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[Alesia_BH]

Anyway, best of luck at the Throne!

 

Thanks!

 

Best,

 

A.

[Alesia_BH]

Quick Note on Aphril's Game: Final Pre-Throne Stats

 

Here's an overview of the team heading into the final fight.

 

Aerie the Avariel Tank of Doom

 

Spoiler

 

Kills- 621; XP Value- 33%; ToB Revivals: 0; ToB Cumulative Damage Taken: 0

 

Notable ToB Villans Killed

• Evil Aphril (PPC #2)


• Ogremoch


• Olhydra


• Yaga-Shura

 

Imoen the Disco Infiltrator

 

Spoiler

 

Kills- 142; XP Value- 13%; ToB Revivals: 0; ToB Cumulative Damage Taken: 0

 

Notable ToB Villans Killed

• Brimstone


• Diaytha


• Draconis


• Odamaron


• Sarevok (7 times)


• Sendai

 

Adara the Bold (AKA- Big Sky)

 

Spoiler

 

Kills- 460; XP Value- 23%; ToB Revivals: 0; ToB Cumulative Damage Taken: 0

 

Notable ToB Villans Killed

• Berenn


• Bodhi (PPC #1)


• Illasera

 

Aphril the Almost Famous

 

Spoiler

 

Kills- 533; XP Value- 29%; ToB Cumulative Damage Taken: 0

 

Notable ToB Villians Killed

• Abazigal


• Gromnir


• Irenicus (PPC #1)


• Mithykyl


• The Ravager

And Special Guest: Nally-Nalia

 

Spoiler

 

Kills- 0; XP Value- 0%; ToB Revivals: 0; ToB Cumulative Damage Taken: 0

 

Best,

 

A.

[Aasim]

Good luck! 

[Alesia_BH]

Good luck! 

 

Thanks, Aasim!

 

Luck is exactly what we needed in the opening battle. It was a crazy fight- not what I expected at all.

 

I'm going to need a day or two to decompress after that.

 

Best,

 

A.

[Alesia_BH]

Quick Note on Aphril's Game: 

 

Thanks to four unexpected Mariliths, some tardy Contingencies, and a nasty move by one of the Fallen Solars, Aphril's first battle at the Throne turned into a chaotic mess.

 

It took an atom bomb from Aphril...

 

 

some heroism from Aerie...

 

 

and a trio of improbable Wish outcomes...

 

 

but Aphril and her team have prevailed. 

 

Even better, Balthazar survived, and Imoen -who had been rescued from Aphril's inferno by a Nalia Protection from Fire scroll- has rejoined the team.

 

Crazy fight. I'll post a full report tomorrow.

 

Best,

 

A.

[Serg BlackStrider]

Luck is exactly what we needed in the opening battle. It was a crazy fight- not what I expected at all.

 

I'm going to need a day or two to decompress after that.

Luck is such an insidious lady...

Take your time and relax as long as you need, we don't want any kind of abruptness now when you are so close.

[Alesia_BH]

Luck is such an insidious lady...

Take your time and relax as long as you need, we don't want any kind of abruptness now when you are so close.

 

Yes. We'll continue tomorrow.

 

Our See: Enemy Contingencies wouldn't fire. They took forever. And I wasn't expecting those Mariliths at all. I was expecting 3 Fallen Solars. 

 

Remind me to never, ever count on See: Enemy ProMW again- at least not in time sensitive applications.

 

Best,

 

A.

[Alesia_BH]

Aphril v. Ascension Irenicus: The Battle that Should Have Been

 

Ok. Before I post on Aphril's crazy, chaotic official no reload challenge battle with Ascension Irenicus, I thought I'd post a version of the battle that represents what should have been -or what would have been- had I known that See Enemy: Contingency ProMW can not be relied upon in this fight. With that knowledge, and a tiny tweak to the battle plan, Aphril and Co. prevailed with ease. Nalia sustained minor injury. Everyone else emerged unscathed.

 

The buffs for this fight were the party standards, with minor adjustment. Spell Immunity: Conjuration was layered in to protect against Creeping Doom. Pro Undead was applied to protect against Bodhi, although that proved ineffective, due to a welcome v30 change. Aerie took Shapechange via scroll.

