Recently I've been bitten by the Infinity Engine bug and I've been looking into a speedrun of my favourite IE game after the Baldur's Gate series, Icewind Dale 2. As it looks now, a run of this game will be 3+ hours long, as in general it takes 30 minutes a chapter, including the prologue. Note that this is using version 2.00, the official patch greatly reduces the effectiveness of Improved Invisibility and this would easily add hours to the run due to the increased amount of combat. I'll go over some of my thoughts and discoveries as of now.
Depending on what is "allowed" in terms of using Character Arbitration, the best possible way to do this run is either solo, or if its allowed - a duo once you've gotten improved invisibility on your starting character. I've mainly been doing things solo, but there is definitely a couple of places that a duo would significantly speed things up.
As far as character leveling and development go, its probably best to start as a human due to the extra feats and freedom in multiclassing. In addition, due to the lingering song glitch, in which you can stack the buff of "Ballad of the Three Heroes" up to an infinite amount (although the damage bonus stops at +20), I find its extremely effective to start as a Bard. This makes a lot of the annoying fights at the Targos Palisade, particularly the boss goblin shaman a great deal less lengthy. Although if you're using v2.00 the monsters you're fighting also benefit from these stacks if they're in range, so you have to use it with a ranged attack, or only when mirror image is up. After the first level in bard you should start taking levels in Sorcerer up to the ability to cast 9th level spells as this will allow us to get all of the spells we need early (generally you'll get improved invis inside the goblin warrens). I'm not entirely set on what spells are needed, but for sure you'll need haste, improved invis, resilient sphere, animate dead, mass haste, finger of death and wail of the banshee. As far as feats are concerned the only ones that stick out at the moment are dash, the spell focuses (necromancy, evocation) and rapid shot. I find that this combination has what we need in terms of magical and physical damage to quickly dispose of bosses. It may be worth while to put 8 levels into druid for shambler transform as well, if any places in which a wall hop would save a significant amount of time are found.
Using some of my prior infinity engine experience I've found a couple of glitches that help out. In particular, for the beginning of the game - it is possible to underflow thrown potions/oils in order to greatly speed up sections where you dont have area spells (the Shaengarne bridge for example). This is done by simply throwing the potion, swapping its location on the quick action bar - then throwing it again while you're holding it in the inventory. This is also possible with scrolls, as long as they're ground targetable. Note that you have to take 1-99 away from the 65k pile in order to actually use the items on the quickbar. Unfortunately you cannot cast haste from a scroll for whatever reason, probably because haste is a single target spell in 3rd edition, but the IE still counts it as an area targetable spell as a hold over from previous games. Cutscene breaking works the same as it did in BG2, so you can interrupt them with dialogue and area transition saves. There are a few places where this would be applicable early on, but overall its not worth the experience loss from having two characters in order to pull this off in my opinion.
There is an infinite experience exploit fairly early on in the game. In chapter two, once you've freed the prisoners in the cell inside the ice temple and have gotten your ~8000xp from doing so, simply go and quicksave IN the cell they came out of. Load the quick save and you'll be granted the xp again. Repeat this until you've reached the desired level. This allows for early access to finger of death, which will decimate every boss for the next couple chapters. Note that enemies do scale with your own level, so the random mooks will have a decent amount of hp if you exploit this.
One glitch that I'm positive will save a great deal of time is the multiple dialog glitch. However, despite my best efforts I've been unable to replicate it using the methods I know - so I'm not holding my breath on it appearing in this run.
I'll post a brief overview of my route for the first 3 chapters below.
I'll continue to add things as I explore the game further. Any thoughts or ideas are always greatly appreciated.
Depending on what is "allowed" in terms of using Character Arbitration, the best possible way to do this run is either solo, or if its allowed - a duo once you've gotten improved invisibility on your starting character. I've mainly been doing things solo, but there is definitely a couple of places that a duo would significantly speed things up.
