Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter#Trials of the Luremaster

Some notable changes include a much higher experience point cap, new magical items and spells, a special "Heart of Fury" difficulty setting for increased enemy power and higher experience point-gain, and a maximum resolution of 800x600.{{cite news | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-82582424.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225041221/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-82582424.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=February 25, 2016 | author=Chan, Chris | title=Battle against blood-thirsty barbarians and deadly giants | work=New Straits Times | date=March 19, 2001 | access-date=December 10, 2012}} The game is still based on the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition ruleset.

In order to access the new campaign, the player must either enter a previously locked door in the town of Kuldahar while possessing a party of characters level 9 or above or import the party after completing the main campaign, when the party is exported.

In Kuldahar, the player's characters are greeted by a barbarian shaman, Hjollder, who reveals that he has visions of a great conflict and that the party is the key to stopping it. The party is magically transported to Lonelywood, where they discover that a great barbarian force is gathering nearby, threatening to destroy the Ten Towns. The force has rallied to Wylfdene, a great barbarian warlord killed in battle the previous season. He claims to be host to the spirit of the ancient barbarian hero Jerrod and is now eager to strike the Ten Towns in the name of the war-god Tempus.

The party journeys to the barbarian camp and meets the resurrected chief himself. Hjollder believes that something is off with Wylfdene, and is in turn exiled from the camp. The party later finds the exiled Hjollder in the barbarian burial grounds Wylfdene rose from, though it is now plagued by undead and spirits. On his recommendation, the party journeys to the Gloomfrost to consult the Seer, an old woman with vast mystical powers. She reveals that it is not Jerrod who inhabits the body of Wylfdene, but rather the soul of great white dragon Icasaracht.

The party returns to the barbarian camp, where the Seer herself approaches Wylfdene. She is killed by him, but succeeds in tricking the dragon spirit into abandoning his body, revealing the deception to the gathered barbarians. The last task of the player's party is to journey to the Sea of Moving Ice where Icasaracht's Lair is located. There, they battle through her minions (including the remaining loyal barbarians, trolls and sahuagins) and ultimately find the white dragon herself. She explains she wished vengeance upon the Ten Towns for the seizure of dragonkind's lands, and for her death a century past.

She claims she saw a kindred spirit in Wylfdene and sympathized with the barbarians, who she claims face extinction from the encroaching Ten Towns. She had thought they would be fitting instruments for her plan. The party kills her, and shatters the Soul Stone that had saved her from death a century before, ensuring her death is final.

Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter was announced on September 25, 2000, shortly before the release of Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn.{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010417130721/http://www.gamecenter.com:80/News/Item/0,3,0-4817,00.html | url=http://www.gamecenter.com:80/News/Item/0,3,0-4817,00.html | title=Icewind Dale Expansion Underway | author=Ocampo, Jason | date=September 26, 2000 | work=CNET Gamecenter | archivedate=April 17, 2001 | url-status=dead }} By that time, the expansion had been in full production for between one and two months.{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010617170100/http://www.interplay.com/icewind/9_00.html | url=http://www.interplay.com/icewind/9_00.html | title=What's Old | date=September 25, 2000 | author=Monaha, Darren | publisher=Interplay Entertainment | archivedate=June 17, 2001 | url-status=dead }} Designer Josh Sawyer said that the impetus for the project was the strong retail performance of Icewind Dale; Interplay greenlit Heart of Winter around two weeks after the launch of the original game.{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010616222224/http://rpgvault.ign.com/features/mini/jesawyer.shtml | url=http://rpgvault.ign.com/features/mini/jesawyer.shtml | title= J. E. Sawyer (Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter) | author=Aihoshi, Richard | date=September 25, 2000 | work=RPG Vault | archivedate=June 16, 2001 | url-status=dead }} The team began work "immediately", Sawyer wrote, as there was "a limited amount of time to work on the project and we needed to sharply define exactly what we wanted to accomplish."{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010815191310/http://rpgvault.ign.com/features/den/iwdhow01.shtml | url=http://rpgvault.ign.com/features/den/iwdhow01.shtml | title=Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter Designer Diary, Prologue | author=Sawyer, J. E. | authorlink=Josh Sawyer | work=RPG Vault | date=November 3, 2000 | archivedate=August 15, 2001 | url-status=dead }}

