15202 réponses à ce sujet

[Grimwald the Wise]

@Grimwald: no offense, but why do you feel its necessary to have a 113 point roll on your already OP Paladin? And where do the troglodytes come from?

 

The roll was this in BG1. Which was 100. The extra points were from tomes picked up in BG1.

 

 

At the end of BG1 these were the stats. (There was a bit more experience to come.) Which as you say is 113.

 

 

This is more than the norm as the mods that make BG1 a bit harder, give tomes as a reward.

 

The Dragonslayer kit that I used in BG1 is actually less powerful than the standard kits. Unfortunately, that kit seems to have been overwritten by the other mods in BG2 so that Dragonslayer BG2 and Dragonslayer BG1 are two completely different kits. See BG1 thread to see what it was like.

 

I have no idea which mod the troglodytes are from. Whatever it is, it certainly makes a big impact on the game. Having Ogres, Ettins and Wraiths in the dungeon makes it considerably harder and that ambush when trying to save the slaves makes the game much, much harder.

 

I am not expecting to live long with this set-up even with the BG2 Dragonslayer kit. For one thing, I have no idea what is going to happen next! I like that.

[Grond0]

Well done Corey.  Have you got any further adventures planned or are you going to let Coremonk III enjoy his retirement for a bit?

[corey_russell]

Well done Corey.  Have you got any further adventures planned or are you going to let Coremonk III enjoy his retirement for a bit?

I want to play paladin(s), but I've already did the all paladin party successfully. So Russell VI the Undead Hunter came off the conveyor belt, but the twist is he will be solo for the trilogy. He MIGHT let NPCs join briefly (personal quest, etc.), but all story related fights (Sarevok, Irenicus, Melissan) he will be solo. He's on the road from Beregost to Nashkel at the moment.

[Aasim]

Actually, he has some ability which turns people into Shadows. 

This is a no-save ability which he uses upon any PC dying in this battle apperantly. Nothing prevents it, and it forces chunked death. 

[corey_russell]

Congratulations, Corey! I remember having quite a difficult time with Draconis when no-reloading with a Monk. Well done!

I can understand your difficulty. Back on the old board, I did a challenge where you had to play the entire group of all the same class. Thus I was 6 monks - even using arcane wands, we could not get past Draconis WITH RELOADS! I actually had to abandon the run, and I did that battle like a dozen times...

[Blackraven]

@Greenman019, the portraits I use are from different sources on the internet (often cut and resized by me and sometimes I change tone and saturation). Google Images and DeviantArt are great places to start. If there's a portrait I use that you find particularly interesting I could attach it to a post here so that you can use it.

 

With Lilarcor secured, Thani began traveling to other areas in Athkatla and even beyond the city borders. First, Neera was temporarily recruited, for the sole purpose of unlocking her specific areas, which would allow Thani to obtain the Shield of Fyrus Khal.

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Importantly the Aura of Magical Protection isn't constant; it comes and goes. Reassured by her new shield she decided to take on the slaver compound. This went all very well, even though captain Haegan proved once more to be an exceptional fighter (vulnerable but oh so damaging both in melee and ranged with his axes).

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However, when she activated her shield's Spell Turning ability to take on the Slaver Wizards, she had to save vs spell in order not to be blinded by the Gnome. I think the spell didn't reflect back to the Gnome. However I forgot to check when panic broke out as Thani failed a save vs spell against the Human wizard's Confusion spell cast at her (Spell Turning doesn't protect against AoE spells). She was lucky to keep on fighting and  survive while confused, before she dispacthed her foes when she had regained control of herself.

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Thani's exploits were amply rewarded by Hendak, bringing her fortune over 20k GP. Since she wanted to undertake all the easier quests in Athkatla that I'm aware of, including Wellyn, she bought two green scrolls of PfMagic leaving her with <15k GP, so that she could enter the Graveyard District for Wellyn without having to decide on whether or not to work for Bodhi. Other quests successfully completed were: 

- Sarles,

- Skinner Murders (without fighting the Rune Assassins downstairs),

- Risa the orphan girl in the Graveyard district, 

- Tirdir (only Reti was slain, the Dwarf eluded Thani; Silver Pantaloons were acquirerd),

- retrieving a holy ring for the Temple of Lathander;

- stealing a necklace at the Talassan temple for Mae'Var.

 

Thani avoided fights with ambushing slavers and bandits, except for the confrontation with Renfeld's poisoners. There was no Cleric there to cast Hold Person, so she decided to rescue the man and bring him to his Harper friends.

