15231 réponses à ce sujet

[Alesia_BH]

Oops!

 

[Alesia_BH]

 

A bit of Watcher's Keep sounds like a sensible next step if you want more XP.

 

Yes. The XP from WK and the Wand of Spell Striking would be most welcome. That's on the to do list.

 

 

From the latest v30 readme:
 

(More recent versions of SCS have given beholders the power (after a few rounds) to steal the shield using their telekinesis power. It's possible that this means this component is not essential any more; I leave it in place anyway, since it's already written.)

 

 

Noted. I'd like to know what -exactly- a few rounds means.

 

 

Not sure about the Warden. He's always been very unpredictable in my setups (up to SCS versions 21 and 28). 
 

 

That's the impression I'm under. I'm more comfortable dealing with Lavok, et al. than the Warden, at this stage.

 

 

Why are the Liches a no-go? 
 

 

If we do them, I want to do them right. We don't have the spell slots to do them right.

 

Best,

 

A.

[Blackraven]

Very well done Alesia. Nice overview of buffs too. But if you can cast all those spells, you've got everything covered, haven't you? Physical, elemental and magic damage.

 

*tries his best Eldoth voice* What's your worry?

Let me see. No slots left for buff-refreshing? For dispellers? For damaging, summoning and disabling spells? If you could use some of your scrolls (Breach, Pierce Magic, Secret Word etc) to strip Lavok of his protections, and maybe items for summons, you would have enough no? I once prevailed over Lavok when I dispelled some of his protections and Kitthix webbed him. I was sure he still had some nasty tricks up his sleeve, but he was a goner nonetheless.

You're afighting him three against one, that's pretty significant, possibly enabling you to strip his protections including contingency stuff in what, three rounds? Otoh he has IA, so that makes it roughly three against three, and he has higher level spells. I'm looking forward to your encounter with him. I wish I could advise you rather than spout the above musings, as you so often give me and others good advice...

Tolgerias is also tricky as you may remember. Likes to summon demons (in my install).



 

[Alesia_BH]

Very well done Alesia. Nice overview of buffs too.

 

 

Thanks. That's kind of you. 

 

 

*tries his best Eldoth voice* What's your worry?

 

I'm a fraidy-cat. 

 

It should be fine. We'll have to remain hard invisible during Time Stops. And we'll need Potions of Stone Form for Symbol spells. We'll also need to keep Aerie, who lacks GoI, away from Malison.

 

We have Harm + Laroch's (with Vecna) from Aerie for opening insta-kills, if we're feeling roguey.

 

 

Let me see. No slots left for buff-refreshing? For dispellers? If you could use some of your scrolls (Breach, Pierce Magic, Secret Word etc) to strip Lavok of his protections, and maybe items for summons, you would have enough no?

 

Yes, that's the plan. Again, it should be fine. I'm just being over cautious.

 

 

 

 Otoh he has IA, so that makes it roughly three against three, and he has higher level spells.
 

 

Only selected high level mages have HLAs in my install. In prior editions, Lavok has not been among them. Is he now?

 

Tolgerias is also tricky as you may remember. Likes to summon demons (in my install).
 

 

Aerie is probably going to execute him.

 

Anyhoo. One step at a time. Samia is next. Let's see how that goes.

 

Best,

 

A.

[Jabberwock]

Well, died fighting Bodhi. Some post-death testing indicates I was probably con-drained to death. That's pretty annoying as I was at full con and health and then dead probably 2-3 seconds into the fight...

[Serg BlackStrider]

Dread news, Jabberwock...

I don't think that Bodhi might con-drain to death from full constitution and health within 2-3 sec (even in one full round). She probably has added some of her *special* abilities (Touch of Death etc.) on top of con drain as well. She con-drain with a Drink Blood ability and don't use it at *that* speed, while her weapon drains 3 levels per hit with 3 base APR (in my setup).

