15226 réponses à ce sujet

[Alesia_BH]

Grond0 wrote...

Nice story Alesia. It's always entertaining when enemies unite against you!

Thanks. It may have been a nice read, but it was dreadful to play through... 

All those clowns either saw through invisibility or had that "I can't see you but I know where you are" script. There were also invisible backstabbing Kua Toan Whips all over the place and lots of summon spamming. Maintaining proper spacing and movement was difficult.

I hated it, but you may have enjoyed it actually Grond0. It had a definite BG1 feel in that you had to rely on positioning and spatial management of enemies to stay alive. There were also some ally recruitment options available (the Elementals will attack the Drow). Your kind of fight.

Best,

A.

@Corey- Sorry to hear about Picedon. Tough month huh? Good luck with his party run.

Modifié par Alesia_BH, 25 octobre 2011 - 06:10 .

[Alesia_BH]

Ashoka in the Underdark: Part 2

The second phase of the Underdark went smoothly. Importantly, Ashoka has managed to restock her potion case. The final bill for her earlier debacle came out to 12K. She's ready to sally forth now though.

Boz and Friends

Ashoka viewed this encounter as an opportunity to trade Staff of Strking charges and tactical ammo for potions. That's a good deal for her at this point.

N'ashtar was Stonekinned and Ashoka thought it made more sense to take a lock kill on the Chandrilla rather than try to execute a burn or Stun on N'ash. She used her Critical Strike here.


Pulled back, hit the Shadows, and the took out Simbja so she wouldn't have to fiddle around with the Reflection Shield.


Next Boz. Took Hardiness before attacking because Damien was lurking.


Damien whiffed and appeared. Ashoka used her Power Attack to stop him from disappearing again.


Finally N'ashtar. Drew out his Divination cast, and then executed Arrow of Dispelling-> Arrow of Biting while his aura was clouded.



His Stoneskins Contingency triggered, Ashoka went Dart of Stunning to freeze him. Finishing was awkward because he was defended by Mordies and Efreetis and Ashoka didn't want to waste elemental arrows or healing potions.


Took Shield, Mirror Image, and Resist/Fire Cold. Along with her items, the latter got her Fire Resistance to 127%. She finished the mage, and let the Efreets Heal her with their Fireballs.



Phaere 

With Ashoka, this encouter scared me in a Duchal Palace kind of way. I knew it wouldn't be nearly as dangerous, but it still worried me.

Pro Evil, Potion of Stone Form, Potion of Genius, Potion of Mind Focusing were the buffs. That got her saves out of the danger zone and put her intelligence at 18.

NW: I have Smarter Mind Flayers installed but not the ones that see through invisibility. Keeping that component out of the install was a little gift to Alesia.

Ashoka started Hidden in Shadows, and took out Mind Flayer 1.


Gave Phaere a little help with her Umber.


Last Flayer.


It's nice to see things go smoothy again. Sorry if it isn't as fun to read folks, but I like it when things go right. 


Best,

A.

Modifié par Alesia_BH, 25 octobre 2011 - 07:26 .

[Alesia_BH]

 Quick Note on Ashoka's Game:

Huh...


So much for things going smoothly...

Edit: I went back to the Auto Save. This time I had Ashoka quaff an Oil of Speed, race over and, rescue Sola.


Is Sola supposed to fight the Myconid King? Should this be considered a bug? I have original dead Sola and later live Sola saves. I can proceed from either one. Not sure about this one...

Thoughts?

Best,

A.

Modifié par Alesia_BH, 25 octobre 2011 - 09:56 .

[Dante2377]

I randomly get Sola attacked by various things over that way too - that's why I always slaughter everything in the main Underdark area before entering the city - elementals, Myconids, the random Mind Flayers right above the Underdark entrance, etc. If i forget, i usually just console myself over as realistically, there's no way an uber Drow warrior is going to get taken down by a few fungi.

[Grond0]

I think I've only been to that point in the game once, so not come across this issue. However, it doesn't sound as though I would treat it as a bug - from your description it seems as though you had a chance to get the outcome you wanted, but just didn't manage it first time round. My view might be different if this was critical to the main line quest, but I'm assuming that's not the case since you're suggesting it's possible to continue with a dead Solaufein.

[Alesia_BH]

 Quick Note on Ashoka's Game

Ashoka has escaped the Underdark and will set off after Bodhi soon.


I ultimately went with the original, dead Sola save. As I see it, Phaere really got his goats. He tried to take his anger out on the Myconid King, and was nixed.

