Icewind Gate II
Tactical Screenshots: Normal Party

  The traditional starting point for an IWG2 beta game. My character is a fourth level lawful good elven sorcerer with high DEX and high CHR. Core difficulty.  
  The traditional starting point for an IWG2 beta game. My character is a fourth level lawful good elven sorcerer with high DEX and high CHR. Core difficulty.

  Blah blah, pick up the party ...  
  Blah blah, pick up the party ...

  ... and get ready to rumble.  
  ... and get ready to rumble.

  A minor click-o causes me to accidentally cast Web on my own party. Not the world's greatest start.  
  A minor click-o causes me to accidentally cast Web on my own party. Not the world's greatest start.

  This fight was tough -- coming in from the left just didn't work very well. With Jaheira dead (actually, even with Jaheira alive) we have no hope of raising the dead.  
  This fight was tough -- coming in from the left just didn't work very well. With Jaheira dead (actually, even with Jaheira alive) we have no hope of raising the dead.

  So instead we pick up Yoshimo and loot the lady's room. While we're putzing around, the Golems notice.  
  So instead we pick up Yoshimo and loot the lady's room. While we're putzing around, the Golems notice.

  Attacking the library from the south allows for an easier victory. Ilyich is tough but do-able.  
  Attacking the library from the south allows for an easier victory. Ilyich is tough but do-able.

  Death by mephit. I was never able to win this fight, so eventually Imoen had to sneak past them to talk to the Djinni.  
  Death by mephit. I was never able to win this fight, so eventually Imoen had to sneak past them to talk to the Djinni.

  Habeas corpus?  
  Habeas corpus?

  The trick here is to kill her before she summons too many monsters.  
  The trick here is to kill her before she summons too many monsters.

  Gotta love that Sword of Chaos.  
  Gotta love that Sword of Chaos.

  Frennedan is very tough, especially if you fall for his trap.  
  Frennedan is very tough, especially if you fall for his trap.

  We tried to take on Mencar Pebblecrusher and we were summarily ... crushed. I actually think that this is the right behavior -- why should a party of fifth level yahoos be able to take down these seasoned adventurers?  
  We tried to take on Mencar Pebblecrusher and we were summarily ... crushed. I actually think that this is the right behavior -- why should a party of fifth level yahoos be able to take down these seasoned adventurers?

  Bet you didn't know the IWD2 engine even had reputation ...  
  Bet you didn't know the IWD2 engine even had reputation ...

  I smell romance in the air.  
  I smell romance in the air.

  Wow, those thugs are tough.  
  Wow, those thugs are tough.

  Whoops! The dreaded  
  Whoops! The dreaded "no valid replies or links" bug.

  After a minor break to fix the converter, we are able to sail forth without running into that bug.  
  After a minor break to fix the converter, we are able to sail forth without running into that bug.

  Those mages are non-trivial.  
  Those mages are non-trivial.

  Unfortunately, my standard tactic of  
  Unfortunately, my standard tactic of "cast web" was actually used against me. The shame! The agony!

  I decided to try to shoot the bear through the bars of the cage. Unfortuantely, due to a converter bug the bear was armed with a crossbow (!) and has the same idea, making short work of Yoshimo.  
  I decided to try to shoot the bear through the bars of the cage. Unfortuantely, due to a converter bug the bear was armed with a crossbow (!) and has the same idea, making short work of Yoshimo.

  This is the one time in the game when Nalia is helpful.  
  This is the one time in the game when Nalia is helpful.

  Good work, Hendak.  
  Good work, Hendak.

  Those blue spheres are Sanctuaries. Notice that the Hobgoblin Captain is using the Heroic Inspiration feat.  
  Those blue spheres are Sanctuaries. Notice that the Hobgoblin Captain is using the Heroic Inspiration feat.

  The slime pit was too tough for us. Power Word: Reload and  
  The slime pit was too tough for us. Power Word: Reload and

  ... only to die to the hobgoblins.  
  ... only to die to the hobgoblins.

  When the kobolds and the hobgoblins team up, life gets difficult. Wow, it's just like BG1.  
  When the kobolds and the hobgoblins team up, life gets difficult. Wow, it's just like BG1.

