Intro[]
I'm playing IWD:EE on core rules, with max HP on level-ups. I have modded it with "3.5 edition Weapon Style Rebalance" (but fixed a minor issue it has). I have also modded the Goodberry spell to provide 3 times more berries with each cast, but perhaps this is a bit OP.
My party consists of a Barbarian, a Dwarven Defender, a dual-classed Fighter/Cleric, a Shaman, a Fighter/Mage/Thief, and a plain Bard.
End of Chapter 2[]
These are their stats and equipment after defeating Yxunomei and getting back to Kuldahar.
The Barbarian[]
Zanilon is both a very strong warrior and a very charismatic leader. I could choose a sturdier race, but I like a tall and beefy party leader who's not ugly like a Half-Orc. So he's a Human for RP reasons. I also chose not to max his Dexterity. He is pretty good anyway.
He specializes in 2-handed weapon style fighting, with 2-handed swords up until now, and he's using Kresselack's Sword +1. He also had with him the Peasant's Reward +2 in case he needed it against Yxunomei, but I forgot all about it during the battle. Well, he used his Composite Longbow +1 we've bought from Conlan's Smithy with arrows +2 against her, and I'm not sure who he targeted when he went in melee. He will probably pick Halberds next. He has also used a Fire Dagger +1 to finish-off Trolls, cause even though several tries were needed for the fire damage to happen, our flaming and acid arrows and other ways to do that job were scarce, and so I was trying to spend as much as little.
He is wearing the Baleful Mail +2, Gauntlets of Weapon Skill, a simple helmet, a Necklace of Missiles, and a Ring of Free Action (pickpocketed). He also has the Blur Deck on him. He hasn't used this deck or the necklace yet though.
- Favorite weapon: Bow and arrow
- Favorite spell: Rage
- Most powerful vanquished: Presio
- Number of kills in the game: 288 (33%)
The Dwarven Defender[]
Yeahliks is Yeslick's cousin (from BG1). He is the second-in-command and sometimes even takes up the party leader role. He is the party's "tank".
He is a master in Axes and he's using the Battle Axe +2: Defender and the newly acquired Throwing Axe +2. He was often using a Sling +1 until he found this, cause he didn't want to carry a lot of plain Throwing Axes with him (I also didn't know when I was gonna find a returning throwing axe, that's why he specialized in slings, but if I knew better I'd keep him just proficient with them). He also has Conlan's Hammer. He has The Red Knight's Shield +3, but he was using a Reinforced Large Shield +1 which he gave to Oldman (the party's cleric) when he found this one — they could switch back though (that shield gives an extra +10% resistance to slashing damage).
He is wearing Kresselack's Plate Mail Armor (nothing special, just different looks), a Helmet of Charm Protection, the Clasp of Bron's Cloak and the Shimmering Sash both bought from Orrick the Gray, a Ring of Free Action and a Ring of Protection +2 (the last two pickpocketed).
- Favorite weapon: Sling and bullet
- Favorite spell: Defensive Stance
- Most powerful vanquished: Mummy
- Number of kills in the game: 193 (22%)
The dual Fighter3/Cleric[]
Garry Oldman is old and wise. He dualed to Cleric at Fighter level 3 for a quick and easy downtime. I'm not a fan of dual-classing, but this low-level one felt very nice. He has a multi-purpose role in the party, standing between the summons and the heavy-hitters in the front line and the slackers in the back rank, supporting both.
He has a high mastery in slings and he's using a Sling +1. He's also a master with Flails and Morningstars, using either a Hammer Flail +2 or a Fast Flail +2. Moreover, he is proficient with Maces and Sword & Shield style fighting. He is currently using a Reinforced Large Shield +1.
He is wearing a Splint Mail and a plain helmet.
He can use up to 3 level 4 spells per rest. He's usually casting "blue ones" (mostly defensive in nature) — like Protection From Evil, 10' Radius, Chant, and Draw Upon Holy Might — but also "red ones" — like Silence, 15' Radius and Holy Smite — or "green ones" like Animate Dead. But when there are undead nearby. which is often, he's usually turning undead.
- Favorite weapon: Sling and bullet
- Favorite spell: Cure Light Wounds
- Most powerful vanquished: Sword Spider
- Number of kills in the game: 76 (8%)
The F/M/T[]
Telamon was chasing Sarevok in Baldur's Gate when his party was ambushed by a powerful mage. He got teleported through space and time to Eastheaven where he met with other adventurers and teamed up in order to overcome the hazards. He is the party's scout, searching ahead for enemies and traps. He can pick every lock, too. His very high Dexterity as an Elf helps with this stuff.