Of course, it isn't at all clear why that should cause the city to turn on Ashoka, but c'est la vie.

Battling through the Kuo Toan route was pretty brutal actually. In my pre-SCS installed, fighting the Kuo Toans with a Warrior was a chunk-a-thon. It's amazing what smarter scripts and potions can do. It was touch and go at times, but Ashoka's adventure continues.

I'll post more on the exit soon.

Best,

A.

Modifié par Alesia_BH, 25 octobre 2011 - 11:46 .

[polytope]

I'm afraid that Solaufein dying before Phaere orders you to kill him results in a hostile drow city. He's quite vulnerable to critical hits and doesn't have much hp.

Was there anything you really wanted in the drow city? I think it would be quite difficult for a solo ranger to get Adalon's eggs from improved Ust Natha - stealthing past all the drow to the temple might work, but there's a chance they'll block your path.

Edit: Didn't see your last post, glad to hear you made it out.

Modifié par polytope, 25 octobre 2011 - 11:43 .

[Alesia_BH]

Grond0 wrote...

I think I've only been to that point in the game once, so not come across this issue. However, it doesn't sound as though I would treat it as a bug - from your description it seems as though you had a chance to get the outcome you wanted, but just didn't manage it first time round.

Yeah. I've never seen him attacked before aside from Alesia's run where the Drow just freaked and went to town on him on the platform. That one was definitely a bug.

When I saw the attack notices come up this time I just thought: "Huh? That's odd. Why the rock is Sola fighting the Myconid King?" Soon after, he was dropped.

My view might be different if this was critical to the main line quest, but I'm assuming that's not the case since you're suggesting it's possible to continue with a dead Solaufein.

It's critical, and not at the same time. You'll understand when you get there. 

Anyhoo. Ashoka has moved on now. Hopefully nothing else funky will happen. 

Best,

A.

[corey_russell]

I once took an all 6 monk party to the drow city and announced "I am (something) of Adalon!". This set the city hostile. The monks slaughtered everything, got the eggs and Adalon was happy. So in other words, a hostile drow city by no means ends your progress. And I agree with Grond0, I don't think it is a bug, but perhaps a result of your battle that spanned almost the entire Underdark Caverns.

[polytope]

corey_russell wrote...

I once took an all 6 monk party to the drow city and announced "I am (something) of Adalon!". This set the city hostile. The monks slaughtered everything, got the eggs and Adalon was happy. So in other words, a hostile drow city by no means ends your progress.

A solo paladin can conquer Ust Natha in vanilla, it's easier than either the beholder or illithid cities: However, I wouldn't want to try it with a solo ranger and SCS improved drow.

[Alesia_BH]

Yeah. It would be "unwise" to take on the SCS Improved Ust Natha Defenses with a moderately levelled solo Ranger in a No Reload. It may be doable with practice, but the odds of making it on a first go seem pretty darn low

Here's the description from the Read Me:

Notably, it also dramatically beefs up the defences of Ust Natha. The place is a drow city, not the kind of place that even a 15th level adventuring party should be able to wipe out. Now, more defenders will continuously spawn. For the first twenty rounds or so, this will be disorganised, low-level groups. After that, the drow will get more organised and start sending serious war-parties against the party. Eventually truly powerful groups of mages and high priestesses will turn up.

IMPORTANT: this component is not intended to make the conquest of the drow city somewhat more interesting and challenging: it is meant to make it virtually impossible. I predict that it will be enormously difficult for any party to defeat all of the drow and conquer Ust Natha. The sane thing to do is to get out as soon as you can; even that will probably be a bit trickier than usual.

Modifié par Alesia_BH, 26 octobre 2011 - 01:07 .

[Alesia_BH]

 Ashoka in the Underdark: Part 3

With Sola dead, and an army of ornery Drow awaiting her in Ust Natha, Ashoka escaped through the Kuo Toan Tunnels. This was a hassle.

The two demons charged first. Ashoka hadn't gotten AoF + Hardiness up by the time they arrived. That cost her some potions.


The Kuo Toans did a good job of calling for help. Everyone except the Prince and his flanking Monitors ended up on top of her very soon. The Monitors were Hasted and buffed up with both Cleric pre-buffs and Potions. They'd quaff Extra Healing Potions once they took meaningful damage. As in the cavern, the Whips were Backstabing. The Mages favored Meteors and Conjuration stuff (Summons, Flame Arrows, Acid Arrows)


Even going AoF + Hardiness + Defender, Ashoka was taking a bit of a beating. Straightforwrd toe-to-toe combat was not the way to go cleary.

