Just bought IWD and heart of winter. Should I play IWD through before I install heart of winter? Or install both? Thank You

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You can install both, HOW gives you more options (e.g. graphics), but you cannot access the HOW area until you are high enough level (I think it is level 8 or 9 before they let you play HOW in a full game). I recommend you play through IWD once, then import the characters and start another full game, but this time do the HOW quest in the beginning. When you finished HOW, you get the choice to continue your travels in IWD again.

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Long live H22A1!!!!!

Actually, you can start a full game even if you're not lvl 9 so I suggest that you install both and then start a full game. However you can't get access to the HoW areas until you're lvl 9. To get to the HoW areas you just have to talk to the barbarian in Kuldahar when you're high enough level. If you just play Icewind Dale first and then import your characters to a HoW game you won't get access to the new weapons etc. in Kuldahar so I think it's a better idea to install both. Plus, you get much better graphics.

-Arwin Shadowsteel

I installed IWD, applied the patch, and installed HOW.
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I played IWD to completion
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At the main menu I chose "start expansion game". It said "I've noticed you've beaten the game. do you want to continue with those characters?". Clicking Yes, my characters then moved to the expansion adventures.
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Hope that's clear. Good hunting!

Can you go through part of HOW and then return to finish IWD?

Or is IWD too esay once you get into HOW?

I installed IWD and played through Ch. 2. Then installed HOW to see the better graphics and such. I haven't regretted it. The upgrade is awesome. I can't believe so many visual changes to the game were packed into one CD. I just don't know how to proceed in my quests.

A little advice?

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Most Subtle Official Straightman of the Laughing Hyenas -- Grammarian Brigade.

heh, start over and buy gem bags, scroll cases and potion boxes from Easthaven?
baddies are smarter in HoW, so watch out. no real new treasures to mention, except that which you can buy in Kuldahur. oh yeah, don't enable the thief's spanky new attack mode, you'll regret it. (they plan to patch it soon, interplay says they'll get the patch out this week... or something)

Ugh, that sneak attack thing sure is awful. Did they even test it????