[IWD2] Chris Avellone Posts Tips for Icewind Dale II
Knight37
[ BEGIN QUOTE ]
These are playing tips from Chris Avellone, found on the official IWD 2
forums:
Playing tips: Considering IWD2 is hitting shelves this week, the following
post may be helpful. These aren't spoilers, but they're just game play
suggestions that might make the going a little smoother.
The hardcore role-player need not read except to amuse themselves.
1. Spend the first minute in the game reassigning all your interface
buttons. Assign magic missile, assign sleep, assign the tiefling blindness
innate ability, to keys and interface buttons so you can reach them easier.
You will save about a half-hour of actual play time by mapping these
functions to the interface and not having to dig through various sub-key
menus to get to the spell or special ability you want.
2. If you are ever stuck on a quest, read your journal. The journal is
pretty good about spelling out what you need to do next.
3. Whenever you encounter someone who has a store, even if it seems like
nothing more than a simple temple or shrine, do the following:
a. Page through the whole store's inventory and examine each item.
b. Check for any gem bags, scroll cases, or potion bags and buy them
whenever you encounter them.
4. Read the manual and understand what each character class and race can do
with their special abilities. Understand how the paladin's aura works,
understand what the druid shape shifting does for healing hit points,
understand why and how the monk gets their armor class bonuses, and
understand why barbarian rage turns you into a human lawnmower.
5. Monks and paladins, again, do not accept monetary rewards for things.
6. Do not treat the pick pocket skill as the red-headed stepchild of the
thieving trade - it's great. Just be sure to save your game before trying
it.
7. Save often, if hard drive space permits. I would recommend saving before
you are about to enter any new area or before speaking to important people.
8. The ALT key is the best key in the world. It will prevent you from
missing containers - and highlight many hidden containers on a map.
9. Don't choose weapon skills based on what you think the game has in terms
of the best weapons - care has been taken to provide cool weapons of every
type in the game, even darts. Yes, I said, "darts."
10. While you will encounter ammo on your journeys, it always pays to stock
up on as many weapons, bolts, and bullets as you can carry before each
chapter - and sometimes in the middle.
11. Save before trying to transcribe scrolls.
12. Remember that even if you don't save, the game will sometimes save for
you if it knows something bad is coming where you may need to reload. So if
the game suddenly pulls a nasty surprise on you that kicks you in the shins
and wipes out your party (hypothetically, of course), check the save game
menu to see if the game gave you the courtesy of a reach-around.
13. Sleep, Entangle, Spike Stones, Spike Growth, Stinking Cloud, and Web
can make any group of enemies wish they had never been born.
14. Summon Monster 1 may sometimes summon "dire rats." Before you roll your
eyes, wait 'til you see these little dudes go.
15. Summoning elementals and demons are great, but you can't trust them
without Protection from evil spells. Sometimes summoning animals, monsters,
and undead is a lot better because they do what you say without question.
Furthermore, if you are suddenly hit with a Dispel Magic spell, you aren't
caught with your pants around your ankles when the elementals you'd
summoned decide they'd rather kick the crap out of you than that horde of
demons that just gated in.
16. Yes, out of all the super good-goodies in the FR, only you can save the
world. So get to it. [K37: hahaha!]
17. Intelligence is a valuable statistic for skill points alone. A thief
with a high Intelligence may embarrass your mage.
18. Orc shamans suck. Shoot them in the face with arrows as soon as they
rear their ugly, pig-like faces.
19. Always have a few flasks of burning oil or lamp oil with you for trolls
- because trust me, the trolls always show up when you use the last of your
Burning Hands spells.
20. Role-play making your party. Despite their limitations, I have always
had a half-orc in my parties because they are cool. And plus, they get
great dialogue options that other races don't get.
21. Drink your potions. Otherwise, they stack up. And up. And up.
I'm sure the other guys on the team have more suggestions, but that's it
for now.
Tortoise shell: Tortoise Shell is a good one, but I believe it's major
drawback is you can't move after it's cast, just like Circle of Bones, so
it's not the best thing in the world. However, if I remember correctly,
when our super-deadly-designer Kihan Pak was hammering away at the game, he
was using Tortoise shell in the final battle of IWD2 for some much-needed
breathing room.
[ END QUOTE ]
These should help those new to the Infinity Engine and D&D games.
Both of you.
--
Knight37
This is your life.
Good to the last drop.
Doesn't get any better than this.
This is your life, and it's ending one minute at a time.
