How to Kill a Game!

[Sir Frank]

Having played a number of CRPG's I should have known better but to kill IWD2 or any other game, CHEAT! I was having some problems on the 8th room of the monastary. Reloaded 5 times with my best results killing 1 of the two monks. Frustrated I just used the ultility, ( Dalekeeper2?) to give my charater some extra fire resistance and weapon skills. Well, I did defeat the monks and moved on. While editing my party I noticed some of the nice goodies in equipment. Added some of those things, beefed up my characters and their skills and now I'm totally bored! It's no fun to have anything you want or to have God-Like powers. I even tried HOF with little change. I've decided to restart without any cheats or carry overs from the other games. Maybe this time I'll resist the temptation to "Supersize" my charaters and be happy to get that simple sword or axe. It serves me right and I pass this on to anyone else who has that temptation to do just a "little" cheat. DON'T DO IT!!!!

[Borg]

I completely agree. I've even learned that it doesn't pay to use the boards or books to figure out where all the good stuff is -- you don't need it all and tend to get spoiled instead. Just enjoy the game and if it gets too hard and you are about to give up, take the difficulty down a notch or two for that tough battle.

[Sir Frank]

Well, even bring down the difficulty a level could be looked as a cheat. I may have to do that if I find it "Impossible" to win under normal conditions. The question that bothers me is; who are these people who play "Insane and HOF" levels?? I'm sure they've been through the game more than a couple of times and know all the strenghs and weaknesses of everything. While I don't consider this a cheat, I have to ask: Where do they get the time? I DID manage to finish Baulders Gate, ToSC, BG2 SoA, But still need to complete ToB and some of the independent downloads. I'm single, have a fulltime job, but manage to spend 40 to 50 a week playing crpg's. Do many of these "experts" have a job or is there a way to do without sleep? I use to do that about 14 years ago but it catches up with you. I guess if you play a game enough you do learn all the tricks. I consider myself an "expert" on Might&Magic 6, having completed it over 6 times. Of course all this leads to the much larger question: Why play these games at all? I guess the answer would be it makes us feel good. Thats why I play them.

[Dirt Monkey]

the only time cheating is ok is when you bugger up a character and finish a game without noticing. then you can use the xp cheat to re-do them. that's ok............. right?

[Borg]

Dirt Monkey, I don't know if I'm familiar with the XP cheat. However, I think that as long as you don't improve your original character, but just "cheat" in order to put yourself in the same situation as before in order to go a different path, that's not cheating, but exploring options. Just one person's opinion, though... In the end, it's like Sir Frank indicates -- the goal is to have fun. Too easy or too hard (and here I mean WAY too hard) to me isn't much fun.

[Sir Frank]

Here are a couple of follow ups. Cheat if it makes you enjoy the game more. While I consider the artwork of IWD2 very nice it becomes boring when all manner of monster has no effect on you. For ME the enjoyment (and frustration) of any game is to overcome the obstacles. Unlike chess, where you may have to reduce the difficulty level in order to win a game or two, I've found most CPRP's to be balance enough to challenge the average (Me?) player. It's nice to have the difficulty levels in IWD2 but I prefer the average settings because it makes me work, but not too hard, for my rewards; which is, to kick the crap out of some pixal on the computer screen and get some cyberspace gold or equipment. ( We really should have our heads examined ) While there are many a time I yell and curse loudly at my screen I need to remind myself, "This Is FUN!?!"