As far as character leveling and development go, its probably best to start as a human due to the extra feats and freedom in multiclassing. In addition, due to the lingering song glitch, in which you can stack the buff of "Ballad of the Three Heroes" up to an infinite amount (although the damage bonus stops at +20), I find its extremely effective to start as a Bard. This makes a lot of the annoying fights at the Targos Palisade, particularly the boss goblin shaman a great deal less lengthy. Although if you're using v2.00 the monsters you're fighting also benefit from these stacks if they're in range, so you have to use it with a ranged attack, or only when mirror image is up. After the first level in bard you should start taking levels in Sorcerer up to the ability to cast 9th level spells as this will allow us to get all of the spells we need early (generally you'll get improved invis inside the goblin warrens). I'm not entirely set on what spells are needed, but for sure you'll need haste, improved invis, resilient sphere, animate dead, mass haste, finger of death and wail of the banshee. As far as feats are concerned the only ones that stick out at the moment are dash, the spell focuses (necromancy, evocation) and rapid shot. I find that this combination has what we need in terms of magical and physical damage to quickly dispose of bosses. It may be worth while to put 8 levels into druid for shambler transform as well, if any places in which a wall hop would save a significant amount of time are found.
Using some of my prior infinity engine experience I've found a couple of glitches that help out. In particular, for the beginning of the game - it is possible to underflow thrown potions/oils in order to greatly speed up sections where you dont have area spells (the Shaengarne bridge for example). This is done by simply throwing the potion, swapping its location on the quick action bar - then throwing it again while you're holding it in the inventory. This is also possible with scrolls, as long as they're ground targetable. Note that you have to take 1-99 away from the 65k pile in order to actually use the items on the quickbar. Unfortunately you cannot cast haste from a scroll for whatever reason, probably because haste is a single target spell in 3rd edition, but the IE still counts it as an area targetable spell as a hold over from previous games. Cutscene breaking works the same as it did in BG2, so you can interrupt them with dialogue and area transition saves. There are a few places where this would be applicable early on, but overall its not worth the experience loss from having two characters in order to pull this off in my opinion.
There is an infinite experience exploit fairly early on in the game. In chapter two, once you've freed the prisoners in the cell inside the ice temple and have gotten your ~8000xp from doing so, simply go and quicksave IN the cell they came out of. Load the quick save and you'll be granted the xp again. Repeat this until you've reached the desired level. This allows for early access to finger of death, which will decimate every boss for the next couple chapters. Note that enemies do scale with your own level, so the random mooks will have a decent amount of hp if you exploit this.
One glitch that I'm positive will save a great deal of time is the multiple dialog glitch. However, despite my best efforts I've been unable to replicate it using the methods I know - so I'm not holding my breath on it appearing in this run.
I'll post a brief overview of my route for the first 3 chapters below.
Prologue:
Talk lock guys at the docks, immediately head into town. Grab the flaming oil from the myrkul priests house and underflow it.
Head over to Oswald, sell the oils and buy 30x Greater Healing Potions, 1x Healing Potion, 2x Freedom, 2x Master Thievery, 1x Potion of Explosions and a potion bag.
Underflow the Explosions potion, use these to clear out the docks, while completing the easy sidequests (potion quest, warehouse quest) for xp.
Once cleared, 2 levels in sorcerer and head to Ulbrec. Buy some equipment from his wife (robes, rings, necklace, etc.) and head up to Phaen, confront him, and kill him with lingering song+attack. Head for Palisade.
Talk to Shawford to get the lumber quest. While heading north, do the drunken guy, racks and inspiration speech for 1.5k xp. Complete the lumber quest, while grabbing the warhammer in the barrels near the drydocked ship at the docks.
Before talking to the guy about the arrows, fix the catapult to the south for 900xp. Complete the Arrows quest, while buying 80x +1 darts from Deidre.
Complete the dead goblin quest, then the mercenary quest by threating them. Head back to Shawford for the battle.
Dispose of the first two waves using explosion potions, grabbing the collar from the warg rider. For the final wave, kill all the little goblins then use Lingering song glitch and the darts to take out the shaman. Dont hit any friendlies or you wont be able to complete the game.
Talk to Ulbrec and head to the ford for chapter 1.
Chapter 1:
Once the cutscene is over, immediately rest. If successful Torak will still be there with a blue circle. Try to kill him along with the orcs, and grab the key he carries. Clear out all the orcs in order to open up the path north. You should have haste by this point.
While stealthed, go and head north through all the cutscenes. Head into the next area, opening the gate in the orc fortress and exiting through the northwest. Again, go to the northwest to exit the next area.
Rest at a safe spot in the next area to get hastes back, sneak through the guys in order to grab the lumber and collapse the bridge, head to the final area by placing the lumber at the western exit.
