Icewind Dale The Icewind Dale Series Thread

[Taim]

I played through Icewind Dale after buying the enhanced editions of the IE games on a cheap sale, and IWD is the one I never really played through before.

It's thoroughly... meh. Yeah, the graphics and music are beautiful. The writing is decent. But it's just a linear dungeon romp with IE RTwP combat. I mostly enjoyed BG2's mid to high level combat, but that was also nicely interspersed with exploration and side quests. IWD is just the combat, and it would be a million times better if it were proper turn-based. I spent most of my time in IWD thinking "yeah this encounter is pretty good, but boy I wish it were turn based so I could actually properly aim my area effect spells and not have enemies walk out of their area of effect before they're even launched, which is made worse by the fact that there are no indicators for the size of the area the spell would affect". Thinking about that port of IWD to the ToEE engine some dude is working on (looks like vapourware but still) makes me way more excited than thinking about playing IWD as-is again. RTwP just isn't a very good system for D&D based games.

After finishing BG2 again for the 7th time, I've returned to IWD for my first "replay" of it.

I say "replay" because I only tried playing it through once long ago, and didn't finish it. I can't remember where I got to as it was yonks ago, when the game was first released, and I can barely remember anything about it now.

I'm just finishing up the Vale of Shadows, and so far it's definitely been "meh". To add to your summary, what's bugging me the most is the game's predictability.

All the trash mobs so far are easily beatable using the same tactics, and when you step into an area you can pretty much guess what's coming where. It's making it a pretty dull affair so far unfortunately, and low level D&D just doesn't have enough dynamics to stay interesting for long either.

When the game stops and throws you a different challenge, then it feels far better. I've just fought Mylos in the Vale Tomb and, whilst it wasn't anything majorly outstanding, just having to change up tactics helped. This is where BG2 shone, because you could stumble over all kinds of enemies, each requiring different approaches, regardless of where you were in the game.

I'll persist, but it's definitely a game so far for me. I do expect it to improve more as both the character levels and difficulty rises.

IWD vanilla or EE?

What's your party?

 

[Falksi]

I played through Icewind Dale after buying the enhanced editions of the IE games on a cheap sale, and IWD is the one I never really played through before.

It's thoroughly... meh. Yeah, the graphics and music are beautiful. The writing is decent. But it's just a linear dungeon romp with IE RTwP combat. I mostly enjoyed BG2's mid to high level combat, but that was also nicely interspersed with exploration and side quests. IWD is just the combat, and it would be a million times better if it were proper turn-based. I spent most of my time in IWD thinking "yeah this encounter is pretty good, but boy I wish it were turn based so I could actually properly aim my area effect spells and not have enemies walk out of their area of effect before they're even launched, which is made worse by the fact that there are no indicators for the size of the area the spell would affect". Thinking about that port of IWD to the ToEE engine some dude is working on (looks like vapourware but still) makes me way more excited than thinking about playing IWD as-is again. RTwP just isn't a very good system for D&D based games.

After finishing BG2 again for the 7th time, I've returned to IWD for my first "replay" of it.

I say "replay" because I only tried playing it through once long ago, and didn't finish it. I can't remember where I got to as it was yonks ago, when the game was first released, and I can barely remember anything about it now.

I'm just finishing up the Vale of Shadows, and so far it's definitely been "meh". To add to your summary, what's bugging me the most is the game's predictability.

All the trash mobs so far are easily beatable using the same tactics, and when you step into an area you can pretty much guess what's coming where. It's making it a pretty dull affair so far unfortunately, and low level D&D just doesn't have enough dynamics to stay interesting for long either.

When the game stops and throws you a different challenge, then it feels far better. I've just fought Mylos in the Vale Tomb and, whilst it wasn't anything majorly outstanding, just having to change up tactics helped. This is where BG2 shone, because you could stumble over all kinds of enemies, each requiring different approaches, regardless of where you were in the game.

I'll persist, but it's definitely a game so far for me. I do expect it to improve more as both the character levels and difficulty rises.

IWD vanilla or EE?

What's your party?

EE.

Barbarian, Cavalier, garbage Fighter/Druid, Cleric/Theif, Archer, Mage

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

I heard that Icewind dale is a combat focused game

oh did your grandma tell you that? the game has been out for like 20+ years and you're telling me you've never watched a single video about it?

I know I haven't watched any gameplay. TBH, I haven't even looked at a review.

