RyaReisender: There aren't too many changes in IWDEE compared to IWD as far as I know. I searched for it a while too.
Basically it's:
- cut out content restored (directly taken from an IWD mod)
- more equip, classes, spells and class kits (imported from Baldur's Gate)
- ability to skip dialogue added
- loot-finder tool (faster looting)
- zoom function (useful since the resolution supported is much larger now so all your characters are tiny by default)
- cross-platform multiplayer
- inter-party dialogue removed
- can no longer switch party members mid-game
- "story mode" difficulty where you can't die, all characters have 25 STR and gain 100% more experience
geoguy2011: The cut content was actually recreated using the original developer notes on the quests in question, so there are some differences as far as implementation compared to the unfinished business mod for IWD.
There was never any inter-party dialogue in the original IWD.
Also EE added two new cleric kits (for Tempus and Tyr) as well as new spells for evil clerics (that generally act as the counter to good aligned cleric spells. An example being Regeneration vs Wither). Dialogue was also added/adjusted for some of the new kits, like for Blackguards and Priests of Tempus.
You can switch party members mid game you just have to go through a workaround involving multi-player to do it. The reason for this being that the game is now more stable and has the additional benefit of not requiring you to go through two loading screens (you have to in the original).
A few things that were missed
It improves the pathfinding compared to the original game.
It adds colouring to the background of mage scrolls in your inventory. Green behind a scroll means you don't yet know it, red means you can't learn it.
It adds a roll total at the bottom of the stat rolling screen during character creation.
Additionally, it adds the ability (through the ini file) for you to choose if you want your cleric/ranger to have access to all divine spells or not. There are also a bunch of gameplay tweaks they have made that make sense. For instance you no longer start out with a level 1 party if you create a game in Heart of Winter and you can now actually buy helmets and a greater variety of potions in Lonelywood.
Plus its compatible with a fair number of mods itself now.
http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/36477/list-iwd-ee-compatible-mods/p1 Finally it makes using the console a lot easier, as now you just have to type in C: instead of GETYOURCHEATON: before putting in a code. So it would be C:CreateItem("AX1H01") instead of GETYOURCHEATON:CreateItem("AX1H01"). This just makes things easier to type and more consistent all around with the other EE games (and its probably easier for new players as the Heart of Winter expansion changed this from the original CHEATERSDOPROSPER line without ever documenting the change).
Sound good with all this info. Probably will buy it.
