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Baldur's Gate 2 No-Reload Challenge


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#13201
corey_russell

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Alesia said...

Actually, it depends on what you mean by an all melee party. I'd be willing to do a F/T and F/C duo, accompanied by non-arcane Bioware PCs, for example.

 

I mean no arcane, and no pure casters (thus no clerics/druids, sorcerers, wild mages, mage or mage kits). Hybrids would count (bards, paladins, rangers)

 

Perhaps such a melee party would be too dangerous in your SCS install, though would certainly be viable in vanilla.

 

And as to your point about why you don't have Minsc in your current party - point taken. Guess no point taking him if his protections get dispelled then the parties own AoE chunks him.

 

I too am thinking about an all thief party for my next run, although my party would be all fighters for BG 1 then morph into thieves for SoA and beyond.


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#13202
Grond0

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Some nice updates here I see - pity about the results in one of them Golden :(.


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#13203
Alesia_BH

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Perhaps such a melee party would be too dangerous in your SCS install, though would certainly be viable in vanilla.

 

 

It's doable, certainly. I'm just not sure I'm the one to do it. I've never been over-fond of melee oriented parties.

 

I'd probably play on Core, rather than Insane.

 

I too am thinking about an all thief party for my next run, although my party would be all fighters for BG 1 then morph into thieves for SoA and beyond.

 

Sounds fun! A crew of thieves captures my imagination more than a crew of warriors. That I could see myself doing. 

 

Best,

 

A.



#13204
ussnorway

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Do I see a Sharman run coming?

 

p.s. They are still in beta but read about it here.



#13205
Guest_GrimJim_*

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Some sad times in the thread recently. RIP Alexander :( . 
 
Part 6: Jim vs. Mages, Mages, and More Mages
 
Jim begins by heading for Mekrath's lair. He's still under 2 million experience so he'll face umber hulks rather than the very annoying yuan-ti mages. Globe of invulnerability allows him to handle the mephits before the hulks come running. I make a mistake with Jim's movement and he gets trapped by three hulks, but his defences hold until he can break free.
Spoiler
 
Jim kills the troll for Roger and retrieves the mirror for Mekrath. Mekrath reveals what he's won: a brand new bard!
Spoiler
 
Unfortunately it's the overly verbose model. Jim sends him back to the dealership. I know there's an acid blob trap in front of the altar but I decide to risk it. He's got 83 HP and mirror images. It would take some spectacularly bad luck for Jim to die here. In fact, if he does, I'm quitting BG2 forever.
Spoiler
 
Alright then. As a side note, the trap on the altar here is save vs. spells or be charmed. However, as far as I can tell, it is not considered an enchantment spell and so spell immunity won't block it. Globes of invulnerability will, though, so Jim uses that. Jim then heads after the remaining slavers in the ship. This time his mirror images block the acid blob trap.
Spoiler
 
Tragedy almost strikes here. Since Hendak took the key when Jim finished the quest, he can't open the cells. The boy gets close enough to the bars that Jim can talk to him, but the girl remains at the back of the cell. Fortunately a knock scroll is capable of opening the door.
Spoiler
 
Jim then heads after Rayic Gethras. Since there was a bit of discussion about playstyles earlier in the thread, I'll say that I will do my best to allow enemy prebuffs to fire before attacking them. However, if I feel that doing so would be too much of a risk, I'm not above playing dirty.
Spoiler
 
I'm also not above waiting out buffs with invisbility. Once Jim gets improved alcacrity I'll happily have him take on mages head to head, but for now I'm taking the safe route. Jim watches as Rayic uses his sphere of chaos and emotion spells, but he stands clear of the AoE and would make his save anyway.
Spoiler
 
Once Rayic's minor globe falls, Jim erases him with a 3x skull trap sequencer. 
Spoiler
 
Rayic gets a measure of revenge as Jim triggers the acid blob trap on the table. I always forget about that one... Jim then finishes up the fetch quests for Edwin and Mae'Var. Once the hit is put out on Mae'Var, Jim uses invisibility to head right for him. On the way down, I realize that I forgot to check if there was anything else I wanted from Gorch's store. Oh well. Jim enters with spell immunity: abjuration, uses a meteor to break invisibility and trigger the pre-buffs, then fades with improved invisibility.
Spoiler
 