These quests helped Thani reach level 11 (don't remember exactly when), before she went to visit the Arnise Keep. This was an extremely frustrating adventure, up to the point of me considering to to simply abandon the run. I think it must be SCS-related, although the Keep wasn't nearly as annoying with my previous Wizard Slayer. First of all the Trolls, which are supposed to be extremely vulnerable to fire and acid, required on average 5-7 fire or acid arrow each before they would die. Their saves vs spells are apparently very good; note that the fire damage of fire arrows can be saved against. But even with acid arrows (that allow for no such save) Thani needed to waste 5-6 of them on a single Troll.

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This meant that there simply didn't seem to be sufficient fire/acid arrows in the game to kill them all. Thani had tor return to Athkatla (and even went to Watcher's Keep) to buy said arrows. She found them (80 fire arrows) only at Maheer's. Upon returning, her new supply soon proved to be insufficient as well, as the Trolls seemed to have respawned. The following screenshots are from the hallways on the ground floor and the second floor, both of which had been cleared by Thani. The ground floor had even been cleared completely.

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I allowed myself a test save to enter a few rooms that Thani had already entered and cleared. (Knowing that the Trolls were respawning, Thani wouldn't enter those rooms, but I was curious as to what the game was doing here, hence the test save.) The result was something like this:

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Honestly this really sucked the fun out of this challenge, and I came close to simply abandoning my playthough and go back to my Assassin.

Anyway, bottlenecking the Trolls allowed Thani to clear most of the ground floor again (at least the hallway), and upstairs in the library she had little difficulty with the Yuan-Ti mage, initially the foe she feared the most, thanks to her Shield of Fyrus Khal. Interestingly there were no Trolls in the library; they had gone after Thani before.

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Thankfully Thani was able to slay a few more Trolls and to make her way to the golem room with the fire head of the FoA, and to the cellars where she found more fire/acid ammo. She added the fire head to her flail, slew more trolls (using DUHM when dealing with Spirit Trolls), and bested Glaicus (who panicked after he got hit a couple of times). She then forged the FoA +3, as expected not without being bothered by more Trolls, but with the FoA +3 and a level up (12, with a second pip in Two Weapon Fighting), they became more manageable.

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Thani has now, hopefully permanently cleared the first floor and the second. She'll wait with the Umber Hulks, TorGal and others in the cellars until later.

[Blackraven]

Congrats from me as well Corey!! Must be a great feeling (even though it's not your first time).
Best of luck Grimwald with your new, true Dragonslayer!
 

[corey_russell]

Congrats from me as well Corey!! Must be a great feeling (even though it's not your first time).
Best of luck Grimwald with your new, true Dragonslayer!
 

It may not be my first time ever, but it is my first with a monk. He was badly wounded many times - in BG 1 in particular, there a were a number of fights I thought he was a goner (including getting down to 1 HP), but his speed always came through to escape.

[Grimwald the Wise]

Best of luck Grimwald with your new, true Dragonslayer!

 

Thanks. I actually preferred the other Dragonslayer mod, but don't know how to get it back in Amn. Having hauled him through BG it would have been nice to have him become a mighty hero in Amn where he should have flourished a bit more.

Congrats from me as well Corey!! That is something that I have only done once.

 

I joined up with Imoen to try and escape, but found my way blocked by many powerful enemies.

 

 

The ogres hurt me very badly when aided by goblins.

 

 

I did however survive.

 

These ogres by themselves were not a problem.

 

 

A bit later on I had to fight two demonknights. Imoen summoned some monsters to keep one occupied whilst we fought the other. The monster died just after the first demonknight, so the tactic worked.

 

 

Later on we were attacked by the vampire Ulvaryl, which I managed to kill:

 

 

The last battle in the dungeon was an ettin which with the help of Minsc and Jaheira, we were able to defeat.

 

[Serg BlackStrider]

These quests helped Thani reach level 11 (don't remember exactly when), before she went to visit the Arnise Keep. This was an extremely frustrating adventure, up to the point of me considering to to simply abandon the run. I think it must be SCS-related, although the Keep wasn't nearly as annoying with my previous Wizard Slayer. First of all the Trolls, which are supposed to be extremely vulnerable to fire and acid, required on average 5-7 fire or acid arrow each before they would die. Their saves vs spells are apparently very good; note that the fire damage of fire arrows can be saved against. But even with acid arrows (that allow for no such save) Thani needed to waste 5-6 of them on a single Troll.

You might consider to try out a very nice Polytweak mod. It supposed to work with vanilla SoA/ToB but if you dig through the thread you'll find out that it might work with BG2EE as well.

[corey_russell]

Grimwald the Wise said...

Congrats from me as well Corey!! That is something that I have only done once.

 

That may be Wise, but you have many more mods than I do - sure you get neat classes and equipment that I don't get, but you also more ways to die - that might not be in your favor in the long run, though I'm sure it's fun for you.

