Cold Wights

[Dancing Virginia]

Yeah, Aerich and NobleNick rock. They have so much game wisdom to bestow.

Someone got to DE without the autopause? Whoa, that guy is my new hero.

[Aerich]

Originally posted by Dancing Virginia: Someone got to DE without the autopause? Whoa, that guy is my new hero.

No kidding, mine too. I think he actually got farther than that - to Dorn's Deep. I don't even want to THINK about how difficult that must have been.

Originally posted by Silver Owl: Aerich, I've been reading your's and NobleNick's posts on strategy since I found the site a few days ago. My thanks!

You're welcome. I like to talk about it, especially spell strategy. There's just so many neat things you can do. I have a party with 6 spellcasters that's most of the way through the Severed Hand, and there's a fairly detailed logbook thread that I had going. I don't have much time to play, so there haven't been any recent entries, but you can check it out here. It may give you some more ideas. Beware of spoilers, though.

[Calagari]

Welcome to the Forum Silver Owl

I didn't know you could kill your own people. The game is great for learning about RPG's. By the time I finish this game I will feel more confident about playing others. On a positive note it was early in the game so you didn't lose much except to recreate another pally. I wish you good luck on your future adventures.

Originally posted by Silver Owl: Calagari, I've been reading your posts about being a new to the Forgotten Realm games. Here's my newbie tale. I rolled my party last night and was in the tavern. I took the party down to kill the bugs. Being new to the game engine and all the buttons, I accidently had my party kill my paladin. He was dead before I realized it. [img]graemlins/lol.gif[/img]

[ 10-15-2004, 07:15 PM: Message edited by: Calagari ]

[galdur]

I am always playing without autopause [img]smile.gif[/img]

[NobleNick]

...I didn't know you could kill your own people.

Then you must be a very quick study at placing those Fireballs! [img]graemlins/happywave.gif[/img]

--------------------
What's a party,
without a song?
Bards ROCK!
Party On!!

[ZFR]

Originally posted by Dancing Virginia: Someone got to DE without the autopause? Whoa, that guy is my new hero.

autopause? Or normal pause? I finished the whole game without autopause... never use it... only started in IWD2 to autopause for detected trap... normal pause is a different matter...

[NobleNick]

Without any pause (auto or other). I went searching for this incident. Didn't find what I was looking for; but something better, in a two year old thread, "Silly things Gamers Do," courtesy of our very own "no-pause-button hero"... PRITCHKE!!

Originally posted by pritchke: The first time I played Icewind Dale I played through until the final battle without using the pause button (real time). The final battle was so difficult that I had almost given up hope of ever completing the game. Then I glanced at my quicksheet and said Oh a pause button to stop combat. The final battle wasn't so tough with the pause button.

In another post in the same thread, pritchke goes on to share some of the flaming hoops he had to jump through to accomplish such a feat. Another gamer made it to DE before discovering pause. See the thread for more details.

--------------------
What's a party,
without a song?
Bards ROCK!
Party On!!

[jmsteven]

Originally posted by Calagari: I didn't like the idea of stealing either that is why I missed the rings the first time around. I will say taking advantage of these npcs is well worth it. I couldn't believe how much Oswald was carrying. Without these items the upcoming fight is so much more difficult.

Personally, just for the role-playing aspect, I don't think lawful or good aligned characters should pickpocket or kill NPCs just to take their stuff. Many of the NPCs are friendly and want to establish trade relations with your party. It's simply unlawful and not "good" to steal from or kill them. On the other hand, if you play chaotic or neutral-evil characters, I suppose you ought break the law or do anything that further's personal gain.

Since I usually play good-aligned characters, I find it fun and challenging without the picketpocketed items. For example, instead of stealing rings of free-action, I try to disrupt spellcasters with missles, and use the Mantle of the Coming Storm and potions of freedom. Eventually, there are some free-action items anyway.

PS: I never found the cold wights to be a tough battle. A solo ranger with the +2 defender axe should be able to clear the level without much trouble.

Equip ranger as follows:
platemail
mantle of coming storm (AC bonus & cold resistance)
boots of fox (if you have)
black wolf talisman
+2 defender axe

AC should be -5 or -6 if you have 18 Dex. If you want lower, give potion of mind focusing for dex 21 (AC -6 or -7).

Then send out your ranger who will (unshielded) have 3 attacks/round. That should do it. If cadaverous undead is his/her hated-enemy, so much the better. Remember to switch to bow and shoot the exploding skeletons from a safe distance.

[ 10-20-2004, 10:07 PM: Message edited by: jmsteven ]

[Calagari]

It's only a game. If it were real life I would agree with you, but its a game and we are allowed to do these things. That is why we have thief characters within the game.

Each of us are allowed our own feelings. There is neither a right way or a wrong way when it comes to playing a single play game.

Thanks for your suggestion on the ranger tactics.


Personally, I have an ethical issue with pickpocketing NPCs or killing NPCs just to take their stuff. Most of the NPCs are friendly and want to establish trading relations with your party. It's simply wrong to betray their trust.

[Aerich]

Yeah, I sort of felt that way about picking pockets with good characters, but then I rationalized it.

Think about on the basis of need. Orrick never leaves his tower - why does he need a ring of free action? He doesn't even come out to help against any monsters. Oswald, same thing - and he has too much stuff in his pockets anyway - we're doing him a favour. Arundel sends you hither and thither to accomplish his aims, but doesn't give you any material help. Compare these jokers with your party, who are heroically fighting and hacking their way through hordes of monsters and taking grievous injuries every so often. Don't they deserve a little aid, even if they have to facilitate the giving themselves?

I kind of agree about the killing bit. However, it's worth killing the NPCs once, just to find out what they're carrying (and how much XP you get from them). Some of them are downright rude to the saviors of Icewind Dale, and need to suffer for their impertinence. I feel no guilt about thumping those ones - especially one particular merchant.