h ___________________________ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Icewind Dale (PC) Frequently Asked Questions ___________________________ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ July 6, 2000 Version x.1 by Dan Simpson (manymoose@hotmail.com) Email Policy: ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Got an Icewind Dale Question? Email me! For a speedier response, make sure to put "Icewind Dale Questions" as the subject. Notes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This document is a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) ONLY. It is not a walkthrough! My current intention is to only help people with the trickier areas and situations, as well as some other information. I may in the future do a full Walkthrough, but again, this FAQ isn't it. This also isn't currently intended to be the end-all-be-all Guide to Icewind Dale... that also may come later. This is pretty much just a FAQ... for now. There is a BETA patch out for Icewind Dale, which you can find here: Patch: ftp://ftp.interplay.com/pub/patches/IWDpatch.zip Readme: http://www.interplay.com/icewind/readme.txt There are also some "bonus" portraits available: ftp://ftp.interplay.com/pub/misc/iwd_ports.zip -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the FAQ I use the abbreviation IWD to stand in for the full title of Icewind Dale, and BG to abbreviate Baldur's Gate. My Party: --------- Human Fighter Elf Fighter Half-Elf Cleric/Ranger (has access to both Druid and Cleric spells this way) Human Bard (useful to identify things, and can cast magic!) Halfling Fighter/Thief (don't bother ever giving points to the Pickpocket skill, it's useless in IWD) Human Conjurer I actually started the game with a Human Thief instead of the Halfling, but switched over later. (You can bring in new characters at any time) Then I just stayed in the area I was at, and leveled my new character up a bit. Where I am in the game: ----------------------- Shattered Hand (you can still ask questions for the later areas, just don't expect an answer) Gameplay Specific Questions: ---------------------------- Q: I am at this big GEAR DOOR, and I can't figure out how to open it. Is there a switch that I need to find? A: Yes there is! Just to the south of the door is a triangle with three pillars, check the pillar on the lower right (that is, the one farthest from the door), and on the left side of the pillar is the switch. Switch it to open. Q: I went through the Crypt in the vale, and found this skeletal knight (Kresselac) who asked me to find and eliminate a Priestess. Where is she? A: You must go out of the crypt, and back into the vale. Now, on this screen you want to head into the cave in the bottom-middle of the area (just south of the Statue in the center of the area). This is a Yeti cave, rather than a crypt. Go inside, and she'll be there. Q: So, how do I open Kresselac's treasure chest? I can't KNOCK it, BASH it, or PICK it! A: Just kill the Priestess and then talk to Kresselac again. Then it will be automatically opened for you. Q: I'm in Dragon's Eye, and there are these weird Peaceful Monks here, and they don't let me go in all these doors. What's their deal? A: If you wander around there enough you'll start picking up clues about them. Go check out their carpet, or the books in their library to learn that they are up to no good. Make sure you're ready for a fight though, these Monks are nasty, and they like to summon more monsters as well. Q: In the Shattered Hand, I need to find Larrel... where is he? A: As you go up the tower, it eventually splits into five smaller towers, or fingers. You want to go in the far right tower, up that until you get the option of going to a passage to the left. Go across the skybridge, and over to another tower. Go up the stairs here, up the next stairs and you'll be in the Astrolabe, with Larrel. Q: What do I do with all of these keys? Do I need to keep them for something? What about these other Items I've got? (Caravan Contract, Myrtul's Holy Symbol, etc.) A: I kept keys only while I was still in the area in which I got the keys, then when I got back to Kuldahar, I sold the keys in the item shop (not the armory). They aren't worth much, but if you discover later that you really DID need them, you can always buy them back. As for the other items, I would suspect that they are useless past the area that you got them in, but as I haven't gotten through the game yet, I can't say for sure. If you want to get rid of them, but want to make sure that they are still around (you can't sell them, by the way), just drop them in a treasure chest somewhere. General Gaming Questions ------------------------ Q: Got any advice on winning [insert tough battle here]? A: Yeah, save and retry. Usually what I'll do first is to save it, then rush the area hacking at everything. When that fails, and it usually does, I begin my planning. Were there magic users? Clerics? What monsters need to be taken out first? Can I clear the area with an Area Effect Spell (Fireball, Icestorm, etc.)? Next I'll try to draw off monsters one by one. It's a lot easier to beat a horde of monsters one at a time, rather than all at once. So I'll move until I spot one monster, make sure it sees me, then slowly lead it back to the waiting party. Make sure the monster follows you, as they have a tendency to just wander back if they lose sight of you. If you can't draw monsters off one by one (i.e. all monsters see you at the same time), you have to start thinking more Tactically. Hit the mages first to prevent them from spellcasting (nothing worse than getting hit by Confusion, or Hold Person, much less a Lightning Bolt) then rush the archers to get them to switch to melee weapons. Try to keep the party together for support, and to prevent flanking. And of course, have your own mages and clerics casting their devastating magics. I usually would have my Conjurer bring up a host of goblins to deal with archers, leaving the tougher enemies for my main party. Finally, if there is a "BOSS", try to deal with it first, as they tend to have the most devastating attacks Q: Is Charisma/Reputation important in IWD? A: Not really, no. I think you still get the Charisma Discount at the shops, but it doesn't