He specializes in Longbows, Longswords, and 2-weapon style fighting. He has a Long Sword of Confusion +2, Erevain's Broad Sword +2, and Turodahel +2. He's also wielding the Mage Dagger +2 when resting, to have a couple more spells to cast before switching to better weapons, but the transition is kinda funky. The bow he uses is the Messenger of Sseth +1. He's also the only party member who can use The Summoner's Staff +3 (haven't used any charges yet).
He is wearing a Robe of Enfusing (random loot), Bracers of Defense A.C. 6, Dead Man's Face, the Black Wolf Talisman, Glimglam's Cloak +1, the Ring of Shadows, and the Ring of the Warrior.
The spells he's using are usually "blue ones" (mostly defensive in nature), like Shield, Mirror Image, and Protection From Normal Missiles. He can cast up to 2 level 3 spells per rest.
He's also backstabbing and setting traps from time to time. But most of the time he's using his bow on enemies.
- Favorite weapon: Long sword
- Favorite spell: Reflected Image
- Most powerful vanquished: Yxunomei
- Number of kills in the game: 255 (29%)
The Shaman[]
Blata'Orguh is a very stronk Half-Orc woman, and actually the strongest party member. She's more often using her physical strength for carrying lots of heavy stuff though. Cause what she's doing most of the time is dancing. Shamans are very suitable for this game if you don't have a problem waiting a little time (especially when in low levels) until they have gathered some summons and dragging the enemies to an ambush. But Blata is very versatile and can dish-out a good amount of damage with her weapons if needed, or cast an array of spells to help the party, too.
She is proficient with Quarterstaffs, Short bows, Axes, and Sword & Shield style fighting. She is using a Shortbow +1, a Battle Axe +1, and a simple Buckler. She is also carrying some spare Throwing Axes, as well as the Infected Two-Handed Axe +2.
She is wearing the Yeti Hide Armor +1 and Kresselack's helmet (nothing special, just different looks).
The spells she has chosen so far are:
- Level 1: Armor of Faith, Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Entangle, Sunscorch
- Level 2: Barkskin, Cure Moderate Wounds, Goodberry
- Level 3: Moonblade, Spike Growth
- Level 4: Call Woodland Beings
However, she usually doesn't cast much, because she's often being occupied with dancing, so before resting she casts any remaining Goodberries for future use.
- Favorite weapon: Bow and arrow
- Favorite spell: Cure Light Wounds
- Most powerful vanquished: Cold Wight
- Number of kills in the game: 25 (2%)
The Bard[]
Masha is a beautiful Half-Elf who likes to play music and sing all the time. Plain bards in IWD have a great repertoire! I'm not used to such variety and was using the first song for a lot of time, cause I hadn't realised that she knew several more. Anyway, I finally learned how to swap songs. But she can also cast some very useful spells when needed. She can't cast a large amount, but they are enough with this party in this difficulty (I've actually had a relatively easy time so far). I kinda miss not having a more full-time arcane caster in the party, but they're not really needed. I was able to squeeze just enough money to get her both the Lyre of Progression and the Bardic Horn of Valhalla from Gerth's Equipment Shoppe when we returned to Kuldahar, so she'll arrive more capable at the Severed Hand.
She is using a Finest Light Crossbow and Spinesheath +1. She's wearing Bracers of Defense A.C. 6, a Deep Red Ioun Stone, and an Amulet of Metaspell Influence. She's also carrying Presio's Dagger +2 and a Studded Leather Armor +2 just in case.
The spells she's using are usually "red ones" (offensive in nature), like Grease, Web, and Melf's Minute Meteors. She can cast up to 3 level 3 spells per rest. But she's occupied with playing music most of he time.
- Favorite weapon: Crossbow and bolt
- Favorite spell: Chromatic Orb
- Most powerful vanquished: Spectral Guard
- Number of kills in the game: 19 (2%)
End of Chapter 4[]
These are the party's stats and equipment after destroying Terikan and getting back to Larrel to let him know about the fate of his daughter, right before travelling back to Dorn's Deep to enter Wyrm's Tooth. We've already been through the entry cavern many times, killing more and more of the respawning enemies there, and now I'm thinking that we'll go through once more. This might be our 7th time there, cause we left Dorn's Deep several times to sell or store our loot and return. Well, the more XP for us, the better, but it's repetitive and without any risk. And I've already been thinking about a new playthrough with a different party composition on harder difficulty settings, cause we are currently having an easy time in general. I want to stick to the core rules for the first playthrough though (although I've already modded it a bit, as stated in the intro).
Zanilon[]
The party leader is now level 9. He got proficient in Axes, cause IWD has this nice thing about them: there are 1-handed and 2-handed ones. I haven't found any great 2-handed weapons other than 2-handed swords so far, so I thought of learning to use some 1-handed weapons, eventually maybe dual-wielding them. But I'm not sure how far I will level up, so instead of choosing Flails/Morningstars to go with crushing damage this time, he got a pip in Axes which do slashing damage again, but which also have a 2-handed variety, where he's already specialized.