Producer Darren Monahan said that the team "included a lot of fan feedback, particularly relating to the balances of each of the classes in the original game." Another focus lay on importing code and features created for Baldur's Gate II to the Icewind Dale series.{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20031117232747/http://elecplay.com:80/interview.html?article=5761 | url=http://elecplay.com:80/interview.html?article=5761 | title=Interview; The Heart of Winter Team | date=March 7, 2001 | author=MacIsaac, Jason | work=The Electric Playground | archivedate=November 17, 2003 | url-status=dead }} One of the development challenges was the straightforward and linear structure of the original Icewind Dale, which left little room for additional content. The team's solution was to take players to a separate region by using the barbarian Hjollder as a "catalyst character", who could be met either in Icewind Dale{{'}}s hub location of Kuldahar or after completing the game's main story.{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20011031173402/http://rpgvault.ign.com/features/den/iwdhow02.shtml | url=http://rpgvault.ign.com/features/den/iwdhow02.shtml | title=Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter Designer Diary, Chapter 1 | author=Sawyer, J. E. | authorlink=Josh Sawyer | work=RPG Vault | date=November 10, 2000 | archivedate=October 31, 2001 | url-status=dead }} Team members John Deiley and Steve Bokkes handled the "majority of area and quest work" in Heart of Winter, according to Sawyer.{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20031221001308/http://www.gamespy.com/devdiary/december00/iwd4/ | url=http://www.gamespy.com/devdiary/december00/iwd4/ | title=Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter - Developer Diary 4 | author=Sawyer, J. E. | authorlink=Josh Sawyer | date=December 2000 | work=GameSpy | archivedate=December 21, 2003 | url-status=dead }}

Heart of Winter went gold on February 12, 2001.{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010603190116/http://www.interplay.com/icewind/ | url=http://www.interplay.com/icewind/ | title=Heart of Winter goes GOLD! | author=Monahan, Darren | publisher=Interplay Entertainment | date=February 12, 2001 | archivedate=June 3, 2001 | url-status=dead }} It shipped to retailers on February 20.{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020203075744/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2687793,00.html | url=http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2687793,00.html | title=Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter ships | author=Walker, Trey | date=February 20, 2001 | work=GameSpot | archivedate=February 3, 2002 | url-status=dead }} The expansion was released in Europe on March 23, 2001.{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010603190116/http://www.interplay.com/icewind/ | url=http://www.interplay.com/icewind/ | title=Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter is Now Available! | date=February 21, 2001 | publisher=Interplay Entertainment | archivedate=June 3, 2001 | url-status=dead }}{{Cite news |date=2001-03-23 |title=PS2 welcomes software boost |language=en-gb |work=Eurogamer.net |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/article-30393 |access-date=2023-04-20}}

{{Video game reviews

| GR = 75%{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/430803-icewind-dale-heart-of-winter/index.html |title=Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter for PC |website=GameRankings |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=October 15, 2018}}

| MC = 74/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/icewind-dale-heart-of-winter/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter for PC Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=October 15, 2018}}

| CGM = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20021101174355/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/031/199/icewindale-01a.html | url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/031/199/icewindale-01a.html | title=Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter | author=Hunt, David Ryan | date=March 1, 2001 | work=Computer Games Magazine | archivedate=November 1, 2002 | url-status=dead }}

| PCGUS = 75/100{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050316202527/http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/archives/review_2001-08-07x.html | url=http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/archives/review_2001-08-07x.html | title=Reviews; Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter | author=Harms, William | date=August 7, 2001 | work=PC Gamer US | archivedate=March 16, 2005 | url-status=dead }}

| CGW = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine | author=Nguyen, Thierry | title=Heartbreaker | magazine=Computer Gaming World | issue=203 | date=June 2001 | page=87 }}

| GSpot = 5.7/10

}}

Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter received fairly positive reviews,{{r|GR|MC}} with multiple reviewers complimenting its new features and areas.{{cite news | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-82582424.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225041221/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-82582424.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=February 25, 2016 | author=Glassel, Chris | title=Electronic adventures: Video and computer game reviews | work=Dallas Morning News | date=April 3, 2001 | access-date=December 10, 2012}}{{cite news | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-0EFF00D5C7F929E5.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821070133/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-0EFF00D5C7F929E5.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=August 21, 2015 | author=Cappellini, Matt | title=Sequel pumps up 'Icewind Dale' | work=The Herald-News | location=Joliet, Illinois | date=May 31, 2001| access-date=December 10, 2012}} According to GameSpy, the writer suggests that "when the entire Icewind Dale saga is available at bargain prices, this expansion marks a fun portion of the entire game".{{cite web | last=Rausch | first=Allen | date=2004-08-19 | url = http://pc.gamespy.com/articles/540/540375p2.html | title=A History of D&D Video Games - Part V | publisher = GameSpy | access-date = November 17, 2012 }}

Chris Glassel of the Dallas Morning News and Greg Kasavin of GameSpot criticized the game for the length of its campaign, which was much shorter than the original.{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010603213043/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/reviews/0,10867,2688334,00.html | url=http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/reviews/0,10867,2688334,00.html | title=Reviews; Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter | date=February 21, 2001 | author=Kasavin, Greg | authorlink=Greg Kasavin | work=GameSpot | archivedate=June 3, 2001 | url-status=dead }} Chris Chan of the New Straits Times called out a number of minor technical glitches, such as pathfinding problems and the occasional system lock up.

