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Magness · 09-20-2002, 09:21 PM

Let me start by saying that I've played BG1, BG2:SoA-ToB, and IWD-HOW-ToTL. And liked them all.

I've also played IWD2 all the way thru to the end. And it's worth the $$$.

It is more like IWD than the BG games insofar as its story is fairly linear.

However, unlike IWD, IWD2 does not stick you operating from a single base of operations throughout the entire game (i.e. Kuldahar in IWD). Your "base of ops" shifts as you move thru the story.

You visit a lot more areas than in IWD.

But you return to a couple of the areas in the original IWD and see how things have changed in the 30 years since IWD. BIS did not use the original artwork for these area. Things have changed. And yet there is also some familiarity.

You meet a number of NPCs from IWD.

You get to ride in Oswald Fiddlebender's airship!!!

Oh... and the rules are now 3rd ed DnD rules. This makes a MAJOR change in how things work. If you're already familiar with the 3rd ed rules, you're ahead of where I was when I started IWD2. There are many changes. Some major. Some more subtle.

Puzzle solving plays a major part in IWD2. Almost every major area has at least 1 major puzzle to solve. Most are very difficult.

There are many very tough battles with mobs of enemy grunts. For example (no spoiler details), there's one battle where you're actually defending a location against a major enemy offensive and the enemy sends in wave after wave of various races of grunts backed up by spellcasters. It's an epic battle with excellent background battle music. AND ... it's nowhere near the final battle!!!

This is a MAJOR thumbs up!!! If you liked the previous Inifinity Engine DnD games, buy IWD2! It's an EPIC!!!

[ 09-20-2002, 09:23 PM: Message edited by: Magness ]

09-20-2002, 09:21 PM	#3
Magness Quintesson Join Date: January 7, 2001 Location: Manchester, NH, USA Posts: 1,025	Let me start by saying that I've played BG1, BG2:SoA-ToB, and IWD-HOW-ToTL. And liked them all. I've also played IWD2 all the way thru to the end. And it's worth the $$$. It is more like IWD than the BG games insofar as its story is fairly linear. However, unlike IWD, IWD2 does not stick you operating from a single base of operations throughout the entire game (i.e. Kuldahar in IWD). Your "base of ops" shifts as you move thru the story. You visit a lot more areas than in IWD. But you return to a couple of the areas in the original IWD and see how things have changed in the 30 years since IWD. BIS did not use the original artwork for these area. Things have changed. And yet there is also some familiarity. You meet a number of NPCs from IWD. You get to ride in Oswald Fiddlebender's airship!!! Oh... and the rules are now 3rd ed DnD rules. This makes a MAJOR change in how things work. If you're already familiar with the 3rd ed rules, you're ahead of where I was when I started IWD2. There are many changes. Some major. Some more subtle. Puzzle solving plays a major part in IWD2. Almost every major area has at least 1 major puzzle to solve. Most are very difficult. There are many very tough battles with mobs of enemy grunts. For example (no spoiler details), there's one battle where you're actually defending a location against a major enemy offensive and the enemy sends in wave after wave of various races of grunts backed up by spellcasters. It's an epic battle with excellent background battle music. AND ... it's nowhere near the final battle!!! This is a MAJOR thumbs up!!! If you liked the previous Inifinity Engine DnD games, buy IWD2! It's an EPIC!!! [ 09-20-2002, 09:23 PM: Message edited by: Magness ]