He got back to wearing an unenchanted Splint Mail, in combination with the Ring of Protection +2. The Baleful Mail +2 has been kept in storage in Severed Hand, as well as the Mail of Life +3 which he briefly wore, cause I realized that the regenaration rate it gives is very slow (I could mod that, but the latest bard song provides good regeneration already). He's still wearing the Gauntlets of Weapon Skill and the Ring of Free Action though. He's also equipped with the Helmet of Charm Protection, the Black Wolf Talisman, an Elven Sewn Cloak and Elven Sewn Boots (the elven stuff were bought from Lehland). The three last items combined provide him with 20% resistance to cold. Only his belt slot is still vacant.
He's using a Longbow of Action +2 (5 THAC0 with plain arrows). The Cairn Blade +4 or Two-Handed Sword +2: Hammering (just left Serrated Bone Blade +3 in storage). And he also has Benorg's Truth +3 and the Red Knight's Shield +3 in case he needs to get a better AC. He's used the Blur Deck once.
- Favorite weapon: Bow and arrow
- Favorite spell: Rage
- Most powerful vanquished: Presio
- Number of kills in the game: 460 (31%)
- Number of kills in chapter 4: 64 (23%)
Yeahliks[]
The party's tank is the only one who is wearing some item in every slot he has avaiable. The items he's still using are the Clasp of Bron's Cloak, the Shimmering Shash, and the Ring of Free Action. The resistances shown in the picture are a combination of his class, his Great Shield +3 (-2 THAC0, +15% crushing, slashing, piercing and fire resistance, random loot from Severed Hand), the clasp mentioned previously, and Masha's "War Chant of Sith". He is also wearing Elven Sewn Gloves for 5% resistance to cold. His armor is a Mithral Field Plate Armor +2. He's also equipped with the Dead Man's Face, Ring of the Warrior, Boots of Speed, and the Mantle of Hell's Furnace (bought from Orrick the Gray from his latest store update, it has 15 charges of Agannazar's Scorcher, 15 of Burning Hands, and 15 of Charm Fire Elemental Kin).
He's still using the Throwing Axe +2 as a ranged weapon. But for melee he now has new options, between Battle Axe +3: Fatigue, the Axe of Caged Souls +3, and The Celebrant's Blade +4. He also got specialized in War Hammers and he has Conlan's Hammer and a War Hammer of Sparks +2 if he prefers to do crushing damage.
- Favorite weapon: Sling and bullet
- Favorite spell: Defensive Stance
- Most powerful vanquished: Lich (Terikan)
- Number of kills in the game: 388 (26%)
- Number of kills in chapter 4: 116 (42%)
Garry Oldman[]
The party's cleric is level 9 and can now cast up to one level 5 Divine spell per rest. He has started outright destroying some of the undead with his Turn Undead ability.
He is wearing the Shadowed Plate +3 and the Blessed Helm of Lathander, and he also has the Necklace of Missiles (still unused). He is using Edley's Sling +3 for ranged and either the Fast Flail +2 or Misery's Herald +3 for melee, in combination with a Large Shield of Strength +1 (+1 strength, +10% slashing and piercing resistance, random loot from Tiers of the Dead).
- Favorite weapon: Morning Star
- Favorite spell: Cure Light Wounds
- Most powerful vanquished: Ettin
- Number of kills in the game: 139 (9%)
- Number of kills in chapter 4: 39 (14%)
Telamon[]
The F/M/T can now cast up to 2 level 4 spells (he has chosen Stoneskin and Improved Invisibility to memorize on the next rest). Without any boosts from anything, he has 100 points in Find Traps and Open Locks, 50 in Move Silently, Hide in Shadows, and Set Traps, and 35 in Pickpocketing. He also recently acquired a quadruple backstab multiplier which he hasn't put to use yet and he's itching for the right chance.
He is still wearing the Robe of Enfusing, the Bracers of Defense A.C. 6, and the Ring of Shadows. But he chose to forfeit his helmet for a Clear Ioun Stone, because in combination with the previously mentioned robes and the Ring of the Protector +2 (+2 AC, +10% MR, random loot from Tiers of the Dead), he gets 20% Magic Resistance in total. He is also wearing the Girdle of Labelas (permanent Free Action, Haste on wearer once per day, given from Orrick the Gray as a reward for the Mythal lore quest), and he got the Amulet of Metaspell Influence from Masha (but he might give it back if she can use it better).
He is still using the Messenger of Sseth +1 for ranged combat, and the Long Sword of Confusion +2 and Erevain's Broad Sword +2 for melee, but he also has the Hold Fast +3 now (random loot I got from Hall of Heroes).