-- Tyler Durden, "Fight Club Soundtrac
Hong Ooi
>K37: This is a direct copy from RPGdot.com's reprint of Chris' post:
>
>[ BEGIN QUOTE ]
>
>These are playing tips from Chris Avellone, found on the official IWD 2
>forums:
>
>Playing tips: Considering IWD2 is hitting shelves this week, the following
>post may be helpful. These aren't spoilers, but they're just game play
>suggestions that might make the going a little smoother.
>
>The hardcore role-player need not read except to amuse themselves.
I always do.
>
>2. If you are ever stuck on a quest, read your journal. The journal is
>pretty good about spelling out what you need to do next.
Bah. How hard can it be to figure out: 1) go into the dungeon; 2) kill the
monsters; 3) take their treasure? Gamers these days are soft. Soft, I tell
you!
>
>6. Do not treat the pick pocket skill as the red-headed stepchild of the
>thieving trade - it's great. Just be sure to save your game before trying
>it.
>
>7. Save often, if hard drive space permits. I would recommend saving before
>you are about to enter any new area or before speaking to important people.
Curse you, "Chris Avellone", if that is your REAL NAME. You made Lucian
Wischik cry!
>
>8. The ALT key is the best key in the world. It will prevent you from
>missing containers - and highlight many hidden containers on a map.
>
>9. Don't choose weapon skills based on what you think the game has in terms
>of the best weapons - care has been taken to provide cool weapons of every
>type in the game, even darts. Yes, I said, "darts."
I wonder if darts of the hornet's nest will make a return?
>
>10. While you will encounter ammo on your journeys, it always pays to stock
>up on as many weapons, bolts, and bullets as you can carry before each
>chapter - and sometimes in the middle.
>
>11. Save before trying to transcribe scrolls.
>
>12. Remember that even if you don't save, the game will sometimes save for
>you if it knows something bad is coming where you may need to reload. So if
>the game suddenly pulls a nasty surprise on you that kicks you in the shins
>and wipes out your party (hypothetically, of course), check the save game
>menu to see if the game gave you the courtesy of a reach-around.
What a wonderful way of foreshadowing that the cr*p is about to hit the
fan. Enter a room, and the game saves. :)
>
>These should help those new to the Infinity Engine and D&D games.
>
>Both of you.
That many?
--
Hong Ooi | "I think it is time I started
hong...@maths.anu.edu.au | getting some decent sleep."
http://www.zipworld.com.au/~hong/dnd/ | -- CMB
Sydney, Australia |
Knight37
> On 29 Aug 2002 13:46:19 GMT, Knight37 <knig...@email.com> wrote:
>
>>K37: This is a direct copy from RPGdot.com's reprint of Chris' post:
>>
>>[ BEGIN QUOTE ]
>>
>>These are playing tips from Chris Avellone, found on the official IWD
>>2 forums:
>>
>>Playing tips: Considering IWD2 is hitting shelves this week, the
>>following post may be helpful. These aren't spoilers, but they're just
>>game play suggestions that might make the going a little smoother.
>>
>>The hardcore role-player need not read except to amuse themselves.
>
> I always do.
IYKWIM, AITYD. Oops that's YOUR line. It helps if you have a partner,
though.
>>7. Save often, if hard drive space permits. I would recommend saving
>>before you are about to enter any new area or before speaking to
>>important people.
>
> Curse you, "Chris Avellone", if that is your REAL NAME. You made
> Lucian Wischik cry!
ROFL.
>>These should help those new to the Infinity Engine and D&D games.
>>
>>Both of you.
>
> That many?
I was being optimistic. :)
--
Knight37
It's just time to pay the price
For not listening to advice
And deciding in your youth
On the policy of truth
-- Depeche Mode, "Policy of Truth"
Knight37
> On 2002-08-29 13:46:19 GMT, Knight37 <knig...@email.com>
> wrote in <Xns9279593B4...@130.133.1.4>:
>
>> K37: This is a direct copy from RPGdot.com's reprint of Chris' post:
>>
>> [ BEGIN QUOTE ]
> [...]
>> [ END QUOTE ]
>>
>> These should help those new to the Infinity Engine and D&D games.
>>
>> Both of you.
>
> Thanks. Who's the other one?
Apparently Hong Ooi.
--
Knight37
No, lieutenant. Your men are already dead.
-- Agent Smith, "The Matrix"
Brian H.
"Knight37" <knig...@email.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9279593B4...@130.133.1.4...
> K37: This is a direct copy from RPGdot.com's reprint of Chris' post:
>
> [ BEGIN QUOTE ]
>
> These are playing tips from Chris Avellone, found on the official IWD 2
> forums:
>
> Playing tips: Considering IWD2 is hitting shelves this week, the following
> post may be helpful. These aren't spoilers, but they're just game play
> suggestions that might make the going a little smoother.
