[IWD2]Is HOF just a number-crunch?

[Luther]

Hi.

I'm currently taking a six-person party through normal mode. I've never played HOF mode, but would like to try it out with this party after it has completed the regular campaign. I'm a tried-and-true roleplayer, and don't like the idea of making robotic, min-maxed characters with unrealistic class combinations for the sake of winning every battle as efficiently as possible.

So, I'm a little discouraged by most claims that success in HOF requires intense power-gaming. Is there any room for roleplaying? I have two tanks in my party (a human paladin/fighter and a human pure fighter) who are doing very well in normal mode, will they be dead meat in HOF due to damage-resistant enemies?

In short: Do you essentially have to be a power-gaming stats-hound to enjoy HOF? Should roleplayers give it a miss?

(Edit)
My party is:

Human, sorcerer
Human, Paladin 3/Fighter X
Wild Elf, Druid
Strongheart Halfling, Cleric of Lathander
Human, Fighter
Rock Gnome, Rogue 3/Illusionist X

Will they be carved up in HOF?

[ 02-14-2007, 09:43 AM: Message edited by: Luther ]

[Aerich]

I'd say no. It's worth a shot, even just to find out if you like it or not.

What you may need to do is change your style of play. Unfortunately, in HoF your tanks will get hit and hit hard. You need summons and you need spells causing paralysis or instant-kill.

I have heard reports of a HoF player who played an all-melee HoF party - no arcane support, iirc. HoF can be completed in non-standard ways, but it requires patience.

I like the composition of your group. The sorceror will take on a new level of importance, the druid summons are arguably the best in the game (also consider installing the Weidu shapeshifting mod), and the Morninglord of Lathander has great healing powers.

All that said, I don't like HoF as much in IWD2 as I did in IWD1.

[SpiritWarrior]

I'd say yes. It is not RP at all but more like a console-players challenge. I gave it a miss.

[Aerich]

I suppose it depends on your stats. The party composition is fine for HoF (maybe one more caster and one less tank would be ideal), but if every character has 10 or more in Cha and Int you may have trouble.

[Luther]

Originally posted by Aerich: I suppose it depends on your stats. The party composition is fine for HoF (maybe one more caster and one less tank would be ideal), but if every character has 10 or more in Cha and Int you may have trouble.

Ah, yes, all of my characters have at least 10 in every stat (even the fighters). I just can't imagine any of my characters being so stupid or vile as to have super-low intelligence or charisma. The way I play, the soundsets need to reflect the stats, so if the character doesn't sound stupid or repulsive in their soundset then they should have at least average intelligence and charisma.

So, I guess I won't get far into HOF then. That settles that [img]smile.gif[/img]

Thanks for all the input guys.

[ 02-15-2007, 01:06 AM: Message edited by: Luther ]