To kmonster:
Oh, sorry I got that wrong. I think I'm going to go with a half-elf bard for the extra to pick-pocket. Are there many charisma checks in the game? I'm assuming the person with the highest Charisma is the one that triggers the check or should I instigate each conversation with my Bard? I am guessing I also get better deals with vendors if I trade with my Bard? Is it also recommended to cast 'Friend' before each conversation. I never really use spells outside of battle but I suppose that is why I like these kinds of RPGs better, why have the spells if you're not going to use them, eh.

To Coelocanth
With regards to the mods you mentioned earlier, I really have my eye on the Ease of Use Pack, is it okay to get this or would it ruin a first playthrough?

Personally, I don't think it would ruin a first playthrough. I look at it as a sanity saver. I'm obsessive to the point that I will make 6 trips back and forth from a dungeon to a vendor just to collect and sell everything that drops, or make ten trips just to restock on ammo. This just adds to tedium. So with the Ease of Use pack, you can worry much less about things like that.

As for Charisma, I can only think of a couple of places where it comes into play in convos. Other than that, it's just a matter of getting better prices from merchants. So buff your character's CHA before entering the merchant's shop and talk to the merchant with the high CHA character and you'll get better prices (the convo options and the merchants must be addressed with the character with the high CHA).

Only the stats of the talker are checked in dialogue or for shopping.

Charisma isn't important and in most dialogues you can decide who talks. The main benefit are shop prices. All charisma checks in the game can be passed with 15 cha, so you only need the friends spell for shopping.

If you use the EoU pack only enable options for comfort, like bags of holding or 100 percent spell learning. I never use it, with the expansions included in the GoG version IWD is already changed for more comfort than the original.

Okay, thanks guys for all your help and suggesstions. I'll try the EoU mod but limit it for convenience only. Also, I tend to hoard potions and wand charges, in most games they're more useful for boss battles but I guess I should be more liberal with my items.

I'm going to start rolling my characters, I've been putting it off long enough, lol.

What are the benefit differences between the two? I know gnome gets a minus a + to int and a - to cha? The halfling gets a + dex and a - str. I know hafling gets some magic resistance to spells and poison and bonus with slings. Gnome? It would seem to me that the bonus to dex would be better off in the long run?

Depends how you use your Thief, but I generally use mine as FTR/Thief and as a secondary tank. With that in mind, Gnome gives you the ability to start with 18/xx STR, while a Halfling is restricted to 17 STR max. While the Halfling does get a max of 19 starting DEX, which gives a +1 bonus over 18 with regards to ranged attacls, this isn't any better for AC than 18 DEX, which the Gnome can get. The Gnome's bonus is in INT (which doesn't matter for a FTR/Thief) and the penalty is in WIS (again, this doesn't matter for a FTR/Thief).

A Gnome also get a +10 bonus to Detect Traps which, for me, is the paramount Thief skill. Their bonus to Open Locks is the same as the Halfling, and while the Halfling beats the Gnome with respect to the bonus on Stealth, I usually rely on Invisibility spells and potions to achieve Stealth until I have my Open Locks and Detect Traps as high as I want to get them before investing in Stealth.

Overall, I'd say if you're using the character as a primarily ranged attacker, then Halfling is probably a better choice. But if you're using it as a secondary melee fighter, go with Gnome.

Okay, I finally rolled the characters in my party and here they are:

Pure-Class, Dwarf, Lawful Good Fighter:
STR - 18/94
DEX - 17
CON - 19
INT - 10
WIS - 7
CHA - 6

Axe - 2
Missile - 2


Multi-Class, Gnome, Chaotic Neutral Fighter / Thief:
STR - 18/82
DEX - 18
CON - 18
INT - 9
WIS - 8
CHA - 9

Find Traps - 50% (Concentrate Find traps for Thief, Stealth for Ranger and Pick Pocket for Bard)
Large Sword - 2
Missile - 2 (Was thinking I should have used bows but I may want him to equip shields)


Multi-Class, Half-Elf, Neutral Good Ranger / Cleric:
STR - 18/89
DEX - 18
CON - 18
INT - 5
WIS - 18
CHA - 4

Missile - 2
Maces - 2
Specialization - Trolls


Dual-Class, Human, True Neutral Fighter(3) / Druid:
STR - 18/17
DEX - 18
CON - 17
INT - 3
WIS - 18
CHA - 15

Bows - 2
Large Sword - 2 (Would have chosen staves but I don't recall ever finding any decent staves. Also chose it for the Scimitars.)


Pure-Class, Half-Elf, Neutral Good Bard:
STR - 16
DEX - 18
CON - 15 (Am hoping this is high enough even though she wont be in the front-lines)
INT - 18
WIS - 3
CHA - 18 (Spokesperson and Barter-er)

Bow - 1
Small Sword - 1


Pure-Class, Human Chaotic Neutral Specialist Transmuter:
(Decided to go Pure class mage and make a Fighter / Thief the 6th character. Chose Transmuter for Haste etc. so Bard can pick up Necromancer and Abjuration spells.)
STR - 18 (I don't think I need this but didn't know where else to put it since she won't be needing WIS or CHA, I hope. I suppose it would be good for Armor Class and Weight.)
DEX - 18
CON - 18
INT - 18
WIS - 5
CHA - 4

Missile - 1

Although I've made the party I haven't started playing yet. If anyone has any other suggestions, hints or tips before I start they would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Looks good, except for your Druid character. His CHA is only 15, and it must be 17 for you to be able to dual class into Druid. Stupid, I know, wseeing how a character starting as Druid only needs 15 if they want to dual out of the class, but dualing into it requires 17 CHA.

Yea the optimum stats for rolling a dual class fighter druid are ridiculous. Have fun with that.

Ack! Thanks for pointing that out. I'll make sure to amend that. Thanks for all your help again. I hope I make the most of Icewind Dale during this playthrough because I really want to try IWD2.

Oh, wow, thank you sooo much for reminding me about that. Good thing I decided to re-read this thread again before playing.

Thanks again.

Okay, I re-rolled my Druid and I'm pretty sure I got her right. Thanks again everyone. I'm enjoying my game right now. My bard learned 'Sleep' but she can't cast it. The icon is 'greyed out'. Other than that I haven't come across any other issues yet.

Is she wearing armor?

Oh, silly me. I forgot spell casters shouldn't wear armor. Thank you. Which reminds me, I should make sure my Ranger / Cleric is wearing leather if I want her to do any sneaking.