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[Alesia_BH]

A Note on Buffs (Or Why Aphril's Defense Isn't as Good as it Seems)

 

Aphril, Aerie, and Adara have made significant progress in a full SCS install on insane with nary a scratch. The only damage they've taken was a single Melf's Minute Meteor, caught by Aerie after she had been left exposed by the L10 Sunfire bug. The party may look invincible. But they're not- not even close. Their defense is sound, but only up to a point. They're working with an incomplete mid-level defensive brew. Aerie and Adara have incomplete protection. Aphril is not self-sufficient and she too has vulnerabilities.

 

The standard routine for Teleport Field based combat is as follows. Adara casts Protection from Cold, Protection from Fire, and Protection from Magic Energy on everyone. Aerie casts Resist Fear, Protection from Evil and Free Action on everyone. Adara and Aphril get Chaotic Commands, while Aerie wields Harmony, supplemented by her elven sleep immunity. If necessary, Adara and Aphril get Protection from Normal Missiles while Aerie keeps the Reflex at the ready. Everyone takes an armor spell along with Stoneskins, Blur, Mirror Image, Improved Invisibility, Spell Immunity:A, and Spell Immunity:D. Aerie gets Minor Globe of Invulnerability. Aphril gets Globe of Invulnerability. 

 

Teleport Fields are used to negate melee attacks. The Reflex, Pro Normal Missiles, missile weapon AC adjustments and blindness spells take care of the ranged weapon threat. Resist Fear + Chaotic Commands/Harmony (plus elven sleep immunity) + Free Action foil AoE disablers. Protection from Fire, Protection from Cold, and Protection from Magic Energy foil AoE damage spells up through level 5, save Cloudkill. II foils targeted spells. SI:A and SI:D foil AoE debuff spells.

 

So: where are the vulnerabilities? Take a moment to think about that. Start with the lowest levels and work up.

 

Since debuff spells target through II in my install, Aerie and Adara are both vulnerable to Spell Thrust. That's a problem. With mages on the field they have to be very careful with their auras. Thanks to GoI, Aphril is protected from Spell Thrust but she is vulnerable to Pierce Magic and above. Plus, even with their buffs in place the whole party is vulnerable to mid to high level AoE spells, including the L6 spells Death Fog and Chain Lightning. The party can handle warriors. And they can handle low level mages but make no mistake: anyone with L6 slots or even L3s with the levels to dispel is a serious threat. They're still far from safe.

 

Solutions? Protection from Lightning, Protection from Acid, GoIs, and Spell Shields, plus Spell Deflections for an added layer of security. That would do it. The next phase of the adventure may very well be the most dangerous for Aphril, Adara, and Aerie. They're hundreds of thousands of experience points away from safety and there are mages ahead. There is an old Chinese curse: may you live in interesting times. Things may get interesting, I fear.

 

 

Best,

 

A.

[corey_russell]

@Alesia_BH: Thanks for that analysis of your party!

 

Now to analyze my mages. My mages aren't invincible - at all. Catch us with low/empty spellbooks, and we are sitting ducks. In fact the most powerful members of the party are the ones with non-mage classes! (Stealer with her traps, and Tank with his enrage/APR). They are great for a single fight, but if I do several fights in a row, it really shows the lack of staying power they have (unlike my melee parties). It might be a different story if I could fix some holes in our spell books, like the fact only one of us knows chain contingency. But they will press on until Ruzzel bites it, regardless.

 

I've done an absurd amount of resting this run. Just recently, I rested from the Yaga fight - the computer made me rest for 15 days. (I have rest until heal option enabled).

[Alesia_BH]

Now to analyze my mages. My mages aren't invincible - at all. Catch us with low/empty spellbooks, and we are sitting ducks. In fact the most powerful members of the party are the ones with non-mage classes! (Stealer with her traps, and Tank with his enrage/APR). They are great for a single fight, but if I do several fights in a row, it really shows the lack of staying power they have (unlike my melee parties). It might be a different story if I could fix some holes in our spell books, like the fact only one of us knows chain contingency. But they will press on until Ruzzel bites it, regardless.

 

Understood. I'd be interested in seeing their spell books, although I acknowledge that that would be awkward unless you uploaded a save.

 

In any case, best of luck!

 

Best,

 

A.

[corey_russell]

Understood. I'd be interested in seeing their spell books, although I acknowledge that that would be awkward unless you uploaded a save.

