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[C Barchuk]

Hey Alesia,

Why do the names of all your characters start with the letter A? Just curious is all. Enjoying reading your adventures.

[Alesia_BH]

Quick Note on Ashoka's Game:

Ashoka is about ready to move on. She's finished with Adratha's inventory .Cragmoon and Roger both have some supplies she'd like to pick up though. I'll share a couple scattered thoughts related to her recent journeys.

On Mind Flayers

I let Ashoka play around with the Mind Flayers in the sewers for awhile because I'm trying to decide whether they should be upgraded when I spruce up my install. I'm currently using Smarter Mind Flayers with enhanced resistances but without Invisibility detection.

I'm comfortable with them the way they are. They do a pretty good job of dealing with their invisibility detection issues through the use of Planar Travel and Invisibility (triggered by proximity). Plus, they can use their Psionics (including Ballistic Attack) on invisible opponents. This makes them non-trivial and interesting to fight without being serious hurdles. That's basically what I'd like to see out of Mind Flayers in my install.

On Melf's Minute Meteors

The engine's treatment of Melf's Minute Meteors remains one of my biggest pet peeves. I always hated how the player has to unequip the off hand weapon to avoid decking people with, say, a short sword at range. It also irks me that the Meteors ignore the Missle Weapon AC modifier. When Ashoka is wearing her Cloak of Displacement, the Boots of Avoidance, and The Claw, high level Archers often miss the mark. A low level Mage with a level 3 spell is a much more dangerous "archer" than an Archer. That makes little sense.

On the North Forest and Small Tooth Pass

If anyone is aware of a mod that makes good use of those areas, I'm all ears. The original encounters there were quite clearly after thoughts that didn't receive enough attention. I was never especially fond of the Tactics one either.

Anyhoo. Sorry if this post seemed pointless. Ashoka will start making storyline progress again soon.

Best,

A.

Btw. In response to your questions CB, there is no "reason" for the A names really. It's just something I started doing for no particular reason. I'm glad you are enjoying Ashoka's run.

[Alesia_BH]

Oh. One more note. Some of you may have been wondering why Ashoka hasn't been using Celestial Fury.

I usually restrict Fury to ToB since it has always seemed overpowered to me in SoA- especially since many characters can safely get it straight out of the Chateau if they wish.

I've decided to let Ashoka use it in the SoA endgame simply because Celestial Fury and Gessen seem to make a lot of sense for her. You'll see it pop up in future inventory pics.

Modifié par Alesia_BH, 27 octobre 2011 - 11:45 .

[Alesia_BH]

Quick Note on Ashoka's Game:

I'm having a bit of an issue in Bodhi's lair. Ashoka was fighting Tanova. Arkanis and Gofus were going to town on her while Ashoka stayed back and disrupted her with Gessen. She was at Badly Injured and basically screwed when she just up and vanished.

When I say vanished, I don't mean cast invisibility or took that Invisibility/Fireshield:Red/Fireshield: Blue Sequencer that SCS mages are fond of- I mean vanished with no corresponding entry in the battle log. Ashoka used Detect Invisibility via Dragonslayer and found nothing. She definitely wasn't running SI:D or a GoI at the time.

It's been a number of rounds now, and it doesn't look like Tanovs has any intention of coming back. Checked her coffin and she isn't in there.

Of course, Ashoka can't proceed so long as Tanovs isn't dead.

Thought on this?

Best,

A.

Modifié par Alesia_BH, 27 octobre 2011 - 11:46 .

[Alesia_BH]

Quick follow up. (Sorry so the needless double posting, but I can't use the edit function with my IPad.)

I had Ashoka carefully walk and or use Necklace of Missle blasts to check for invisible enemies. No Tanny. I had Ashoka rest. Still no Tanny.

I don't have any qualms about using the console here because Tanova was well and truly fracked when she vanished, but if there is another option, I'd be pleased to hear it.

[polytope]

I don't think you need to stake the vampires in chapter 6, Bodhi should be downstairs regardless. I remember seeing a speedrun where they just ran through the lair to get to her. You might feel cheated out of 9000 xp for staking Tanova, though.

I remember Illyich's mage doing this in previous versions of SCS, randomly vanishing after he took damage.

Modifié par polytope, 27 octobre 2011 - 10:54 .

[Alesia_BH]

You don't have to stake her. However, the door only pops open when she croaks in my install. She didn't croak. The door is locked.

It may be possible to bash the door open I suppose. I can try that.

Edit: She can't bash it open with the Gauntlets of Ogre Power on. She doesn't have any exceptional strength potions at the moment.

I'll send her over to get Jan and see it he can take care of it.

Modifié par Alesia_BH, 27 octobre 2011 - 11:19 .