 

edit: digged out some more information from DavidW:

 

Spoiler

Some facts:

i) blood drain isn't a melee touch attack. It's an ordinary melee attack, with the same hit chance as for normal attacks by the same vampire.
ii) vampires drain the same number of CON points as they do levels (e.g., 2 points for normal vampires)
iii) vampires are intended to only drain blood from enemies who are immune to level drain, so I'm rather surprised they're doing it to Drizzt... maybe he's got a secret level-drain immunity I wasn't aware of.

Basically, it's intended to give vampires a backup alternative to level drain against enemies who are protected from the latter. Since (a) most front-line fighters have a higher Constitution than their level at this stage of the game; ( losing levels is more debilitating than losing CON; © there are such things as Potions of Fortitude, I'm not convinced it's overpowered - though I'd be interested in more opinions. What it does do is require you to divert from the usual strategy of making one tough fighter immune to charm and level drain and then just sending him in by himself.

 

So it's just a substitute of level drain ability when char is protected vs level drain. Anyway in this case she only will be able to drain 12 Con points per round at max from your char. I think, as kensai he had more than that.

 

edit2:

Alesia is right, chapter 6 Bodhi drains 5 levels/CON points per hit at 3 base APR with her weapon. So seems that indeed might be the case in your situation.

[Alesia_BH]

Well, died fighting Bodhi. Some post-death testing indicates I was probably con-drained to death. That's pretty annoying as I was at full con and health and then dead probably 2-3 seconds into the fight...

 

Condolences, Jabberwock. Sorry to hear that. 

 

There's no shame in losing a character. It's a rite of passage. You're one of us now. 

 

Anyhoo. Congrats of getting so far. We would have loved to have seen more. Do you think you'll try another run?

 

Best,

 

A.

 

 

Btw. In my install Bodhi's weapon drains 5 Con points per hit. She's extremely dangerous. I can't imagine engaging her in melee without ProMW. 

[Blackraven]

Ouch, sorry about that  Jabberwock, my condolences. It's a good reminder of how hard Bodhi is.
Hope to see you try again!

[Jabberwock]

Regarding the con drain, its very fast due to bodhi's high drain, plus the fact that there are other high level vampires with her. So if charname pulls them all he or she can be dead very, very fast. It's my fault though for not using PfMW on charname. I think to some extent I wasn't playing carefully because I didn't think I wanted to bring this party through ToB... which I do eventually want to do and therefore will need another play-through anyway.

 

That all said, I will definitely be doing another run (and will get better at taking screenshots next time!), but probably not have a chance until thanksgiving.  Hope everyone has fun until then, and I'll be following the current playthroughs which have been very interesting and I'm looking forward to seeing whether they go all the way.

[Alesia_BH]

Regarding the con drain, its very fast due to bodhi's high drain, plus the fact that there are other high level vampires with her. 

 

Makes sense. With Bodhi's -5 and other vamps present, you could die very fast.

 I think to some extent I wasn't playing carefully because I didn't think I wanted to bring this party through ToB... 

 

Again, makes sense. That can happen.

 

 

That all said, I will definitely be doing another run (and will get better at taking screenshots next time!), but probably not have a chance until thanksgiving.  Hope everyone has fun until then, and I'll be following the current playthroughs which have been very interesting and I'm looking forward to seeing whether they go all the way.

 

Thanks for wishing us well. We look forward to having you back!

 

Best,

 

A.

[Alesia_BH]

Quick Note on Aphril's Game:

 

Splendid news from the Windspear Hills: Firkraag is dead!

 

Actually, no: Firkraag is not dead. That was a joke. But something even better happened: Aerie found Globe of Invulnerability as a  random drop. Further, it now seem like Aphril and Adara will be able to reach L14, and thus L7 spells prior to entering the Planar Sphere. With Ruby Rays from Aphril and Aerie protected from Spell Thrust, the quest will be much safer. Good times.

 

Best,

 

A. 