[Grimwald the Wise]

That may be Wise, but you have many more mods than I do - sure you get neat classes and equipment that I don't get, but you also more ways to die - that might not be in your favor in the long run, though I'm sure it's fun for you.

 

It certainly is

.

Diary of Durdin

 

After dealing with some of the slavers I went shopping for boots and armour. This left me poor again, but beause of the equipment I was able to go after more slavers.

 

 

On the way I met an Olyugh.

 

 

I came across this potion, but decided not to use it for myself.

 

 

The armour and boots meant that those opposing me had little chance.

 

 

So, after acquiring Licanor, I went after the slavers:

 

 

After freeing the slaves, I agreed to help Nalia to get her Castle back. On the way I met a lich who was quite tough. Nalia used Cloudkill which helped dispose of the summoned pit fiend.

 

I was quite fortunate when fighting the trolls as I only had one arrow of fire left when the last one fell. I then found 20 more in the room above.

 

 

The lich died soon afterwards.

 

 

In the Copper Coronet Nalia had pick-pocketted a potion from Surly that raised her dexterity by 1. She also used the other potion that raised her hit-points by 2. It was only because Surly is such a despicable character that I condoned Nalia's actions there. It was not the sort of thing that I would have done, but who am I to judge?

[Blackraven]

You might consider to try out a very nice Polytweak mod. It supposed to work with vanilla SoA/ToB but if you dig through the thread you'll find out that it might work with BG2EE as well.

Thanks Serg, that's a very good suggestion. I think I'll install the mod (or at least the relevant component) when I start a new run. According to the SCS readme, the Trolls' behaviour is expected the 'More resilient Trolls component', but the limited amount of ammo, the Trolls' saves against the fire damage of fire arrows, and their respawning is just a bit too much for me to have a good time. To be honest, Thani could have died or get stuck in that she wouldn't be able to assemble the FoA +3. I was thinking of having her buy Flametongue, but with no proficiency in longswords, and thus only 1 APR, even that weapon wouldn't have done much.

I do feel a bit bad about my test save btw, which I used to see whether the Trolls respawned in all rooms/areas; it helped me find out that such was the case. In hindsight I think I should have allowed myself to test after I finished assembling the FoA +3 or after dying. What do people think, didn't I break the no-reload rule here? If I did, I'd be willing to restart SoA with Thani (I see little reason to restart in Candlekeep).
 
 

[Grimwald the Wise]

Blackraven, I am wondering how you hide your images. I used to know, but have forgotten. Put it down to old age.

[Serg BlackStrider]

Blackraven, I am wondering how you hide your images. I used to know, but have forgotten. Put it down to old age.

Hide them within a spoiler: {spoiler}...{/spoiler}. Use [ ] instead of { }.

[EA1]

Episode 5: Faldorn, questing and pondering

 

After the Shadelord fail, Raven, Korgan and Valygar fought their way to Faldorn. They did have to skip about 12 trolls and the shadowdruids waiting for them, instead relying on stealth, invisibility and sanctuary.

 

Raven challenged Faldorn and fully buffed, cast an insect swarm. Faldorn couldnt compete... Even without the insect swarm and even when hit with a swarm himself Raven would just have activated Kai a couple of times and with 22 strength and kensai thaco in bear form would've probably ripped faldorn apart...

 

For easy experience, Raven decided to slay the remaining critters in the druid grove, but both Valygar and Korgan got killed while trying... Raven packed their stuff in Hexxats bag and went to Trademeet alone.  

 

Here he raised Dorn, got the reward from the High merchant, gave him the circlet from the noble families, recruited Rashad, and went back to the slums. He paid Gaelan Bale and went to get Anomen. 

 

Anomen is one of my favorite npc's. He's very powerful, with excellent thaco, strength and hp, and gets to cast powerful cleric spells early in the game if you recruit him at level 11. He was already able to cast 2 raise dead and 2 heals when I recruited him! So I let him raise and heal Korgan and Valygar.

 

What I didnt think about, however, was Dorn... 

 

I like Enhanced Edition, but some things lack the finesse of the original.. As soon as Anomen saw Dorn, the dialogue that followed ment either killing (effectively chunking) Dorn or Anomen.

Anomen is more powerful but only slightly so, while Dorn is just an interesting character who I havent played before, so I let them duke it out 1 on 1, Dorn eventually got Anomen with poison weapon. 

 

Dead so far: Yoshimo, Edwin, Hexxat, Mazzie, Anomen.

 

I wanted to try out the Planar Sphere wih Korgan and Valygar but after thinking for a second I realised that would be almost too challenging having both NO thief and NO arcane caster... Raven therefore left both men at the entrance of the sphere and went of to do Rashaads quests. 