 

[HoboForEternity]

I am playing the EE and this is my first romp with IWD. So far it is just okay, i finished shadow vale which started interesting but got boring after you beat the first skeleton mage. The final room was interesting but 80% of the encounters are the same boring skeleton.

Party
Sorcerer
Kensai that will be dual classed to mage (yeah cliche)
Fighter/cleric
Assassin
Skald
Shapeshift druid

 

[AwesomeButton]

I am playing the EE and this is my first romp with IWD. So far it is just okay, i finished shadow vale which started interesting but got boring after you beat the first skeleton mage. The final room was interesting but 80% of the encounters are the same boring skeleton.

Party
Sorcerer
Kensai that will be dual classed to mage (yeah cliche)
Fighter/cleric
Assassin
Skald
Shapeshift druid

Rejoice, the final dungeon in shadow vale is Josh's first dungeon.

 

[HoboForEternity]

dragon's eye is much better than shadow vale so far. glad the quality is ramping up. there are just much more variety in the dungeon's roster and the encounter design is much thoughtful. it's also maybe because i am level 5 ish now and have more stuff to play with. DnD 1-3rd level was always kinda boring. 4-13/14 were always the best.

 

[HoboForEternity]

Halfway into dorn's keep now. Shadow vale isnt a good impression for the majority of the game which is excellent dungeon crawling. The soundtrack is excellent too. Otherwise the game is starting to get a bit too easy due to high level spells and equipment now (playing on core, prolly will raise it) but yeah each dungeon feel distinct with tons of various encounters.

 

[AwesomeButton]

Post your party at some point. Are you playing the EE? Also, do you want to coop IWD2 eventually? I had a campaign started with a friend, but never finished it, and I'd like to start a new one but I find coop fun to spoil the game by playing it solo.

 

[HoboForEternity]

Post your party at some point. Are you playing the EE? Also, do you want to coop IWD2 eventually? I had a campaign started with a friend, but never finished it, and I'd like to start a new one but I find coop fun to spoil the game by playing it solo.

Yeah, EE. I will be playing iwd 2 for sure but probably go solo like usual.

 

[Beans00]

I just thought I would post, I've never particularly liked the icewind dale games. I always thought the encounter design was bad, it was boring. Bad story, good music and art design.


That being said I have been playing IWD 1(the ee for pure convenience, neither of us are using any busted kits) co op with a friend. He has never played any IE game and we have been having a pretty good time running 3 characters each. So I guess this game was always better in co op.


Question for anyone who knows, how would we play IWD 2 co op? GOG version and either direct ip connect or maybe gameranger?

 

[AwesomeButton]

I play using something called Game Ranger: https://www.gameranger.com/

I've only played the most up to date original IWD with more RP and headcanoning as I played. After I finished it and the expansions, I'm curious to try the EE just for powergaming fun.

 

[HoboForEternity]

trial of the luremaster traumatized me. the fight with 3 rakshashas, the room full of infernal harpies

yeez

 

[NecroLord]

Post your party at some point. Are you playing the EE? Also, do you want to coop IWD2 eventually? I had a campaign started with a friend, but never finished it, and I'd like to start a new one but I find coop fun to spoil the game by playing it solo.

Yeah, EE. I will be playing iwd 2 for sure but probably go solo like usual.

Solo?
Let me guess, you're gonna do a Paladin of Mystra (for arcane spells like Mirror Image) or some other fancy multiclassing?

 

[Falksi]

Never played IWD2 before, and so I deceided to give it a go.

I've just spent a few hours creating my party and playing the prologue, and had to post because it's been a real smack in the face with just how excellent the prologue is, and what a great example it is of how to construct a tutorial level.

The way the game builds the very basic questing around genuinely interesting (for low level) quests, and allows you to be drip-fed and experiment with basic weapons and items, is just top notch. It's paced brilliantly too, both with the combat and dialogue.

Very, very early game, but it just really took me back to a time when even nothing elements like a low-level D&D tutorial bled more care & craft than most of the modern 100+ hour games contain in their full runtime.

 

[luj1]

it just really took me back to a time when even nothing elements like a low-level D&D tutorial bled more care & craft than most of the modern 100+ hour games contain in their full runtime.

Brofisted for truth

 

[janior]

holy necro

 

[Zboj Lamignat]

Never played IWD2 before, and so I deceided to give it a go.

I've just spent a few hours creating my party and playing the prologue, and had to post because it's been a real smack in the face with just how excellent the prologue is, and what a great example it is of how to construct a tutorial level.

