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[Grond0]

For a few days, this run will be on hold  . GL to all further.

Sounds like a well-deserved rest .  Glad to see that Kevmorn survived Watcher's Keep.

[Grond0]

Quad multiplayer attempt 2 - (update 3)

Grond0, Dogdancing, corey_russell, Gate70

 

After a few blank weeks the Quad were back today terrorising the inhabitants of Athkatla and the surrounding area (and sometimes themselves).

 

They started off by relieving a bit of inventory pressure by travelling to Watcher's Keep to get the potion bag.  Then it was off to the Druid Grove to continue progress there.  The end of the previous session had seen Wewa taken down by trolls in the Mound and, after Kyland Lind was shut up by Namarra, it was trolls again who surrounded her and required another trip to Watcher's Keep to find a cleric.  Back once more and Wewa thought she would play safe against the final group of druids by staying well away from the action - though not quite well enough after a follow-up strike from a call lightning targeted on Carthus proved particularly vicious!

 

After following the well-worn path to Watcher's Keep the Quad returned to the Grove to watch Cernd gulp down Faldorn in 4 bites.  They hadn't yet solved the skinner murders so just cleared the tomb before returning to Athkatla.

 

At the Bridge District they picked up the Horn and then went in search of some Rune Assassins.  Wewa looked in trouble there again, low on HPs and with an Assassin attacking her, but she managed to wriggle past him on the stairs and get to safety while Corthief blocked the Assassin.  Carthus, however, was not so lucky.  He chose to run upstairs when badly injured, but found an Assassin's blade sticking up through the floorboards to skewer him.  While in the area they also tracked down the kidnappers and then claimed a ransom to release their chosen victim.

 

Moving on to de'Arnise Keep there was an immediate problem when Static rushed his conversation with Nalia and she ended up storming off in a huff.  Undeterred the group ploughed their way through the enemies.  The yuan-ti mage managed to hold Carthus, but far too late to do him any good.  Glaicas felt sick after running through an array of traps and a backstab came as a merciful release.  The golems were force-attacked in turn, with the iron golem finding its arms were just a touch short.  Downstairs a succession of umber hulks crashed up against the Shield of Harmony before the final one was treated to a feast all on its own.  TorGal was another victim to stagger through traps, but not get much further.

 

With rather a lot of ammunition collected in inventory the next item on the agenda was a return to Watcher's Keep to get the ammo container there.  There were no vampiric wraiths so progress should have been straightforward.  However, Carthus had a bit of a scare when a pathing problem saw him not only approach a group of undead, but come perilously close to stepping on a petrification trap.  Then everyone rather struggled to pull the guardian golems into position to safely throw the Crimson Dart at - but the job was eventually done.  The beating they took there though contributed to the feeling that perhaps the statues were best left for another day.

 

The vulnerability of the monks to critical hits was finally recognised and a trip to the Graveyard organised in search of Pai'Na.  Everyone stealthed inside prior to opening proceedings with a backstab.  A Namarra silence followed immediately and sealed Pai'Na's fate, while none of the spiders managed any poisoning in the mopping-up operations.  

 

Moving swiftly on, the Quad's final destination for the day was Umar Hills to look for another ioun stone.  So far they've done the various bits of work around the village, with the exception of sorting Valygar out.  The most exciting of those was the killer mimic, where Wewa and Carthus led a joint assault while the others were at work elsewhere.  There was a brief cry of anguish from Carthus as he was held, resulting in Static and Corthief rushing to help.  This time there was no need to pick up any pieces though (unless you count the mimic blood) as Wewa had completed the job before the relief arrived.