>
> The hardcore role-player need not read except to amuse themselves.
>
> 1. Spend the first minute in the game reassigning all your interface
> buttons. Assign magic missile, assign sleep, assign the tiefling blindness
> innate ability, to keys and interface buttons so you can reach them
easier.
> You will save about a half-hour of actual play time by mapping these
> functions to the interface and not having to dig through various sub-key
> menus to get to the spell or special ability you want.
>
To me it's even more cumbersome to re-assign hotkeys to new spells and then
re-memorize which key is for which spell. I'd rather scroll through the
spell list.
> 2. If you are ever stuck on a quest, read your journal. The journal is
> pretty good about spelling out what you need to do next.
>
Will do.
> 3. Whenever you encounter someone who has a store, even if it seems like
> nothing more than a simple temple or shrine, do the following:
>
> a. Page through the whole store's inventory and examine each item.
>
Will do.
> b. Check for any gem bags, scroll cases, or potion bags and buy them
> whenever you encounter them.
>
Will do if got enough cash.
> 4. Read the manual and understand what each character class and race can
do
> with their special abilities. Understand how the paladin's aura works,
> understand what the druid shape shifting does for healing hit points,
> understand why and how the monk gets their armor class bonuses, and
> understand why barbarian rage turns you into a human lawnmower.
>
Will do.
> 5. Monks and paladins, again, do not accept monetary rewards for things.
>
Hah? I won't play paladins & monks then.
> 6. Do not treat the pick pocket skill as the red-headed stepchild of the
> thieving trade - it's great. Just be sure to save your game before trying
> it.
>
Not my style. I hate the save-steal-reload cycles.
> 7. Save often, if hard drive space permits. I would recommend saving
before
> you are about to enter any new area or before speaking to important
people.
>
I kept at most 10 save files.
> 8. The ALT key is the best key in the world. It will prevent you from
> missing containers - and highlight many hidden containers on a map.
>
Will do.
> 9. Don't choose weapon skills based on what you think the game has in
terms
> of the best weapons - care has been taken to provide cool weapons of every
> type in the game, even darts. Yes, I said, "darts."
>
This is welcome!! I wanna get these killer-darts!! =D
> 10. While you will encounter ammo on your journeys, it always pays to
stock
> up on as many weapons, bolts, and bullets as you can carry before each
> chapter - and sometimes in the middle.
>
Hm... perhaps... shooting arrows in IE games are quite dull.
> 11. Save before trying to transcribe scrolls.
>
Ok.
> 12. Remember that even if you don't save, the game will sometimes save for
> you if it knows something bad is coming where you may need to reload. So
if
> the game suddenly pulls a nasty surprise on you that kicks you in the
shins
> and wipes out your party (hypothetically, of course), check the save game
> menu to see if the game gave you the courtesy of a reach-around.
>
I hope I won't get into situations like this.
> 13. Sleep, Entangle, Spike Stones, Spike Growth, Stinking Cloud, and Web
> can make any group of enemies wish they had never been born.
>
Ok.
> 14. Summon Monster 1 may sometimes summon "dire rats." Before you roll
your
> eyes, wait 'til you see these little dudes go.
>
"Dire rats"? How "dire" is it?
> 15. Summoning elementals and demons are great, but you can't trust them
> without Protection from evil spells. Sometimes summoning animals,
monsters,
> and undead is a lot better because they do what you say without question.
> Furthermore, if you are suddenly hit with a Dispel Magic spell, you aren't
> caught with your pants around your ankles when the elementals you'd
> summoned decide they'd rather kick the crap out of you than that horde of
> demons that just gated in.
>
Good tip.
> 16. Yes, out of all the super good-goodies in the FR, only you can save
the
> world. So get to it. [K37: hahaha!]
>
Yup.
> 17. Intelligence is a valuable statistic for skill points alone. A thief
> with a high Intelligence may embarrass your mage.
>
Hm... this tip worths more elaboration.
> 18. Orc shamans suck. Shoot them in the face with arrows as soon as they
> rear their ugly, pig-like faces.
>
Just as any mages.
> 19. Always have a few flasks of burning oil or lamp oil with you for
trolls
> - because trust me, the trolls always show up when you use the last of
your
> Burning Hands spells.
>
Ok.
> 20. Role-play making your party. Despite their limitations, I have always
> had a half-orc in my parties because they are cool. And plus, they get
> great dialogue options that other races don't get.
>
Good tip. I'll pick a half-orc then.
> 21. Drink your potions. Otherwise, they stack up. And up. And up.