[Grond0]

Sounds like a suitable candidate for the console / re-load to me.

[Alesia_BH]

Yeah. Ashoka asked one of her Shadow Thief allies to unlock it. Here is what happened.


It looks like Bodhi hired Firkraag's new chief of security- the one who rigged the game to hard crash. This guy is good...

Either the run ends with Tanova's cowardice condemning Suldanessalar, or Ashoka proceeds from the Auto Save. I'm inclined to go with the latter.

Best,

A.

Modifié par Alesia_BH, 27 octobre 2011 - 11:42 .

[Serg BlackStrider]

Alesia_BH wrote...

...or Ashoka proceeds from the Auto Save. I'm inclined to go with the latter.

 

I'm definitely vote for this!

(on a side note: this is not the first time I've read about such *glitches* in SCS caster's behavior and their consequences... and this is the main reason of my hesitation to try/skip all those *smarter's* updates...)

[Alesia_BH]

 Ashoka in Bodhi's Lair

I had taken the liberty of running Ashoka through from the pre-vanishing act Autosave. This time, Tanova was nixed and everything was peachy-keen after that. Since the locked door/no tanova thing doesn't seem to have an in game solution, it looks like this is going to end up being the official version. I'll post on that.

So: here it is.

Ashoka didn't take many pre-buffs- just MSD, and an occasional AoF/Hardiness. She kept Harmony in the off-hand and left Dragonslayer in weapon slot 2.

Fed Valen some Azuredge. MSD foiled her Bats.


Then, rendevouzed with Drizzt. There were a lot of Bats here and some were targetted on Drizzt's crew rather than Ashoka so she had to take them. Ashoka deliberately refrained from quaffing an Oil of Speed to avoid getting double nips.


The Bats hurt, but woe to thee vampires when Level Drain protected rangers unite (with or without the stinking hamsters...).


Instead of hanging back and waiting for the Thieves to nix Tanova, Ashoka offed her with Azuredge. I figured the insta-kill would evade any low hitpoint script-freaking. It worked.


Drizzt bailed when the confused thieves attacked him. Being one of the greatest warriors in the realms, you'd think the guy would know enough about combat to see that wasn't Ashoka's fault. Apparently he's a bit slow on the uptake though...Anyhoo. Ashoka proceeded to the inner sanctum with Arkanis. She used a "Protect that Presumably Large Stack of Tasty Potions from Level Drain Oblivion Scroll" (AKA- ProUndead) on him. She then used a Pro Undead scroll on herself to bolster her credentials as a complete and utter coward...

Entered the room, poisoned the Juicy-Juice, and then took down the Grimwarders (who are not fooled by Pro Undead).  


Then, Ashoka dropped Bodhi with Azuredge. Closing the doors and standing in the center of the room sped up the process. Otherwise, she would have had to chase Bodhi all over hill and dale.


I would have prefered to do this without Pro Undead. This was a resource management call really. Ashoka has little use for the games Pro Undead Scrolls but the other consumables she may have needed in that battle are in short supply now. In a sense, the Pro Undead use here was one of the down-stream consequences of those messes in the Underdark. Oh well. At least Ashoka can move on now.

Ashoka is headed back to Athkatla for one last shopping spree. Then it's off to Suldanessalar.

Best,

A.

Modifié par Alesia_BH, 27 octobre 2011 - 02:19 .

[Alesia_BH]

Serg BlackStrider wrote...
(on a side note: this is not the first time I've read about such *glitches* in SCS caster's behavior and their consequences... and this [/b][b]is the main reason of my hesitation to try/skip all those *smarter's* updates...)

Understood. And I can understand that. I see it as a small price to pay for a big enhancement.

I've only encountered the vanishing issue with one other mage. That was Nimbul in BG1. He did is once definitely- possibly twice.

In that case, I just ignored it. If you think about it, it adds realism. If you took a job for a little cash, and then learned it was going to get you killed, wouldn't you high-tail it?

This is the only time that I've been forced to go to a save because of something like that. Again. Small price to my mind.

Best,

A.

Modifié par Alesia_BH, 27 octobre 2011 - 02:21 .

[AnonymousHero]

Serg BlackStrider wrote...
(on a side note: this is not the first time I've read about such *glitches* in SCS caster's behavior and their consequences... and this is the main reason of my hesitation to try/skip all those *smarter's* updates...)

I can certainly understand such hesitation, but keep in my that Alesia is playing a pretty old version of SCS. I can't recall offhand ever having experienced these disappearing acts.

(EDIT: Quote fail)

Modifié par AnonymousHero, 27 octobre 2011 - 12:34 .