 

I have alreadyw done his quests before so I might skip them, instead doing the thieves guild quests for Aran Linveail. I have also yet to slay any big partys nor have I recruited the mighty Keldorn or saved Hear Dalis... I'll see about that next time..

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Interesting happenings:

 

-5 npcs dead already isnt unrealistic, seeing as Raven is the son of the god of murder after all..

-I want to level up dorn to 12 because only then will his main quest continue, I've read. He's 11 now. When I've done his quests I will probably kick him out, as this is still a minimal npc run. 

-For your information, I never use the new spell 'summon werebears', included in the tweakpack. Weimer really made a mistake creating this spell, it is completely bonkers, creating 2 near indestructible level 20 fighter-bears. 

-I am constantly playing with the portraits and the ultimate portrait pack. Finding and using new ones for Dorn, Hexxat and Aerie, as well as Raven, so far, is fun. The art is great!

-I think I am going to recruit Keldorn against the vampire lair, because I heard Tanova is a level 20 vampire mage.. I need his dispell  

[Blackraven]

I've left behind my hesitations about my using a test save to see whether all Trolls had respawned. The reason for said save was never to cheat but rather to see whether I was dealing with some kind of bug, and to take a screenshot or two to show to you fellow forumites, and learn if the massive respawning of the Trolls is expected behavior. (I repeat that in the same setup my previous Wizard Slayer, who rested plenty of times outside the Keep, never had to deal with respawning Trolls, or at least not in those numbers.)

 

In a way the respawning of the Trolls was an advantage for Thani, because when she had the FoA +3, she could farm some ever welcome XP. She left for Athkatla to sell loot she had pillaged from the Keep, and returned for more. It allowed her to do a tremendous investment: 42k GP for the Defender of Easthaven, her off-hand weapon for when she doesn't use a shield.

Both outside and inside the Keep, fresh Trolls awaited her, but as said before, the monsters weren't the threat to her that they had been. With difficulty and thanks to DUHM, she even slew the Umber Hulks in the cellars using Lilarcor (despite non-proficiency). TorGal and his friends were left alone. (TorGal has a special ability that causes enemies to panic, and Thani has no protection from Fear).

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Back in Athkatla, she continued her quest for Renal Bloodscalp, starting with the liquidation of Rayic Gethras. The wizard's lackeys weren't much of a problem (even though they did hurt her), and Rayic himself was remarkably toothless when Thani confronted him whilst protected by Spell Turning. Her Tuigan Bow, possibly the best ranged weapon in the game for a Wizard Slayer, helped her neutralize his spellcasting and eventually dispatch him.

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She reported her successful infiltration work for the Bloodscalp, but waited with taking on Mae'Var & Co. First she accepted to find (fake) Montaron for Xzar, killing the Spectral Harpists for XP, and she settled some unfinished business at the Tanner's (slaying Ghasts, a Bone Golem, and Rune Assassins). 

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Mae'Var was next. Thani dealt with his priest of Cyric first, nicely disrupting his attempta at casting with her FoA +3 (which is quickly becoming my favorite BG2 weapon, even though I've always been more of a swordsman). Mae'Var was next. He didn't hurt her, but his Stoneskins kept him going longer than desirable. His backstabbing assassins had Thani quaff many a potion of extra healing (at least six, as the images below demonstrate), until they ran out of invisibility potions and started attacking with their bows.

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The Umar Hills were Thani's next destination. She did the sidequests in Imnesvale, and she cleared the Temple Ruins dungeon, leaving the Shadow Dragon and the Shade Lord for the time being. 

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In Athkatla Thani decided to investigate the disappearance of Haer'Dalis from the Sigil Troupe. She had to enter the Athkatla sewers for that. The Dwarf ran into an unfriendly group of adventurers. The first to come after her when she retreated were the fighters, her fellow dwarvenkin Draug Fea and Tarnor. The Prophet came to their aid, but it wouldn't help them (the prophet's Hold Person spells had no effect since Thani's Save vs Spells was already down to 1). Draug Fea fell first, followed by Tarnor and the Prophet. Thani must be pretty awe-inspiring because Tarnor wasn't the first to cower in fear after having been hit a few times. Zorl, Gallobchair and Rengaard were the next to fall, in that order. None of these men were much of a treat. The same could not be said of the last of the adventurers, Gaius the Mage, whose Secret Word dispelled her shield's Spell Turning. Thani responded with a fusillade of Ice Arrows that soon disabled, and killed the wizard.

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Like Gaius the Rakshasa Mage was readily disabled with with ranged attacks, and slain in melee. The same goes for Mekrath's Yuan-Ti Mages. Since they were three, Thani made sure to separate them, so that she could fight them one at a time.

