IWD2 Producer Interview

ArmChairEmpire is making a case that there can never be too many Icewind Dale II interviews launched in one day. However, as I read, I found their interview with Darren Monahan, Producer on the game, to be long and very informative, so yes, that means you’ll want to also check this one out too. A teaser:

Q: What purpose will this new randomizing function on items dropped by fallen enemies serve. Are we looking at the inclusion of rare and unique items in IWD2, or will it be that instead of picking up 97 hand axes after clearing a goblin horde, being weighed down, then selling them at the shop for next to nothing, we’ll be picking up 23 short swords, 31 daggers, 12 axes, 20 quarter staffs, and 11 long swords, being weighed down, and selling them at the shop for next to nothing?

A: The purpose of the randomization system is to provide more variety in loot from the monsters you fight throughout the game. There are many rare and unique items in Icewind Dale 2, some that can be found if the player is lucky enough during normal fights, to others that can be found after slaying a “boss.” Each random drop has some percentage change of dropping something nicer (and on the flip-side, worse) than what you’d normally expect on a monster. Instead of always finding “Arrows” on archers, why not occasionally find some higher quality arrows, or, some lower quality arrows that do less damage? We’ve upped the number of inventory slots you have on your character by an additional row, so it can accommodate more variety. There’s a lot of generic items, but there are a lot of rare and unique items to found as well.