 

In any case, best of luck!

 

Best,

 

A.

When you say spell books, do you mean what spells they know for every level, or just the spells they have memorized and ready to use? I don't think I would mind that project, maybe even useful to figure out what spells each mage knows or doesn't know - it gets hard to keep track of these details sometimes. I'm pleased to say everyone does know SI at least.

[Alesia_BH]

I'd be interested in seeing the spells they know. We can turn it into a little puzzle for the forum. The goal can be to keep everyone safe for the rest of the adventure. Or, if you like, to keep everyone safe and never have to rest again (that's possible).

 

At the very least, the exercise may help your team refine its tactics heading into the endgame. It could be fun.

 

Best,

 

A.

[Alesia_BH]

The Pit Fight (Or Why Aerie is the Elven Queen of NPC Tank-Dom)

 

Speaking of unlucky dwarves: look what the cat dragged in. Or, more precisely, look what the mind flayers kicked out. It's Draug Fea!

 

Yay, Draug Fea!

 

Since Aerie had been in the mood to kill another dwarf, the party swung by the temple sewers. The plan had been to use Farsight to divine Draug Fea's position in mindflayer-ville and then use a Teleport Field to lift him out for a deadly play-date. But somehow, some way Draug Fea had escaped mindflayer-ville on his own. It was time for a good old fashioned pit fight.

 

Now, mind you, Aerie still doesn't have her melee game down. She doesn't have Spirit Armor. And she's eligible for another 3 AC points through the cloak, ring, and helmet slots, which she hasn't taken yet. Plus, she's a few levels shy of Tensor's, Spell Sequencer, Spell Trigger, and a whole lot of other spells that will make her tougher in toe-to-toe melee. Nonetheless, the party was certain that level 10/11 Aerie was more than a match -as in way, way, way more than a match- for level 12 Draug Fea.

 

Here we see Aerie's pre-battle stats.

 

Note that that AC of -13 is effectively -19 when you factor in Pro Evil and II. Her strength is 23. Her THAC0 is 4. Her APR is 3. Her HP total is 97. Plus, she's Stoneskined and Mirror Images. And do you think Draug Fea can match that charisma of 18? No: No he can't. She can buff that to 25, you know. Good luck, Draug Fea. You'll need more than a swig of some strong dwarven ale, punk.

 

And the battle begins. Aerie hits for 22+1 damage on a 4.

 

Dragu Fea whiffs on an 18. You can see where this is headed...

 

Straight to Chunky-Town.

 

Time for Aerie to do her dead dwarf celebration dance.

http://vid1195.photo...zpsc1gdbyy0.mp4

 

So: How does Aerie become a melee monster? First, we need out long duration buffs: Stoneskins, Pro Evil, Vampiric Touch, Polymorph Self and the best armor spell available. A good shield helps -as do AC bonuses takes through any other slot. Now the short duration buffs. Blur at 4+ 2/Level is is a good one to start with. When Aerie wants to take Fire Shields, she takes them now. Mirror Image at 3 +1/Level is next, followed by Holy Power, Righteous Magic, and Defensive Harmony, typically in that order. She then switches to her preferred polymorph form, frequently Flind, and finishes everything off by pulling a Chant + DUHM Minor Sequencer in proximity to her foe. Then it's go time. If...If you're sure, that is.

 

As additional spell slot become available, Aerie's melee approach will change. I'll post asides on Aerie's buffs at various stages of the adventure.

 

Best,

 

A.

[Aasim]

I'm curious - why do you use Fireshields with AC buffs? I understand their use vs casters, but given Draug's pathetic chance to hit at all, damage isn't likely to happen.

[Alesia_BH]

I'm curious - why do you use Fireshields with AC buffs? I understand their use vs casters, but given Draug's pathetic chance to hit at all, damage isn't likely to happen.

 

It looks cool. Criticals do happen.

 

And there really isn't anything else to do with those L4s in a situation like this.

 

Best,

 

A.

[Aasim]

Here comes Abaddon. 

 

Teamed up with Jaheira, DBG-ed the cursed dungeon, cleared circus, killed Aerie (her robe is worth 500 GP on my install. It's a fortune!); cleared out CC, Gov District, saved Viconia, took in Jan for now. From there, Gates - Umar Hills. Did quests there, leave for WK. Farsight reveals nothing but Mephits. Killed the golem with Piercing arrows (strike as +3 with IR). Find out Spellhaunt can be easilly perma-stunned using Jan's Flashers...epic.