  Despite throwing a few webs at the mages, we're having quite a bit of difficulty. Their higher Concentration skills allow them to cast even when distracted.  
  Despite throwing a few webs at the mages, we're having quite a bit of difficulty. Their higher Concentration skills allow them to cast even when distracted.

  If you look closely, you'll see a scripting error where the enemy priest of Cyric is casting Cure Serious Wounds on a party member.  
  If you look closely, you'll see a scripting error where the enemy priest of Cyric is casting Cure Serious Wounds on a party member.

  After dying, I cam up with a new strategy. The Acid Fog scroll that you get from freeing Hendak goes a long way toward taking down everyone but captain Haegan.  
  After dying, I cam up with a new strategy. The Acid Fog scroll that you get from freeing Hendak goes a long way toward taking down everyone but captain Haegan.

  The Umber Hulk is from a monster summoning scroll and allows us to deal with the trolls easily.  
  The Umber Hulk is from a monster summoning scroll and allows us to deal with the trolls easily.

   
  "Finish him!"

  I was kind of hoping that after going through the blender that is the Icewind Gate conversion process, Jaheira would lose her penchant for picking the wrong time to chat. I was wrong: some things are eternal.  
  I was kind of hoping that after going through the blender that is the Icewind Gate conversion process, Jaheira would lose her penchant for picking the wrong time to chat. I was wrong: some things are eternal.

  Web and archery go a long way toward winning this fight.  
  Web and archery go a long way toward winning this fight.

  The Lich in the Crooked Crane was actually far too easy, so I spent a bit of time working out a good pre-buffing item for powerful mages. While I was testing it, Jaheira decided to have a little chat.  
  The Lich in the Crooked Crane was actually far too easy, so I spent a bit of time working out a good pre-buffing item for powerful mages. While I was testing it, Jaheira decided to have a little chat.

  The new-and-improved Lich (a 20th level mage) has no trouble destroying our party. As it should be.  
  The new-and-improved Lich (a 20th level mage) has no trouble destroying our party. As it should be.

  Here we are in the Umar Hills. Due to a scripting bug that Jermien mage (a blue-circled ally) summons a red-circled shadow Cyclops to fight off the golem. The cyclops immediately turns on the party.  
  Here we are in the Umar Hills. Due to a scripting bug that Jermien mage (a blue-circled ally) summons a red-circled shadow Cyclops to fight off the golem. The cyclops immediately turns on the party.

  Nice golf swing, Minsc.  
  Nice golf swing, Minsc.

  Lack of preparation and the IWG2 tendency for monsters to wander around gives us serious trouble here. Notice Valygar dual-wielding. Too bad the undead are immune to his poison.  
  Lack of preparation and the IWG2 tendency for monsters to wander around gives us serious trouble here. Notice Valygar dual-wielding. Too bad the undead are immune to his poison.

  Still having trouble. An encounter with a bunch of shadows and shadow fiends leaves us quite enfeebled.  
  Still having trouble. An encounter with a bunch of shadows and shadow fiends leaves us quite enfeebled.

  The Shade Lord loves to cast Meteor Swarm. Unfortunately, 82 points of fire damage is too much for our poor party.  
  The Shade Lord loves to cast Meteor Swarm. Unfortunately, 82 points of fire damage is too much for our poor party.

  Unsurprisingly, we're toast.  
  Unsurprisingly, we're toast.

  Because I'm a glutton for punishment, I decide to go after the dragon instead.  
  Because I'm a glutton for punishment, I decide to go after the dragon instead.

  Love that Shadow Dragon breath. It just looks nifty. This picture of Thax running down my lone protagonist is quite disheartening.  
  Love that Shadow Dragon breath. It just looks nifty. This picture of Thax running down my lone protagonist is quite disheartening.

  The second time is no better.  
  The second time is no better.

  Try the Shade Lord again. Ouch. At this point I gave up on my canonical  
  Try the Shade Lord again. Ouch. At this point I gave up on my canonical "good" party and decided to see what I could do with custom-made NPCs.

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