05-27-2003, 01:56 AM
Icewind Dale is doable using hardcore rulesets the first time through as long as you don't have an incredibly unbalanced party and are pretty careful. Healing is plentiful (then again, I suppose it is in all the IE games - I go through every one without using a potion :) ), ambushes are minimal, baddies aren't too insane, and no real massive insta-death magic.
IWD2, on the other hand, I would venture to say ould be impossible to play through with perma death rules on your first run through... Constant ambushes, comparitively tougher casters (throughout the entire game, evil Clerics will be a consistent source of pain and mages are not too aghast at unleashing those 15d6 Sunfires :) ), and noticeably more difficult encounters.
Anyhoo, getting back to the topic of roleplaying: I agree with the above posters that writing down histories, bios, stories, etc. about your characters can really help to flesh out their personality and can be a fun exercise if you enjoy writing. This is coming from mostly PnP experience though, since in IWD I mostly just transferred PnP characters over and IWD2 I just powergamed through since I was unfamiliar with 3E at the time and thought it would be an interesting exercise to learn the ruleset a bit better. /shrug :)
IWD2, on the other hand, I would venture to say ould be impossible to play through with perma death rules on your first run through... Constant ambushes, comparitively tougher casters (throughout the entire game, evil Clerics will be a consistent source of pain and mages are not too aghast at unleashing those 15d6 Sunfires :) ), and noticeably more difficult encounters.
Anyhoo, getting back to the topic of roleplaying: I agree with the above posters that writing down histories, bios, stories, etc. about your characters can really help to flesh out their personality and can be a fun exercise if you enjoy writing. This is coming from mostly PnP experience though, since in IWD I mostly just transferred PnP characters over and IWD2 I just powergamed through since I was unfamiliar with 3E at the time and thought it would be an interesting exercise to learn the ruleset a bit better. /shrug :)
--Mith
I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.
Jack London
I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.
Jack London