Icewind Dale: Luremaster

[vultureX21]

I know most people probably don't care because Icewind Dale and Baldur's Gate have been out for so long but I recently picked up Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter, Icewind Dale 2, and Neverwinter Nights 2 (party system returns!) and have been playing IWD non-stop for a month now. I have to say, I really missed the party customization and diverse strategy needed in those games.

Baldur's Gate will always tell the best story (especially Shadows of Amn, hello Jon Irenicus!) but in Icewind Dale I found the Luremaster to be a really excellent mini-plot. I had my party slog through it in one sitting, loved all the puzzles and battles, particularly the epic finale:

Spoiler

Okay so anyone who hasn't played IWD: Trials of the Luremaster you really should. Your final fight is a battle between a constantly teleporting Luremaster and his spectral goons. In my case I used the turtle formation to keep my mage (a pure glass cannon) safe while using a Druid to unleash AOE attacks and my fighter/cleric for healing and some summoning. Basically the fight forces you to eat away at the lackeys health as much as possible and use monsters to slow their progress until they are weak enough for your melee (fighter and a ranger for me) to go toe to toe with them. That's because they smack you around for hefty damage pretty consistently. In the end I lost my thief, fighter, and ranger but took out the goons. The mage then went one on one with the Luremaster, a really fun battle of magic users. Seriously, this is some excellent stuff.

So now that I'm nearing the end of IWD I'm just wondering, for those who have played NWN2, is it as good as it looks like it will be? I really think I won't start playing until I get all the expansion packs, but maybe I should be playing it on its own first? And finally, for BG and IWD players, what was your party like and what were your favorite moments from those games? Luremaster was cool because I never played it the first time I beat IWD, but I think my favorite moment comes from finally learning Irenicus' full history though Watcher's Keep was pretty amazing too.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

Off-topic? Wrong place, mate.

 

[Nmil-ek]

Neverwinter Nights 2 is a must have game if you like those games above. It's a perfect example of D&D computer gaming.

EDIT: You don't even have to get the expansions all in one go. You can always increment by buying them whenever you finish the main one, then move on to the expansion etc. Although you won't have the full list of classes and stuff available.

Better yet, buy them all in one go if your a major D&D fan.

Storm of Zephir is pretty bad though atleast by comparison to mask of the betrayer which was far better than expected.

 

[vultureX21]

Neverwinter Nights 2 is a must have game if you like those games above. It's a perfect example of D&D computer gaming.

EDIT: You don't even have to get the expansions all in one go. You can always increment by buying them whenever you finish the main one, then move on to the expansion etc. Although you won't have the full list of classes and stuff available.

Better yet, buy them all in one go if your a major D&D fan.

Storm of Zephir is pretty bad though atleast by comparison to mask of the betrayer which was far better than expected.

Was that the one with the trade route plot line? It didn't sound very good.

 

[vultureX21]

Neverwinter Nights 2 is a must have game if you like those games above. It's a perfect example of D&D computer gaming.

EDIT: You don't even have to get the expansions all in one go. You can always increment by buying them whenever you finish the main one, then move on to the expansion etc. Although you won't have the full list of classes and stuff available.

Better yet, buy them all in one go if your a major D&D fan.

Storm of Zephir is pretty bad though atleast by comparison to mask of the betrayer which was far better than expected.

I don't have Storm of Zephir. I was thinking of getting it if I have the chance, but I'm not sure

Mask of the Betrayer you should definately get though with the original copy. It adds some nice new classes and new starting races that are pretty cool.

I usually play a Half-elf Ranger with bows and longswords, but with the new prestige classes that I have never used I wasn't sure which one I liked, I was leaning towards Weapon Master. For me I usually need to fit the personality with the class set, I don't try to abuse the ability scores or tables to my advantage. I was thinking a drow, but I noticed they level slower than some. What are these new races/classes?

 

[dapanman]

SoZ was awful but it comes with new classes and feats and stuff so it might be worth picking up if you're into that.

 

[vultureX21]

And yes, wrong forum, my mistake.

 

[vultureX21]

RACES:

Wild Elf
Half-Drow
Air Genasi
Earth Genasi
Fire Genasi
Water Genasi

Fairly powerful elemental characters, but level slowly.

NEW CLASSES:

Favoured Soul
Spirit Shaman
Arcane Scholor of Candlekeeper
Invisible Blade
Red Wizard
Sacred Fist
Stormlord

EPIC LEVELS:

This is basically your standard level classes hitting level 20 and beyond. They then become Epic Levels where you get added benefits.

Thanks, that's really useful information! I am a major D&D nut and this helps.

 

[WrongSprite]

Neverwinter Nights 2 is a must have game if you like those games above. It's a perfect example of D&D computer gaming.

EDIT: You don't even have to get the expansions all in one go. You can always increment by buying them whenever you finish the main one, then move on to the expansion etc. Although you won't have the full list of classes and stuff available.

Better yet, buy them all in one go if your a major D&D fan.

Is it better than the first NWN?

Cause I borrowed that recently, and I just couldn't get into it. Age perhaps.

 

[vultureX21]

Neverwinter Nights 2 is a must have game if you like those games above. It's a perfect example of D&D computer gaming.

EDIT: You don't even have to get the expansions all in one go. You can always increment by buying them whenever you finish the main one, then move on to the expansion etc. Although you won't have the full list of classes and stuff available.

Better yet, buy them all in one go if your a major D&D fan.

Is it better than the first NWN?

Cause I borrowed that recently, and I just couldn't get into it. Age perhaps.

Depends on what you mean by better.

It has better graphics, and a nice UI and a good story.

I guess it's all so updated.

If you didn't like the first one, then I'm not sure I can recommend you the second one as they are very much alike.

I think having a party versus a henchman makes a big difference too.

 

[vultureX21]

Your welcome. Sorry, I'd add more but you know yourself that I'd be typing a lot of stuff.

I'd play the tabletop of D&D but it's not popular here in Ireland, so those expensive sets that I almost bought would be useless as I'd be playing on my own.

I made a tabletop game of my own with Legos that is D&D like, I've never actually played D&D myself except through a PC game so I'm not sure I can call myself a "true" D&D fan.

And I am jealous you get to live on the Emerald Isle, I very much need to see it myself before too long.