>
Yup. I always prefer to drink potions than memorize cure wounds spells.
> I'm sure the other guys on the team have more suggestions, but that's it
> for now.
>
> Tortoise shell: Tortoise Shell is a good one, but I believe it's major
> drawback is you can't move after it's cast, just like Circle of Bones, so
> it's not the best thing in the world. However, if I remember correctly,
> when our super-deadly-designer Kihan Pak was hammering away at the game,
he
> was using Tortoise shell in the final battle of IWD2 for some much-needed
> breathing room.
>
Ok.
> [ END QUOTE ]
>
> These should help those new to the Infinity Engine and D&D games.
>
> Both of you.
>
Thanks very much!!!
E. Deirdre Brooks
>
> > 5. Monks and paladins, again, do not accept monetary rewards for things.
> >
>
> Hah? I won't play paladins & monks then.
Oh, go ahead and play them, just make sure someone other than the
paladins and monks are speaking to the NPCs, and you'll be fine. I have
neither in my party, but the character who does most of the talking is
my drow cleric. With the highest Charisma in the party, along with
Diplomacy, she's fairly good.
> > 10. While you will encounter ammo on your journeys, it always pays to
> stock
> > up on as many weapons, bolts, and bullets as you can carry before each
> > chapter - and sometimes in the middle.
> >
>
> Hm... perhaps... shooting arrows in IE games are quite dull.
I find ranged combat to be absolutely vital in IE games. My problem in
ch 1 is that all the ammo I find is arrows. No bolts for my
crossbow-wielding characters.
> > 12. Remember that even if you don't save, the game will sometimes save for
> > you if it knows something bad is coming where you may need to reload. So
> if
> > the game suddenly pulls a nasty surprise on you that kicks you in the
> shins
> > and wipes out your party (hypothetically, of course), check the save game
> > menu to see if the game gave you the courtesy of a reach-around.
> >
>
> I hope I won't get into situations like this.
The game keeps several autosaves (one for each chapter, I think), a
quicksave, and a backup of the previous quicksave. Very handy.
> > 14. Summon Monster 1 may sometimes summon "dire rats." Before you roll
> your
> > eyes, wait 'til you see these little dudes go.
> >
>
> "Dire rats"? How "dire" is it?
Fairly dire. Nasty stuff.
> > 17. Intelligence is a valuable statistic for skill points alone. A thief
> > with a high Intelligence may embarrass your mage.
> >
>
> Hm... this tip worths more elaboration.
I seemed to have a problem in that my skill points for characters were
based on the starting *racial* intelligence, and not the ending
intelligence. My Wild Elf has -1 skill point per level despite her Int
of 12.
> > 18. Orc shamans suck. Shoot them in the face with arrows as soon as they
> > rear their ugly, pig-like faces.
> >
>
> Just as any mages.
Indeed. They're a pain. Shoot them until they die. And shoot them some
more.
> > 19. Always have a few flasks of burning oil or lamp oil with you for
> trolls
> > - because trust me, the trolls always show up when you use the last of
> your
> > Burning Hands spells.
> >
>
> Ok.
>
> > 20. Role-play making your party. Despite their limitations, I have always
> > had a half-orc in my parties because they are cool. And plus, they get
> > great dialogue options that other races don't get.
> >
>
> Good tip. I'll pick a half-orc then.
Fun stuff. For a bit, I had the half-orc as party leader and got some
amusing dialogue options (compared to the drow).
> > 21. Drink your potions. Otherwise, they stack up. And up. And up.
> >
>
> Yup. I always prefer to drink potions than memorize cure wounds spells.
In IWD2, you don't need ot memorize cure wounds spells, you can
shift-left click on a memorized spell and spontaneously cast as a cure
spell. Unless, that is, your god is evil.
Druids and Paladins can't do this, though.
--
E. D. Brooks | kalima...@attbi.com | US2002021724
Listowner: Aberrants_Worldwide, Fading_Suns_Games, TrinityRPG
AeonAdventure | "By this time tomorrow, we can be doing BODY
SHOTS off HOOKERS in some MEXICAN HELLHOLE." -- Penny Arcade
Knight37
with:
>> 17. Intelligence is a valuable statistic for skill points alone. A thief
>> with a high Intelligence may embarrass your mage.
>>
>
> Hm... this tip worths more elaboration.
>
In D&D 3E the number of skill points you get at first level and at
subsequent levels is determined by INT. To me, this kind of sucks because
it makes INT practically the most important stat if you want to play a
highly skilled character. But then, I guess now it's back in line with the
importance of STR, DEX, and CON. CHA is still the least important stat
unless your DM runs a campaign that is highly social in nature or you're
a sorceror or paladin. The WIS is important because it directly relates to
perception rolls and will saves. Anyway, I like a lot of skills so INT is
usually important to me. Oh and rogues get more skills than other classes
so if you want to be a skill-based char be a rogue.