 

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, Protection from Undead, Spell Shield, Spell Deflection, Spell Trap, Blur, Mirror Image, Haste, Improved Invisibility, Globe of Invulnerability, Spell Immunity: Abjuration, Spell Immunity: Divination, Spell Immunity: Conjuration

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

 

Aerie: 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, Protection from Undead, Shapechange, Spell Shield, Spell Deflection, Spell Turning, Blur, Mirror Image, Haste, Improved Invisibility, True Sight, Globe of Invulnerability, Spell Immunity: Abjuration, Spell Immunity: Divination, Spell Immunity: Conjuration

 

Imoen:  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, Protection from Undead, Spell Shield, Spell Deflection, Spell Turning, Blur, Mirror Image, Haste, Improved Invisibility, Globe of Invulnerability, Spell Immunity: Abjuration, Spell Immunity: Divination, Spell Immunity: Conjuration, Contingency: Hit- ProMW, Chain Contingency: Hit- Protection from Energy, Protection from Magic Energy, Spell Deflection

 

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

 

Here we see the opening. Irenicus, Bodhi, and Fallen Solar 1 are to the West, flanked by two Mariliths and some other assorted demons. Fallen Solar 2 is to the East, along with two more Mariliths. Knowing that their See Enemy: Contingencies won't fire, the party opens with ProMWs all around. 

 

Note that Imoen is in the center of battlefield. She is, however, safe. As it turns out, Contingencies set prior to Imoen's Slayer change carry over to her new form, even though her pre-buffs do not. As soon as she is hit, she'll enjoy ProMW, Protection from Energy, Protection from Magic Energy. She's safe, even though she appears imperiled. The Infiltrator will return.

 

Back to the action. Aphril and the ToD have taken control of the fight. Adara and Nalia have been sent to the North. Aphril, to the West fires up Improved Alacrity.

 

The ToD, to the East, pulls her LR x3 Trigger on the Fallen Solar and awaits her See Enemy: Chain (FYI: The damn thing still hasn't fired. Aerie is on her second spell equivalent action...).

 

 Aphril's Improved Alacrity kicks in. She pulls her Sunfire x 3 Trigger. Her Chain Contingency: Hit- Sunfire x 3 fires. Irenicus, Bodhi, and Fallen Solar 1 are destroyed. Aphril has been de-buffed by a last breath Mordenkain's Disjunction from Fallen Solar 1, but she's still under Improved Alacrity and can re-buff in an instant.

 

Your turn, ToD. I just tossed a Remove your way. Has that Limited Wish Chain finally kicked in? Good. Take'em down.

 

Harm->Ages finishes Fallen Solar 2

 

Time Stop->Melee finishes the two Mariliths

 

Time resumes. the Infiltrator rejoins the team and rendezvous with Aphril, Big Sky and Nally-Nalia to the North.  

 

Adara's ready to take over now. Finish it Big Sky.

 

Just one more to go. Get your groove back Infiltrator.

 

That is what should have happened. That is what would have happened if I had know the Contingencies would take forever. But that is not what happened. Instead, Aphril barely survived. And I mean barely. I'll post on the official NR Challenge battle soon.

 

Best,

 

A.

[ussnorway]

Snip...

 

 

A.

1st gratz!

 

Had you wished for the level drain two levels and then earned new experience to replace them... does that follow you can make different spell/ weapon pip and HLA picks then, next time around?

[Alesia_BH]

Had you wished for the level drain two levels and then earned new experience to replace them... does that follow you can make different spell/ weapon pip and HLA picks then, next time around?

 

I think level drain two levels works just like undead level drain. We'd need Restoration. Nothing good would happen.

 

I've never selected that option, so I'm not sure.

 

(Btw. Speaking of Restoration, Balthazar may need a little help before our next fight. He was in melee contact with Bodhi, I believe.) 

 

Best,

 

A.

[Alesia_BH]

Aphril v. Ascension Irenicus (or This is What Happens, Larry)

 

Ok. Everyone, Baldur's Gate Summer School is back in session. We're having a remedial session. It's more like detention. I want everyone to write an essay on why you should never, ever, ever count on See Enemy: Contingencies in time sensitive applications. I've already written my essay. It goes like this:

 

Because Aphril. Done.

 

I've learned my lesson. I will never, ever, ever count on a See Enemy: Contingency in a time sensitive application again. Because this is what happens, Larry.

 

The buffs for this fight were the party standards, with minor adjustment. Spell Immunity: Conjuration was layered in to protect against Creeping Doom. Pro Undead was applied to protect against Bodhi, although that proved ineffective, due to a welcome v30 change. Aerie took Shapechange via scroll. 

