Welcome, LeGioN! [img]graemlins/happywave.gif[/img]
You sure packed a lot of questions into your first post.
I'll do my best to answer them all.
1)
Rules: there's a manual for IWD on disc 1 of the set. Just explore the cd for "manual" and you'll find it. There is also a supplementary manual on the Heart of Winter (HoW) disc.
I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "some help with the commands like the scripts". Are you referring to the annoying character scripts that run mages into the middle of packs of goblins? You can turn that off; there's a Character AI toggle button in the bottom right of the game screen. If you combine that with the autopause feature, it gives you much better control over your characters.
Additionally, Dundee Slaytern (a most helpful chap) has made and tested extensively some better AI scripts. You can find them
here. You may not want to use them until you get the hang of the game yourself.
2)
Patches: All you need is the Trials of the Luremaster (TotL) download. In addition to being a worthy (and free) expansion, it contains the final patch to the game. You might have it already, but if not, you can find it
here. The final patch is in the TotL download. Do NOT install any other patches except the one in TotL (v.1.42, I believe). Installing other patches will screw it up royally.
Install in this order.
a) Icewind Dale
b) Heart of Winter
c) Trials of the Luremaster
3)
online playing: I don't play online, but from what I know, gamespy IS the only (or one of the only) place(s) to do so. You can also do it on a LAN/ host your own game. However, and be warned, HoW was not made for multiplayer. The basic game plays fine in multiplayer, but HoW may not. More information on it can be found in
this thread.
4)
Hints: Here's where I could go nuts.
Simple hints as follows:
a) save often
b) try to have balance in your party, but lean toward more fighters and clerics than to thieves
c) if you mess up a fight, sit back and think what went wrong and how to prevent it from happening next time
d) Most importantly - hang around this forum and ask questions, or search through the archives if you have the time to do so. There's one heckuva lot of IWD experience floating around on this board, and everybody's willing to share it. Best of all, there's a good crop of new players who were in the same situation as you just a couple months ago.
This is a great thread for your needs. For more party composition and general tactical advice, look
right here.
For some more tips, and probably more information than you can assimilate in one sitting, look
here.
For a selection of sneaky tricks (and watch out for spoilers) go to
this thread.