De Gods! What a learning curve! Options

[GreyArea]

After playing the mod for about a week and a bit, possibly more, I have come to the conclusion that this mod is the hardest I have ever played and really making me think. This is a very good thing as I enjoy a challenge, but some of the fights I just cannot win (mainly Druid Grove currently but I expect more to come like WH with Fiircragg and others like the Suni party at first when I go back to Ath.

This isn't party compo related for the toughness for me, it's me getting back into the game again after such a long time and not remembering what such and such spell does or the true uses of other spells that i sometimes see as 'poxy' or 'crap' were in reality they may be the best things since sliced bread.

So pretty much I am asking this:

Should I consider playing through on the un-modded game for a little bit to get my head around some tactics and such or just set the difficulty down to normal (I always run on Core Rules as it's the neutral middle ground difficulty IMHO) and see how I go? I really want to get the enjoyment out of this seemingly stable and exciting mod (yes, getting my ass handed to me for the Nth time in a row is fun, I learn from the enemies tactics and my mistakes). I also enjoy the idea of the new critters to bash my head against so that will also be fun to see coin golems and gem golems amongst others.

In the un-modded game I did have some trouble with certain locations, though that may of been due to low level party for the location, and I expect to get bogged down in them when I get to the enhanced versions. I am just going to hope tat i can get to a high enough level to be able to take what they dish out at me and manage to get the gear needed to beat them down.

Ok that got off topic a bit.

This pretty much boils down to thus:

Returning to BG@/ToB after a longish hiatus is it recommended to start up with the normal un-modded game and go from there and get the skills back up? Or possibly a less intense mod to warm up with before plunging into IA?

OR

Dive into IA and learn everything on the fly? (not everything, but advanced tactics for starters and proper party compo/spell usage etc....)

Thanks for your time reading these musing

[GreyArea]

Mmm...just noticed something. Everyone seems to be siding with the Shadow Thieves in their runs. Is there any reason for this other than wanting to fight Vamps? Or is there a component installed with IA that makes vamps harder but nothing to do with the ST's?

I always have sided with Bhodi cos I find it more fun in the normal game and I have a very soft spot for Vamps (and sometimes I also have the Valen mod installed so it's the only way to get her also).

just wanted to know this before i make a decision on them (i am re-installing IA now on a fresh SoA/ToB install to go back at it)

[Raven]

Mmm...just noticed something. Everyone seems to be siding with the Shadow Thieves in their runs. Is there any reason for this other than wanting to fight Vamps? Or is there a component installed with IA that makes vamps harder but nothing to do with the ST's?

One of the battles involved in Aran Linvail's quests (the second one, in the Five Flagons Inn) has been improved by IA. Also at least one of the named vampires you have to fight in Bodhi's crypt. Clearly you'll miss out on that if you side with the vampires.

On the other hand, some of the shadow thieves you'd have to fight by siding with the vampires use IA scripts, making them more difficult too, although not to the same extent.

So I think it's really intended you side with the Shadow Thieves, at this stage at least.