I have forgotten to mention that he has the Wand of Armory, but he hasn't used it at all so far.
- Favorite weapon: Bow and Arrow
- Favorite spell: Reflected Image
- Most powerful vanquished: Yxunomei
- Number of kills in the game: 362 (25%)
- Number of kills in chapter 4: 49 (17%)
Blata'Orguh[]
The new spells our Shaman has chosen to learn in the meantime are Alicorn Lance, Cloudburst, Wall of Moonlight, and Iron Skins. She can cast up to 3 level 5 spells per rest.
She is now wearing a plain Studded Leather Armor in combination with the Mantle of the Coming Storm (or she can swap it with Glimglam's Cloak +1). She also has the Ring of Sanctuary (she insightfully used one of the 5 charges before starting to dance on top of Shevarash Tower), Kresselack's plain helmet, and a plain buckler. She's wielding the Battle Axe +2: Defender for more AC, but she's still using a Shortbow +1 when attaking in range.
- Favorite weapon: Bow and arrow
- Favorite spell: Goodberry
- Most powerful vanquished: Ettin
- Number of kills in the game: 67 (4%)
- Number of kills in chapter 4: 7 (2%)
She won't need to cast any more Goodberries now, with Masha singing her latest song.
Masha[]
Our Bard is now singing the "War Chant of Sith" most of the time. She can cast up to one level 4 spell per rest (she has used Emotion, Hope for example).
She is wearing Kaylessa's Armor +3 (doesn't prevent spellcasting, +1 Dex, +20% cold resistance, random loot from Shevarash Tower, floor 1), Sune's Laurel of Favor, and the Symbol of Sehanine Moonbow.
Notice that I've modded the Mage Dagger +2 so that it can be wielded by Bards. Well, I was angry cause I realized that I couldn't use the Lyre of Progression with a ranged weapon (the Light Crossbow of Defense +2 in particular). She now has a Heavy Crossbow of Accuracy to use if needed, but there's not really any need for this, and she likes sticking to her dagger and lyre. I didn't know about this lyre, so I wasted a proficiency in single-weapon fighting style on her. She also got ahold of Owain's Lullaby recently.
- Favorite weapon: Crossbow and bolt
- Favorite spell: Chromatic Orb
- Most powerful vanquished: Drow Spellsword
- Number of kills in the game: 25 (1%)
- Number of kills in chapter 4: 1 (0%)
Some thoughts after finishing the base game (No HoW)[]
I have to start by saying that I liked the game a lot! But let's get this right off my chest: I was disappointed at the way it ended, after getting the six badges basically.
Especially the two fights vs Poquelin and Belhifet. They were very easy. I expected a lot more from the final battles. Sure, the whole game went very smoothly for me. I guess one factor is my experience with Baldurs Gate, and also those enhanced kits/classes that I used, which are very powerful. But come on, I went into the very final battle without even having healed-up first, and I won straight-up without any fuss at all. Fighting Pomab was much more dangerous, but I disliked his trick a lot at the moment. The battles in Dorn's Deep were much more satisfying.
The plot and the dialogue with Nym was also very anticlimactic. Who was the genius who wrote this stuff... And who was the genius who approved and payed him for that? :D
That's why I didn't post any update lately, even though it's been a while since I finished. At first I was thinking of importing the party into HoW. Then I thought: "Well, I've already beaten the end-boss without HoW xp/loot/whatever, so why not reload an earlier save just before using the badges and travel to Kuldahar and get into How by talking to Hjollder?". Afaik I can keep the stuff in my containers this way, and maybe there was also something else I've forgotten. So I went to Kuldahar and got to do the Skeleton bones quest - was all this xp for real? Oh boy, this game gives some crazy amounts of xp for some quests and whatnot. I felt some times like the levels were going by very fast. I mean, it's much shorter than BG1 but you get much more levels on the way. Anyway, I went to Lonelywood, but then I decided to start over, with a new party on a harder difficulty.
I have started some hardcore(?) no-reload runs, on hard difficulty, with extra damage taken but with no extra xp gained, and a 4-member party (that doesn't include a Shaman or a Bard). This has proven to be a difficult task and I've been enjoying it much more. I have restarted with 4 or 5 different parties. This game is really great for testing different combinations! The furthest I have managed to go without a party death was the Temple of the Forgotten God. Well, if it's too difficult for me, or if I'm bored to start over once more, I might give up on the no-reload part, or I might resurrect the dead and continue.
Oh, one thing I was wondering about was why I was able to loot valuable stuff from various creatures' places without them reacting at all.
Another thing that made me scratch my head is the reputation system. There are ways to lose rep but not ways to gain? Why not gain some rep for releasing captive villagers, for example, instead of just the potential of losing rep for killing one by accident?...