 

Ramped up the area by killing the two statues. Foebane aquired.

 

Leave WK for now, go to Temple District, buy Amulet of Life Protection, take quests, travel to Docks, kill the priest, take Shadow thieves quests.

Since I need to fight the damn Rayic in order to get Edwin, that's our next mission - right after I get "ambushed" by Suna goons.

 

 

 

And there really isn't anything else to so with those L4s in a situation like this.

[Alesia_BH]

Good hunting in Amn, Aasim!

 

Best,

 

A.

[corey_russell]

People have asked for more detail about Ruzzel's party's spells. This is a lot of info, didn't want to spam the forum, so if you are one of those people, click the spoiler tag to learn everything you wanted to know about Ruzzel's mages:

 

Spoiler

 

Ruzzel the level 20 Illusionist:

 

Level 9 Spells Memorized : Summmon Planetar, Wish, Dragon's Breath

Level 9 Spells Known: Absolute Immunity, Dragon's Breath, Freedom, Improved Alacrity, Summon Planetar, Time Stop, Wish

 

Level 8 Spells Memorized : Protection from Energy, Simulacrum x3

Level 8 Spells Known: Protection from Energy, Simulcrum

 

Level 7 Spells Memorized : Spell Sequencer, Spell Turning, Mass Invisibility, Mordenkainen's Sword

Level 7 Spells Known: Mass Invisibility, Mordenkainen's Sword, Power Word: Stun, Projected Image, Spell Sequencer, Spell Turning

 

Level 6 Spells Memorized : Protection from Magic Weapons, Contingency, Protection from Magic Energy, Pierce Magic, True Sight

Level 6 Spells Known: Conjure Earth Elemental, Conjure Fire Elemental, Contingency, Flesh to Stone, Globe of Invulnerability, Improved Haste, Invisible Stalker, Mislead, Pierce Magic, Power Word: Silence, Protection from Magic Energy, Protection from Magic Weapons, Spell Deflection, Summon Nishruu, Tenser's Transformation, True Sight

 

Level 5 Spells Memorized : Minor Spell Turning, Chaos, Conjure Lesser Earth Elemental, Spell Immunity x2, Protection from Lightning

Level 5 Spells Known: Breach, Chaos, Cloudkill, Cone of Cold, Lesser Air Elemental, Lesser Earth Elemental, Domination, Lower Resistance, Minor Spell Turning, Monster Summoning III, Oracle, Phantom Blade, Protection from Electricity, Spell Immunity, Spell Shield

 

Level 4 Spells Memorized : Improved Invisibility x2, Stoneskin x2, Minor Sequencer, Spider Spawn

Level 4 Spells Known: Confusion, Enchanted Weapon, Fire Shield (Blue), Fire Shield (Red), Greater Malison, Ice Storm, Improved Invisibility, Minor Globe of Invulnerability, Minor Spell Sequencer, Monster Summoning II, Polymorph Self, Secret Word, Spider Spawn, Stoneskin, Teleport Field

 

Level 3 Spells Memmorized:  Protection From Normal Missiles, Melf's Minute Meteors, Invisibility 10' Radius, Ghost Armor, Minor Spell Deflection, Haste

Level 3 Spells Known: Clairvoyance, Detect Illusion, Dire Charm, Dispel Magic, Fireball, Flame Arrow, Ghost Armor, Haste, Hold Person, Invisibility 10' Radius, Lightning Bolt, Melf's Minute Meteors, Minor Spell Deflection, Monster Summoning I, Non-Detection, Protection from Cold, Protection from Fire, Protection from Normal Missiles, Slow Spell Thrust

 

Level 2 Spells Memorized: Invisibility, Mirror Image x2, Blur, Glitterdust, Resist Fear

Level 2 Spells Known: Agannazar's Scorcher, Blur, Detect Evil, Detect Invisibility, Glitterdust, Invisibility, Knock, Know Alignment, Luck, Mirror Image, Resist Fear, Stinking Cloud, Strength, Web

 

Level 1 Spells Memorized: Magic Missile x4, Shield, Protection from Petrification