--
Knight37
It's like rain on your wedding day
It's a free ride
When you're already paid
It's the good advice that you just didn't take
Who would've thought...it figures
-- Alanis Morissette, "Ironic"
Knight37
> I seemed to have a problem in that my skill points for characters were
> based on the starting *racial* intelligence, and not the ending
> intelligence. My Wild Elf has -1 skill point per level despite her Int
> of 12.
>
This sounds like a bug.
--
Knight37
"Invisible airwaves crackle with life!
Bright antennae bristle with the energy.
Emotional feedback on a timeless wavelength,
Bearing a gift beyond price --- almost free..."
-- Rush "The Spirit of Radio"
Neosaurus
>unless your DM runs a campaign that is highly social in nature or you're
>a sorceror or paladin.
Or a cleric--Charisma affects the effectiveness of Turn/Rebuke Undead.
--Sean Curtin
E. Deirdre Brooks
>
> "E. Deirdre Brooks" <KaliMa...@attbi.com> once tried to test me with:
>
> > I seemed to have a problem in that my skill points for characters were
> > based on the starting *racial* intelligence, and not the ending
> > intelligence. My Wild Elf has -1 skill point per level despite her Int
> > of 12.
> >
>
> This sounds like a bug.
It does, as it happened with each character. My half-orc barbarian only
gets 1 skill point per level despite having Int 10.
I keep meaning to mention it on the BIS forums.
Gerry Quinn
Rebuke Undead?
"Bad Skeleton! Bad!"
Gerry Quinn
--
http://bindweed.com
Entertainment software for Windows
Puzzles, Strategy Games, Kaleidoscope Screensaver
Download evaluation versions free - no time limits
Neosaurus
>Rebuke Undead?
>
>"Bad Skeleton! Bad!"
Evil clerics are into punishing corpses.
Ewwwwww.
--Sean Curtin
Lucian Wischik
>CHA is still the least important stat unless your DM runs a campaign
>that is highly social in nature or you're a sorceror or paladin.
Just last week I replayed IWD1+HOW+TOL with an 18-CHA character. I got
several very slick solutions to quests that seemed to be charisma-ish.
--
Lucian Wischik, Queens' College, Cambridge CB3 9ET. www.wischik.com/lu
Knight37
> Knight37 <knig...@email.com> wrote:
>>CHA is still the least important stat unless your DM runs a campaign
>>that is highly social in nature or you're a sorceror or paladin.
>
> Just last week I replayed IWD1+HOW+TOL with an 18-CHA character. I got
> several very slick solutions to quests that seemed to be charisma-ish.
Cool, that's something I wouldn't have guessed about.
--
Knight37
Trinity: It's the question that drives us, Neo.
Neo: What is the Matrix?
Trinity: The answer is out there, Neo. It's looking for you.
-- "The Matrix"
Olaf
news:3D71BADD...@attbi.com...
> Knight37 wrote:
> >
> > "E. Deirdre Brooks" <KaliMa...@attbi.com> once tried to test me
with:
> >
> > > I seemed to have a problem in that my skill points for characters
were
> > > based on the starting *racial* intelligence, and not the ending
> > > intelligence. My Wild Elf has -1 skill point per level despite her
Int
> > > of 12.
> > >
> >
> > This sounds like a bug.
>
> It does, as it happened with each character. My half-orc barbarian
only
> gets 1 skill point per level despite having Int 10.
>
> I keep meaning to mention it on the BIS forums.
Hmm I will have to dbl check, but I think this happens to me too.
olaf
Brian H.
>
> In D&D 3E the number of skill points you get at first level and at
> subsequent levels is determined by INT. To me, this kind of sucks because
> it makes INT practically the most important stat if you want to play a
> highly skilled character. But then, I guess now it's back in line with the
> importance of STR, DEX, and CON. CHA is still the least important stat
> unless your DM runs a campaign that is highly social in nature or you're
> a sorceror or paladin. The WIS is important because it directly relates to
> perception rolls and will saves. Anyway, I like a lot of skills so INT is
> usually important to me. Oh and rogues get more skills than other classes
> so if you want to be a skill-based char be a rogue.
>
Thanks both Knight & Deirdre. I always have a love-and-hate feeling of this
design because usually I will create characters have all stats about the
same level as I don't want the penalties due to the lower stat prevail. But
this also means that I don't have characters with one ultra-high stat.
Hm...