At Shaengarne Bridge, immedately head to where the ogres are, talk locking Xuki in order to skip her dialogue. Kill the ogres and Xuki with explosion potions while remaining off screen, rest once they're dead. From here on out, make your way across the bridge, staying out of vision and tossing explosion potions. Once you've killed the Bugbear at the end of the bridge, cast haste and corrall EVERY monster in the remaining area by aggroing and then going invisible. Again, head out of sight and launch explosion potions at the largest mass of monsters. Until the head Bugbear tells units to attack, you will be able to keep this up with zero risk to your character. Kill the rest using either magic/potions or lingering song+attacks. Head back to Ulbrec to report the news.
Head to the Goblin fort, giving the scout girl a potion for an easy 525xp. Use her dialog in order to rest safely. Prep up with hastes, mirror image, mage armor and invis. Head up to Trognak, go to the clearing to the northeast of him to reapply haste and mirror image. Go invis, and then head to where you can attack Trognak. Use lingering songx20 and attack him with darts (Have rapid shot up). He should die in 2-3 darts, rush over to his corpse and grab the key and go invis. If you get surrounded, you lose. Head to the southeast and go into the goblin warrens.
Go to the spider pen, killing ALL of the spiders for about 1800xp. Then head up to the next level and get xp for being stealthy(lol). This should get you your level up for improved invis. Head to the empty corridor to the southwest in order to cast it. Then go and kill the Taskmaster and the orc for the two wardstones using lingering song. Head up and into the fortress.
To corral the bugbears to be hit by potions, cast monster summon 1 in the center of them. Then toss away. Kill the old orc using darts and lingering song. Watch the cutscene and then assassinate Guthma. Head back to Targos and complete the quest.
Chapter 2:
*oddity: you can save and load during the beginning here and advance chapters - can this be useful later?
Get woken up by the beetle (no other options?) and head out. Talk lock the panther and head to the exit to the north east.
Watch the cutscene, head up and pull the middle lever. Head back down and grab the necklace. Head through the middle door and kill the queen to open the passage. Talk lock the demon knight, as well as sharincal and head into the ice palace.
Drink the potion of master thievery and unlock the cell door with the prisoners. Quicksave and load until you've reached level 20. Get the spells (tbd) and kill the priestess to the north, grab her key. Open the northern doors in order to get the name from the demon dudes.
Head outside and deal with Sharincal (finger of death), then back inside.
Head into the center room and kill the priestess there (wait until she talks to you first, or else she'll be invulnerable) grabbing her key. Go to Djinn room and get Caged Fury's name. Kill the trolls with sunfire and head to level 2.
Go into Lysara's room and grab her journal, read it and head into the middle room. Fire the cannon, then point it south. Do battle squares rank 1 level 1 and get oria's key. Open the coffin and the door to nathaniel's equipment. Head back into the middle, fire the cannon and then head to Oria's room. Oria breaks her staff, talk to Nicademus and then go into the inner sanctum. Destroy Oria's essence and then return to normal in the game room. Head up the stairs on the right.
Choose "Lysan" and open up the secret passage. Head south, grabbing Nathaniel's gear and then to the middle room. Point the cannon north and then head back to the secret room. Caged Fury tries to capture you, simply run out of the room and head back upstairs. Talk to nathaniel and then the demons. Head outside for the cutscene. Head north and enter chapter 3.
Talk lock guys at the docks, immediately head into town. Grab the flaming oil from the myrkul priests house and underflow it.
Head over to Oswald, sell the oils and buy 30x Greater Healing Potions, 1x Healing Potion, 2x Freedom, 2x Master Thievery, 1x Potion of Explosions and a potion bag.
Underflow the Explosions potion, use these to clear out the docks, while completing the easy sidequests (potion quest, warehouse quest) for xp.
Once cleared, 2 levels in sorcerer and head to Ulbrec. Buy some equipment from his wife (robes, rings, necklace, etc.) and head up to Phaen, confront him, and kill him with lingering song+attack. Head for Palisade.
Talk to Shawford to get the lumber quest. While heading north, do the drunken guy, racks and inspiration speech for 1.5k xp. Complete the lumber quest, while grabbing the warhammer in the barrels near the drydocked ship at the docks.
Before talking to the guy about the arrows, fix the catapult to the south for 900xp. Complete the Arrows quest, while buying 80x +1 darts from Deidre.