Jim has to use another spell immunity to block a divination from the priest.
Spoiler
 
As the screenshot shows, the rogues were kind enough to all huddle up in the corner. Jim questions their tactics but does not complain.
Spoiler
 
Jim cleans up the rest of the guild hall before reporting back to Captain Kidney Renal Bloodscalp, reaching level 15 in the process.
Spoiler
 
He selects lower resistance, death fog, and project image as his new spells. I strongly considered taking breach instead and just holding out for a planetar to deal with magic resistant enemies, but ultimately I played it safe. To conclude this update, Jim heads after Mencar and his crew. Amon and Pooky fire off a chaos and slow combo, but Jim's saves are (as far as I know) up to the task.
Spoiler
 
Anyone else ever noticed that Brennan Risling takes very little damage from spells? Anyone else know why?
Spoiler
 
Without their mages, the melee-ers can't accomplish anything. Brennan escapes due to an oil of speed, but hopefully Jim won't need the ring of invisibility anyway.
 
De'Arnise Keep will be next.

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#13206
Alesia_BH

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He selects lower resistance, death fog, and project image as his new spells. I strongly considered taking breach instead and just holding out for a planetar to deal with magic resistant enemies, but ultimately I played it safe.

 

Skipping Breach, or delaying Breach, is the right call, in my opinion. Breach scrolls are plentiful in SoA. Later, Breach wands can be generated via Wish. Even if you Breach often, you can get away with never taking Breach.

 

Very late in the adventure it can be nice to have Breach in your book- if only because it allows you to Breach efficiently during Improved Alacrities. If I take Breach, it's always my last L5.

 

As for LR, I respect the argument for taking Pierce Magic at L6 rather than LR at 5. I've never taken that approach though.

 

Best,

 

A. 



#13207
Gate70

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Blaggerd kicks at the cage door to no avail before trying to bend the bars instead. The situation seems hopeless but for a Blackguard there is always a way out and he communes with his patron. Another deal is done and the dark price added to an already overwhelming damnation, being forced to continue time after time until he can seize the mantle of god-hood proffered by one of his dead fathers. The other, being a dead step-father, is unable to help once more.
 
Blaggerd groans as Imoen unlocks the cage. Has she appeared as a result of the deal only just struck, or has his patron received payment without taking action. He angrily storms past Imoen in search of equipment, eliciting a "you're welcome" from the childhood acquaintance he rarely saw eye to eye with. Imoen wants to mastermind the continued escape and Blaggerd opens his mouth to tell her where to stick her rescue but the words fail to arrive. So Imoen IS part of the deal and he must travel with her until one of them perishes. Damn this damnation.
 
Imoen insists on rescuing Minsc and Jaheira, Blaggerd refusing to concede their presence is due to a brief association with him. Again he finds he cannot dispose of their services and growls under his breath. Damnation upon damnation, the demands are becoming too much - he WILL find a way to rid himself of these minions and, whisper it, the infernal patron when the opportunity presents. Still, the Harper may be of use until then, while the conundrum that is Minsc baffles the Blackguard. How did he manage to break free of his bars while Blaggerd could not do so even with a holy might state of strength (21). Another deception by the so-called patron perhaps?
 
Imoen notices Blaggerd has gained a little experience since the defeat of Sarevok, something he does not wish to discuss when questioned. She continues to press on this matter, to the point where only the aforementioned deal prevents him from strangling the questions at source. Boo squeaks and Minsc translates sage advice not to nag Blaggerd further on the subject. Finally, a respite.
 
More good news - the Golden Pantaloons are recovered and appear to be no worse for wear. Blaggerd selects the best equipment he can find and throws what is left in the direction of his companions. Time to escape, suggest Jaheira. No, now it is time to track down their captor and tear him apart, limb by limb.
 
Yoshimo, feared by all, is recruited with a patronly warning that his soul is bound to another. Blaggerd knows the feeling all too well. After killing anything that moves and looting whatever glitters in gloom, the party arrive at the exit point. Blaggerd is set to continue but Imoen refuses to go any further until she has refreshed her spellbook. Blaggerd is unimpressed, knowing he is close to his prey and is suitably equipped to administer a bloody beating before slowly throttling the life out of... that man.
Spoiler

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#13208
Aasim

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Parthis, 5th BG2 update

 

Thaxy was slain right after Firk. There were difficulties however. I almost lost barbarian completely. Screenshot can't show this, but this Rage came in the knick of time - his aura was clouded by Ilbratha images just as Thaxy was preparing his breath attack.

