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Some people do have to get some things done in the weekends, so here is some of the stuff that got answered in that period on the Icewind Dale II forums.Josh SawyerAbout unbalanced meleefeats
3E feats like Power Attack and Expertise trade their stats at a 1:1 ratio. The reason why they are not analagous to what Namirrha is proposing is because they are opt-usage abilities. You can use those abilities in a tactical fashion, turning them off and on as your situation changes. I played a 3E fighter with Power Attack, Cleave, and Great Cleave. When fighting heavily armored badasses, I wouldn't use my Power Attack feat. When fighting a throng of goblins in hide armor, I'd bust my Power Attack up to maximum and slaughter four of them in one shot. This essentially works because you can't opt-out of the penalties; you have to use your head, since you know you'll be rolling to-hit and damage consecutively. You can opt-out of a penalty to cold spells by never (or rarely) using them. It's the kensai mentality.
Generic Clerics for all?
Right, because clerics are really crappy in 3E.
Have you played a 3E cleric? With Spontaneous Conversion, they're among the most awesome characters in the game. Domains are like free feats -- in fact, their powers often replicate or grant free feats. So, not only do 3E clerics have two good saves, the 2nd best BAB, d8 hit points, the ability to wear heavy armor, turn undead, cast spells, and spontaneously convert them to healing, but they also get two domains at first level that grant feat-like abilities. Taking away domains hardly cripples them.
I'm also failing to understand how combat-oriented feats are "for fighters only". Do your clerics never enter combat? Maybe I'm just funny with how I play clerics, but mine are always at the front line. Personally, I wouldn't mine having my cleric take Power Attack, Lightning Reflexes, Combat Casting, Improved Critical, Dash, Dodge, or other combat-oriented feats.
What is Spontaneous Conversion?
Clerics in 3E do not have to pray for the various Cure X Wounds spells if they are good. Evil clerics do not have to pray for the various Inflict X Wounds spells. Neutral characters get a choice between the two at character creation.
Basically, a cleric can just memorize combat, buff, and miscellaneous spells. If he or she needs a healing spell, they can spontaneously convert that spell into a healing spell of the nearest level (go down if there is not one at the current level). So, for example, if a cleric converted Hold Person, it would become Cure Moderate Wounds. If a cleric converted Blade Barrier, it would become Cure Critical Wounds. If an evil cleric converted Neutralize Poison, it would become Inflict Serious Wounds.
Touch Spells
Touch spells ignore the Armor Bonus portion of Armor Class. If a character had a 22 AC, 6 points of Armor Bonus, 2 points of Shield Bonus, 4 points of Dexterity Bonus, a touch spell would only need to overcome a 16 AC (22 - 6).
About Mind Flyers
Mind Flayers in IWD2 are pretty tough, but not ridiculous. The most frustrating thing about them is their tendency to Plane Shift away when they get below 50% hit points.
However, if you have a fighter with a low or average Wisdom, he or she will get stunned and/or dominated and/or have his or her brain devoured.
Bards and spellcasting
Bards will cast spells like sorcerers.
How about spontaneous healing for clerics?
We're working on it.
About Credits
If you want to thank me for the design element of the changes being done, that's all well and good. However, I would like everyone to know that the only way these changes could be made is through the efforts of Bernie Weir, Danien Chee, Dave Boulanger, and Darren Monahan. They are the people who actually code all of these changes.
Which ranger will BIS use?
Probably the Monte Cook ranger, minus the bonus feat at first level.
Keep in mind, you're still getting tracking, a racial enemy, and some nice skills/skill points.
Some Q&A
Q's:
1. Will it be possible to get bards to cast spells as sorcerors?
2. Can bards, rangers, and paladins get their own spell list?
3. Can domains be added? If not, can some of the domain abilities be treated as cleric only feats?
4. Will a collector's edition be possible? This will be a MUST have for any BIS fan.
5. Can you translate more "kit abilities" into feats. A Landsknecht long reach feat would be great!
6. Will you consider a prestige class? Perhaps one as a reward for completing a quest?
7. Now that you've modified the Infinity Engine to support 3E, can you reconsider making more IE games?
A's:
1. Yes.
2. No. Sorry. Bards will use the wizard spell list, rangers the druid list, and paladins the cleric list.
3. Mmm. This is sketchy. Sorry.
4. I don't know.
5. We will try to translate as many as seem reasonable.
6. Probably not.
7. I don't make those decisions.
About Bard Songs
I've talked to Darren about the possibility of making the basic bard song "free" and then giving special "bonus feats" at the time the bards would get additional songs. In addition to the regular HoW songs, the player could pick Riddlemaster riddles and/or Lingering Song. I'm not sure if we can do it, though.
Prestige Classes in IWD2?
There will not be prestige classes in IWD2. Sorry.
Any chance that some of the Riddlemaster's abilities will be turned into feats?
Yes, there is a good chance.
Are there vampires in IWDII
No vampires, but there are other energy draining creatures that you can grow to hate.
Paladin kits turned into feats?
I have suggested that a few of the paladin kit bonuses be turned into feats:
* Fiendslayer (Cavalier) - Character gains +3 to hit and damage against dragons and demonic creatures. Requires: +3 BAB, Weapon Focus: Large Swords or Weapon Focus: Great Swords, Ability to lay on hands.
* Heretic's Bane (Votary) - Character gains +3 to hit and damage against characters with cleric and druid levels. Requires: +3 BAB, 6 ranks of Spellcraft, ability to cast Divine Spells.
Shapeshifter forms and feats?
It is quite possible that the shapeshifter's special forms will become feats.
Tex Yang (Bloodlust)Music in IWD2
Well, I've had a chance to check out the music from Targos, Kuldahar, and a couple of the major battles - they're awesome atmosphere builders IMO.
Jeremy Soule's influence is clearly identifiable.
Kevin OsburnWhy do characters start out with next to no equipment in Icewind Dale
I understand your point. The reason why characters start out like that in IWD and IWD2, is that both games were designed this way.
I can see why your suggestion is valid, but this is they way both games were intended to start out
About kits, feats and Q&A
The kits were not taken out of the game to just to make QA's job easier, in fact QA really didn't factor into the decision to cut the kits. The fact that QA's job would be a bit easier now is a bonus to the situation. Working in a Quality Assurance department isn't as easy as it sounds, but our QA teams are doing a great job on IWD2.
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