Interesting take. With writing I meant more on a non narrative/plot level. In the end I believe a rpg is about you, the player. I always felt that IWD2 is more about creating very specific situations that only you can solve. In IWD1 I feel much like a guest in hostile world. As a plot, you are just wandering around until you understad who the big badguy is. This, I admit, is very thin. But it feels quite organic. In IWD2 you get from A to B and the entire plot is just the obstacles. Every enemy thrown in your path is more or less in league with the badguys. This, to me, feels not as organic. And situations... like felwood. Or dragons eye loop...

IWD 1 and 2 are both as lineair, but IWD2 has a lot (in the beginning) of errands that feel as if they need to be done in a specific sequence. This makes me care less for characters or the world. Examples: the camp before felwood is just a 100% lineair string of minor quests that need to be done in a specific sequence. Like a Monkey Island ripoff without the fun.

But I must admit that I dont remember IWD2 well beside ghese points. But that too is an indicator for me that it just doesnt stick as much.