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Thani fetched Mekrath's mirror for him and tried to kill him after that (more XP), but the wizard teleported away before she could finish him off.

The Dwarf's latest feat is destroying the Fallen Paladins for Ryan Trawl. She's just made it to level 16, has Vhailor's Helm already in her possession as well as a Helmet of Charm Protection, and a bit more than 15k GP. She might go and pay the Shadow Thieves for their help, and for the Mace of Disruption. Her DUHM Strength of 23 should suffice to break the lock on Neb's door. So with the upgraded MoD and the Helm of Charm protection she could deal with the first part of the Windspear Hills, the Undead in the Unseeing Eye Quest, and perhaps the Shade Lord as well. The problem could be obtaining the Mace...

[corey_russell]

@Blackraven - looks good so far. By the way you said you avoided Torgal because you had no protection from fear. There's a clarity potion somewhere in the Cowled Wizard's room in Umar Hills - you could use that. Dragonslayer (I think that's what the sword is called) in Windspear Hills dungeon would be an option too, with it's immunity to fear.

[Blackraven]

Thanks Corey. I think Dragonslayer would be the only option at this stage of the game, as Wizard Slayers cannot use potions (except healing/antidotes). However in order to get the sword, Thani will have to deal with a group of vampires first... I'm not sure if there's a reason to fight Torgal though, could be unnecessarily risky. 

[corey_russell]

Thanks Corey. I think Dragonslayer would be the only option at this stage of the game, as Wizard Slayers cannot use potions (except healing/antidotes). However in order to get the sword, Thani will have to deal with a group of vampires first... I'm not sure if there's a reason to fight Torgal though, could be unnecessarily risky. 

WS can use green scrolls - protection from undead works great against that group of vampires - that's what I do in all my runs anymore, just a lot safer. You could then use protection from fire scroll against the genies to get the sword. You would have to deal with Samia's group - or I suppose you could run for the exit and deal with them later, maybe if you don't get bottled up.

[Blackraven]

Good point Corey. Thanks! Those green PfUndead scrolls will come in handy (even if Thani has accomplished other means of protecting herself). I wonder how well these scrolls work in the Bodhi fight at the end of Chapter 3.

Here a brief update:

 

Although she released Haer'Dalis and found the gemstone needed for interplanar travel, Thani didn't visit the Bard and his colleagues at the Five Flagons. The gemstone is safely tucked away under a pillow in of the beds of her new home, Rayic Gethras' former home, conveniently located next to her friends of the Shadow Thieves. Because friends they have become. After her profitable association with Renal Bloodscalp, the Dwarf decided to take up the Guild on their offer to help her in her hunt for Irenicus. Somewhat annoyed, after all she had just paid 15k GP, she performed a number of minor tasks for their guild leader, Aran Linvail, before he more or less instructed her to take out the competing guild in its entirety. Thani hasn't gone that far yet, but she did make some progress against what turned out to be vampires.

Without negative plane protection, but protected against charm and shielded by Spell Turning, she entered their lair and killed two Vampires, Gellal and Durst, and two Fledgling Vampires, as well as a Golem, before she found a Mace hidden in a pool of blood. Permanently slaying Durst with a wooden stake, made her reach level 17.

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Thani left with the mace and presented it to her neighbor Cromwell, a fellow Dwarf and a conoisseur of enchanted weapons. He told her that he could upgrade the weapon, a Mace of Disruption, to one that grantes negative plane protection and a chance of insta-killing undead. He needed Illithium for that though. Thani recalled her dealings with Hilldark the Duergar trader in the Copper Coronet, who had directed her to a derelict little house in the Bridge District. Thani managed to force the door with DUHM and kill the inhabitant, Neb the illithium thief and child murderer. Cromwell then forged the Mace of Disruption +2 for her. Armed with it, Thani returned to the vampires' lair where she slew another Fledging Vampire and a Vampire Wizard, Tanova, in spite of the latter having all kinds of magical protections (Stoneskin, PfMW, Minor Globe, Haste), her removing Thani's Spell Turning with a Spell Thrust, and her subjecting the Dwarf to a Chaos spell. 

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Contented with her warning blows struck at the Vampires, Thani decided to deal with other Undead with whom she still had a score to settle: the Shade Lord and his lackeys. She buffed with her shield's Spell Turning, Ilbratha's Mirror Image, and DUHM. After she spoke with the creature the Dwarf immediately pelted it with three acid arrows, and then switched to her Mace of Disruption in the main hand (to protect herself against the Shade Lord's level drains) and FoA in the off hand. With those two weapons she pounded the Shadow Altar that kept spawning shadows until she destroyed it. The Mace of Disruption worked wonders against the Shadows, including Shadow Patrick.