[Serg BlackStrider]

 @Alesia & AnonymousHero
Thanks for the comments, I'm really appreciate them! :happy: I'm thinking a lot and leaning quite hard towards trying most (if not all) SCS/SCSII components nowadays and such comments are both convincing and inspiring. Thanks again!

[Alesia_BH]

Yeah. I'm using SCS 15 mostly to avoid TobEX related issues. The current version is 19.

This is the first time I've encountered a problematic disappearing act.

There are kinks with SCS no doubt, but it irons out far more than it wrinkles.

When the game was developed, there wasn't that much time set aside to explore the Infinitely Engine scripting language. Further some key innovations (like Detectable Spells) weren't available. Because of this, most of the game's creatures are intensely stupid in comparison to what they could be.

I don't fault Bioware for this at all: it has taken countless man hours over the last decade for people to really push the limits of the scripting language. There is no way that level of exploration could have been economically feasible in the commerical development cycle and they are, of course, a business. We are very fortunate that they created a product that was, on the one hand, flexible and, on the other, interesting enough to motivate people to spend there own time fiddling with it. That's what has made it possible for things that couldn't be (and can't be) achieved in a finalized commercial game to become available to us in the Baldur's Gate world.

Basically, intelligent scripts can create minor issues here and there, but they remedy major issues which had little to do with developer intent or vision and a lot to do with the economics of game development. It's definitely a good trade from my point of view.

Best,

A.

Modifié par Alesia_BH, 27 octobre 2011 - 02:17 .

[Alesia_BH]

 Quick Note on Ashoka's Game:

Ashoka is just about ready to leave for Suldanessalar. There are still a few things in Athkatla that would be nice to have, but she has gathered the mission critical stuff (most notably, the Necklace of Form Stability, the Cloak of the Sewers, all the Oils of Speed, and a few other Potions). I may have her do the Unseeing Eye so she can buyout Roger, but I'll likely skip that and let her charge on. She's basically ready now. 

Ashoka's current character record and inventory.




Best,

A.


NW: Ashoka's robe has been upgraded. It now provides regeneration equivalent to the Ring of Regeneration (1HP/Round). That's not a combat relevant rate in late SoA/ToB of course. I mostly did this so I don't have to fiddle with her ring slots everytime she takes a nap. Also, she is missing out on the Ring of Gaxx on role playing grounds and this partially compensates. The full stats are now:

15% Resistance to Fire, Cold, and Acid
Blessed while Equipped
Regenerate 1 Hitpoint per Round

From a power perspective, I'm still not sold on it as a ToB caliber Armor slot item (In game Armor with the Ring of Gaxx and Gauntlets of Weapons Expertise would clearly be more powerful than her Robe with the RoP+2 and Bracers of AC3). It is definitely more satisying from a role playing point of view though. 

[Humanoid_Taifun]

I see you were level drained in the final confrontation with Bodhi.
Did you take the AoP off for some reason?

[Alesia_BH]

Humanoid_Taifun wrote...

I see you were level drained in the final confrontation with Bodhi.
Did you take the AoP off for some reason?

That happened earlier in the Tanova fight actually (it's a little harder to see the portrait icon in that shot though). She had taken the AoP off to activate the Shield Amulet  and was a little sloppy. She took a nip. It brought her down to Level 22.

She simply didn't bother using a Restoration scroll after. She was pretty sure she wouldn't need those levels to jack Bodhi with Azuredge running Pro Undead. 

Best,

A.

Modifié par Alesia_BH, 27 octobre 2011 - 03:40 .

[Wierdo]

Hey Serg

Welcome to ToB! It can get merciless here

Are you playing with any mods? E.g. SCSII or Ascension or Tactics etc?

EDIT: I posted this message last night so it is weird that it has just turned up now!

Modifié par Wierdo, 27 octobre 2011 - 04:18 .

[Triaxx2]

I wonder if taking tracking might have helped you find Tanova? Though it sounds like she didn't vanish as much as she passed the locked door and went down stairs. Which would be totally in character, and make complete sense in BG2.

[Serg BlackStrider]

Wierdo wrote...

Hey Serg

Welcome to ToB! It can get merciless here

Are you playing with any mods? E.g. SCSII or Ascension or Tactics etc?

EDIT: I posted this message last night so it is weird that it has just turned up now!

Thanks, Wierdo!:happy: 
I'm quite familiar with ToB, tho not in no-reload . At the moment I have only *cosmetic* components of SCS installed (and some other cosmetic mods such as Infinity Animations) but thanks to Alesia_BH and others I'm now quite sure that my next trilogy run with gnomish illusionist/thief (definitely a no-reload attempt) will be with most SCS/SCSII components and Ascension installed (albeit I may skip some *tougher* parts of *tactical challenges* for the first - familiarizing - tryout. I'm now deeply digging in readme files of this mods to decide of what I want to try and what not). No matter how my current run will end.