Ashoka noted that most of the Wizard's summons were blunt weapon wielders. She figured she could use that to her advantage. She got to a choke point -with only Blunt Weapon wielders at her feet- drank a Potion of Absorption, and then went with Hangar's and the Reflection Shield. The Reflection Shield caught an outrageous number of Flame Arrows. She wouldn't have survived without it. The Shield Amulet and the Necklace of Missles were helpful here as well.



Decided to take down the Prince before approaching the exit. Ashoka wouldn't want to have to fight him along with the Drow. She went Hardiness + Armor of Faith + Defender here to soften the Prince's backstabs. He had a lot of Potions of Invisibility.



By the time Ashoka reached the exit, she had very little interest in fighting. She used a skifty trick which a certain Bounty Hunter invented during her escape.

Ashoka approached, spoiled for a fight, and then ran back to the Shadows. This drew out a number of Teleport Field casts. Now invisible again, Ashoka summoned Ras to draw the Drow and Golems to the east end of the Teleport Field. Finally, she stepped into the Telefield (Hidden in Shadows + Non-Detectable) and let it lift her over the ugly. Then she left. 

Did a teensy bit of backstabbing on the surface to recoup some of the potions lost against the Kuo Toans.


And that was that. 

Ashoka will face Bodhi soon.

Best,

A.

Modifié par Alesia_BH, 26 octobre 2011 - 10:59 .

[Grond0]

Alesia_BH wrote...

Yeah. It would be "unwise" to take on the SCS Improved Ust Natha Defenses with a moderately levelled solo Ranger in a No Reload. It may be doable with practice, but the odds of making it on a first go seem pretty darn low

Reminds me of "Yes Minister", if that means anything to anyone.  The most off-putting thing a civil servant can say in that is "That's a courageous decision Minister".

Congratulations on Ashoka escaping - she does sound like fun.

[PicklePepperPiper]

Quick question, Alesia. What program do you use to create custom items for your character, and is it difficult to use for someone who know relatively little about programming?

Speaking as a person who delights in really making the characters own their little tibit of history.
-PPP

[Serg BlackStrider]

Update of BlackStrider & Co (The Downfall of Irenicus)

The Band was last seen roaming in the Forest of Tethir before entering Suldanessellar. We met our old friend Coran there but failed to save him (if only we cast that Death Spell a bit earlier...):



Then we battle through the elven city:

  

 

Vs Nizidramanii'yt we took our usual anti-dragon buffs plus Spell immunity: Conjuration for mages. Then - after debuffs and lower resistances-  hit with Power Word: Blind and poor Niz doesn't even saw the sky in his (her) last moments... (sigh):



We enter the Temple to call forth the Leaf Lord:

 

who unsealed the Palace for us to enter. One more fight with Irenicus on the Tree of Life and... Hell Awaits! (A tribute to Tom Araya and Slayer band):

  

In one last fight Irenicus only managed to Maze Jaheira and Wilted some Mazzy's health. All his subsequent spells were disrupted and finally

- To End Like THIS!?!  :



- Exactly!!! :innocent:

After touching ceremony in Suldanessellar Palace Band made their fist steps in the Ancient Grove and now wondering of their nearest future.

So, that's it's for now. With best wishes to all no-reloaders,

Band Of Six:

BlackStrider - lead guitar, vocals (growling) - Cleric 16 / Illusionist 15, 311 kills, Firkraag
Jaheira - bass guitar (*boss* temper) - Fighter 15 / Druid 14, 562 kills, Shade Lord
Nalia - keyboards - Mage 19 / Thief 4, 182 kills, Thraxll'ssillyia
Viconia - lead (clean/screaming) vocals - Cleric 23, 84 kills, Bodhi
Mazzy - drums - Fighter (wanna be paladin) 22, 401 kills, Kangaxx the Demi-Lich
Imoen - kantele, percussion  - Mage 16 / Thief 7, 50 kills, Demon Knight

Hope to see ya all in ToB!



to be continued...

[corey_russell]

Grats Serg. Keep it up! Take down Melissan for me, she trashed my all paladin group a while back.

[Wierdo]

Alesia_BH wrote...

Wierdo wrote...
Heh, I wonder what music would make good background for thumping fire giants?

I rarely listen to music when playing since the sounds are tactically relevant, but I do often associate songs with battles and areas.