[ussnorway]

Quick Note on Aphril's Game:

 

Splendid news from the Windspear Hills: Firkraag is dead!

 

Actually, no: Firkraag is not dead. That was a joke. But something even better happened: Aerie found Globe of Invulnerability as a  random drop. Further, it now seem like Aphril and Adara will be able to reach L14, and thus L7 spells prior to entering the Planar Sphere. With Ruby Rays from Aphril and Aerie protected from Spell Thrust, the quest will be much safer. Good times.

 

Best,

 

A. 

• I'm curious to see what she ends up packing?

For low level work there is the standard spell sequencer with call lightning summon insects & holy smite  … i tend to like spell sequencer with summon insects holy smite & rigid thinking instead of call lightning but its situational and my favorite l7 arcane would have to be summon  hakeasher … just the thing for tanking those beholders.

• I tend towards an aggressive approach with Aerie but are you going to hold her in reserve because of the level distortion?

[Alesia_BH]

Aphril v Kaol and the Gang (Or Keep Feeling Domination)

 

I love cheesy 80s music. Sometimes the sounds of the 80s float through my head while I'm playing Baldur's Gate- especially when I'm fighting Samia's crew, which I prefer to call Kaol and the Gang. This time I wasn't feeling Kool and the Gang, though. I was felling Human League. And if there was anything Samia kept feeling, it wasn't fascination: it was domination. 

 

The buffs for the fight were the party standards, adjusted to reflect Aerie's addition of Globe of Invulnerability:

 

Aphril: Stoneskin, Protection from Cold, Protection from Fire, Protection from Lightning, Protection from Magic Energy, Protection from Evil, Chaotic Commands, Resist Fear, Spirit Armor, Spell Shield, Spell Deflection, Blur, Mirror Image, Globe of Invulnerability, Improved Invisibility, Globe of Invulnerability, Spell Immunity: Abjuration, Spell Immunity: Divination, Spell Immunity: Evocation

 

Adara: Stoneskin, Protection from Cold, Protection from Fire, Protection from Lightning, Protection from Magic Energy, Protection from Evil, Chaotic Commands, Resist Fear, Spirit Armor, Spell Shield, Blur, Mirror Image, Improved Invisibility, Globe of Invulnerability, Spell Immunity: Abjuration, Spell Immunity: Divination, Spell Immunity: Evocation

 

Aerie: Stoneskin, Protection from Cold, Protection from Fire, Protection from Lightning, Protection from Magic Energy, Protection from Evil, Resist Fear, Chaotic Commands, Spirit, Armor, Spell Shield, Blur, Mirror Image, Improved Invisibility, Globe of Invulnerability Spell Immunity: Abjuration, Spell Immunity: Divination, True Sight

 

Aerie's spell book was tweaked slightly. Her second Spell Shield was replaced by Sunfire and her second Mirror Image was replaced with Invisibility. Here's why. After reviewing the screenshots from the Evil-Dockster fight, I realized that Aerie's defensive protocol could be improved. Given that she is wearing Vecna, she is capable of casting Invisibility before a mage can get off an attack on her Spell Shield. Changing her protocol such that she casts invisibility the instant she is targeted with a spell that begins with "manos" or "praeses" allows her to protect her Spell Shield, freeing up an L5 for Sunfire. In some battles -in fact many- I will prefer to have her double up on Spell Shield nonetheless, but for this fight, the change seemed warranted. That worked. The extra Sunfire proved helpful.

 

After picking up Dragonslayer invisible, and walking south of Samia, Aerie revealed herself to trigger the encounter. The battle began. Kaol and the Gang were met with a triple Sunfire. Kaol was roasted.

 

I'm with you Kaol: Fire Shield: Blue looks so much better than Fire Shield: Red. We all suffer for fashion, but how much is too much? Surely dying because blue is in isn't worth it...

 

Once the opening salvo had been launched, Aphril and her team immediately withdrew south to the narrow corridor, near the Director. That's were Aphril made her stand. And that's where Samia kept feeling domination.