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Heart of Winter debuted at #6 on NPD Intelect's computer game sales rankings for the February 18–24 period.{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011004203519/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2693688,00.html | url=http://gamespot.com:80/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2693688,00.html | title=NASCAR Racing 4 climbs the charts | date=March 7, 2001 | author=Walker, Trey | work=GameSpot | archive-date=October 4, 2001 | url-status=dead | access-date=January 21, 2020 }} It fell to 10th place in its second week,{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011030155215/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2696616,00.html | url=http://gamespot.com:80/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2696616,00.html | title=Undying makes the list | date=March 14, 2001 | author=Walker, Trey | work=GameSpot | archive-date=October 30, 2001 | url-status=dead | access-date=January 21, 2020 }} and climbed back to ninth in its third week.{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011030184952/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2699818,00.html | url=http://gamespot.com:80/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2699818,00.html | title=Top-selling games for the month of February | date=March 21, 2001 | author=Walker, Trey | work=GameSpot | archive-date=October 30, 2001 | url-status=dead | access-date=January 21, 2020 }} After four weeks, Heart of Winter was absent from NPD's top 10.{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010413103657/http://pc.ign.com/news/32863.html | url=http://pc.ign.com:80/news/32863.html | title=Top of the Pops | author=Staff | date=March 28, 2001 | work=IGN | archive-date=April 13, 2001 | url-status=dead | access-date=January 21, 2020 }}

In March 2001, Black Isle Studios began development of Trials of the Luremaster, a free, downloadable add-on for Heart of Winter. According to designer Steve Bokkes, the add-on was planned as a small stopgap project to keep members of the Heart of Winter team occupied. Black Isle was working on several games at the time and could not yet commit to another full production.{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010616211350/http://rpgvault.ign.com/features/interviews/iwdhowdungeon.shtml | url=http://rpgvault.ign.com/features/interviews/iwdhowdungeon.shtml | title=Icewind Dale Dungeon Set Interview | author=Aihoshi, Richard | date=May 30, 2001 | work=RPG Vault | archivedate=June 16, 2001 | url-status=dead }} Another inspiration was the criticism that Heart of Winter had been too short.{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010701192848/http://planetbaldursgate.com/features/articles/howex_interview_bokkes/index.shtml | url=http://planetbaldursgate.com/features/articles/howex_interview_bokkes/index.shtml| title=Steve Bokkes on the Heart of Winter Expansion | date=May 8, 2001 | author=MageDragon | work=Planet Baldur's Gate | archivedate=July 1, 2001 | url-status=dead }} Journalist Mark Asher wrote that he "talked to Black Isle Director Feargus Urquhart ... and he mentioned that they felt like maybe they should have done a little more with the Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter expansion, so this expansion is their response."{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040229003255/http://www.gamespy.com/gamespin/may01/gamespin9/ | url=http://www.gamespy.com/gamespin/may01/gamespin9/ | title=GameSpin: Volume 9 | author=Asher, Mark | date=May 2001 | work=GameSpy | archivedate=February 29, 2004 | url-status=dead }}

The add-on was released in early July 2001, with a download size of 72 megabytes.{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010707164210/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2782820,00.html | url=http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2782820,00.html | title= Free Heart of Winter add-on now available | author=Varanini, Giancarlo | date=July 5, 2001 | work=GameSpot | archivedate=July 7, 2001 | url-status=dead }} It contains a large dungeon-like location with several new areas to explore, and a handful of new enemies to combat and items to find. It also acts as the game's final patch, fixing a number of bugs and bringing the game's version number up to v1.42.

Trials of the Luremaster received a positive review from Brett Todd of Games Domain, who wrote that it "represents some of the finest design seen over the breadth of the entire Infinity Engine series from Bioware and Black Isle", although he noted that some sections "do feel padded".{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020206051751/http://www.gamesdomain.com/gdreview/zones/reviews/pc/aug01/lure.html | url=http://www.gamesdomain.com/gdreview/zones/reviews/pc/aug01/lure.html | title=Icewind Dale: Trials of the Luremaster - Main Review | author=Todd, Brett | date=August 2001 | work=Games Domain | archivedate=February 6, 2002 | url-status=dead }}

The player meets a mysterious halfling, Hobart Stubbletoes, who introduces himself in the Whistling Gallows Inn in Lonelywood. He seeks a party of stalwart heroes for a quest to a place of great wonder, with treasures beyond the imagination. Should the party accept, they will be transported to a new place, far from the icy terrain of the Ten Towns, finding themselves within the walls of a ruined castle in an unfamiliar land, the Anauroch desert. The Castle itself is a place where a mad spirit of a bard named Luremaster is constantly challenging adventurers with many traps and monsters. The only way out of the place is to defeat all monsters, avoid traps, find good loot if possible, and defeat the Luremaster.

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite web |url=http://www.planetbaldursgate.com/iwd/info/luremaster/ |archive-date=December 31, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051231063226/http://www.planetbaldursgate.com/iwd/info/luremaster/ |url-status=dead |title=Trials of the Luremaster download page }}
• {{moby game|id=/icewind-dale-heart-of-winter|name=Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter}}

{{Black Isle Studios}}

{{Dungeons & Dragons video games}}

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