Gameplay

Improvements on BG

The team at Black Isle was impressed with how Baldur's Gate turned out, since there were so few issues with it. Since they're using BioWare's Infinity Engine, however, those issues are the ones that they must take upon themselves to address. Pathing was the most obvious and annoying flaw in the original, but in Icewind Dale the problems are almost eliminated. Running a party through a dungeon is much easier, since the corridors are wider and the pathing more intelligent. IWD characters 'bump' each other and NPCs out of the way to get through areas. So your tailing wizard character won't stop and try running around the dungeon and get himself caught by 6 ogres halfway across the map because there was a little traffic jam at the corner you were trying to get through. This is absolutely critical to IWD since a great deal of the game will be spent in dungeon exploration and clearing.

Comfort of a fire

A scuffle breaks out

Another of the minor issues that was addressed was the level cap. Baldur's Gate had a fairly low level limit - you could reach around 7-8, depending on your class. Icewind Dale's experience cap is at around 1,800,000 points right now, letting most characters reach levels 14-16 by the end of the game. However, this doesn't mean that the game will be another 100 hours longer than the marathon that was Baldur's Gate.

IWD is being described as around the same length, but since it is so action-packed and full of fights, your characters will advance faster and further than they did in BG.

Encumbrance plays a role

5 on 5 with goblins

More Minor Improvements

Dual wield wasn't in BG and won't really be in Icewind, but to compensate for that and let Rangers have some of their special ability, a Ranger will get an extra attack per round with any weapon that he would have been able to dual wield.

In multiplayer, the action won't stop for everyone just because somebody decided to shop or start a conversation.

We showed them!

Is that a threat?

Monsters will now follow you through zone borders or escape through them if you have broken their morale. Combat won't be that easy to break off from, since you may find yourself chased across a map.