IWD2 - no more uber characters!!

[Hayashi]

Found this titbit on a IWD2 fan site:

Icewind Dale 2 characters have six abilities: Strength (Str), Dexterity (Dex), Constitution (Con), Intelligence (Int), Wisdom (Wis), and Charisma (Cha). At character creation, each ability score is set to 10 and the player is given 16 additional points to distribute between the abilities. Some races have bonuses or penalties (called racial modifiers) to certain abilities, and those modifiers adjust their initial scores. For example, a moon elf (+2 Dex, -2 Con) would have the following scores before distributing the 16 discretionary points: Str 10, Dex 12, Con 8, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 10. Characters can also subtract points from their initial scores in order to increase their point pool. No score may be lowered below 3, and no score may be raised above 18 after the additional points are added. Racial modifiers adjust the maximum scores beyond 18; moon elf, for example, could have a Dexterity score of 20.

No more rolling until you get 90+ point total? What do you think?

[Lord Brass]

Hi Hayashi. Long time no speak! Is that confirmation of the character creation process, or another interpretation? Presumably the former.

Well, the game must be designed with that in mind, and it should still allow for decent "primary" stats e.g. Int for Mages. Though it must make multi-class a lot harder now that they can be more prevalent in the game. I guess I prefer to roll.

[Memnoch]

This is the standard way that 3rd Ed D&D generate characters. NWN uses the same system and I think it works quite well. Just my opinion, though. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Zateel]

Actually, IWDII *DOES* have "uber" characters, even compared to Neverwinter Nights or 3rd edition rules.
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In third edition D&D, the stat points you distribute are "weighted". I'm not into the new rules, so the following is a guess, used for example. I think that your scores start out at 8, and then you have 30 points to spend. From 9-14 costs 1 spendable point per stat point, 15-16 are 2, 17-18 are 3, and so on. So to get a character from 10 Dex to 18 Dex will cost you 16 points. To get two abilities to 18, you will have to lower another attribute to 7 (-2 penalty). So you could have Str 8, Dex 18, Con 8 Int 18, Wis 8, Cha 7 for a Wizard.
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In IWDII, the points *AREN'T* weighted. You have 16 points to spend, with all attributes starting at 10 (no penalties), So, the same character in IWDII could be Str 10, Dex 18, Con 10, Wis 10, Int 18, Cha 10.
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Way more uber, don't you think? Besides, there is a box in the configuration program to enable the cheat console, so I guess the CLUA console can make you whatever you want, once the cheats are released.
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Also, you can add an ability point (unweighted) every four levels(beginning at level 4) to one score (although it can be a different ability every four levels). So, the same wizard at level 16 could have a Dex or Int of 22; 24 if he's an elf, halfling or tiefling. Can't have those kinds of scores without cheating in 2nd edition rules.

[ 08-30-2002, 06:44 AM: Message edited by: Zateel ]

[Azred]

Never forget that within a week of its release, there will be hacks, cheats, and/or character trainers available over the internet. Some people buy new games only to hack them and take away any fun they might have had. [img]graemlins/dontknowaboutyou.gif[/img] Why does a mage need a 16 strength anyway? [img]graemlins/petard.gif[/img]

[Cecil]

I was a bit put off with it at first, but I warmed up to it after a bit of playing (good games do that I suppose). I imagine it's mostly (for me at least) letting go of something I'm used to, 2nd edition rules, for something heralding in change, 3rd edition rules. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Warhammer]

Thanks to the unweighted attribute buy system, of course you can make "uber" characters. You can actually do it without spending a whole night throwing dice:

Half-Orc Fighter 4/ BarbarianX:
Str: 20
Dex: 18
Con: 18
Int: 1
Wis: 16
Cha: 1

Tiefling Wizard/Rogue
Str: 13
Dex: 18
Con: 18
Int: 20
Wis: 6
Cha: 1

[Dundee Slaytern]

I assume there are no Mind Flayers to KO your INT:1 tanks? Sigh... ...