Casting Spells from Equipped Items

Marceror · Mon, 20th Aug '12, 10:54pm

Hi everyone. It seems that I was born only 5 minutes ago, as I am forced to ask this most n00bish of the n00bs question, but what are you going to do?

So the question is, how does one cast a spell from an equipped item such as the Bracers of Icelandic Pearl or the Wyrm's Maw helm? I'm pretty sure that I've not had a problem doing so in previous play-throughs, but it's been a very long time since I've played, and for whatever reason I'm rather stumped this time.

I've checked every possible selection from my characters' "action bar" (I'm not sure what this is technically called, but hopefully you get my meaning). I've had my characters rest multiple times in a row. Regardless of what I do, I can't find any way to cast spells from items.

Yes, my PC is powered on when I try to do this. Yes, I actually have the Icewind Dale 2 game installed and running on my PC. No, I'm not attempting this while in a catatonic, dream-like state (at least, I'm pretty sure that I'm not).

So uh, what the heck am I missing here?

Blackthorne TA · Mon, 20th Aug '12, 11:32pm

It's been a while, but on what I think you referred to as the "action bar" there should be three "Use Item" buttons. Left-clicking one should bring up a menu of items that have uses for you to choose from, and right-clicking one should allow you to choose an item to use for that button when you left-click on it in the future.

Marceror · Mon, 20th Aug '12, 11:53pm

"Use Item" was the one. Oddly, this is the only option on the "action bar" that when you right click on it, you don't receive any results. I had been right clicking, not seeing anything, and assuming there was nothing to see. Once you pointed it out, I finally left clicked which added this to my action bar. Then I left clicked it again to see my Wyrm's Maw waiting for me to cast its spell.

Thanks for the help.

Blackthorne TA · Tue, 21st Aug '12, 12:51am

Hm. There should be "Quick Item" buttons that let you choose an item for future use somewhere... Maybe it was in the inventory screen?

coineineagh · Tue, 21st Aug '12, 11:59am

It should be possible to drag & drop usable items into inventory quickslots. Personally, I preferred the Use Item command, because items usually don't have many castings, and a unit can equip a lot of them.

Darion · Tue, 21st Aug '12, 2:20pm

IWD2 UI is a chore!

Marceror · Wed, 22nd Aug '12, 3:05am

You all are far too kind. Being that I've been an avid user of the Infinity Engine since shortly after the initial release of Baldur's Gate, and have played every IE game since, multiple times, I'm pretty sure that I'm due for some flaming for messing this one up. The fact that this is at least my 4th playthrough of Icewind Dale 2 over the years certainly isn't helping matters.

But I'll take the polite responses that throw blame at the UI. Really, I will. They help deflect from the cold, hard fact that I'm just getting older and more forgetful--which is a fact most worthy of deflection as far as I'm concerned!

SlickRCBD · Thu, 23rd Aug '12, 2:01am

I feel your pain. I've been experiencing some CRS myself lately.

For all the good things about the IWD2 UI such as customizable buttons and the ability to swap shields on the quick bar along with weapons, they had a few flaws as well. Such as forcing you to use multiple shields if you have a mace and a sling equipped (good luck if it's a unique shield), and other flaws such as this.

Mon, 20th Aug '12, 10:54pm	#1
Marceror SPS Account Holder Editor Chaos Shall Be Sown In Their Footsteps Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sword Coast Posts: 2,394 Like: 21 Liked 92 Times in 75 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 5,824 Level: 23 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 66.54% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 4.97% Achievements Awards	Casting Spells from Equipped Items Hi everyone. It seems that I was born only 5 minutes ago, as I am forced to ask this most n00bish of the n00bs question, but what are you going to do? So the question is, how does one cast a spell from an equipped item such as the Bracers of Icelandic Pearl or the Wyrm's Maw helm? I'm pretty sure that I've not had a problem doing so in previous play-throughs, but it's been a very long time since I've played, and for whatever reason I'm rather stumped this time. I've checked every possible selection from my characters' "action bar" (I'm not sure what this is technically called, but hopefully you get my meaning). I've had my characters rest multiple times in a row. Regardless of what I do, I can't find any way to cast spells from items. Yes, my PC is powered on when I try to do this. Yes, I actually have the Icewind Dale 2 game installed and running on my PC. No, I'm not attempting this while in a catatonic, dream-like state (at least, I'm pretty sure that I'm not). So uh, what the heck am I missing here?
	__________________ You do want to venture forth, don't you? So gather your friggen' party already!