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<img src="http://cdn.vanillafo...eb588a99490.jpg" />

<img src="http://cdn.vanillafo...cf0144cb2d5.jpg" />

The Shade Lord had a Blade Barrier protecting him, and he cast PW Blind twice. It didn't stop Thani from slaying the Shadows, but she did make sure to keep her distance from the Shade Lord while blinded. Once the blindness had worn off, and the Shade Lord's Blade Barrier as well, she started hitting it in melee, disrupting its casting, and slowly injuring him, until it actually fell. 

Spoiler

<img src="http://cdn.vanillafo...c5fcbbe661a.jpg" />

<img src="http://cdn.vanillafo...e7a715277f6.jpg" />

<img src="http://cdn.vanillafo...988f9724fb8.jpg" />

<img src="http://cdn.vanillafo...b3835fa5c42.jpg" />

Areas that have now become more interesting for Thani are the Windspear Hills and the tunnels below Athkatla (Unseeing Eye). Trademeet may still be an issue due to the Shrooms with their Confusion attacks.

[corey_russell]

@Blackraven: Just a word of caution - I've run into bugs with PfU scrolls when dialog is involved. For example, the shadow dragon wardstone, in vanilla, you don't get it if you have PfU running and solo. And Bodhi does do dialog, so it may or may not be a great idea, depending on your install.

[Blackraven]

Thanks Corey. I think I would like to use a PfU scroll though, maybe after the dialog has finished.
 

Thani made some more progress. Her first mission was to investigate the Unseeing Eye cult. She battled her way past Shadowy creatures and Ettercaps to get an assignment from Gaal to retrieve part of a control rod that the Unseeing Eye was after. She succeeded, though the road to the device was a difficukt one. After she solved some riddles to pass a bridge, which leveled her up to 18 with a 4th pip in Flails, she faced Gauths and Beholders. The creatures' spells didn't hurt her thanks to her excellent saving throws. Her save vs spells is 0 (with the Helm of Balduran), but the creatures' Cause Serious Wounds attacks did injure her severely even though she tried to take them on on at a time, using her trusty Tuigan Bow to attack with enchanted arrows.

Spoiler

<img src="http://cdn.vanillafo...602e9f1cdf7.jpg" />

<img src="http://cdn.vanillafo...bbe6f15d2ec.jpg" />

 

She was proposed by the avatar of an almost obsolete deity and by former Unseeing Eye cultists to unite her part of the rod with a second part and kill the Unseeing Eye with it, but when she looked at the filthy pit that she would have to descend into and when she took into account the difficulty she had had with the Gauths and Beholders, she decided not to risk her neck down there. Ever eager to seek profit, Thani then decided to hand the her part of the rift device to Gaal. It netted her 75k XP but no gratitude from Gaal. He foolishly attacked her, and paid for it with his life.

Spoiler

<img src="http://cdn.vanillafo...a819a78568a.jpg" />

<img src="http://cdn.vanillafo...3df08216377.jpg" />

When she was just on her way back to the surface, the Unseeing Eye appeared in front of her. 

Spoiler

<img src="http://cdn.vanillafo...393b1215d88.jpg" />

It stripped her surprisingly quickly of her Spell Turning, and it was immune to Thani's flail attacks, so the Dwarf left the premises as fast as she could, though not before being blinded by the Beholder. Does anyone if it's possible to kill the Unseeing Eye without the rift device?

 

More rewarding for Thani was her expedition to the Windspear Hills. Orc Archers, a Ruhk Transmuter, Stone Golems, and even an Adamantite Golem fell before her might. 

Spoiler

<img src="http://cdn.vanillafo...a49d651c96f.jpg" />

<img src="http://cdn.vanillafo...d61318182e4.jpg" />

<img src="http://cdn.vanillafo...29f24835fa8.jpg" />

<img src="http://cdn.vanillafo...02245640ada.jpg" />

What she enjoyed the most though, was her encounter with plenty of Vampires (aided by Mummies and Ghouls). Armed with her Helm of Charm Protection and the Mace of Disruption, she dispatched the Vampires with little difficulty.