[amanasleep]

Alesia, as you go into ToB it may be useful to note that there are many outdoor battles, and high level Rangers can cast Call lightning at level 20 effective casting level. The only issue is how to get it to resolve without getting disrupted. Does enormous damage, though.

[Alesia_BH]

amanasleep wrote...

Alesia, as you go into ToB it may be useful to note that there are many outdoor battles, and high level Rangers can cast Call lightning at level 20 effective casting level. The only issue is how to get it to resolve without getting disrupted. Does enormous damage, though.

Yeah. I've noticed it. Thanks fot the reminder though. 

Call Lightning may be fun in a trivial battle, but I'm not inclined to view it as a serious tactical tool. The casting time is way too long.

When playing thieves and warriors I almost always let my enemies take the initiative when it comes to aura use. I prefer to let them fiddle with the long casting time stuff and then use my aura for quick acting counters.

Basically, I prefer to be reactive, quick, and precisely right rather than lead and hope for the best. Call Lightning is more of a lead and hope for the best spell.

If I have impenetrable defenses: sure, I'll lead then. Otherwise I keep my aura in reserve.

The annoying thing about Clerics and such is that they rarely have impenetrable defenses and a lot of their spells have long casting times...

Ashoka has been using her book for buffs almost exclusively. Doom has been the only useable red spell for her.

Best,

A.

Btw. The above comments are applicable to the real Ashoka. I recently caved and bought Vhailor primarily for Rat tanking and Kachiko duplication. You may see Call Lightning from Simmy Ashoka every now and then.

[Alesia_BH]

Triaxx2 wrote...

I wonder if taking tracking might have helped you find Tanova? Though it sounds like she didn't vanish as much as she passed the locked door and went down stairs. Which would be totally in character, and make complete sense in BG2.

Oh my. That's a great idea.

Unfortunately, I don't think it would work. Ashoka systematically covered most of the place on foot. Areas that she could not cover on foot (Blood and Blades) were systematically blasted with the Necklace of Missle. She just isn't in their. 

I'm tempted to go back to the save and try tracking though just for kicks. It would be phenomenally cool if that worked.:happy:

Best,

A.

[Alesia_BH]

 Quick Note on Ashoka's Game:

I had Ashoka do the Unseeing Eye Quest to raise cash for Vhailor. She was seriously over-levelled for this but I'll post on it because it was interesting for me. I haven't done the Unseeing Eye in over 5 years and that one was an Improved Anvil solo and thus noticeably different. I really didn't feel I knew much about the quest heading in. It went smoothly though.

I think Ashoka is going to take the prize for most ridiculous use of a Whirlwind Attack: it was a failed attempt to kill a Webbed Mephit. Patentely absurd, but it did actually make sense given the context.


Ashoka got some really pathetic spawns down in Studio 54.


Do they wrap around if your level is too high or is this all the place has to offer?

The Beholder spawns looked ok though.


Anyhoo. Most of the Beholders were killed with the Spear of the Unicorn + Cloak of Reflection. With this setup and her standard items, the Beholder's offense was limited to 50% damage Cause Wounds and bites.


The Gauths were actually more threatening because they were more inclined to use their bites and stick with Cause Wounds.


The Unseeing Eye was taken out in about 1/3rd of a round. Ashoka used the Rod, the Efreeti tossed a Fireball to follow. The Elementals were pointless, but they looked nice.



Ashoka could have given Gaal the chance to whine when she returned. But within the game world, it seems clear that: A) the guy is as deserving of death as anyone; and if you do talk to him, he isn't going to invite you to sit down for tea and crumpets given that you just killed his god and all. With that in mind, this made perfect sense.


That was the end of the quest basically. All that was left was a little looting and potion scoring.

On the way home, Ashoka ran into some of her old Mind Flaying playmates. I'll share a few shots to give the non-SCS players a sense of how they deal with invisibility.

Earlier, Ashoka was invisible. Since there was little they could do offensively, they disappeared, and waited. Then, when they saw an opening, they revealed themselves and launched a coordinated attack.


Ashoka drank a potion of Invisibility, and they instantly diappeared- insuring that they wouldn't become backstab fodder.


As Ashoka was walking away invisible, one of them used Planar Travel, and followed with a Psionic ability that didn't require sight targetting.


Ashoka would have to be pretty sloppy to let these guys kill her, but the kids are all right: they're fun, and their ability use makes perfect sense. Presumably, you could blast them with AoE spells, but they do get enhanced resistances to that stuff. They work as far as I'm concerned.

Anyhoo. Suldanessalar is truly just around the corner now. I'll let you know when she gets there.

Best,

A.

Modifié par Alesia_BH, 27 octobre 2011 - 08:21 .