 

Stats (cont. from BG1):

Grond0 - Static, fighter 9 / thief 11, 85 HPs, 470 kills

Dogdancing - Wewa, monk 10, 62 HPs (incl. 5 from ioun stone), 89 kills, 7 deaths

corey_russell - Corthief, fighter 9 / thief 11, 91 HPs (incl. 5 from Helm), 282 kills, 4 deaths
Gate70 - Carthus, monk 10, 56 HPs, 233 kills, 5 deaths

[corey_russell]

Ruzzel and his band of mages and berserker update

 

Ruzzel decided to clear out the undead out of the graveyard district. Tank did the work here with a protection from undead scroll (this helps a lot to conserve on heal potions). We tried to get to the gate district in time to use the scroll at the lich there, but got ambushed and the scroll ran out. We used up all our cash at a one-time merchant at the gates district, having many of the harder to find spells on him - we didn't get all we wanted, but still important spells (like lower magic resistance - very handy vs. bosses and dragons) we obtained - and amazingly not a single spell was flubbed.

 

Therefore, a new protection from undead scroll was used, Tank once again doing the job, and then we rushed to the Bridge District to use the protection that was still active on that one as well. Since we were in the vicinity, we also dealt with the kidnappers nearby - the boots of avoidance went to Tank, since he dual-wields most of the time.

 

We decided we needed to get some critical hit protection (at least for Ruzzel), but we are very low on antidotes - but just as bad, we can't even afford antidotes. So we enlisted Tarnor's Gang to help with our cash flow - cloudkills, stinking cloud, webs, greater malison proved far too much for this gang to handle. We tried to use skull traps on the kobolds and raskshashka nearby, but they saw us while casting, so Tank and his berserker (horn) did the honors or clearing out the riff-raff out. The cloak went to Tank.

 

We decided to sell at the Copper Coronet, as well as deal with Lynis - he won't be killing any more little boys, and the teddy bear will be soon returned to Wellyn. But while we were here, we got antidotes we needed, headed to graveyard to give Wellyn his bear, and next session will brave the spiders below in the crypts.

[Dogdancing]

Stats (cont. from BG1):

 

Grond0 - Static, fighter 9 / thief 11, 85 HPs, 470 kills

Dogdancing - Wewa, monk 10, 62 HPs (incl. 5 from ioun stone), 89 kills, 7 deaths

corey_russell - Corthief, fighter 9 / thief 11, 91 HPs (incl. 5 from Helm), 282 kills, 4 deaths
Gate70 - Carthus, monk 10, 56 HPs, 233 kills, 5 deaths

 

 

....and then there is Wewa, setting records for most deaths (ie sucking up all the gold for rez's) and for being a slacking party member in keeping up with kills....No wonder Carthus keeps shutting the doors on her...

[Grimwald the Wise]

Haven't seen you post for a long time dogdancing. Have I missed seeing them, or have you just left the posting to others?

[Dogdancing]

I've been reading in the back ground Wise. Unfortunately the cold winter takes its toll on my old bones, and I feel level drained most of the time.

[Alesia_BH]

 

Understood. Well, I hope to read about Alisa's, Arcadia's (or whoever it will be) adventures in WK someday. I can wait - I know how to 

 

Now I feel all guilty.

 

Captain Swarmi won't be swayed by human sentiment, but I may be. We'll see.

 

Best,

 

A.

[Alesia_BH]

Arcadia v. Gromnir (Or Book Smarts)

 

How do you spell death? Gromnir has no idea. That's, like, way too hard for him. But what Gromnir lacks in book smarts he makes up for with practical experience. That's especially true in this case: Gromnir can't spell death, but he's really good at dying. His talents were on full display for Arcadia.

 

Expecting hostilities, Arcadia entered Gromnir's throne room running long duration specific protections and a few critical short duration buffs such as SI:A, SI:D, and II. Her Contingency was See Enemy: ProMW. Her Chain was Wilting x 3. Her Trigger was Spell Shield, Spell Deflection, ProMW.

 

Arcadia's plan had been to immediately cast Improved Alacrity, protected by ProMW. Contingencies can be a little funky, however: their timing isn't always perfect. Arcadia's Contingencies were just slow enough to add a touch of drama to this fight. They didn't go off at first.

 

Arcadia faded, hoping to create more time for her ProMW Contingency to fire. It still wouldn't pop. The question now was whether she had enough space between her and Gromnir to get off Improved Alacrity without fear of disruption from Ice Star. She judged that she did and, further, that the dispelling weapon wielders to the north weren't prepared for action yet. She began to cast. Her cast was successful.