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Likewise, archer was almost nullified by getting constantly targeted by breath - Blindness>archers.

I used MoD to thwart level drain, but there's no help vs Blindess.

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He also managed to disrupt TS by stinknig Chromatic Orb..sigh.

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Be that as it may - Satzee claims one more scalp.

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From there, city, forge dragon armors, back to WK. I do all this before Spellhold since we're already sure to meet a Lich there; hence I want as much XP as possible before. We deal with L1 creeps swiftly

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Notice a very disturbing Air Elemental behaviour - they go after archer the moment they see her. Coupled with their invisibility and their 30-40 damage attacks, this can be bad. Good thing is they can't do anything vs invisibility themselve. My archer goes invisible as soon as she gets tagged by one of them.

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Took a while, cost some potions, but it's done.

Here you can see Spellpack's Cone of Cold. It's not much different from vanilla game spell, but it looks fantastic.

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We released the demon and ran outside, I won't be visiting WK again before Vorpal weapons. Chrom can be deadly to non-arcane parties.

 

Next, Planar Prison. I don't buff much before entering, I simply blast everything.

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I scouted ahead with my archer. Bad news - 3 Yuan-ti mages spawn. These always give me trouble. They open up with Animate Dead - again, spell tweaked by Spellpack. It summons many, many undead. What one gets is random, ranging from zombies to Skeleton Warriors.

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Barbarian is the first to die.

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We fight in telly field, convinently screwed up by it. Archer can't get into proper position, and dies as well. 

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Luckily, Yuan-ti's spent most their spells on her. Parthis casts Free Action on himself, and wastes all of them.

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Nabassu there died in a round, his gated cambions in two.

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I trigger Warden and retreat back. Yuan-ti mages teleport to us, perfect - we're ready for them, and sperating them from Warden is crucial. They do kill our summoned bears.

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I go back to Warden and run back. I can't harm him, and the moment I hear his casting I scatter. Time Stop wasted. :)

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Bad thing is I couldn't prevent Planetar summoning. It goes invisible and after my archer. Run!

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It exposes itself by casting a Firestorm which archer evades, good. Then he launches Insects. Parthis is badly wounded and drinks healing potions every round. he did manage to cast Death Ward & Armor of Faith for defence.

Barby is tanking the Warden, his BBoD expired.

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Planetar dies to arrows. Yeah!

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Warden has no chance w/o PfMW, and dies soon after.

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Last thing before Spellhold, Ilithids. Archer died there once, but that was all. 

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I'll leave Planar Sphere as a post-Spellhold quest, I'm terrified of meeting a Balor prior to Whirlwind attacks. Hence, we sail.


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#13209
Guest_GrimJim_*

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Skipping Breach, or delaying Breach, is the right call, in my opinion. Breach scrolls are plentiful in SoA. Later, Breach wands can be generated via Wish. Even if you Breach often, you can get away with never taking Breach.

 

Very late in the adventure it can be nice to have Breach in your book- if only because it allows you to Breach efficiently during Improved Alacrities. If I take Breach, it's always my last L5.

 

As for LR, I respect the argument for taking Pierce Magic at L6 rather than LR at 5. I've never taken that approach though.

 

Best,

 

A. 

All good points. I'm just unhappy that the last level 5 pick is almost 5 million experience away.



#13210
Aasim

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Parthis, 6th BG2 update

 

Spellhold

 

Sure enough, we met our 1st lich there. And Greater Mummies.  With aTweaks, they're spellcasters with an ugly paralyzing aura and leathal disease. They summon undead. Lich is behind them all.

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We scatter their bones around.

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Lich was, unlike the ones we'll eventually meet in Alkathla, pathetic.

With his PfMW gone (only 2 castings, one wasted initially) he was a joke.

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Irenicus (non-improved version) - I managed to lure his dispel so only Parthis is affected. He drinks an Invulnerability potion, I don't want failed saves here.

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Irenici goes into his standard TS/Alacrity/Comet crap. He does waste his damage spells on loonies, which is great.