Level 1 Spells Known: Armor, Blindness, Burning Hands, Charm Person, Chromatic Orb, Color Spray, Find Familiar, Friends, Grease, Identify, Magic Missile, Protection from Evil, Protection from Petrification, Shield, Shocking Grasp, Sleep

 

Stealer, Level 15 mage/Level 19 Thief

 

Level 7 Spells Memorized: Spell Turning

Level 7 Spells Known: Power Word: Stun, Spell Sequencer, Spell Turning, Sphere of Chaos, Summon Hakeashar

 

Level 6 Spells Memorized: Mislead, Contingency

Level 6 Spells Known: Contingency, Death Spell, Globe of Invulnerability, Improved Haste, Mislead, Pierce Magic, Protection from Magic Energy, Tenser's Transformation, True Sight

 

Level 5 Spells Memorized: Breach, Lower Resistance, Conjure Lesser Air Elemental, Animate Dead, Protection from Lightning

Level 5 Spells Known: Animate Dead, Breach, Chaos, Cloudkill, Lesser Air Elemental, Lesser Earth Elemental, Lower Resistance, Oracle, Phantom Blade, Protection from Lightning, Protection from Normal Weapons

 

Level 4 Spells Memorized: Spirit Armor, Stoneskin x2, Improved Invisibility, Fire Shield (Blue)

Level 4 Spells Known: Confusion, Emotion, Enchanted Weapon, Fire Shield (Blue), Fire Shield (Red), Greater Malison, Ice Storm, Improved Invisibility, Minor Globe of Invulnerability, Minor Sequencer, Monster Summoning II, Otiluke's Resilient Sphere, Polymporph Self, Secret Word, Spider Spawn, Spirit Armor, Stoneskin

 

Level 3 Spells Memorized: Ghost Armor, Spell Thrust, Minor Spell Deflection, Protection from Fire x2

Level 3 Spells Known: Clairvoyance, Dire Charm, Dispel Magic, Fireball, Flame Arrow, Ghost Armor, Haste, Hold Person, Lightning Bolt, Minor Spell Deflection, Monster Summoning I, Non-Detection, Protection from Fire, Protection from Missiles, Skull Trap, Slow, Spell Thrust, Vampiric Drain

 

Level 2 Spells Memorized: Invisibility, Blur, Mirror Image, Web, Melf's Acid Arrow

Level 2 Spells Known: Agannazer's Scorcher, Blur, Detect Evil, Detect Invisibility, Ghoul Touch, Horror, Invisibility, Knock, Luck, Melf's Acid Arrow, Mirror Image, Power Word: Sleep, Resist Fear, Stinking Cloud, Strength, Vocalize, Web

 

Level 1 Spells Memorized: Magic Missile x3, Identify, Shield

Level 1 Spells Known: Armor, Blindness, Burning Hands, Charm Person, Chill Touch,  Chromatic Orb, Color Spray, Find Familiar, Friends, Grease, Identify, Larloch's Minor Drain, Magic Missile, Protectio from Evil, Protection from Petrification, Shield, Shocking Grasp, Sleep

 

Disabler, Level 20 Mage

 

Level 9 Spells Memorized: Dragon's Breath, Energy Blades

Level 9 Spells Known: Dragon's Breath, Energy Blades, Freedom, Summon Planetar

 

Level 8 Spells Memorized: Protection from Energy, Maze, Symbol, Fear

Level 8 Spells Known: Improved Mantle, Maze, Protection from Energy, Simulacrum, Symbol, Fear

 

Level 7 Spells Memorized: Spell Sequencer, Khelben's Warding Whip, Mordenkainen's Sword

Level 7 Spells Known: Finger of Death, Khelben's Warding Whip, Mantle, Mordenkainen's Sword, Power Word: Stun, Spell Sequencer, Spell Turning

 

Level 6 Spells Memorized: Pierce Magic x2, True Sight, Power Word: Silence

Level 6 Spells Known:  Carrion Summon, Conjure Air Elemental, Conjure Earth Elemental, Conjure Fire Elemental, Death Fog, Death Spell, Globe of Invulnerability, Improved Haste, Mislead, Pierce Magic, Power Word: silence, Proteciton from Magic Energy, Protection from Magic Weapons, Spell Deflection, Stone to Flesh, Summon Nishruu, True Sight, Wyvern Call

 

Level 5 Spells Memorized: Breach, Protection from Electricity, Lower Resistance, Spell Immunity, Animate Dead