 

Arcadia immediately tagged both of the mages with Power Word: Blinds.

 

And how are the Contingencies doing?

 

Yeah. They still didn't see any enemies. And by now that bow wielder looked ready to fire. Fearful of a critical from a dispelling arrow, and reasoning that the magical weapon wielders were unlikely to last more that 4 rounds, Arcadia cast ProMW from her book.

 

She then went straight for the dispelling weapon wielders with her Black Blade of Disaster running Critical Strike + Greater Whirlwind. Even with Hardiness active, Berena couldn't last long. Arcadia's tardy Chain helped.

 

With the dispelling weapons out of play, it was time for Gromnir. This took about two rounds.

 

South now for Halbazzer, followed soon after by Eler and Lashar'ra.

 

Only the blind mages left. Karun, lacking Spell Deflection or Spell Turning, looked ripe for Power Word: Stun. He was.

 

He was them peeled and chunked.

 

The Battle Mage, whose buffs had triggered when she bumped into Arcadia in her blind wanderings, could not be Power Word:Stunned. A ProMW hit Contingency protected her from Arcadia's Black Blade of Disaster. Arcadia responded by casting over her BBoD with Melf's Minute Meteors. Once the Meteors were going, Arcadia's unenchanted weapons leapt to hand. Smite->Greater Whirlwind.

 

Finally a little Foebane and a Vampiric Touch for the Mordy Sword.

 

Arcadia will leave for the Marching Mountains soon (although she may visit Watcher's Keep first)

 

Current Character Record and Inventory (extra HP from Foebane, VT, and BBoD)

 

Best,

 

A.

[Gate70]

....and then there is Wewa, setting records for most deaths (ie sucking up all the gold for rez's) and for being a slacking party member in keeping up with kills....No wonder Carthus keeps shutting the doors on her...

Heh, Carthus shut himself in with a Guardian Golem at one point today. Not the brightest of moves.

 

The druid lightning could easily have killed Carthus and not killed Wewa, that would have been 6 deaths each.

& Carthus had the strength tome so an advantage of 2 to hit and 5 to damage. Buying the girdle of hill giant strength would help significantly.

[Blackraven]

Alesia, Arcadia looks pretty much invincible (at least in the way you play her). I'm looking forward to seeing you take the final hurdles with her.

[Alesia_BH]

Alesia, Arcadia looks pretty much invincible (at least in the way you play her). I'm looking forward to seeing you take the final hurdles with her.

 

Yeah. Arcadia is no pushover. I wouldn't want to get on her bad side.

 

As a half-elf, she has been vulnerable since her unbuffed saves have been less that stellar. But now that she has the Lavender Ioun Stone to offset the Kazgaroth save v death penalty, they're pretty solid. That provides some margin of safety.

 

In short fights where she can maintain her buffs (40 rounds or less), she's very tough to beat unless I screw up. In longer fights, like the battle with Mel and the 5 at the Throne, she'll have to fight with minimal buffs. Under those circumstances, she'll be far more vulnerable. It will likely come down to my timing and whether she has enough save buff potions available.

 

Throughout SoA, my strategy had been to use buffs to defend Arcadia, of course, but also to defend the potions, knowing that in the long run potion availability could determine whether she succeeds or not. That worked out fairly well. At the moment, I'm content with her supply. Hopefully the battles with Yaga, Sendai, and Abazigal won't be too much of a drain. If they aren't, I may be able to budget for Watcher's Keep. Hopefully that will work out. I feel I owe Serg some Watcher's Keep coverage.

 

Best,

 

A.

[corey_russell]

Heh, Carthus shut himself in with a Guardian Golem at one point today. Not the brightest of moves.

 

The druid lightning could easily have killed Carthus and not killed Wewa, that would have been 6 deaths each.

& Carthus had the strength tome so an advantage of 2 to hit and 5 to damage. Buying the girdle of hill giant strength would help significantly.

