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Magness · 10-20-2003, 09:55 AM

Here's some tips....

1, Don't assume that all of the familiar old spells work exactly the same. Some do, some do not. Stoneskin isn't quite as strong as before. Entangle only works outside. You don't really need to read up on every spell. Just cast away as normal and you should still be OK.

2. Character stat allocation is different. I don't just mean IWD1 (and BG1/2's_ die roll system vs IWD2's point buy system. I also mean that the 3rd ed rules have some slightly different emphasises and in 3rd ed armor works differently.

For example, in 2nd ed games like IWD1, tanks (i.e. fighters, pallys, and rangers)tend to max out their AC by maxing out their DEX. There was no relationship between armor and DEX. HOWEVER, in IWD3, there *is* a relationship between an armor's AC bonus and DEX. Lighter armors are more flexible and allow more dextrous characters to get the benefit of their hi DEX's added to their AC. OTOH, heavy armors are stiff and limit motion and only allow a small amout of DEX bonus (or none at all) to be added to their AC. This stat is refered to as "Max DEX bonus" and is listed in every armor's description.

The net effect ends up being that high DEX characters wearing good leather armor can end up with the same, if not higher, AC as a low DEX characters wearing a great set of plate armor.

10-20-2003, 09:55 AM	#2
Magness Quintesson Join Date: January 7, 2001 Location: Manchester, NH, USA Posts: 1,025	Here's some tips.... 1, Don't assume that all of the familiar old spells work exactly the same. Some do, some do not. Stoneskin isn't quite as strong as before. Entangle only works outside. You don't really need to read up on every spell. Just cast away as normal and you should still be OK. 2. Character stat allocation is different. I don't just mean IWD1 (and BG1/2's_ die roll system vs IWD2's point buy system. I also mean that the 3rd ed rules have some slightly different emphasises and in 3rd ed armor works differently. For example, in 2nd ed games like IWD1, tanks (i.e. fighters, pallys, and rangers)tend to max out their AC by maxing out their DEX. There was no relationship between armor and DEX. HOWEVER, in IWD3, there is a relationship between an armor's AC bonus and DEX. Lighter armors are more flexible and allow more dextrous characters to get the benefit of their hi DEX's added to their AC. OTOH, heavy armors are stiff and limit motion and only allow a small amout of DEX bonus (or none at all) to be added to their AC. This stat is refered to as "Max DEX bonus" and is listed in every armor's description. The net effect ends up being that high DEX characters wearing good leather armor can end up with the same, if not higher, AC as a low DEX characters wearing a great set of plate armor.