Mon, 20th Aug '12, 11:53pm	#3
Marceror SPS Account Holder Editor Chaos Shall Be Sown In Their Footsteps Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sword Coast Posts: 2,394 Like: 21 Liked 92 Times in 75 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 5,824 Level: 23 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 66.54% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 4.97% Achievements Awards	"Use Item" was the one. Oddly, this is the only option on the "action bar" that when you right click on it, you don't receive any results. I had been right clicking, not seeing anything, and assuming there was nothing to see. Once you pointed it out, I finally left clicked which added this to my action bar. Then I left clicked it again to see my Wyrm's Maw waiting for me to cast its spell. Thanks for the help.
	__________________ You do want to venture forth, don't you? So gather your friggen' party already!

Tue, 21st Aug '12, 12:51am	#4
Blackthorne TA SPS Account Holder Administrator Master in his Own Mind Attack of the Tweety Zombies Champion! Balloon Bomber Champion! Barrel Jumper Champion! Belter Champion! Birdy Champion! Blast the Enemy Champion! Bubbles Champion! Color Boxes Champion! Counterstrike Champion! Emergency Champion! Fishy Champion! Galagon 2004 Champion! Grand Slam Shredder Champion! Helicopter Champion! Home Run Champion! Jackhammer Rampage Champion! Micro Machines Champion! Moon Lander Champion! Odd World Champion! Pingu Sports! Champion! Sheep Dash Champion! Snake Champion! Space Rescue Champion! Ten Pin Bowling Champion! The Viking Champion! Tiny Pinball Champion! Reaction Game Champion! Wilie Coytes Rocket Factory Champion! Storm The House Champion! aim and fire Champion! Batting Champ Champion! Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: San Pedro, CA, USA Posts: 9,726 Blog Entries: 18 Like: 20 Liked 45 Times in 32 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 22,013 Level: 41 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 38.72% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 61.67% Monthly Activity 64.66% Achievements Awards	Hm. There should be "Quick Item" buttons that let you choose an item for future use somewhere... Maybe it was in the inventory screen?
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Tue, 21st Aug '12, 11:59am	#5
coineineagh I wish for a horde to overrun my enemies Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Dutch expat living near Chengdu China Posts: 1,321 Blog Entries: 4 Like: 11 Liked 12 Times in 12 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 3,497 Level: 18 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 97.25% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 32.31% Monthly Activity 80.13% Achievements	It should be possible to drag & drop usable items into inventory quickslots. Personally, I preferred the Use Item command, because items usually don't have many castings, and a unit can equip a lot of them.
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Tue, 21st Aug '12, 2:20pm	#6
Darion Gems: 13/31 Latest gem: Ziose Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Baldur's Gate Posts: 579 Like: 4 Liked 19 Times in 15 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 1,647 Level: 13 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 63.39% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 7.18% Achievements	IWD2 UI is a chore!
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Wed, 22nd Aug '12, 3:05am	#7
Marceror SPS Account Holder Editor Chaos Shall Be Sown In Their Footsteps Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sword Coast Posts: 2,394 Like: 21 Liked 92 Times in 75 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 5,824 Level: 23 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 66.54% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 4.97% Achievements Awards	You all are far too kind. Being that I've been an avid user of the Infinity Engine since shortly after the initial release of Baldur's Gate, and have played every IE game since, multiple times, I'm pretty sure that I'm due for some flaming for messing this one up. The fact that this is at least my 4th playthrough of Icewind Dale 2 over the years certainly isn't helping matters. But I'll take the polite responses that throw blame at the UI. Really, I will. They help deflect from the cold, hard fact that I'm just getting older and more forgetful--which is a fact most worthy of deflection as far as I'm concerned!
	__________________ You do want to venture forth, don't you? So gather your friggen' party already!

Thu, 23rd Aug '12, 2:01am	#8
SlickRCBD Gems: 15/31 Latest gem: Waterstar Join Date: May 2005 Location: in front of a computer Posts: 726 Like: 16 Liked 17 Times in 17 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 2,542 Level: 16 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 49.84% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 19.34% Achievements	I feel your pain. I've been experiencing some CRS myself lately. For all the good things about the IWD2 UI such as customizable buttons and the ability to swap shields on the quick bar along with weapons, they had a few flaws as well. Such as forcing you to use multiple shields if you have a mace and a sling equipped (good luck if it's a unique shield), and other flaws such as this.