Actually Corthief needs that Girdle (remember his 17 STR? He's weaker than the entire party, including Wewa). He's almost over-burdened just carrying his own equipment, much less any loot.

[Gate70]

Actually Corthief needs that Girdle (remember his 17 STR? He's weaker than the entire party, including Wewa). He's almost over-burdened just carrying his own equipment, much less any loot.

Sigh. The Planar Sphere for ogre gauntlets is another option, not sure if snares could be used to make up for current character levels?

[Serg BlackStrider]

Now I feel all guilty.

Now I'm sorry I've caused that...  While I would be particularly grateful if you'll make that trip (to learn some new tricks from you) I can understand your time limits. And if I should make a choice between another run you've planned before your departure and that WK side trip I'm definitely all for former. Do what suits you best (as I said I can wait and you owe me nothing  ).

[Grimwald the Wise]

I've been reading in the back ground Wise. Unfortunately the cold winter takes its toll on my old bones, and I feel level drained most of the time.

 

Understand completely. Ever since I got back to the UK from living in Nepal, my bones have been like that. It makes RL adventuring much harder.

[Grond0]

The Arcane Army (update 6)

 

With the funds from Umar, the Army bought all remaining potentially useful items from Trademeet, with some left over for yet more scrolls in Athkatla.  I'm sort of trying to get as full a complement of useful spells for everyone as possible, rather than specialise, which I suspect means funds will be in short supply throughout the game.  Incidentally, I realised at the end of the last session that some items had gone walkabout - in particular the golem book.  Even though that's hardly been used it's a shame to not have it in reserve any more .

 

Next, Valygar's decomposing body served to grease the locks on the Planar Sphere.  Inside, cloudkills allowed them past the halflings without problems, but mirror images failed against a potentially deadly trap for the first time in a long while (given I couldn't raise Thyme there I should have been more careful and used vampiric touch to increase HPs as the bulk of XP from the Sphere will now be wasted).  The remaining Army used missile weapons on the golems before setting summons on Lavok from out of sight.

 

For the demons, the Army initially sent in some elementals against the Tanar'ri, but they only got it to badly wounded.  A succession of lower resistances followed by minor sequencer magic missiles finished it off.  I was originally planning to kill the other demons, but my rule that no-one can level up until everyone can means the XP would be wasted (unless Thyme is chunked), so didn't bother.  Tolgerias survived some cloudkills at near death, but eventually ran out of true sight spells - I don't think he would fancy his chances here if he knew what was coming!  The fire room was cleared, but the ice room and the engine room were done using invisibility.  After Lavok got a last breath of air it appeared that Thyme was still learning in her grave, though I don't think the XP actually added to her total.  After getting her raised the Army returned to the Sphere to kill the remaining enemies.  Then they hung around for a while to let the apprentices try to make a wand of the apprentice, a scroll of ADHW and the Staff of Power - only the wand was successful by the time the apprentices blew themselves up.

 

After paying for the Solamnic Knights to be sent home a travel ambush was sufficient to get Thyme the XP for level 13 and everyone levelled up.  I was expecting to be summoned back to the Sphere by Teos, but that summons never came and eventually the Army went off to Windspear Hills.  At the entrance they ensured that Digdag would not be able to run away and made their way to near the vampires without trouble.  Attempting to rest there without having bothered to go invisible they were ambushed by 4 shadow fiends in close quarters.  Three of them were dead and the final one I think was going to die, but Pepper's contingency triggered anyway to make sure he would survive.  They were ambushed again after that, but this time while invisible.  The door was blocked, so Thyme took the chance to take some free XP using invisible blockers.

 

The fighting near them had alerted the vampires, so they couldn't all be skull trapped together and Thyme was level drained at one point trying to find a small window to attack a vampire through a wall and moving too close to it.  However, several of them were eventually herded together for skull trapping - using an invisible blocker with MGoI - and the stragglers were individually MMd.  The Army didn't have any restoration scrolls (I think they did originally, but the container with those was one of the casualties when only Sage survived in the Planar Sphere) so took a while to go and find a temple before returning.