Level 5 Spells Known: Animate Dead, Breach, Chaos, Cloudkill, Lesser Earth Elemental, Domination, Feeble Mind, HOld Monster, Lower Resistance, Minor Spell Turning, Oracle, Protection from Acid, Protection from Electricty, Spell Immunity

 

Level 4 Spells Memorized: Spirit Armor, Stoneskin x2, Improved Invisibility, Greater Malison

Level 4 Spells Known: Confusion, Emotion, Greater Malison, Ice Storm, Improved Invisibility, Minor Globe of Invulnerability, Monster Summoning II, Polymporph Self, Secret Word, Spider Spawn, Spirit Armor, Stoneskin

 

Level 3 Spells Memorized: Slow, Melf's Minute Meteors, Spell Thrust, Hold Person, Dispel Magic

Level 3 Spells Known: Clairvoyance, Dire Charm, Dispel Magic, Fireball, Flame Arrow, Ghost Armor, Haste, Hold Person, Hold Undead, Lightning Bolt, Melf's Minute Meteors, Minor Spell Deflection, Monster Summoning I, Protection from Normal Missiles, Skull Trap, Slow, Spell Thrust, Vampiric Drain

 

Level 2 Spells Memorized: Web, Mirror Image x2, Invisibility, Stinking Cloud, Blur

Level 2 Spells Known: Agannazer's Scorcher, Blur, Detect Invisibility, Ghoul Touch, Horror, Invisibility, Knock, Know Alignment, Luck, Melf's Acid Arrow, Mirror Image, Ray of Enfeeblement, Resist Fear, Stinking Cloud, Strength, Web

 

Level 1 Spells Memorized: Magic Missile x2, Protection from Petrification, Blindness, Shield

Level 1 Spells Known: Armor, Blindness, Burning Hands, Charm Person, Chill Touch,  Chromatic Orb, Color Spray, Friends, Grease, Identify, Larloch's Minor Drain, Magic Missile, Protectio from Evil, Protection from Petrification, Shield, Shocking Grasp, Sleep

 

Blaster, Level 20 Mage

 

Level 9 Spells Memorized: Summon Planetar, Dragon's Breath

Level 9 Spells Known: Comet, Dragon's Breath, Summon Planetar, Time Stop

 

Level 8 Spells Memorized: Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting x3

Level 8 Spells Known: Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting, Incendiary Cloud, Summon Fiend

 

Level 7 Spells Memorized: Khelben's Warding Whip, Spell Sequencer, Finger of Death x2

Level 7 Spells Known: Finger Death, Khelben's Warding Whip, Power Word: Stun, Project Image, Spell Sequencer, Summon Efreeti

 

Level 6 Spells Memorized: Death Spell, True Sight x2, Distintegrate

Level 6 Spells Known: Carrion Summon, Chain Lightning, Contingency, Death Fog, Death Spell, Disintegrate, Globe of Invulnerability, Improved Haste, Invisible Stalker, Mislead, Pierce Magic, Proteciton from Magic Energy, Protection from Magic Weapons, Stone to Flesh, True Sight

 

Level 5 Spells Memorized: Lower Resistance x2, Animate Dead, Spell Immunity, Protection from Lightning

Level 5 Spells Known: Animate Dead, Breach, Chaos, Cloudkill, Cone of Cold, Conjure Lesser Air Elemental, Conjure Lesser Earth Elemental, Hold Monster, Lower Resistance, Oracle, Protection from Electricty, Protection from Normal Weapons, Spell Immunity, Sunfire

 

Level 4 Spells Memorized: Greater Malison, Minor Sequencer, Stoneskin, Improved Invisibility, Spirit Armor

Level 4 Spells Known: Confusion, Fire Shield (Blue), Greater Malison, Ice Storm, Improved Invisibility, Minor Globe of Invulnerability, Minor Sequencer, Monster Summoning II, Polymporph Self, Secret Word, Spider Spawn, Spirit Armor, Stoneskin, Teleport Field

 

Level 3 Spells Memorized: Protection from Fire x4, Melf's Minute Meteors

Level 3 Spells Known: Dire Charm, Dispel Magic, Fireball, Flame Arrow, Ghost Armor, Haste, Hold Person, Hold Undead, Lightning Bolt, Melf's Minute Meteors, Minor Spell Deflection,  Protection from Cold, Protection from Fire, Skull Trap, Slow, Spell Thrust, Vampiric Drain