 

In the corridor, Aphril and Adara laid down a double Teleport Field. Given the physics of Teleport Field in circumstances such as this, Samia's team could be expected to repeatedly land near the two doorways on either side of the corridor. Those, of course, would be perfect locations for Aphril and Adara to target with Skull Traps, while Aerie dumped Holy Smites on the field. This was a massacre.

 

 

The death of Legdoril brought a sigh of relief. He was the one that worried me here: I've seen him cast Harm.

 

Spoiler

 

Samia, who had been teleported through the eastern door, is back for more now. She'll catch that Skull Trap soon enough, and another for good measure...

 

Spoiler

 

 

Eventually, Samia figured it out: there was no way she was getting Dragonslayer. And Aerie Melf's Minute Meteors cut the fleeing Samia down.

 

Spoiler

 

Aphril and Adara are only 7,000 XP points away from L14 now. The team is nearly ready for the Planar Sphere.

 

Best,

 

A.

 

Aerie the Fascinator, L11/12 C/M: Kills- 196; XP Value- 35%; Most Powerful Vanquished- Shade Lord; Favorite Spell- Holy Smite; Favorite Weapon- +1 Halberd; Cumulative Damage Taken- ~30HP

 

Adara the Electric Dream Child, L13 Sorcerer: Kills- 198; XP Value- 33%; Most Powerful Vanquished- Crypt King; Favorite Spell- Invisibility; Favorite Weapon- Melf's Minute Meteors; Cumulative Damage Taken- 0HP

 

Aphril the Mirror Woman, L13 Sorcerer: Kills- 195; XP Value- 31%; Most Powerful Vanquished: Umber Hulk Elder; Favorite Spell- Invisibility; Favorite Weapon- Melf's Minute Meteors; Cumulative Damage Taken- 0HP

 

[Charlestonian Knight Templar]

Lil' help please?  

 

So we keep smashing Faldorn & Co in the Druid Grove (okay, smashing isn't the word - pretty tough fight actually) but we have beaten her three times.  

 

Her's the rub though, every time we land the final blow, I CKT the controller, am outside the grove where you meet Cernd.   But my PC & NPCs are still in the grove. Battle's over but I can't effect, select or do anything to my folks, e,g, 'select' or 'select all' does nothing.  I hear them bitching about 'wasting the whole day' but I can't do anything to 'teleport the controller but to where the control-lees are.  

 

Anyone seen this before?  Better yet, is there a way to fix this? I'm happy to beat her & I bet there's some decent loot there between her & her assistant Shadow Druid's, who are all dead also.  But I can't get it cause I can't get to my PC/NPCs after I kill her.  Help?  Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?  CKT

[Alesia_BH]

Thanks for your interest, USSNorway.

 

 

 

I tend towards an aggressive approach with Aerie but are you going to hold her in reserve because of the level distortion?

 

 

I tend to be aggressive with Aerie, too. She is the party's kill leader, although the numbers are close and closing: 35% Aerie, 33% Adara, 31% Aphril.

 

If you review posts from this run, you'll find that Aerie has spent most of her time in the Teleport Field alongside Aphril and Adara. However, on some occasions, such as against Ruhk Transmuter and the Greater Wolfweres, she fought buffed and Polymorphed instead. That pattern will continue throughout the run. Aerie will toggle between being an invulnerable tank and a ranged damage dealer as the situation demands.

 

As for her role in the Planar Sphere, my intention had been to shield her from the action to an extent, but now that she has Globe of Invulnerability, she can stand alongside Aphril and Adara. I'm really glad we found that scroll. Thank you mister Ghast!

 

Best,

 

A.

[Alesia_BH]

Lil' help please?  

 

It sound to me like you're fighting Faldorn outside of the pit fight ring: taking her party on instead. Is that correct?

 

Have you tried letting Cernd pit fight her?

 

Best,

 

A.

