Point of HoW

[Xero279]

Okay, i have How installed but i havent gotten that far in the game to access it. should i go to HoW after i beat the final boss of IwD? i know this isnt an expansion like The Throne of Bhaal for BG 2 (you go to the expansion after you beat BG 2), so what should i do? After i go into HoW can i come back to regular IwD towns and stuff? Is HoW like a sort of "expansion sidequest"? Should i go into HoW before i go to the final boss of IwD? someone please explain without spoiling me in the end of IWD or the end of HoW. Thanks.

Xero

[Grojlach]

No, you'll have to finish the HoW-quests before taking on the main bad guy in Icewind Dale with your current installation; you won't be able to play HoW after defeating the final "boss". Without trying to spoil you too much, let's just say that as soon as you've got all the six badges (you'll understand later on in the game), it's a good moment in the game to head back to Kuldahar and enter the cabin in the South-East corner to start with the Icewind Dale quests. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Micah Foehammer]

You have two options with Heart of Winter:

1) Finish IWD and then start an HOW expansion only game using your final IWd exported characters. When you start HOW as an expansion, you don't get to go to ANY of the IWD areas and when the expansion is over, that's it.

2) Start HOW during an in-progress IWD game. You won't be able to actually access the HOW portion of the game until your characters have reached a certain level (either 9th or 11th level - can't remember which). When you finish the HOW portion you will be returned to Kuldahar to finish IWD.

The disadvantage of method 1 is that you lose your containers (scroll cases, potion boxes, etc.) when you export and reimport. The disadvantage for method 2 is that you don't have quite as much xp when you start HOW. My preference is for method 2 (the xp hit isn't THAT bad and you get to return to IWD to finish that game as well - more of a sense of continuity).

[pritchke]

I believe the other advantage to (1) is you get the experiance for killing the final boss in IWD. When It ask you "You have completed IWD would you like to use this party for HoW?" I said yes and every one of my characters went up levels. Plus you get to eventually improve upon an already great sword if your still have it in your inventory. I did it both ways and honestly like to switch methods as the game becomes slightly different as the last conversation as more options and gives a little more history.

[ 01-24-2003, 11:19 AM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

[Xero279]

Hmm thanks, but i dont know which method i should do, 1 or 2. Let me just make sure i understad all this: with method 1 i beat IWD, then as soon as the last boss goes down it asks if i want to start HoW, then i get to keep the exp from the last boss then i go into HoW, corrct? And for method 2 i go into HoW BEFORE i fight the last boss of IWD, beat HoW, come back to IWD, THEN beat the boss? Am i correct on this? If i am, then i think i will choose method 1, to get the exp of the last boss. O, one more question, is there a "final boss" of HoW that i can save after (such as in bg2, after you beat the final boss u cant save)? Thanks to everyone who has helped.

Xero

Edit: O, one more question lol if i choose method one will i lose all my items, weapons, armour, potions, scroll cases, all that??

[ 01-24-2003, 01:33 PM: Message edited by: Xero279 ]

[pritchke]

Your close, after beating the IWD boss the game ends, movie plays. Then you pop in your HoW CD start a new game. It will give you the option of playing HoW by it self or the entire game. If you choose How by itself it will see that you have beaten the game and ask if you wish to use that party. Of course you than say yes.

Your correct about method 2 though, go to Kundahar to do HoW after you have the six badges.

It has been awhile but I do believe after you beat the final boss in HoW it does
allow you to save your game. The movie plays after you exit the area of the boss, not immediately after the boss is beaten.

[ 01-24-2003, 01:47 PM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

[Xero279]

hmm, alright, i think im going to try the first method then. ill start HoW after i finish the last boss, that way i can get the exp

[Lavindathar]

Hmmm, should I go with 1 or 2?

I'm just before the mirror on Final Save, so I'll only not have the EXP of the last fight?

So I reckon two.

Where do I start HoW from?

[pritchke]

If you are at the mirror (Crystal Shard to the left) you will start a new game after defeating the final boss.

1) Finish IWD and then start an HOW expansion only game using your final IWd exported characters.

You will be starting in Lonelywood when you start an HoW only game.

[ 01-27-2003, 07:10 PM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

[Lord Brass]

You start HoW from Kuldahar Lav; I wasn't aware that it was different with the 'Expansion Only' verison. I've always gone through the long haul.

The cabin in Kuldahar is near the centre of the map, at the lowest tier beneath the tree. Sort of near the bridge you always cross to go anywhere in the Spine of the World.