 

Level 2 Spells Memorized: Invisibility, Resist Fear, Melf's Acid Arrow,Blur, Mirror Image

Level 2 Spells Known: Agannazer's Scorcher, Blur, Detect Invisibility, Ghoul Touch, Horror, Invisibility, Knock, Know Alignment, Luck, Melf's Acid Arrow, Mirror Image, Ray of Enfeeblement, Resist Fear, Stinking Cloud, Strength, Web

 

Level 1 Spells Memorized: Magic Missiles x2, Burning Hands, Protection from Petrification, Blindness

Level 1 Spells Known: Armor, Blindness, Burning Hands, Charm Person, Chill Touch,  Chromatic Orb, Color Spray, Friends, Grease, Identify, Larloch's Minor Drain, Magic Missile, Protectio from Evil, Protection from Petrification, Shield, Shocking Grasp, Sleep

 

Exploder, Level 20 Mage

 

Level 9 Spells Memorized: Summon Planetar, Chain Contingency

Level 9 Spells Known: Chain Contingency, Dragon's Breath, Gate, Improved Alacrity, Meteor Swarm, Summon Planetar, Wail of the Banshee

 

Level 8 Spells Memorized: Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting x3

Level 8 Spells Known: Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting, Incendiary Cloud, Summon Fiend

 

Level 7 Spells Memorized: Spell Sequencer, Sphere of Chaos, Delayed Blast Fireball

Level 7 Spells Known: Delayed Blast Fireball, Finger of Death, Spell sequencer, Sphere of Chaos

 

Level 6 Spells Memorized: Contingency, Death Spell, Death Fog

Level 6 Spells Known: Chain Lightning, Contingency, Death Fog, Death Spell, Disintegrate, Globe of Invulnerability, Invisible Stalker, Mislead, Pierce Magic, Proteciton from Magic Energy

 

Level 5 Spells Memorized: Breach, Lower Resistance, Animate Dead, Spell Immunity, Protection from Lightning

Level 5 Spells Known: Animate Dead, Breach, Chaos, Cloudkill,Conjure Lesser Air Elemental, Conjure Lesser Fire Elemental, Feeblemind, Lower Resistance, Monster Summoning III, Oracle, Protection from Electricty, Protection from Normal Weapons, Spell Immunity, Sunfire

 

Level 4 Spells Memorized: Spirit Armor, Stoneskin x2, Improved Invisibility, Minor Sequencer, Spider Spawn

Level 4 Spells Known: Greater Malison, Improved Invisibility, Minor Globe of Invulnerability, Minor Sequencer, Monster Summoning II, Polymporph Self, Spider Spawn, Spirit Armor, Stoneskin

 

Level 3 Spells Memorized: Skull Trap x2, Melf's Minute Meteors, Haste, Fireball, Protection from Cold

Level 3 Spells Known: Dire Charm, Dispel Magic, Fireball, Flame Arrow, Ghost Armor, Haste, Hold Person, Hold Undead, Lightning Bolt, Melf's Minute Meteors, Minor Spell Deflection,  Monster Summoning I, Protection from Cold, Protection from Fire, Skull Trap, Slow, Spell Thrust, Vampiric Drain

 

Level 2 Spells Memorized: Resist Fear, Invisibility, Mirror Image, Blur, Agannazar's Scorcher, Melf's Acid Arrow x2

Level 2 Spells Known: Agannazer's Scorcher, Blur, Detect Invisibility, Ghoul Touch, Horror, Invisibility, Knock, Luck, Melf's Acid Arrow, Mirror Image, Resist Fear, Stinking Cloud, Strength, Web

 

Level 1 Spells Memorized: Magic Missile x3, Burning Hands, Shield

[b]Level 1 Spells Known: Armor, Blindness, Burning Hands, Charm Person, Chill Touch,  Chromatic Orb, Color Spray, Friends, Grease, Identify, Larloch's Minor Drain, Magic Missile, Protectio from Evil, Protection from Petrification, Shield, Shocking Grasp, Sleep

 

 

This is quite a mouthful - I assume you can use this data, Alesia?

[Alesia_BH]

Thanks for uploading the books, Corey. They're very interesting.

 

That post must have taken a lot of effort. I appreciate it. Hopefully we can make it worth your while.

 

Constructive comments are welcome, I assume? Is everyone welcome to comment, helpfully and respectfully?

