Didn't morning star used to be classified as "mace" in original versions of game?

[WickedRequiem]

Was looking through the weapons, and I noticed that morning stars were classified as maces in the original version of the game.

Did they change this in EE to be grouped with flails?

[wallace8766]

Yes. It is a supporting reason and more arguments that the original game is more coveted for its difficulty. The added changes and kits from Baldur's Gate 2 make the game easier and less problematic for balance. Even one of the developers from Icewind Dale original commented in an interview that IDEE adding kits and such was a let down for the balance that was originally created for the original vision in the classic version.

Icewind Dale is my favorite game of all time. I always play it every now and again. Mostly I play in insane mode, but still, it is much easier with the kits and proficiency changes. At some point this year, I will be revisiting this game in its classic form on GOG to get a better challenge with Core rules. No mods.

Yes, morning stars are in the proficiency group with flails and maces. They are the blunt weapon group of choice for me as well, since my choice is always cleric. I really think it should have been an option to choose during startup, but they thought it was part of the enhanced experience I suppose. So, long story short, play the enhanced version on core rules but roll your party and keep your first rolls like rolling in a real DM environment, and go for a hardcore experience. It will still be an easy fly.

Peace.

[wallace8766]

Just fired up classic on GOG. morningstars and maces are in the same category. just to confirm. It's time to do the classic run. :)

[Ryu Oki]

I love the fact that I played the original way back in the day.....and still have the disks. In otherwords I don't need to buy it again (PC master race FTW).

Now that aside, the issue with the weapon labeled "morningstar" is that it was both a flail and a mace.... depending who made it and for what purpose. Primarily a mace has a bulbous head at the end of a club or shaft, while the flail had the same but had a chain between the head and the handle/shaft giving slightly more impact from the third class lever. What made a morningstar a morningstar was the fact that spikes or even at times flanges (meant for drawing blood which kind of goes against many clerical beliefs as to why they can't use bladed weapons (generally speaking, depends on faith actually and DMs discretion)) made onto the head for the purpose of not only dealing bludgeoning damage, but some piercing/slashing injuries as well. Therefore whether a flail or a mace, both could be a "morningstar".

Morningstars could easily disable or kill unarmored or lightly armored opponents. Those wearing heavier plate though tended to still fair better as many times those spikes/flanges would get stuck in plate armor, and if you cannot withdraw your weapon quickly for another strike attempt, you become vulnerable.

In Castelvania Morningstar was generally the Belmonts final whip (in essence a flail with a longer chain).

[Julius Borisov]

I recommend to use https://gibberlings3.github.io/Documentation/readmes/readme-cdtweaks.html for IWD:EE if you're interested in tweaking the weapon specs.