[Charlestonian Knight Templar]

It sound to me like you're fighting Faldorn outside of the pit fight ring: taking her party on instead. Is that correct?

 

Have you tried letting Cernd pit fight her?

 

Best,

 

A.

Exactly!  I know they're Shadow Druids so while she & Cernd are fighting, I have our folks take care of her supporting cast, thinking that if she defeats Cernd it'll be us against just her rather than all of them @ once.  She's killed Cernd all three times & teleports in just as we're finishing up the last of her friends.  We beat her mercilessly (but she does get off that Insect Plague - ugh) & eventually she gets to 'near death' & we just keep pummeling her until just @ the point we kill her I (the real me) suddenly can't do anything to affect my PC/NPCs who are still where they were outside the pit. CKT

[Alesia_BH]

This may be deliberate. You're only suppose to be able to complete the quest by defeating Faldron in the fighting pit. 

 

I've seen different mods take different approaches to enforcing that rule. This may be SCS's method.

 

Was Cernd in the party when he fought Faldron, or did he fight her out of the party?

 

In recent versions of SCS, he'll lose if he fights her out of the party. But if you have him join the party and then pre-buff him, he's likely to win.

 

Here's Aphril's post form the Faldorn encounter. Note that Cernd won without taking any injuries (on Insane). Note also that his portrait is covered in buffs.

 

http://forum.bioware...nge/?p=19384183

 

Join Cernd. Buff him up. He should get the job done. That may solve your problem. I hope this helps!

 

Best,

 

A.

[Blackraven]

Yours is an interesting approach CKT, but I think you need Cernd (or Jaheira or a Charname Druid) to duel Faldorn in the pit. She has bonded with the grove I think she calls it, and can only be defeated by another Druid in a duel. You can kill the Shadow Druids outdoors but not the ones inside with Faldorn. They disappear as soon as Faldorn falls.
Edit: got distracted, and so missed Alesia's post above.

Well played Alesia (as usual hehe). Never did things look dicey.
Btw I do like the purple (blue + red) fireshields and find them quite effective in melee. I think I once "killed" Bodhi or another strong foe with one. Don't see you using them much though.

 

[Charlestonian Knight Templar]

Guess I'll have to let one my NPCs sit it out while I take in Cernd.  Otherwise, I'll have to leave the grove w/o the loot & an important kill.  Faldorn is tough here.  

 

Since I've killed her all three times, I won't feel guilty making the adjustment to finsh the quest...will I?

 

Too tired to drive on.  I'll sleep on it tonight.  Night night west coasters.  East coast is closing down.  CKT

[Alesia_BH]

Well played Alesia (as usual hehe). Never did things look dicey.
 

 

Thanks. Yeah. They didn't have a chance. Legdoril was the only one who worried me and he was never given an opportunity to take an offensive action.

 

 

Btw I do like the purple (blue + red) fireshields and find them quite effective in melee. I think I once "killed" Bodhi or another strong foe with one. Don't see you using them much though.
 

 

Me too. In my install the double fire shields don't look purple, sadly. They're just red with blue flecks. It's a bummer.

 

To be honest, I'm a little worried about Aphril's Fireshield. When I build sorcerer spell books style is always a consideration. Each of my sorcerers has a signature combination of spells. In addition, each for them selects one spell as an homage to their predecessor. As an example, Alanis's signature spells were the Wish spells, and in particular Limited Wish: I wish to summon a horde to over run my enemies! Alicia, Alanis's successor, selected Limited Wish in honor of Alanis.

 

Alicia, who had been built in 2013 just after Frozen was released, had Fire Shield: Blue and Ice Storm as signature spells. They were also references to Elsa, naturally. Aphril selected Fireshield: Blue instead of Fire Shield: Red to honor Alicia, but now that I think about it, on insane, I'm not convinced that I have the luxury of passing on the more defensively useful Fire Shield: Red just for fashion. I'm worried about that. I hope Aphril won't meet Kaol's fate someday.

