Just finished it.

[Dturner]

I just finished the game and like some have said it was something of a letdown. At least at the end of BG2 you had a little Bio on each of the characters in your finaly party and what they did after the quest. I know they couldn't do that in IWD2, but that was a nice touch.

This was a replay of the last battle, since the first time I never managed to finish off Madae and Isea, but I think that was a tactical error on may part, I'll mention that below so if you don't want to see it, you won't have to. This time it was so easy I was shocked when.... well, I won't give it away. All of my characters were about level 17 save for my fighter/paladin who was 18 ( and with the holy sword had four attacks, the highest was about 31).

Is HOF much different than the first go round or is it the same, just that that monsters do more damage? I like the setup of this game, its just a little lacking in story and, how to say it, it just didn't speak to me/ grab me, like the Baldur's Gate games.

Possible spoiler below

The first time I fought the twins, after they teleported from the first room, I followed them and pulled back into the hall and fought them on the bridge, thinking I could fight them one at a time that way, and it worked, only one could reach me at a time. But, I coudl never kill them, they just dropped to "almost dead" and stayed there. This go round I had to face them in the pool room since, after the cut away, we tried to pull out again, but my mage got stunned and all the bad guys went for her. Rather than let her get turned to kibble, the team went to screen her and before I knew it, Isea went down and the end sequence started. Maybe you have to be in that room the Orrick shows up?

[Kakero]

Ever since my entire party was disappeared during the fight with the two ( yes, my entire party just disapeared into thin air ), I have used animate undead to fight with them while bombarding them with missles.

HOF mode is where you'll fight more stronger monster with tones of hp. when I said more, I mean more monster, ie there was just a few goblin you fought in the first town near the dock during normal fight but in HOF mode there will be a lot of goblins. so be prepared.

[dragonslayer]

In HoF i think most weapons that were like +1 in normal are now like +3, and the ones with spell effects might have better spell effects...and...well...that's about all there is to it

[Magness]

I read a comment by JE Sawyer (IWD2's lead designer) in the last couple of days that he said, and then confirmed to me, that IWD2's basic plot, major NPC's, and map areas had to be roughly scripted in a single day. I was astounded.

For having only one day for the basics, I think that BIS did pretty good. But I find it shocking that they wouldn't have at least spent a few more days to develop the plot a bit better. Ya know, throw it around, get some opinions, make sure that there weren't any stupid plot elements, etc. I suppose that this is a good example of why people often complain about the weakness of computer game plots/storylines.

[ 01-09-2003, 03:44 PM: Message edited by: Magness ]

[The Hierophant]

Originally posted by Magness: I read a comment by JE Sawyer (IWD2's lead designer) in the last couple of days that he said, and then confirmed to me, that IWD2's basic plot, major NPC's, and map areas had to be roughly scripted in a single day. I was astounded. For having only one day for the basics, I think that BIS did pretty good. But I find it shocking that they wouldn't have at least spent a few more days to develop the plot a bit better. Ya know, throw it around, get some opinions, make sure that there weren't any stupid plot elements, etc. I suppose that this is a good example of why people often complain about the weakness of computer game plots/storylines.

Indeed. You know, the guys at Origin systems spent weeks developing the storyline for 'Ultima 7 part 2:Serpent Isle' back in the early 90s. They also got the entire team involved. Asked everyone what they thought and what would make such and such an issue more exciting, interesting etc. So it's little wonder that Serpent Isle holds it's place for me as the single greatest story told in a computer game. It's unforgetable.

[9_1_6]

Do you get new spells in HoF mode?

[Micah Foehammer]

No. Spells do not change from normal difficulty to Heart of Fury mode. Your characters will be able to cast MORE spells of course, but the spell descriptions will not be altered. The only thing that changes from normal difficulty to HOF mode are (a) some items have stronger HOF counterparts, and (b) monsters are tougher and give more xp.