Spoiler

<img src="http://cdn.vanillafo...391f66e76fb.jpg" />

<img src="http://cdn.vanillafo...bbc2108f327.jpg" />

<img src="http://cdn.vanillafo...022574611c2.jpg" />

It was only later that I realized that the Vampires didn't show their SCS behavior that I'm used to. In SCS v21 they summon dread wolves and clouds of bats among other things. I checked the SCS v28 readme, and after that my Weidu-log and it turns out that between the smarter Mind Flayers and the smarter Githyanki I somehow failed to install the Improved Vampires component, which would also explain my easy success in the Vampire lair in Athkatla. I'm not sure what to do now. I cannot go back because I have no earlier saves (after all no-reload = no-reload lol). I'm also reluctant to install the component with my current game going, because I have had bad experiences with that (game crashes). I think this is just going to be no-reload SCS playthrough but without the improved vampires. :/

 

For those interested, here's my BG2EE weidu-log:

Spoiler

// Log of Currently Installed WeiDU Mods

// The top of the file is the 'oldest' mod

// ~TP2_File~ #language_number #component_number // [Subcomponent Name -> ] Component Name [ : Version]

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #1000 // Initialise mod (all other components require this): v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #2010 // More consistent Breach spell (always affects liches and rakshasas; doesn't penetrate Spell Turning): v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #2030 // Iron Skins behaves like Stoneskin (can be brought down by Breach): v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #2050 // Allow individual versions of Spell Immunity to be placed into Contingencies and Spell Triggers: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #2070 // Blade Barrier and Globe of Blades only affect hostile creatures: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #2160 // Add an extra copy of some hard-to-find spell scrolls: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #4000 // Faster Bears: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #4010 // Grant large, flying, non-solid or similar creatures protection from Web and Entangle: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #4030 // Improved shapeshifting: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #4180 // Make Freedom scrolls available earlier: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #5010 // Move Boo into Minsc's pack: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #5020 // Remove the blur graphic effect from the Cloak of Displacement: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #5030 // Remove animation from the Cloak of Mirroring (leave it for other spells and effects that use the same graphic): v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #5900 // Initialise AI components (required for all tactical and AI components): v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #6000 // Smarter general AI: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #6010 // Better calls for help: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #6021 // Add high-level abilities (HLAs) to spellcasters -> Only selected spellcasters in Throne of Bhaal and Shadows of Amn get HLAs: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #6031 // Smarter Mages -> Mages only cast short-duration spells instantly at start of combat if they are created in sight of the PC: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #6040 // Smarter Priests -> Priests cast some short-duration spells instantly at start of combat, to simulate pre-battle casting: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #6100 // Potions for NPCs -> All of the potions dropped by slain enemies are recoverable: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #6200 // Improved Spiders: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #6500 // Improved golems: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #6511 // Improved fiends -> Fiends have normal hit points: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #6521 // Smarter genies -> Genies have normal hit points: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #6531 // Smarter celestials -> Celestials have normal hit points: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #6541 // Smarter dragons -> Dragons have normal hit points: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #6550 // Smarter beholders -> Give beholder rays some chance to "burn through" spell protections; beholder antimagic blocks all spells, including harmful ones, for a round (simulates D&D rules): v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #6563 // Smarter mind flayers -> Illithids have enhanced damage resistance; Illithids cannot see invisible enemies: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #6570 // Smarter githyanki: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #6590 // Smarter Throne of Bhaal final villain: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #8000 // Make the starting dungeon slightly harder: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #8010 // Improved Shade Lord: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #8020 // Spellcasting Demiliches: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #8030 // More resilient trolls: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #8040 // Increase difficulty of level-dependent monster groupings -> Mildly increased difficulty: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #8050 // Improved Random Encounters: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #8060 // Improved de'Arnise Keep ("Tactics Remix") -> Spirit trolls have the same powers as in the original game: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #8070 // Improved Unseeing Eye: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #8100 // Improved battle with Irenicus in Spellhold: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #8110 // Improved Sahuagin: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #8120 // Improved Beholder hive (adapted from Quest Pack): v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #8130 // Prevent resting in the Illithid city: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #8140 // Slightly Improved Drow -> Upgrade Ust Natha's defences: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #8150 // Slightly Improved Watcher's Keep: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #8160 // Improved Fire Giant temple: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #8170 // Enhanced Sendai's Enclave: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #8180 // Improved Abazigal's Lair: v28

~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #8190 // Improved Minor Encounters: v28

~RR/SETUP-RR.TP2~ #0 #0 // Proper dual-wielding implementation for Thieves and Bards: v4.71

~RR/SETUP-RR.TP2~ #0 #4 // Bard kit revisions: v4.71

~RR/SETUP-RR.TP2~ #0 #5 // Bard High Level Ability revisions: v4.71

~RR/SETUP-RR.TP2~ #0 #6 // Proper spell progression for Bards: v4.71

~RR/SETUP-RR.TP2~ #0 #7 // Additional equipment for Thieves and Bards: v4.71

~RR/SETUP-RR.TP2~ #0 #8 // Upgradeable Equipment: v4.71

~RR/SETUP-RR.TP2~ #0 #11 // Chosen of Cyric encounter: v4.71

~RR/SETUP-RR.TP2~ #0 #12 // Shadow Thief Improvements: v4.71

~RR/SETUP-RR.TP2~ #0 #999 // BG2-style icons for RR content: v4.71

As you can see I didn't choose the absolute hardest game, because I didn't increase the hitpoints of Dragons, Genies etc. 