affect conversations. Reputation exists, but only for the sake of Paladins and Rangers. If your Rep. drops low enough, then the Paladin/Ranger is "fallen" and loses their special abilities. Q: I just stole something right in front of someone's face! Don't they care? A: Ransacking people's homes seems to have fewer consequences in IWD, than it did in BG. No guard ever seems to be called. There are, however, some situations in which an NPC will tell you to leave a door/chest/whatever alone, and they will attack if you ignore that warning. Q: How do I dual-class? Is it worth it? Can I dual more than once? A: Dual classing is reserved only for Human characters, and may not be performed by Bard or Paladins (and you can't dual TO a Bard or a Paladin, either). In order to successfully dual to another class, you must have at least a 15 score in your current classes prime attribute (for a Fighter, that would be STR) and at least a 17 score in the prime attribute of whichever class you want to dual to (so a Mage would be Int of 17). Also, you must be at least level 2 before dual classing. Once you are "dual classed" you are essentially a level 1 of your new class. You are NOT a multi class! So if you were a Fighter, who dualled to Thief, you are now a level 1 Thief, until your Thief level SURPASSES your Fighter level, at which point, your old abilities come back. As to whether it is worth it, is sort of up to personal preference. The advantages are that you end out with a far more powerful character, the disadvantages are that you are very weak while just starting your new class. "Powergamers" will often dual class several of their party members at the same time; such as a Fighter dualling to a Thief, and a Thief dualling to a Mage, while the Mage duals to a Fighter. Finally, no, you can't dual more than once. Q: Can my Ranger Dual Wield two swords? A: Yes, but you won't see it. Simply put two swords in the Quick Weapons slots, and you will gain one extra attack. This only works if you don't have a shield equipped. Monster Questions: ------------------ Q: How do I kill trolls? They just keep getting back up! A: Annoying, aren't they? Anyway, to kill a troll, first you have to beat it normally so that it falls down to the ground. It isn't dead yet. Now, your party will still be attacking the troll, but they can't kill it, so pull them back. Now you have to hit the troll with either Fire or Acid. This is easiest to do magically (Burning Hands, Melf's Acid Arrow, Fireball), just be sure not to hit your own party at the same time (Burning Hands and Fireball especially). There are also items such as Burning Oil, and Arrows such as Flame Arrows which also work nicely. Technical Questions: -------------------- Q: Can I get IWD to run at any higher resolutions than 640x480? A: No. This option will be available in the upcoming BioWare game, Baldur's Gate II, but not in IWD. Q: How can I get rid of this silly "Register Now!" thing without registering? A: As far as I know, the only way to stop that from appearing every time you play is to register. It doesn't take very long, so you may as well do it. Q: Can I set HOTKEYS to certain spells, or whatever? A: Sure, just run the IWD Configuration Program located in the Start Menu. (Usually, Start > Programs > Black Isle > Icewind Dale > ) You can also monkey about with some other game options here, such as the Search Nodes (used in pathfinding), Cache size, or AI Speed. Other Questions: ---------------- Q: Is Icewind Dale worth getting? Is it better than Diablo II? Or is it just "Baldur's Gate Lite"? A: I was surprised by just how much I've liked Icewind Dale. I was somewhat expecting a "BG Lite" type of game, but Icewind is anything but a lightweight. I've only played the first Diablo, and so I can't really comment on whether IWD is a better game. So, yes, Icewind Dale is worth getting. Q: Any cheats for IWD? A: There are no in-game cheats (such as BG's CLUA type cheats), however TeamBG has created a character editor for IWD. http://www.teambg.com/ Q: Will you REALLY do a full Guide/Walkthrough for this game? You haven't finished your Torment walkthrough! A: I really don't know. (nor do I know when I'll finish the Torment FAQ!) Q: I have another question .... A: Got other questions? Email me! manymoose@hotmail.com For a speedier response, make sure to put "Icewind Dale Questions" as the subject. ================================================================================ Final Words... ================================================================================ _________________________ Shameless Self Promotion: ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ I have also written FAQs for: NES: Disney Adventures in the Magic Kingdom Final Fantasy -- Magic FAQ The Legend of Zelda SNES: Aerobiz Aerobiz Supersonic Utopia: Creation of a Nation Genesis: StarFlight PSX: Thousand Arms -- Walkthrough -- Forging/Dating FAQ PC: Baldur's Gate & Tales of the Sword Coast -- FAQ/Walkthrough NPC List Creature List Colonization -- the Single Colony Strategy Guide -- the Cheat Guide Drakan: Order of the Flame Dungeon Hack Master of Magic (revision) Messiah Pharaoh Planescape: Torment -- FAQ/Walkthrough Items Listing Rollercoaster Tycoon Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri The Sims Ultima 4: Quest of the Avatar Ultima 7: The Black Gate Ultima 7 Part 2: Serpent Isle Ultima Underworld -- Keyboard Commands Ultima Underworld II -- Keyboard Commands -- Spell List ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ ________ Stinger: ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Excerpt from Erevain's Journal: "It is an endeavor doomed to failure. Oh, there I go again. Corellon help me, I'm starting to sound like cousin Xan!" ________________________________________________________________________________ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ This Document is Copyright 2000 by Dan Simpson Icewind Dale is Copyright 2000 by Black Isle/Interplay I am not affiliated with Black Isle, Interplay or anyone who had anything to do with the creation of this game. This FAQ may be posted on any site so long as NOTHING IS CHANGED and you EMAIL ME telling me that you are posting it. You may not charge for, or in any way profit from this FAQ.