PC Gamer - UK (2021-12)

Two doors down we find Phaen of the Rags, who gives
up his beggar act when he sees our teleportation scroll.
It’s his, and he wants it back – but if there’s one thing a
Red Wizard won’t do, it’s part with magic.

MAGE ENGAGE
With Whambam buffed up by Mage Armour and Mirror
Imagespells,anda summonedbeetleblockingmostofthe
meleeroom,themagesinthegalleryarefreetobombard

and copy those down – but with extra spell slots per rest,

our arsenal practically doubles in size overnight.

Which leaves our party well-positioned to tackle its

last job before leaving town: murdering the Iron Collar

Company. It’s not an act that’s going to further the

mission of the Red Wizards in Icewind Dale, exactly. But

bitterness is practically a national Thayan trait, and what

better way to celebrate it than with petty revenge?

“By the hells,” mutters Black Geoffrey as red-robed

figures file into the pub. “What brings you crawling back

this time?” He feels the strength sap from his body as

Ichadad Bod utters the incantation for a Ray of

Enfeeblement. And from then on, no more words are

spoken, as the Iron Collar Company funnels its remaining

energyintosurvival.It’snotenough.

GutherwulfeHenghelm,a rivertraderatthenexttable

WITH EXTRA SPELL SLOTS PER

REST, OUR ARSENAL

PRACTICALLY DOUBLES

Phaen and his goblin mates with frost
and magic missiles. The traitor
responds in kind, knocking half the
party unconscious with a single Sleep
spell – laying them out on the hut’s
stone floor like a red carpet. But a
firebomb finally does for our rival.
This town isn’t big enough for seven
wizards on a secret mission.
Phaen’s rags turn out to be lined
with bear fur, and magically light.
Whambam puts them on, reasoning
their cold protection will come in
handy the next time Zzimerfram gets
tasty with an ice dagger and its splash
damage. Then, wonder of wonders:
everybody levels up. We don’t get any
new spells – we’ll have to find, buy

who drinks boar blood with milk,

cheers us on. After Geoffrey falls, the

innkeep demands we settle his tab.

But Gutherwulfe buys us a pitcher,

and soon enough, we’ve won the

amulet he wears around his neck in a

drinking game. It’s the perfect cap to

a great night of wizardry. Not only

can Gutherwulfe’s charm summon a

slavering wolf into battle, but it does

so by tapping into the shamanic

magic of Rashemen – the rival

magocracy next door to Thay.

In other words, it’s weaponised

irony. If there’s anything the Thayans

like more than winning a battle, it’s

winning a battle in a way that’ll piss

off their neighbours.

EXTRA LIFE

NOW PLAYING I UPDATE I MOD SPOTLIGHT I HOW TO I DIARY (^) I WHY I LOVE I REINSTALL I M U S T P L A Y
There’s a mod for modern
resolutions, but you’ll need a big
screen to make out the text.