General Info

Developed by: Black Isle
Published by: Interplay
Estimated Release: June, 2000

Icewind Dale

Icewind Dale is a game developed by Black Isle Studios, which centers itself around its namesake area - Icewind Dale. Based on the Forgotten Realms continent of Faerun, the Dale is one of its most harsh and unforgiving environments. It is a barren, wind-swept tundra that lies North of the Spine of the World mountains. Cold-loving monsters of all sorts permeate the land, competing with the vicious barbarian hordes, which migrate along with the reindeer herds.

Making a dwarf

Setting the story

So what in the world could possibly want to make people want to move and live there? Wherever there is risk and danger there is opportunity, the possibility of getting something rare and special which might make you rich. In Icewind Dale there are several lakes which are home to the knucklehead trout, a fish that has bones similar to ivory. Humans have moved in and built several rough settlements, collectively known as Ten Towns. You and your band of adventurers start in one of the smaller towns, looking to make a name for yourselves and maybe some fortune. Little do you expect to fight an evil which threatens the world…

Familiar to BG veterans

Off on our quest

More About the Setting

Icewind Dale occurs long before the books that made the area famous pick up. The year is 1281, the year of the Cold Soul, 16 years before Drizzt is mentioned and around 100 years before he is well into his adventures with Bruenor, Catti-Brie, Regis and Wulfgar. The land is even more harsh and untamed than it was during the books, so you can expect a lot of trouble.

There's a plan

A church?

In fact, the setting determines the gameplay to a great extent. The Dale is the perfect setting for the game, since the focus is so much on hack and slash, dungeon exploration and leveling. With the abundance of monsters and undocumented areas to explore, your party will never be bored. Since the Dale itself hasn't been documented that well in the books and game rules, it's given Black Isle a free hand in the ability to create the world they want to put you in, while having the advantage of all the atmosphere from the books.