 

Best,

 

A. 

[Alesia_BH]

Aphril, Elven Sorcerer: The De'Arnise Keep- Part 1

 

Does everyone know what this is?

 

If you guessed that it's the first dead troll in the De'Arnise Keep, then you are correct.

 

And do you know what the party did after that? They left. Ok. Not permanently. And not immediately. But soon.

 

Nalia's spell book was the problem. It was awful. Aphril, Adara, and Aerie all looked it over. None of them approved. Fortunately, Nalia was happy to learn from a trio of seasoned adventurers. She undertook the journey to Watcher's Keep without objection- even though it was financed with loot swiped from her home.

 

The spells added to Nalia's book included Shield and Magic Missle at L1; Blur and Invisibility at L2; Pro Fire and Flame Arrow at L3; Spirit Armor, Improved Invisibility, and MGoI at L4; and Spell Immunity, Breach, Protection from Electricity, and Cone of Cold at L5. A Potion of Genius helped Nalia memorize them. Only one L2 scroll was lost.

 

Now up to speed, Nalia was ready to fully join the team. The trio has become a quad-  at least for the time being.

 

Their first proper battle together was the ballroom troll dance. Buffed and invisible, the party got into position. Aerie's True Sight revealed the first spirit troll. There would be more to come. 

 

Opening Sunfires and follow-up MMMs cleared the first wave.

 

The second wave was greeted with two more Sunfires.

 

Looking to conserve L5s -and with Aerie's True Sight doing an adequate job of revealing the spirit trolls- the party finished with ranged attacks in a multilayer Teleport Field.

 

Into the courtyard. Here the party sought to stage an epic showdown between the long neglected (ie- never, ever used) Kitthix and Nalia's pooches. But when Sparky landed a second hit before Kitthix had done any damage, the party was forced to intervene. 

 

Never underestimate Sparky: he's a fighter.

 

The remaining foes were cleared with low level single target spells, MMMs, and an occasional Cone of Cold from Nalia.

 

The party rested before tackling the second floor. Opening Sunfires eliminated the library trolls, but Mr Reading Rainbow was unharmed, thanks to his pre-buffs.

 

 

Spell Thrust->Skull Trap + Holy Smites finished him quickly, although, predictably, defensive weak link Adara did loose her Spell Immunities to a Spell Thrust. Additional L5s and L6s would be most welcome.

 

A spirit troll ambush depleted the parties AoE spells en route to Glaicus, but Teleport Fields, MMMs, and single targets sufficed. No damage has been taken in the Keep, or since Aerie's Sunfire bug induced injury, for that matter.

 

The party will take on Torgal tomorrow. Hopefully they'll stay injury free.

 

Best,

 

A.

[corey_russell]

Thanks for uploading the books, Corey. They're very interesting.

 

That post must have taken a lot of effort. I appreciate it. Hopefully we can make it worth your while.

 

Constructive comments are welcome, I assume? Is everyone welcome to comment, helpfully and respectfully?

 

Best,

 

A. 

It took a while, but I am a fast typer, and I was also able to do quite a bit of copying and pasting, as a lot of the books are very similar, especially at the lower spell levels. And yes anyone can comment.

 

EDIT: Incidentally, Ruzzel's level 8 spells have seen very little use. He tried to memorize Wilting, but flubbed it. For a long time and throughout SoA, we had money issues and just weren't able to buy every spell that seemed useful, as well as couldn't afford as many potions of genius that I would have otherwise used as well, to increase chances of successfully scribing a spell.

[Grond0]

@Corey.  I see plenty of spell sequencers so the opportunity for devastating most enemies with skull traps is there, but you look light on spell triggers.  In order to avoid rejigging things too much with my mage party I tended to use sequencers for offensive purposes and triggers for defensive / utility purposes.

 

If you feel like you're resting too much you could also invest in spell trap and use one of the 'endless spells' strategies - though I'm not a great fan of those. 

[corey_russell]

@Corey.  I see plenty of spell sequencers so the opportunity for devastating most enemies with skull traps is there, but you look light on spell triggers.  In order to avoid rejigging things too much with my mage party I tended to use sequencers for offensive purposes and triggers for defensive / utility purposes.

 

If you feel like you're resting too much you could also invest in spell trap and use one of the 'endless spells' strategies - though I'm not a great fan of those. 

