I tried to really get into this game. Having been a big fan of Baldurs Gate 1 and 2 and Planescape Torment as well. The problem is that the enemies are overhauled to the point where its almost unfair. Baldurs Gate had some tough encounters but this game takes it to another level. lvl 1 Wolves in the cave with 24 health. In baldurs gate they had 10.

And then if you make it to the end of the beginning cave, a lvl 6 ogre berserker (who also heals I might add) slaughters your entire party. How is this balancing when your party is made up of lvl 1s who can barely defeat most anything and mages gets squashed along with clerics.

The game is also linear which is lame as well compared to baldurs gate and planescape where you can do many things.

I've never seen the Ogre heal in the cave. And I've played through it at least two dozen times. There are lots of quests in Easthaven before you need to go to the cave, so you should have a good chance of having one or two of your party at level 2 by the time you go to the cave.

Im not lying, really. The ogre got to half health and quaffed a pot. He did it again when I hit him 2 more times. Its like a nightmare.

Do you have any mods installed? I've honestly never seen that in the dozens of times I've played through the game (I've played through the beginning even more times that completion).

Another thing I should ask: do you use ranged weapons with each character as well as melee? Plinking away with ranged weapons, then drawing back and firing again (repeat as needed) can easily take down the Ogre. Have all your party members firing on him at once.

IWD1 is *not* BG1. Your problem with the ogre is normal. It has a couple of potions of healing - if you take him out fast enough. Otherwise his script will allow him to use them since they're readied. The same applies to many creatures in the game, especially skeleton archers. If something is readied, it may be used...

The ogre berserker on the other hand... As Coelocanth asked, what mods do you have installed, and what difficulty level are you playing at? I strongly suggest core, and definitely do *not* play with Heart of Fury mode active.

And wait when the IA begin to be a #"$# , Is not useful to use a stalker PC with good stealth plus non-detection, the monster will appear of nowhere with the perfect information about where is the party leader togheter other things... I truly HATE THOSE THINGS FROM Icewind dale 1 (Actually, I was so frustated with this game I didn't begin the second expansion )

And ... better don't say anything about the "hard" final battle were your mage/Sorceress and theft will be useless for what they are the best...

(However seem I'm little masochist because never put a lesser difficulty than the insane one except on the ifnal battle , on that point I was already tired of this game)

The regular Ogre in the caves should be suspectible to a Sleep spell, while the Ogre Berserker should be avoidable.

So if I understand the mechanics, let me just guess on a new approach. Your all trying to say that ranged weapons are useful when facing a heavy hitter because not only do they offer damage, but they also offer it without said individual USUALLY getting hit. If this is the case then I might as well roll up a thief with short bow use. They might not hit as hard as a ranger can or fighter, but they can sneak, pick locks and what not and rise in lvl faster. Im so used to using rogues and bards in melee in baldurs gate, guess that just doesn't work here.

Am I right or did I miss what you guys were trying to convey?

Yes, you can finish the game at lvl 30... but at the end the monster are awful powerful... the system is unbalanced, the IA very bad - making the things worse -, and the only special thing the game still "offer" is more unbalanced monsters... I was very tired of this game , even if I was able to finish it on the max difficulty level (well, witouth the special option for even more damage) There is a option for use the "Sneak attack" of 3rd edittion, after passed the game with the "backstab" something tell me t the game should be played with the "sneak" for give the theft more power. Yeah, the backstab is very good, except there is too many monster.... at least you spend money on invisibility potions and lot of invisibility spells on your mages side is not so useful, but now , that is my conclusion about that feature.

One tip for undead: Cleric under invisibility spell with turn undead actiaved.

P.d. something funny, the original game give little ammo for the ranged weapons for avoid "abuse"

The first thing you should do is uninstalling the game and deleting the game folder. You obviously ruined the balance by installing stuff you don't need. Install just the game and nothing else.

Next set the difficulty to very easy, this way you'll meet less monsters, they'll only do half damage and you'll get double XP.

The game assumes that you are able to create a powerful and balanced party of 6, party composition and character stats do make a difference, post your characters with stats and weapon proficiencies and we'll tell you how to change your party into an effective one.

I have finished the game mostly because it's beautiful locations... i was just eager what will come next :)

It is indeed beatuful to the eyes, despite its old age :)

And the music fits so well. It's the reason I keep returning to it (and the Icewind Dale in Baldurs Gate II mod gives me hope for some good mods to come along soon...).

Im having a terrible terrible time trying to find someone that teaches arcane or any kind of spell for my mage and bard in party. Does anyone know where in Kuldahar they teach spells that mages/bards can learn. I just finished the ogre and kuldahar pass and I need something (anything) that can go to my bard so he can cast magic missile and what not in the party.

If anyone knows where to go, Ive been searching the town for answers.