebz** » Wed Feb 27, 2002 3:59 pm

Originally posted by Astafas

Agreed, get both.

And when do you think we Scandinavians will get it? Before Christmas?

I certainly hope so

My guess would be July-August

Nightmare · Post by **Nightmare** » Wed Feb 27, 2002 4:00 pm

Just as Aegis said, its your call.

Throne of Bhaal:
-epic battles (really, you fight armies)
-great ending to story
-get a certain mod, and its gets even better
-you're uber-powerful

Icewind Dale:
-great story
-great music (really)
-sort of like an AD&D PnP session

Ned Flanders · Post by **Ned Flanders** » Wed Feb 27, 2002 4:05 pm

I don't see how it is not possible to get both.

Phantom Lord · Post by **Phantom Lord** » Wed Feb 27, 2002 4:52 pm

Maybe you should buy three games if you can afford it ... because if you haven't played Planescape Torment yet, it's worth buying too. It's more complex and dialogue-orientated than IWD and BG2. If you want hack'n'slash get IWD+HOW, if you want a superb story and fantastic atmosphere get PT. And get ToB anyway to finish the story and enjoy the high level abilities and the powerful equipment.

Viper*RaGe* · Post by Viper*RaGe* » Wed Feb 27, 2002 6:51 pm

I have had SoA for a lonnnnnnggg... time but when I got it I cheated and took a LOT of the fun out of it quick. It sat on my self for a long time and then I was able to blow the dust off it and start playing again. I still have not beat it but I am comming close to it. I just would like to know 1 thing about SoA and ToB. Does your main char die in any of them?

O yeah did the exp to baldur's gate 1 add to the story as well? Becuase I have been thinking about geting the exp and baldur's gate 1 as well. Should be a lot of fun. Something to play this year till neverwinter comes out

samcu · Post by **samcu** » Wed Feb 27, 2002 8:55 pm

BG1 is a very good game, but if you are playing it after BG2 then you might not like how you are easily killed. Every battle is life-threatening because everyone is a nobody. Quests are pretty easy compared to BG2 and the worst thing is that you know how it ends ie, the intro in BG2 tells you all about BG1's ending.

If your character dies, your're game over.

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Unless you want your soul back!

Coot · Post by **Coot** » Thu Feb 28, 2002 2:18 am

I played SoA before getting BG1. I can really recommend getting BG1 (and TotSC) anyway. Playing BG1-ToB at least once was really satisfying.
And PS:T is a classic game too. I'll never understand why it didn't sell milions of copies

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Littiz · Post by **Littiz** » Thu Feb 28, 2002 2:28 am

Icewind Dale was boooooooooooring........
just go straight and kill.
And with no great spells like in the bg series (spell triggers and
contingency come to mind...).

I don't recommend it.
It is true that the music are good, but this is even more true for
planescape, which is one of the best RPG EVER thanx to many other points...

You should get my advice...

CM · Post by CM » Thu Feb 28, 2002 2:33 am

I don't the two can be compared.
They are vastly different, but i love them both.
Got bored with PST so never finished it.
But TOB and IWD are both definitely good, try getting both if possible.

Mr.Waesel · Post by **Mr.Waesel** » Thu Feb 28, 2002 4:19 am

pt IS boring, way to much dialogue and the combat is just freaky. Personally i think this is the worst infinity rpg yet.

IWD has got nice spells of it's own (if you like ice and snow) and the backgrounds are superbly animated, better, i think than soa OR tob, but the emphasis is much more on hack 'n slash, i agree.

I haven't played tob yet, but for me i would really like to reach level 40+ with my trusty transmuter (as he was since bg1)

bg1 is best played before soa, because of it's low-levelness (i.e. 2+ weapons and spells like sleep become much more effective) and you tend to die a lot, as was said.

Invincible121 · Post by **Invincible121** » Thu Feb 28, 2002 9:57 am

This is quite shallow thing to say (hee hee) but the spells do look much prettier when the are being cast in Icewind Dale.
There are a couple of spells that i missed from Icewind when i was playing BG : Snizllocs (spelling?) snowball storm and Malavons rage. Those are 2 really good spells.
Also the spell symbols in the mage book and priest scroll look nicer.

I have no comments about Planescape Torment because i have never played it before, what exactly is it about?

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Thu Feb 28, 2002 10:14 am

Originally posted by Mr.Waesel
bg1 is best played before soa, because of it's low-levelness (i.e. 2+ weapons and spells like sleep become much more effective) and you tend to die a lot, as was said.

Like a number of people on this forum, I have recently began to replay BG1. Initially I thought it would be boring or frustrating after SoA/ToB, but I have actually really enjoyed the simplicity of the game.

For the sake of logical progression it makes slightly more sense to play BG1 first though, if you've never player either, for one thing.... (very minor spolier)

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exporting your character into SoA after collecting the ability enhancing tomes is quite nice.

Phantom Lord · Post by **Phantom Lord** » Thu Feb 28, 2002 2:22 pm

Originally posted by Invincible121
I have no comments about Planescape Torment because i have never played it before, what exactly is it about?

Well, it's about something completely different ... you wake up dead and your character has lost all his memories and you have to find out who you are by getting back your memories during the game.

You don't die in PS: T (because you are already dead), you only can lose some of your re-aquired memories where others would die. The game takes place in a Planescape setting, so you start in the morgue in Sigil and travel the planes later on. Most NPCs are nothing short of bizarre, eg a flying skull, a rogue modron or a burning mage. The whole setting is extremely atmospheric and surrealistic, the humor is awful.

The thing that devides the opinions about PS: T is that it is based on lots and lots of dialogue - great dialogue, but an amount I haven't seen before in a CRPG and I understand that some people don't have the nerve to deal with this. Your behaviour has a lot of influence on the game, your alignement depends on your actions, you start true neutral. Your main char is a triple classed F/M/T but unlike a common dual class char you can switch beetween the classes during the game and level up in your current class. You don't roll your stats, you have a certain amount of points to spend. Since there are many stat-increasing items (tatoos) you can boost the stat you currently need most. One funny thing besides that: There is no armor for your char in the whole game.

Some people say that PS: T is the weakest game in the series, others say it's the best. I personally think it's the best of the three first infinity games (BG1, PS: T, IWD), BG2 with ToB is certainly out of competition for it's advanced technology, it's sheer size and genius.

Aubrey · Post by **Aubrey** » Thu Feb 28, 2002 5:33 pm

(*clap! clap! clap!*)

@ Phantom Lord: And excellent and precise lecture! May I add that BG series is my favourite? Thanks! (I haven't played PS:T though)

Cheers

Invincible121 · Post by **Invincible121** » Thu Feb 28, 2002 6:04 pm

Thanks Phantom Lord

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i think that i will look into getting the game now after reading all of that, BTW i had to take a tea break 1/2 way through reading that........it was so long and informative

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I also like BG the most, it hs much more depth and story line than the other games.

Phantom Lord · Post by **Phantom Lord** » Fri Mar 01, 2002 4:01 pm

You're welcome.

I remember playing PS: T as a great time so I'll gladly promote it, but with one warning ahead: If you don't like reading, don't play PS: T.

I have all the Black Isle games in the english version, altough it's not my native language, because I guess the quality of the original is almost always better than the translation. PS: T really felt like reading a real good book in a foreign language to me, which made it a little difficult for me altough I nevertheless enjoyed it. And that probably describes it best: PS: T is like a good book.