The way the game builds the very basic questing around genuinely interesting (for low level) quests, and allows you to be drip-fed and experiment with basic weapons and items, is just top notch. It's paced brilliantly too, both with the combat and dialogue.

Very, very early game, but it just really took me back to a time when even nothing elements like a low-level D&D tutorial bled more care & craft than most of the modern 100+ hour games contain in their full runtime.

That's true, Targos is p much peak IE gaming. There's a tiny problem, tho - the game makes a sharp nose dive after you leave it.

 

[NecroLord]

Never played IWD2 before, and so I deceided to give it a go.

I've just spent a few hours creating my party and playing the prologue, and had to post because it's been a real smack in the face with just how excellent the prologue is, and what a great example it is of how to construct a tutorial level.

The way the game builds the very basic questing around genuinely interesting (for low level) quests, and allows you to be drip-fed and experiment with basic weapons and items, is just top notch. It's paced brilliantly too, both with the combat and dialogue.

Very, very early game, but it just really took me back to a time when even nothing elements like a low-level D&D tutorial bled more care & craft than most of the modern 100+ hour games contain in their full runtime.

That's true, Targos is p much peak IE gaming. There's a tiny problem, tho - the game makes a sharp nose dive after you leave it.

Combat Marathon perfectly sums up Icewind Dale 2.

 

[Beans00]

Never played IWD2 before, and so I deceided to give it a go.

I've just spent a few hours creating my party and playing the prologue, and had to post because it's been a real smack in the face with just how excellent the prologue is, and what a great example it is of how to construct a tutorial level.

The way the game builds the very basic questing around genuinely interesting (for low level) quests, and allows you to be drip-fed and experiment with basic weapons and items, is just top notch. It's paced brilliantly too, both with the combat and dialogue.

Very, very early game, but it just really took me back to a time when even nothing elements like a low-level D&D tutorial bled more care & craft than most of the modern 100+ hour games contain in their full runtime.

As a kid I never had the patience to make it past the ork gauntlet at the beginning of IWD 2. My friend and I have it on our backlog to play co op though. Since we enjoyed IWD 1.

 

[Jvegi]

how excellent the prologue is, and what a great example it is of how to construct a tutorial level.

While the whole game is impresively interesting and innovative, the first chapter is the only one that seemed to get enough time and love to make it actually good and fun to play.

Have fun though. Combat is fucking dope in this game.

 

[Kevlor]

Hi I am new, I am running the original game from gog with the widescreen mod at 1280 x 720(2x integer scaling for 1440p res), it looks great except for the UI on the sides seems to be repeating and looks ugly, is there a way to make it look nicer? Thanks!

 

[The Jester]

Hi I am new, I am running the original game from gog with the widescreen mod at 1280 x 720(2x integer scaling for 1440p res), it looks great except for the UI on the sides seems to be repeating and looks ugly, is there a way to make it look nicer? Thanks!

You have three options
1-Lower the resolution
or
2-Use a big font mod (doesn't do anything for UI)
or
3-Play the EE version

 

[Kevlor]

Hi I am new, I am running the original game from gog with the widescreen mod at 1280 x 720(2x integer scaling for 1440p res), it looks great except for the UI on the sides seems to be repeating and looks ugly, is there a way to make it look nicer? Thanks!

You have three options
1-Lower the resolution
or
2-Use a big font mod (doesn't do anything for UI)
or
3-Play the EE version

Well I already got used to it, kinda stopped noticing after a while, the other option would be 800x600 with black bars all around and I don't like the EE's for multiple reasons.

 

[The Jester]

Hi I am new, I am running the original game from gog with the widescreen mod at 1280 x 720(2x integer scaling for 1440p res), it looks great except for the UI on the sides seems to be repeating and looks ugly, is there a way to make it look nicer? Thanks!

You have three options
1-Lower the resolution
or
2-Use a big font mod (doesn't do anything for UI)
or
3-Play the EE version

Well I already got used to it, kinda stopped noticing after a while, the other option would be 800x600 with black bars all around and I don't like the EE's for multiple reasons.

But black bars are cool

 

[cretin]

Hi I am new, I am running the original game from gog with the widescreen mod at 1280 x 720(2x integer scaling for 1440p res), it looks great except for the UI on the sides seems to be repeating and looks ugly, is there a way to make it look nicer? Thanks!

iirc you need a separate mod for the GUI in addition to the basic widescreen mod. Have a look around, I dont have links sorry.