 

Best,

 

A.

[Blackraven]

CKT:

It's definitely worth it to get rid of Faldorn. Trademeet will be very grateful.

 

Careful with Cernd in his duel with Faldorn. In SCS (I believe you're playing with SCS) she'll start by casting an Improved Invisibility, which makes casting spells with a long casting time such as Insect Plague futile. Can Druids cast Remove Fear in your install? That might be a good starting spell to counter the fear effect of the Insect Plague or Creeping Doom that's likely to follow her Improved Invisibility. You could then Shapeshift Cernd and let him melee-attack. Note however that she'll be Ironskinned and thus have a few rounds to cast more spells before shapeshifted Cernd can actually injure her.

I see that Alesia managed to buff Cernd with her other party members. I haven't been very successful with that. (Pre-battle buffs get removed and during the battle I couldn't target Cernd with my spells the few times I tried.) You could definitely try though.

What does work, not sure if you like it, is to have Cernd quaff a potion of invisibility before speaking with Faldorn. You can then address Faldorn with another character, not Cernd, and see Cernd join in the conversation yet remain invisible. In the pit he can wait out Faldorn's shorter Improved Invisibilities and then drop an Insect Plague on her and finish her off. 

Good night and good luck!

[Alesia_BH]

Guess I'll have to let one my NPCs sit it out while I take in Cernd.  Otherwise, I'll have to leave the grove w/o the loot & an important kill.  Faldorn is tough here. Since I've killed her all three times, I won't feel guilty making the adjustment to finsh the quest...will I?

 

Just be happy SCS changed the enforcement mechanic. SCS's Improved Faldorn is based on a component in the Tactics mod. In the original Tactics version, Faldorn was indeed stronger than ever with the aid of the grove and invincible outside of the pit. If you attacked her outside of the pit, she would cast Nature's Beauty and Creeping Doom over and over again with permanent Improved Alacrity and a casting speed bonus. You'd be permanently blinded, and you'd have to save v spells multiple times per round to avoid dying. And then there were the insects. It was awful and, in my opinion, heavy handed. I'm glad to see that your install has a more no reload friendly system.

 

 

 

I see that Alesia managed to buff Cernd with her other party members. I haven't been very successful with that. (Pre-battle buffs get removed and during the battle I couldn't target Cernd with my spells the few times I tried.) You could definitely try though.
 

 

That's interesting. Take note of that CKT. I'm in v30. Blackraven is in v21, I believe.

 

Have you ever tried it in v30, Blackraven? What happened?

 

Best,

 

A.

 

 

Btw. My Transmuter, Alastria, made the mistake of attacking Tactics Faldorn outside of the pit. She flipped over to Polymorph Self: Mustard Jelly form, for the 100% magic resistance, and got out as soon as she could. I have vivid memories of watching mustard jellied Alastria slither through the cavern and out the door as Faldorn's spells fired..

[Alesia_BH]

Btw I do like the purple (blue + red) fireshields and find them quite effective in melee. I think I once "killed" Bodhi or another strong foe with one. Don't see you using them much though.

 

 

Just wanted to comment on this.

 

Arcadia, who was a melee fighter, used Fire Shields often. I like them- especially since they bypass magic resistance. Fireshield collisions can be very powerful.

 

Since Aphril and Adara fight in Teleport Fields, Fire Shields can't do much for them other than look pretty, provide some elemental resistance, and protect against insects. They'll rarely deal damage.

 

I do like the way they look though. The plan had been to have Aphril in blue, Adara in red, and Aerie in purple, whenever we could. We may still do that.

 

Best,

 

A.

[Blackraven]

Have you ever tried it in v30, Blackraven? What happened?

Never got that far with SCS v30. My experience is with v21 (and maybe 28). It's possible I tried with the wrong spells (i.e. spells that require a limited distance) when Cernd was in the pit. It's been a long time, I can't really remember.