Loonies respond with Cacofiend, time for Pro Evil. Planetar (irenicus') is also summoned.

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Death Ward on barbarian gets dispelled. I hope for no vorpals, Parthis just cast Pro Evil, since I don't need the demon to attack me now.

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Irenicus is still busy with loonies, while we focus down the Planetar.

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It gets an Insect Plague off, and then dies.

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Left alone with PfMW gone, Irenicus high-tails it out.

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I took Saemon's offer, killed each and every Kuo-Toa I could find, and Parthis is now just few thousand XP far from his first HLA pick.

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Underdark awaits us.


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#13211
Alesia_BH

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Looking good, Aasim!

 

Best,

 

A.



#13212
Alesia_BH

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All good points. I'm just unhappy that the last level 5 pick is almost 5 million experience away.

 

Yeah. That last L5 comes super late. And it is convenient to have Breach in your book. Now that Aphril has Improved Alacrity, and is off to hunt lichee-poos, Breach would be nice to have.

 

But I'd rather deal with the minor hassle of casting Breach from scroll or wand then do almost entirely without one of the other spells.

 

Again though, I do think you can make a case for taking Breach and Pierce Magic together. For players who want a complete book early, that may be the way to go. I think that's especially true for players who take Teleport Field at L4. If you take Teleport Field at 4, then that frees up L6s in combat, since ProMW won't be needed often. If you then take Pierce Magic at L6 and skip LR at L5, you have a complete book and you've gone a long way towards resolving the mid level bottlenecks, since the key jobs are now spread out nicely across 4,5, and 6. i like that approach, even though I've never tried it.

 

 

Best,

 

A.



#13213
Gate70

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Blaggerd blinks. Apparently it's legal to wrap your hands around the throat of a mortal foe but not to cast magic, which is how Irenicus lives to fight another day by being arrested. On the positive side, having free rein to strangle any opposition in the city will make life a lot more enjoyable for the Blackguard. Better yet, the Imoen problem has solved itself too, with her arrested as well.

A trip to the circus is less than eventful, Aerie the avarial offering to help Blaggerd. He laughs in her face and turns to go, only to find himself compelled to accept the offer. NO. NO NO NO. Wrangling with his patron turns out to be a huge mistake, resulting in him being forced to woo Arerie. NO NO NO - his only hope is that she spurns his overtures.

Gaelan Bayle greets the party as they arrive at the Slums District and requests a meeting in the privacy of his own home. Blaggerd would like nothing better than to just kill him but is refrained from doing so by his patron and must acquiesce to the suggestions of the thief. Aerie swoons at the sound of his voice, more so as Blaggerd smoulders with rage and growls low gutteral responses. Somebody is going to pay for this. Many people are going to pay for this...
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#13214
Aasim

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Looking good, Aasim!

 

Best,

 

A.

It is :) .

 

Parthis, 7th BG2 update (rather long)

 

So, Underdark. Probably my least favourite part of the game - but XP there is grand. 

First we rest, which makes a Umber Hulk spawn. We kill it, and Parthis gets his 1st HLA - Deva is picked.

Next, elemental portals. Serg knows the drill here, I'll just say that Air Elementals are probably the worst, followed closely by Earth (constant Eartquakes) while Fire ones are useless.

Invis potions kept my archer safe, and we all got HLAs now. Barby Hardiness, archer WW. Parthis gets Elemental summoning.

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With our newly aquired summons, Drow are a far less leathal...

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First I do Kuo-Toa. No problem, even w/o summons. I tried to kill the Demon Knights there using only summons, but that didn't really work well - they blasted my elementals apart and panicked the Deva.

Dwarves to the rescue!

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The sword there, Soul Reaver, is for my barbarian to use. Fixpack bugs it (THAC0 drain has 0 duration) but I fix it, so it's a good weapon. Now, Underdark exit party. I send Parthis in first to take the dispels. Glabrezus start gating, I run back to my party & summons.

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Balor comes. Crap. DW, pronto.

Archer Whirwinds asap, the beast needs to be downed immidiately.

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Barby eats a PW:Stun from a Glabrezu, his DW is dispelled. Craaap...

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Balor dies.  :D

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We focus the Glabrezus now, drow summon undead. Barby is free from Stun.

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Round two!

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Planetar summoned - DW asap. Crucial spell.