It depends a lot on the character for me. Alastria tends to get a lot of Electronica and Hipster stuff with a little bit of Bowie thrown in. Alesia mostly 70s Punk. Sex Pistols, The Clash- that sort of thing.

Here are some of my favorite pairings.

For Alesia:

In Beregost post Candlekeep expulsion: Pretty Vacant by the Sex Pistols
Bounty Hunting for Oublek: Career Opportunities by the Clash
At the Bandit Camp: No Feelings by the Sex Pistols
Returning to Candlekeep: My Family by Jay Reatard
Against Sarevok: Dead End Justice by The Runaways

For Alastria.

Against Sarevok: Big Brother and The Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family by David Bowie
In Spellhold: Tribulations by LCD Soundsytem
In the Underdark: Disco Infiltrator by LCD Soundsystem
In Suldanessalar: One Way of Another by Blondie
In the ToB Tougher Battle Series: Life During Wartime by the Talking Heads

Against Giants with Weirdo I'd probably be thinking of The Laughing Gnome by
David Bowie (Ha, ha, ha! He, he, he! I'm a laughing gnome and you can't
catch me!). That's pretty darn goofy though of course...

Nice music choices. I have a lot of Bowie but not the Laughing Gnome. I checked it out on YT and laughed my head off! Funny stuff.

Based on her portrait, Weirdo seems pretty New Wave Dance to me. I'm not sure what kind of music you like though...

She gets into a bit of everything. Nice to have an album to keep you going over a good battle. A bit or Eric Clapton, Billy Idol, Sex Pistols, The Clash, Bowie, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, New Order, Violent Femmes .... lots more.

Ok, I am seeing a trend emerging I like all music, but I like energetic music for a serious battle.

And If I were doing a video for her, Bruce would definitely have to kick-chunk a giant at 2:01 when the song goes "hut! hut! hut!". {smilie}

Yeah, he really kicks serious butt now. A killing frenzy. I often deal with a room full of monsters by just sending Bruce in to deal with them while catching up on the gossip outside. Wierdo would be lost without him. Which is why you'll be especiaslly sad to hear my next game post <sniff>.

NW: if you have the SCS Improved Fire Giant Temple component installed be careful Weirdo: there are some definite "gotchas" in that place. Watch out for the Fell Cats draining your Fire Resistance and don't take Imix lightly.

Wow, thanks for the advice but they've already done it. However, I'm going to have to do it again because my PC crashed just after they'd defeated everything and as the slave woman starts talking.

Imix was a wuz. Mazzy just walked up and hit him with the Wave Halberd. One hit = dead for all fire elementals, including him. This also includes the burning men! Mazzy (as a paladin/inquisitor has ** in halberds and ** in two-handed style).

That pair of Red Dragons over near Brennen could be dangerous as well. I can't really say since Alesia didn't give them an opening at all. The looked kinda scary though...

Hmmm ... they only encountered one dragon (named Brimstone). Playing on core rules. Mind you, one was enough! That fight was a challenging one!

Best of luck!

Thanks!

Modifié par Wierdo, 26 octobre 2011 - 12:26 .

[Serg BlackStrider]

Thanks, Corey! :happy: This is my third no-reload and first when I reach the ToB part (even tho two previous runs ended not due to my alter-ego's death but casualties I can't endure). And sure, if I'll meet Melissan in the end I'll give thy best regards to her! 

Modifié par Serg BlackStrider, 26 octobre 2011 - 12:29 .

[AnonymousHero]

Alesia_BH wrote...

AnonymousHero wrote...
@Alesia: I forget, are you playing with improved fiends? If so, how were you protecting against the Baalor's vorpal hit?

What are the mechanics on the Balor Vorpal? If it offers a save, just make it. Ashoka had everything -6 or lower in that fight without using consumables.

A monk of mine was certainly in the low negatives and was killed by one the Baalors summoned by Irenicus in the final fight. These were aTweaks fiends, though I'm told that the vanilla ones also have a vorpal-without-save.

(I would have tried sling + running, but these Baalors had Teleport Without Error at will... and a melee Entangle effect without a save. Plus, my monk didn't have GWW for the sling. -- was trying out the Oversight HLAs.)

In my current install I'm trying the SCS II fiends, but I don't expect they're much easier... we'll see, I guess .

[Alesia_BH]

AnonymousHero wrote...

A monk of mine was certainly in the low negatives and was killed by one the Baalors summoned by Irenicus in the final fight. These were aTweaks fiends, though I'm told that the vanilla ones also have a vorpal-without-save.