 

There were no further problems in working through orogs, golems and werewolves.  Most of the genies were shot while Rosemary tanked using fire shield, but a fire elemental was summoned after that ran out to finish them off, along with the final Guardian (note that the mask required to see that is actually of some continuing use to this party due to the critical protection it gives).  There was a further problem with Samia's party though.  I initially wasn't worried about characters getting stuck in webs/stinking clouds, but unfortunately one of the cloudkills used was just extensive enough to affect Rosemary (who was blocking the doorway invisibly.  She had MGoI on, but was unable to retreat from the cloudkill due to the held characters and died just before the rest of Samia's party (she did have a contingency, but that was set to the helpless condition and was technically not fulfilled however helpless she felt  - in future she will carry around a protection from acid spell).

 

Back again and Tazok died of cloudkills and magic missiles.  A couple of elementals left behind for Conster sorted him out while the party stayed invisible.  Firkraag was then treated the same as Thaxy - lower resistances followed by silence with just a single round of magic missiles (5 lots by minor sequencer) needed to kill him just as he discovered that his breath was useless.

 

Stats (cont. from BG1):

Rosemary, mage 13, 51 HPs, 5 deaths, 468 kills

Parsley, mage 13, 55 HPs, 1 death, 396 kills

Thyme, mage 13, 52 HPs, 3 deaths, 355 kills

Sage (PC), mage 13, 69 HPs (incl. 12 from cat, 6 from ioun stone), 277 kills

Nutmeg, mage 13, 49 HPs, 2 deaths, 300 kills

Pepper, mage 13, 45 HPs, 1 death, 368 kills

[Blackraven]

Making good progress there Grond0, keep it up. 
I've got a quick question. Does casting Otiluke's on self require no save, or did you mod that spell?
 

[Grond0]

No, there's no save when casting on self - making it often a good option in a contingency.  That's less true where dispel magics are likely to be used, which evaporate the sphere ...

[Blackraven]

Interesting. Thanks, I'll keep what you said in mind.

[Grimwald the Wise]

Diary of the Gnasty Gnomes Quick Update

 

Upon returning to Amn, we came across a battle where we tried to intervene by killing Bhodi. We did well over 2000 damage without killing her.

 

[Strongly suspect that the game cheated !!! ]

 

[Grimwald the Wise]

Diary of the Gnice Gnomes

 

For some reason best known to herself, but probably because she hated herself the way that she was, Viconia used her spells first of all to change herself to lawful Good and then the rest of the party. This meant that paladins were suddenly queueing up to join the party.

Saerileth was the first and together we tried to help in the graveyard district without too much success.

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However, she helped us fight yet another dragon before being kidnapped by a devil.

We went to a different plane where we sold and bought a lot of equipment. We were able to get hold of boots of speed, a very effective shield and some illithium ore.

The battles to free Saerileth were not difficult.

 

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We left Saerileth with someone who loved her dearly and upon doing one of the Clerics’ quests

she was replaced by Isra.

[Alesia_BH]

 

Upon returning to Amn, we came across a battle where we tried to intervene by killing Bhodi. We did well over 2000 damage without killing her.

 

[Strongly suspect that the game cheated !!! ]

 

Bodhi is probably "unkillable" at that stage of the game.

 

If you have your heart set on killing unkillable creatures, stat drain is typically your best option. Intelligence drain is occasionally blocked but the other avenues are almost always open.

 

I'll note though that killing unkillabe creatures is not a good idea in no reload play since it can break your game.

 

(This reminds me. There is something I've always wanted to try... I'll be back in a few...)

[Alesia_BH]

The answer is yes.

 

 

Best,

 

A.

[Grimwald the Wise]

I'll note though that killing unkillabe creatures is not a good idea in no reload play since it can break your game.

.

 

I suppose that they can't use Biff in BG2 since he has his own role.

[Matuse73]

I've always wondered if anyone killed Melissan when she first showed up, and what that would do...does it just end the game on the spot?