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It gets dispelled immidiately, but Planetar is downed.

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We it gone, we clear what's left of them.

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As per village Balor....yikes. He's hard enough as it is, but I witnessed a very odd thing. I killed him quickly with WW + Summons,

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but he gated no less than 3 Alu-Fiends. This demon is supposed to look like this:

 

Alu-Fiend

Rank: Tanar'ri, Lesser
Ability Scores: STR 15, DEX 17, CON 14, INT 18, WIS 12, CHA 16
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Base Armor Class: 5
Movement: 12, Fl 25 (D)
Hit Dice: 12 (48 hp)
Base THAC0: 17
Attacks per Round: 1
Base Damage: By weapon
On-hit effects: By weapon
Special Defenses: Extraplanar Traits; immune to non-magical weapons; cannot be backstabbed; unaffected by fear, charm, sleep, confusion and stun
Resistances: Magic 30%, Fire 100%, Cold 50%, Electricity 100%, Poison 100%
Saving Throws: 11/7/9/11/8
XP Value: 6,000
At-will spell-like abilities: Drain Life, Charm Person, TelepathyTeleport Without Error
Special: may cast spells as a 12th level Wizard (2x Magic Missile, 2x Blindness, 3x Mirror Image, 1x Vocalize, 2x Vampiric Touch, 2x Slow, 2x Stoneskin, 2x Improved Invisibility, 2x Chaos, 2x Hold Monster, 1x Protection from Magical Weapons)

As you can see, nothing special. Actually, pathetic. I tought SCS would simply add 50% to his HP. What happened is I got this instead:

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195 HP with THAC0 of 1!  :blink:

 

This resulted in the hardest battle for now. Archer dies instantly.

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And for the first time, I use Ressurection rod on living PCs. I wanted to avoid that but the situation is most dire. These Alu-Fiends constanlty heal themselves, use MI and are a nuisance to deal with. In addition, their swords hurt like hell.

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After what seemed like a hellish eternity, they die.

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I hope I'll witness no more stuff like this....

 

Anyhow, we parlor with Adalon, do the Drow's quest easilly, throw Adalon's eggs away and kill her. :(  Sorry, that armor is too good to pass out on.

I used minor spells like Resist Fire/Cold, scrolls of Pro Cold and potions to thwart her devastating icy breath..

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And it was soon done.

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Costs XP, but the reward is worth it.

 

Next, Beholders. All invisible, summon Deva, it gets Imprisonmented

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...barely avoid PW:Kill.... :P

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and wait out PfMW, launch WW and kill it.

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That done, we kill some Ilithid, learn that Mazed characters get no XP

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And we're out. I don't bother with Vithal, I'm done. Accidentaly made Drizzt hostile (misclick). I wouldn't take his help anyway - Bodhi simply shreds him to pieces in one round.

I didn't kill him, I ran away.

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We have now just killed Githyanki and are assembling items with Cromwell. Planar Sphere awaits us, should we survive it's Lich hunting time.


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#13215
Serg BlackStrider

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@Aasim: you might consider Greater Death Blow vs Alu-Fiends as an option in the future. Just need to outlast their PfMW which might be an issue without Breach but again your might have a wand from WK already.


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#13216
Aasim

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@Aasim: you might consider Greater Death Blow vs Alu-Fiends as an option in the future. Just need to outlast their PfMW which might be an issue without Breach but again your might have a wand from WK already.

Good idea with GDB, I tought the wand is unusable by warriors, am I mistaken?



#13217
Alesia_BH

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I tought the wand is unusable by warriors, am I mistaken?

 

You're not mistaken. Warriors can't use the Wands of Spell Striking.

 

Best,

 

A.



#13218
Serg BlackStrider

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Ah... Well, you'll just need to survive for 4 rounds then... :)


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#13219
Alesia_BH

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Aphril, Elven Sorcerer: Lichee-Poos!

 

Is it just me, or are liches cute? I know they're suppose to be embodiments of evil, horror and terror. But they have such nice hats. And they have matching robes. And they can do the twist better than John Travolta. They're adorable- I mean adorable. That's why I like to call them care bears, or, sometimes, lichee-poos. Today they're lichee-poos. And today they die.

 

Fashion Show

 

It just occurred to me that no one knows what the girls look like, since they're always shrouded in magic. Well, here they are.