Understood. Alesia used the Staff of Striking and attacked from Shadows against them. They never got a chance to touch her. The Vanilla Irenicus Balors can't see through Invisibility which makes them pushovers.

In my current install I'm trying the SCS II fiends, but I don't expect they're much easier... we'll see, I guess .

Vorpal w/o a Save + Teleport Without Error + Invisibility Detection sounds like a drag. I'd rather not deal with that personally...

I'll keep an eye on how those Fiends work out for your barbie. If they do indeed have Vorpal w/o Save + Teleport Without Error + Invisibility Detection then you'll see a new tweak appear on my install list when I add the Improved Fiends: "Fiend Vorpal Hits allow a Save at -4"

Best of luck with your barbie!


@Weirdo- "The Wave" damn! Good call. Now I wish I had sent Ashoka to the seafood buffett...

Glad to hear Weirdo is charging on!

Btw. The thing I like about the Laughing Gnome track is that Bowie sounds like he is genuinely having fun- especially at the end.

Did you listen to Fields of Fire by Big Country? It seems so right to me for Weirdo in the Marching Mountains.


@PPP- I use Near Infinity to make items. The interface could seem intimidating at first, but it's super-easy to work with once you get the hang of it. It takes a minute or two to make an item. There are tutorials online. Whe can talk about it in PM if need be.

I really like making the personal items for my characters. It's a simple thing, but it adds a lot to the ole playing experience. As for balancing, I try to put them in the middle/low end of the Bioware NPC item power distribution- nothing nearly as powerful as say, Edwin's Amulet or the Chaos Blade but more relevant then Mazzy's Bow.

@Serg- Congrats. Keep on truckin'!

[Alesia_BH]

 Quick Note on Ashoka's Game:

Ashoka is currently attending to the remaining Chapter 2 quests in order to restock before heading into the SoA endgame. She's nearly ready to face Bodhi. I'll let everyone know when she does.

Ashoka's current character record and inventory.



Best,

A.

[Alesia_BH]

Grond0 wrote...

Congratulations on Ashoka escaping - she does sound like fun.

Thanks. I'm enjoying her. It's been a while since I've played Alia (Elven Archer) in BG2, but Ashoka may end up replacing her as the Ranger in my still incomplete character squad. I'd like to have a representative of every class. At present it's:

Arcane- Alanis, Sorceress (retired); Alastria, Sorceress
Bard- Alisa, Jester
Cleric: Alena, Priest of Lathander
Druid- Aliana, Avenger
Figher- TBD (Wizard Slayer Alessandra remains a candidate here)
Paladin- TBD
Ranger- Alia, Archer 
Thief- Alesia, Bounty Hunter

They are all fun builds as much as power builds. That's the way I like it. 

Ashoka definitely seems worthy of inclusion. That's one of the primary reasons why she is unlikely to be abandoned as Alana and Alora were.

Best,

A.

[amanasleep]

Alesia, have you given any thought to your Paladin run? Paladins can be a bit boring, as their paths are a bit "forced" by the strength of Holy Avenger. However, I would say that I have found Cavaliers to be very enjoyable (compared to Inquisitors). They roleplay well and are tactically interesting.

[Alesia_BH]

I haven't given it much thought yet, but I'm thinking she'll be an Undead Hunter. Inquisitors are a bore and I'm fond of tactical ammo (especially with a Paladin because the lack there of would force a hole lot of Carsomyr on you.)

I'm also thinking of having Cromwell gimp and personalize Carsomyr.

Best,

A.

[Alesia_BH]

Oh. And as far as the character concept is concerned, I like the idea of her choosing to become a Paladin not because she is a force of righteousness, but because she secretly finds evil oddly seductive. Her "career" has given her an excuse to seek it out and explore it.

As for being an Undead Hunter, that is a way for her to chanel her undeinable urge to destroy into something that isn't putatatively odious.

She'll be constantly in danger of falling.

If she and Keldorn were to get together, he would be deeply suspicious of her and openly wonder whether she is too dangerous to be left alive.

She would reply that there is very little difference between them. The Inquistor mandate to destroy evil is just that: a mandate to destroy. And that if he were honest with himself, he would see that it is not ethics that drives him forward, but an instinct to kill. She at least had the wisdom to understand herself and focus her destructive urges on the Undead, where he -in the final accounting- stands on far less teneable ethical ground.

He wouldn't like that of course...

As for feel, I think this Icewind Dale portrait paired with the L7 song Gas Chamber conveys what I have in mind.

Modifié par Alesia_BH, 27 octobre 2011 - 01:49 .