Complete the dead goblin quest, then the mercenary quest by threating them. Head back to Shawford for the battle.
Dispose of the first two waves using explosion potions, grabbing the collar from the warg rider. For the final wave, kill all the little goblins then use Lingering song glitch and the darts to take out the shaman. Dont hit any friendlies or you wont be able to complete the game.
Talk to Ulbrec and head to the ford for chapter 1.
Chapter 1:
Once the cutscene is over, immediately rest. If successful Torak will still be there with a blue circle. Try to kill him along with the orcs, and grab the key he carries. Clear out all the orcs in order to open up the path north. You should have haste by this point.
While stealthed, go and head north through all the cutscenes. Head into the next area, opening the gate in the orc fortress and exiting through the northwest. Again, go to the northwest to exit the next area.
Rest at a safe spot in the next area to get hastes back, sneak through the guys in order to grab the lumber and collapse the bridge, head to the final area by placing the lumber at the western exit.
At Shaengarne Bridge, immedately head to where the ogres are, talk locking Xuki in order to skip her dialogue. Kill the ogres and Xuki with explosion potions while remaining off screen, rest once they're dead. From here on out, make your way across the bridge, staying out of vision and tossing explosion potions. Once you've killed the Bugbear at the end of the bridge, cast haste and corrall EVERY monster in the remaining area by aggroing and then going invisible. Again, head out of sight and launch explosion potions at the largest mass of monsters. Until the head Bugbear tells units to attack, you will be able to keep this up with zero risk to your character. Kill the rest using either magic/potions or lingering song+attacks. Head back to Ulbrec to report the news.
Head to the Goblin fort, giving the scout girl a potion for an easy 525xp. Use her dialog in order to rest safely. Prep up with hastes, mirror image, mage armor and invis. Head up to Trognak, go to the clearing to the northeast of him to reapply haste and mirror image. Go invis, and then head to where you can attack Trognak. Use lingering songx20 and attack him with darts (Have rapid shot up). He should die in 2-3 darts, rush over to his corpse and grab the key and go invis. If you get surrounded, you lose. Head to the southeast and go into the goblin warrens.
Go to the spider pen, killing ALL of the spiders for about 1800xp. Then head up to the next level and get xp for being stealthy(lol). This should get you your level up for improved invis. Head to the empty corridor to the southwest in order to cast it. Then go and kill the Taskmaster and the orc for the two wardstones using lingering song. Head up and into the fortress.
To corral the bugbears to be hit by potions, cast monster summon 1 in the center of them. Then toss away. Kill the old orc using darts and lingering song. Watch the cutscene and then assassinate Guthma. Head back to Targos and complete the quest.
Chapter 2:
*oddity: you can save and load during the beginning here and advance chapters - can this be useful later?
Get woken up by the beetle (no other options?) and head out. Talk lock the panther and head to the exit to the north east.
Watch the cutscene, head up and pull the middle lever. Head back down and grab the necklace. Head through the middle door and kill the queen to open the passage. Talk lock the demon knight, as well as sharincal and head into the ice palace.
Drink the potion of master thievery and unlock the cell door with the prisoners. Quicksave and load until you've reached level 20. Get the spells (tbd) and kill the priestess to the north, grab her key. Open the northern doors in order to get the name from the demon dudes.
Head outside and deal with Sharincal (finger of death), then back inside.
Head into the center room and kill the priestess there (wait until she talks to you first, or else she'll be invulnerable) grabbing her key. Go to Djinn room and get Caged Fury's name. Kill the trolls with sunfire and head to level 2.
Go into Lysara's room and grab her journal, read it and head into the middle room. Fire the cannon, then point it south. Do battle squares rank 1 level 1 and get oria's key. Open the coffin and the door to nathaniel's equipment. Head back into the middle, fire the cannon and then head to Oria's room. Oria breaks her staff, talk to Nicademus and then go into the inner sanctum. Destroy Oria's essence and then return to normal in the game room. Head up the stairs on the right.
Choose "Lysan" and open up the secret passage. Head south, grabbing Nathaniel's gear and then to the middle room. Point the cannon north and then head back to the secret room. Caged Fury tries to capture you, simply run out of the room and head back upstairs. Talk to nathaniel and then the demons. Head outside for the cutscene. Head north and enter chapter 3.
I'll continue to add things as I explore the game further. Any thoughts or ideas are always greatly appreciated.
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