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Adara seriously rocks the bold colors, especially now that she's wearing an Adventurer's Robe. Aerie, in contrast, favors subtler, earthier tones, although she also knows when to go bold. Aerie understands, for example, that Stoneskins + Spirit Armor + Pro Evil + Fire Shield: Blue calls for Blackblood, the Dragon Helm, and the Dragon Shield. She keeps those items on hand just for those occasions. Adara and Aerie are clearly the most stylish members of the team.

 

In mauve and burnt sienna, Imoen matches her portrait nicely, but she has little else going on, and the Cloak of Reflection doesn't complement her color scheme. For those who think Adara or Aerie would look better in the Cloak of Reflection than Imoen, I'm right with you. We'll try that soon. 

 

As for Aphril, she wears Vecna, Kazgaroth, and Displacement. She is and always will be a fashion nightmare. There's no way to salvage blurry green that we can think of. We're open to suggestions.

 

A Walk in the Park

 

Seeking a little practice before lich hunting, the team visited the North Forest. Here we see the party attempting to trigger the mage's buffs with a MMM before Adara's Wilting Chain kills him. Clearly, we're going to have to work harder to keep our enemies from dropping dead too fast.

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Aphril took over from there.

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The North Forest thief, like Ketta, broke off from the pack and survived the AoE assault. The North Forest thief, like Ketta, died a horrible death. Whooah! Where do you think you're going cowboy? Aerie: True Sight, Imoen: Power Word Stun- Thief

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Lichee-Poos!

 

Hooray! It's finally time for the lichee-poos!

 

The buffs for these fights were the party's current standards, with minor adjustment for lich hunting. We take SI:Ev instead of SI:C when facing lichee-poos and rhakshasas.

 

Aphril: Stoneskin, Protection from Cold, Protection from Fire, Protection from Lightning, Protection from Magic Energy, Protection from Evil, Chaotic Commands, Resist Fear, Pro Pet, Death Ward, Spirit Armor, Spell Shield, Spell Deflection, Blur, Mirror Image, Haste, Protection from Energy, 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, Pro Pet, Death Ward, Spirit Armor, Spell Shield, Spell Turning, Blur, Mirror Image, Haste, 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, Chaotic Commands, Resist Fear, Pro Pet, Spirit Armor, Spell Shield, Spell Deflection, Blur, Mirror Image, Haste, True Sight, Improved Invisibility, Globe of Invulnerability, Spell Immunity: Abjuration, Spell Immunity: Divination

 

Imoen:  Stoneskin, Protection from Cold, Protection from Fire, Protection from Magic Energy, Protection from Evil, Chaotic Commands, Resist Fear, Death Ward, Pro Pet, Spirit Armor, Spell Shield, Spell Deflection, Blur, Mirror Image, Haste, Improved Invisibility, Globe of Invulnerability, Spell Immunity: Abjuration, Spell Immunity: Divination, Spell Immunity: Evocation

 

We did the Elemental Lich first. Kudos to him: He survived long enough to get his Time Stop off, although it took a glitch of sorts for that to happen.

 

Our pre-battle positions. That's Imoen near the coffin, Aerie near the spawn point. Aphril and Adara are to the South. Adara is the one closest to the door. Adara will get closer when it's time for her Wilting Chain. 

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Aerie timed a False Dawn for the loch's arrival. No dice on that. Now we know.

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Aphril had Improved Alacrity up and running and after scrutinizing the lich's buffs, concluded that three Ruby Ray's would open him up to Breach (one for the Spell Shield, one for the Spell Trap, one for the SI:A). Unfortunately, despite the fact that the lich was not running SI:D, Aerie's True Sight failed to remove his II, preventing Imoen from landing her Breach. That permitted the lich to get his Time Stop off, but he was basically buff stumped so it didn't matter. I'm kind of surprised that we didn't see a Planetar from him.

 

Once time resumed, Aerie readied a scroll and landed a Breach. Adara then approached and once she did, her Wilting Chain went off. Imoen's follow up Wilting finished him.

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Lichee-Poo two went down quicker since he didn't benefit from sticky illusions. No Time Stop for him.

 

Once again, Aphril opened with IA and then scrutinized the lich's buffs. Two Ruby Rays would do it this time. And with Aerie's pre-cast True Sight working, Imoen was able to land her Breach before the lich could say "fero."

