Yep, max shadows. A couple of maps are noticeably slower, like the Ruins of Ilcarn (sp?) map. Cities/keep and indoors are fine though.
I'm really into the story as well...close to the end of the game though I think!
We just got into act III last night. That dragon on the mountain kicked our asses. The game bugged and we were not able to do it the way it was supposed to be done, and we had to fight it toe-to-toe. All I can say is I hope you have the spell "Energy immunity to Fire".
:shock:
It took us MANY tries and MANY deaths before we figured it out.