Improved Anvil is really improved! Options

[Silverstar]

Hello there! Sikret, do you remember me? Your old greatest fan!

Back in the old times, I had the chance to play IA's older versions, and I was a passionate protector of the mod, defending it and Sikret on the forums countless times.

But for months, I have been silent here, as I never had a chance to play through BG2. (was busy with some TuTu and BG1 runs though, I had little experience in BG1) Though I was always interested in the IA and its new versions, patches etc. the forum page has always been bookmarked. Now I finished a TuTu game and started playing the new version of IA. (with fixes ofcourse)

I do not write my adventures as a journal here as the most skilled players here do, because my modded game is not quite up to Sikret's standarts. I know the rules, I never cheat, I never use cheesy methods, and I fully agree with Sikret's ways.

But, being the mod frak I always am, I have many other tactical mods and a few others as well, but no cheesy item/shop mods or anything that would make the game easier for me.

I have been having a blast with my wild mage PC and a thief dualled into fighter in TuTu (I planned him as I needed a thief in BG2 for locks/traps and as now Immy was a full time sorceress, I needed some one, but pure thieves are weak and I did not need Jan) so far.

The only mod I have I know Sikret will really frown upon is Wild Mage Additions. It adds new wild magic spells to the game, but I love for the fun and randomness factor. (most of its spells are chaotic and instable) I don't remember winning an IA battle with the help of a spell added by the mod, they are only for the flavour and fun. But I know Sikret is right and so I won't be posting here to talk about my game in detail, nor will call myself a true IA tactician. (for that honored title belongs to many extra ordinary players here.)

However, I just want to say...wow. Just wow. I never had a doubt in Sikret's work but the new version is really improved. I never had so much fun in any BG2 game! The improved battles are tougher than I remember and some new tweaks are very welcomed!

I am now in Underdark and I have a SS to show the heat of the last battle I had. It was easily the top best 5 battles I had in any IE game. I loved every second of it even when I lost. I won in the end but I won't get into details as per forum rules. Sikret does not want any info about games not properly modded up to his standarts and I deeply respect that. I just could not help but want to come and write here and tell everyone what a great mod this is! (hope it is OK and does not offend anyone)

I can not congratulate and thank Sikret, and many testers/players working on this mod, ever enough! Truly, this is the greatest tactical enchantment mod, if not the greatest mod ever made for BG2. I have reloaded many battles countless times, always learning something new and rejoicing when I finally win!

Attached File(s)

 Baldr56.png ( 516.69k ) Number of downloads: 69

 

[Silverstar]

Thanks for the welcome Sikret!

Yes the screen shot shows a scene in the middle of the first drow ambush. Being no stranger to these forums I have heard much of the difficulty of this infamous encounter. I thought it was a possible game stopper! I knew I was about to battle them and I dreaded the encounter, and could not find the chance to play for the last two days. Yet it was always on my mind. Today I had the chance and gave it all I had.

The battle was tough but I was well prepared with buffs and potions. Carefully positioning my casters (my wild mage, Immy, Anomen) putting Minsc to serve as a blocker to protect them and shooting lesser spiders with his bow (who said bows are useless in IA?) and my Jaheira and custom T/F and summons served as tough tanks. The SS just shows that scene. I will not go in to much details, but suffice it to say it was a very long and fun battle, I lost Anomen (he was pulled into fray by a spider and sliced by Deva's blade barriers) and Jaheira (she blew her save to a mage's ABDHW which sucked her dry), and thanks to confusion from a damned myconid I very nearly lost my protagonist near the end of the battle (the panic I had, my heart raced!), but we prevailed!

All in all I think it is a great battle. I haven't done many quests in Athkathla (levels 14-15) and don't have many powerful items but I don't particularly think the encounter is needed to be seriously toned down but (priestesses were extra ordinarily tough though!) I like to struggle. You said 'first!' I did not know that there would be a second (and probably, harder) ambush. I will look forward to it!

Great, great mod!