Grond0 - Saradush is destroyed. But maybe I should talk to Lazarus in Amkethran. We were absolutely broke when we arrived in Saradush so we couldn't get the spell triggers then. Worth looking into, in any case. Thanks for the tip. At the moment, no one even knows that spell, so I think that's a pretty good reason we are a bit light on it...

[Aasim]

Abaddon, final update

 

We did some stuff, sent Jan away, fought vampires up to Tanova. Her trigger with Mislead made her ramp a few hits too much on Abaddon, causing him to loose much CON - after getting downed to 7 he got PW:Stun in his facejust as he was going to quaff an invis potion. Viccy had no Paralysis removals, and Tanova killed him before anyone could help.

Rip Abaddon.

[Golden28]

...

[Blackraven]

Excellent work Alesia, you're the queen of buffing
But what a shame Aasim that your Blackguard has fallen already Would you give Abbadon (or at least your kit) another shot?

Corey, I've long dismissed mages as uncool and overpowered (in competent hands), preferring my (solo) rogues, and I generally don't make it into ToB anyway, so I'm afraid I don't have any clever spell tactics for you. I'll be following a discussion with interest though.
 

[corey_russell]

@Aasim: Sorry to hear about Abaddon  - CON drain is rough (Isn't level drain enough of a problem?)

[Aasim]

But what a shame Aasim that your Blackguard has fallen already Would you give Abbadon (or at least your kit) another shot?

Meh...tbh, I didn't get much into him. Mind you, I did finish De'Arnise; all small Alkathla stuff, killed Edwin's Lich etc. so he actually lasted a while. No, I won't be playing Blackguard again, at least not in this version I made. I might revise it slightly later on (definitely nerf down posion a bit, add some passive abilities or similar.)

 

@Aasim: Sorry to hear about Abaddon  - CON drain is rough (Isn't level drain enough of a problem?)

Yeah, CON drain is very annoying. I don't mind it much, it's the duration that's killing me (300 seconds).

[corey_russell]

Ruzzel and his band of mages, thief/mage and berserker update:

 

I am pleased to report Ruzzel and gang have cleared out Sendai's Lair, as well as defeating Sendai. It did, however, come at great cost - the loyal half-orc, Tank, who protected the group for so long and so well, was chunked by Sendai! The group will press on. Korgan would be the nearest match, but we are thinking of getting Keldorn to help us, we aren't sure yet. Who-ever we pick will be greatly under-leveled, but there's naught to be done about that.

 

The enclave itself went pretty smooth. The real challenge was Sendai herself - we did a ton of buffs for this fight. The battle raged for a long time (about 20 min. real time). At one point, late in the battle when many of Ruzzel's buffs wore off, Ruzzel was being targeted by Sendai and was near death!

 

 

So I turned off AI and did 3 RoR heal attempts on him - fortunately they kicked in before his death, but there's a delay before they activate, so it was real close...

 

Here's the screenshot of our bad news- Tank's chunking.

Spoiler

 

The battle with the real Sendai took a long time - partly due being drained of spells and she seemed to keep healing herself. Haste, MMM's and summons eventually got it done, but took quite a while. Disabler died too, but at least wasn't chunked.

 

The party perseveres and finally makes Sendai give it up. At least Tank did not die in vain...

Spoiler

 

The party will try to pick up the pieces next session, and head to Amkethran for another battle Royale.

 

EDIT: Just realized could have used Wish during the battle to refresh our spells - better do that next time, rather than hope our melee/ranged will be enough...

[Blackraven]

Lovely stuff Corey, though I'm sorry about Tank of course. Hopefully Keldorn or Korgan will prove proper replacements.

[corey_russell]

Lovely stuff Corey, though I'm sorry about Tank of course. Hopefully Keldorn or Korgan will prove proper replacements.

It's a tough choice. Keldorn can use Carsomyr, but his saves are worse than Korgan's. Also, Keldorn won't have any level drain immunity (at least, not with a weapon he's proficient with), but Korgan comes with some skill with warhammers which fits Yaga's hammer perfectly. On the other hand, I love the Foebane +5 and Keldorn comes with Bastard Sword skill. Keldorn's true sights and dispels could be useful too. But Keldorn can be stunned, Korgan would be immune with enrage - tough call.

[Grond0]

Good to see Ruzzel persevering, even if with diminished resources.  I hope he can teach Mel a lesson.