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Is Icewind Dale like Baldur's Gate 2?

This forum is to be used for all discussions pertaining to Black Isle Studios' Icewind Dale and its Heart of Winter and Trials of the Luremaster expansions.
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dkong911
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Is Icewind Dale like Baldur's Gate 2?

Post by dkong911 »

see above...

Are they similar? differences? If i love baldurs gate 2, would i like icewind dale?

comments...thx
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me0w
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Post by me0w »

Yes.

The differences lie in that in IWD you create your whole party. The game is also less about character development. Alignment doesn't seem to come into play.(although you can lose it, I don't even see it on my record menu) Also IWD is mainly based on killing large ammounts of monsters. Now I mean large ammounts, I've had fights are 30 wraiths and about 4 skeleton archers. This stuff is a bit crazy, especially if (like me) you play on Insane. So apart from big fights, lack of character development, lack of npc interaction and linear storyline - there really the same game.

I don't know if you will like it. I sure do.

Hope this helps.
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The Chosen One
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Post by The Chosen One »

well they are simmilare in some kidda way but not much. as meow said you'll be able to create the whole party and they are to many ( it's just my oppininon ) monsters to fight and little quest to do for npc's. ánd if you are some kidda treacher hunter type this game has not much enchanted itemes. the graphics are the same and well some thing are like in BG1 and BG2. but if you are to play Icewind Dale II it is realy cool game, in all´the ways. I recomend it!!!!!
have a luck on your journy!
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Brynn
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Post by Brynn »

I'm sure you'll like IWD too, but don't expect the same experience.
The story itself is no that complex, and you'll surely miss the NPCs you got used to in BG.
The most important thing is that you have to create your own party (if you don't want to choose a pre-made one). The races and skills are roughly similar, so handling the characters and the game is easy.

What's hard in changeing between these to games is that you won't have those wonderful companions beside you. That's what I missed in IWD.
Apart from that it's really good, nice scenes & graphics, cool challenges (in IWD II: the Ice Temple, the Monastery, the Goblin Fortress - they're all very fascinating places).
Up the IRONS!
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lompo
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Post by lompo »

I would compare IWD with BG1, same resolution and rules; BG2 has many modifications: more race/classes, kits, different proficiencies, very different spells (triggers, contingency, time stop!), thief abilities, HLA.

Comparimg with BG1 as said before you will miss NPC and the storyline is less complicated, but you will be able to get much better equipment (IMO comparable to BG2).

In the end is a nice game, though it doesn't reach the peaks of BG series
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VonDondu
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Post by VonDondu »

I really enjoy the Baldur's Gate series because my character has a very special identity. In the Icewind Dale series, your character might be regarded as a hero, but it lacks the personal touch of Baldur's Gate. That's really the main difference between them, story-wise. When it comes to maps, quests, music, and artwork, they're both about the same.

On the other hand, Icewind Dale has a lot more action than Baldur's Gate. You'll end up with a much higher body count and a lot more experience in Icewind Dale, and your characters will reach higher levels. You'll also see a lot of monsters in Icewind Dale that you won't see in Baldur's Gate, such as giants and salamanders.

When it comes to AD&D rules, Icewind Dale plays it more straight than Baldur's Gate. In Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn and Throne of Bhaal, most of the more challenging monsters such as dragons "break the rules" or "cheat" in order to make them more powerful opponents. In Icewind Dale II, most of the monsters follow the same rules your characters do; as a result, I don't find them as challenging as the monsters in Shadows of Amn or Throne of Bhaal. But the monsters are plenty tough in Icewind Dale, and there are hordes of them, so I think the issue of "purity" is mainly of concern to purists, not to the average player.

When it comes to character development, I'd say that Throne of Bhaal is the ultimate RPG. I think the story is just about the right length; I didn't get tired or bored before I finished the game. But if you want a game that never seems to end and has so many items you'll never be able to keep track of them or use them all, check out Icewind Dale II. It is a monster of a game. It has everything you could ask for in a game, plus the kitchen sink. :) It has plenty of humor; it even makes fun of Baldur's Gate. There are so many NPCs, I couldn't keep track of them all. There's also plenty of dialogue, and nearly all of it is voiced in Icewind Dale II (unlike Baldur's Gate, where hardly any of the NPC dialogue is voiced). There are so many puzzles to solve, I lost track of where I'd been and what I'd done. I went to so many different places, I couldn't think of any place in Icewind Dale where I hadn't been. Getting used to "3rd Edition Rules" was tough, so I resorted to advice from other people when I developed my characters, but to me that wasn't the hardest part of the game; the hardest part for me was simply finishing the game. :) I agree with The Chosen One: Icewind Dale II is a cool game in every way; I just thought it was way too much of a good thing. :)
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Raumoheru
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Post by Raumoheru »

[QUOTE=dkong911]see above...

Are they similar? differences? If i love baldurs gate 2, would i like icewind dale?

comments...thx[/QUOTE]

no

BG2 is a great game
IWD pretty much sux, too limited
"War does not determine who is right, it determines who is left"
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