 

Anyway, Thani was equally victorious in her confrontation with Greater Wolfweres, a Director Beholder, and six Guardian Genies.

Spoiler

<img src="http://cdn.vanillafo...a14123c1df4.jpg" />

<img src="http://cdn.vanillafo...b20f6abf0f5.jpg" />

<img src="http://cdn.vanillafo...f92ea7c40c8.jpg" />

Admittedly the Greater Wolfweres did make her quaff various potions of extra healing, and the fireshielded Genies injured her as well, so that she rested a few times before she finished them all off. 

This dungeon with its golems, vampires, greater wolfweres and genies offers a wealth of XP. Thani reached level 20 just before taking on Samia & co. In other words, she's reached the SoA level cap. I will nevertheless continue leveling her up, because I'm sure she'll need the HLAs and the now more rapidly increasing magic resistance (3/level on average). She picked Whirlwind as her first special ability. Thani buffed herself with Spell Turning (which gave her some time before the mages could hurt her), Mirror Image, DUHM and whirlwinded she dispatched the warrior types.

Spoiler

<img src="http://cdn.vanillafo...cde6439106c.jpg" /><img src="http://cdn.vanillaforums.com/baldursgate.vanillaforums.com/FileUpload/15/8165d02bddf74f7ed705308ce94ada.jpg" /><img src="http://cdn.vanillaforums.com/baldursgate.vanillaforums.com/FileUpload/ef/87ee427e69c22fe634a42425213dc2.jpg" />

Tazok and his buddies were slain, as was Conster in order for Thani to obtain the key to release Windspear's son. Prior to the fight against Conster Thani used the same buffing routine as she had used for Samia, i.e. ST, MI, DUHM. She used her bow and later, when Conster cast PfMW, her unenchanted flail to liquidate her foe.

Spoiler

<img src="http://cdn.vanillafo...3d2717c6e7d.jpg" />

<img src="http://cdn.vanillafo...0491c9d2986.jpg" />

<img src="http://cdn.vanillafo...bd678bcea64.jpg" />

<img src="http://cdn.vanillafo...d309109b51e.jpg" />

 

There are still a number of quests that Thani can do: Planar Sphere, Astral Prison, Trademeet (and maybe finish off the Unseeing Eye?). The problem with the former two is that she won't be able to leave the area should she want to. The problem with Trademeet are the Myconids who cast Confusion. A -2 Save penalty applies to that spell, so she would really need an item that gives her a save vs spell bonus.

[Serg BlackStrider]

 

She was proposed by the avatar of an almost obsolete deity and by former Unseeing Eye cultists to unite her part of the rod with a second part and kill the Unseeing Eye with it, but when she looked at the filthy pit that she would have to descend into and when she took into account the difficulty she had had with the Gauths and Beholders, she decided not to risk her neck down there. Ever eager to seek profit, Thani then decided to hand the her part of the rift device to Gaal. It netted her 75k XP but no gratitude from Gaal. He foolishly attacked her, and paid for it with his life.

 

It stripped her surprisingly quickly of her Spell Turning, and it was immune to Thani's flail attacks, so the Dwarf left the premises as fast as she could, though not before being blinded by the Beholder. Does anyone if it's possible to kill the Unseeing Eye without the rift device?

Never done this myself but from Dan Simpson's walkthrough:

 

 

Lucas has an alternative method to handle the above quest:

 

              After you talk to the Avatar and get the first half of the rift 

              device, go and talk to Tad.  You'll give him the pass phrase

              'the eye is blind' and he'll open up the entrance to the pit.

              Now, go and talk to Gaal.  You'll get the XP for bringing him the 

              rod, and then you can waste him, and get his goods.  Now go back 

              to where Tad was and go down into the undead city, complete that 

              area and onto the beholder's lair.  Do everything normally and go 

              pick up the other half of the rod.  You'll get 26,250 for

              assembling the rod, and the Unseeing Eye will appear.  Grease 

              that sucker with the rift device and head back to the Avatar's 

              temple via Sassar's area.  Get down to the Avatar and present him

              with the rod.  Now, go back to the cultist's living quarters.  

              Every enemy will go off running and disappear, but the unseeing 

              eye will be there.  This is where you summon up what you can 

              (fire elementals if possible) and take out the Unseeing Eye all

              over again.  Get 30,000 more XP and another amulet.  Life is 

              good!

So looks like you still need to assemble the rift device to be able to kill the Unseeing Eye.

[Grond0]

I think you do need to assemble the device to get the Unseeing Eye to appear, but you don't need to actually make use of it to kill it - was that your question Blackraven?