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With the ProMW out of the way, MMMs disrupted his cast.

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Ok: Your turn Adara. Step right up. Dragon's Breath + Wilting Chain.

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Time for Kangaxx.

 

Best,

 

A.

 

 

Aerie the Accessorizer, L15/14 C/M: Kills- 394; XP Value- 30%; Most Powerful Vanquished- Hive Mother; Favorite Spell- Holy Smite; Favorite Weapon- Melf's Minute Meteors; Cumulative Damage Taken- ~50HP

 

Imoen the Almost Normcore, L7/16 T->M: Kills- 55; XP Value- 6%; Most Powerful Vanquished- Lich; Favorite Spell- Stoneskins; Favorite Weapon- Melf's Minute Meteors; Cumulative Damage Taken- 0HP

 

Adara the Fashionista, L18 Sorcerer: Kills- 371; XP Value- 31%; Most Powerful Vanquished- Shade Lich; Favorite Spell- Invisibility; Favorite Weapon- Melf's Minute Meteors; Cumulative Damage Taken- 65HP (one death)

 

Aphril the Train Wreck, L18 Sorcerer: Kills- 375; XP Value- 31%; Most Powerful Vanquished: Unseeing Eye; Favorite Spell- Invisibility; Favorite Weapon- Melf's Minute Meteors; Cumulative Damage Taken- 0HP


  • Hansefar aime ceci

#13220
Alesia_BH

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Do I see a Sharman run coming?

 

p.s. They are still in beta but read about it here.

 

Interesting. I'll have to check that out.

 

Best,

 

A.



#13221
Alesia_BH

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@Aasim. What are your thoughts on the balancing of a functional Soul Reaver?

 

Best,

 

A. 



#13222
Aasim

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@Aasim. What are your thoughts on the balancing of a functional Soul Reaver?

What do you mean?



#13223
Alesia_BH

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What do you mean?

 

The old Soul Reaver was pretty powerful, however, the magic resistance check on the THAC0 drain helped keep it balanced.

 

The new Soul Reaver, which, as you probably know, has a THAC0 drain that bypasses magic resistance, always struck me as potentially overpowered. I've considered fixing the duration bug, but I, personally, would be inclined to restore the MR check where I to do so. I was just wondering what your thoughts are on the balancing of a restored new Soul Reaver. 

 

What duration did you use for the THAC0 drain? 

 

Best,

 

A.



#13224
Aasim

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I've tweaked as "intended" by Fixpack, and as it works in Baldurdash (and apperantly new EE2 patch as well).

Bypass MR, 120 seconds drain. I'm not really concerned about balance in BG2 with this game, tbh (if I were, I'd have to nerf a dozen items like Foebane, FoA, Ravager, SoTM, Dispel arrows, MoD etc.,  - Reaver is the one I'm probably least worried about when it comes to balance :P ). 

If I were to balance Reaver, I'd make it work differently - each hit drains one attack damage/THAC0  and adds it to wielder, lasting somewhere around 1 round. Not OP, very good with WW, and fits the description.

IRevisions makes this a "vampiric" weapon, but it's (imo) quite overnerfed and completely overshadowed by Silver Sword, even Lirarcor is better. :(



#13225
Alesia_BH

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I've tweaked as "intended" by Fixpack, and as it works in Baldurdash (and apperantly new EE2 patch as well).

Bypass MR, 120 seconds drain.

 

Noted.


I'v I'm not really concerned about balance in BG2 with this game, tbh (if I were, I'd have to nerf a dozen items like Foebane, FoA, Ravager, SoTM, Dispel arrows, MoD etc.

 

I agree that a MR bypassing Soul Reaver is among the problem children rather than public enemy number 1. It's contextually powerful: very helpful in some circumstances, less so in others. It would definitely be a boon versus certain high MR low THAC0 enemies.

 

 

If I were to balance Reaver, I'd make it work differently - each hit drains one attack damage/THAC0  and adds it to wielder, lasting somewhere around 1 round. Not OP, very good with WW, and fits the description.

 

Makes sense. I'd probably just offer a save at -2 or -4 and shorten the duration. It wasn't terrible with the MR check, although it could be with a mage around to take care of the MR.

 

Best,

 

A.