 

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, Protection from Undead, Spell Shield, Spell Deflection, Spell Trap, Blur, Mirror Image, Haste, Improved Invisibility, Globe of Invulnerability, Spell Immunity: Abjuration, Spell Immunity: Divination, Spell Immunity: Conjuration

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

 

Aerie: 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, Protection from Undead, Shapechange, Spell Shield, Spell Deflection, Spell Turning, Blur, Mirror Image, Haste, Improved Invisibility, True Sight, Globe of Invulnerability, Spell Immunity: Abjuration, Spell Immunity: Divination, Spell Immunity: Conjuration

 

Imoen:  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, Protection from Undead, Spell Shield, Spell Deflection, Spell Turning, Blur, Mirror Image, Haste, Improved Invisibility, Globe of Invulnerability, Spell Immunity: Abjuration, Spell Immunity: Divination, Spell Immunity: Conjuration, Contingency: Hit- ProMW, Chain Contingency: Hit- Protection from Energy, Protection from Magic Energy, Spell Deflection

 

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

 

In addition to the buffs listed above, we had See Enemy: ProMW Contingencies all around. Even Nalia had one, taken via a Chain Contingency scroll. Aerie also had a special See Enemy Chain, which included Harm and Limited Wish. Each of those Contingencies was absolutely mission critical. None of them fired in time. That led to catastrophe.

 

Here we see the battlefield. Melissan has coaxed forth the Slayer in Imoen. Imoen has left the party. She's now hostile. I expected that.

 

From that point on, my expectations and reality had little to do with each other. I expected to see three Fallen Solars. Instead, I got two Fallen Solars, four Mariliths, some Alu-Fiends, and some Succubi. That kind of freaked me out.

 

Nonetheless, we stuck to the plan. The plan was for Adara and Aerie to tag two of the expected three Fallen Solars with LR x3 triggers. Simultaneously, Nalia would apply a Protection from Fire scroll to Imoen. Aphril would then cast Improved Alacrity and pull her Sunfire x3 Trigger, which would in turn set off her Chain: Hit- Sunfire x 3. Bodhi and the Western Fallen Solar (who is vulnerable to fire damage) would be destroyed. Aerie would then be free to eliminate the remaining fire damage immune Solars with Harms in her upcoming (as in very, very soon) Limited Wish- I wish for control over time, Time Stop. Throughout this sequence, the party would be protected by its Contingencied ProMWs. Everything depended on the See Enemy- Contingencies. Everything. And they didn't work. None of them worked.

 

Without our ProMWs, it was open season for the Fallen Solars. That's bad. As in very bad. The Ascension Fallen Solars have dispelling vorpal arrows. They are death to mages. Absolute death. Worse still, they have an ability called Mordenkain's Disjunction, which dispels all combat protections, specific protections, and spell protections in one shot. It can't be stopped. The Fallen Solars are crazy dangerous. Fighting them without ProMW is suicide.

 

Adara has been targeted with arrows. She's as good as dead. Aerie had been tagged with Mordenkain's Disjunction. That's a problem, but she at least has the Reflex to protect her from arrows. Note that our See Enemy Contingencies still haven't fired. I don't know about you, but I see enemies.

 

We stick to the plan. Aphril, to the West, fires up Improved Alacrity and pulls her Trigger.

 

Since Aerie's See Enemy Contingency still hasn't fired, Aphril is forced to unload her book on Fallen Solar 2. This was not planned, and would lead to problems down the road.

 

The Fallen Solar survived, albeit barely. Meanwhile, Aphril uses her Ruby Rays and Removes to debuff the real Irenicus, while she tries to end Simmy Irenicus with a Dragon's Breath. Finally- finally- Aerie's See Enemy: Contingency fires.

 

The Fallen Solar healed itself before Aerie could get into action. But Aerie's Contingencied Harm quickly fixes that (no screenshot).

 

By this point, Bodhi and the two Fallen Solars were dead. But Irenicus was still out there, albeit debuffed. Aerie swung into action to neutralize that threat. This was an awful, sloppy, broken fight, but at least it gave rise to what may very well be the best Aerie action shot in the history of ever: Greater Wolfwere Black Blade of Disaster Aerie chunking Ascension Irenicus in Time Stop with a right cross. You've gotta love it. 

 

Time resumes. Nalia dies. I won't pretend I didn't see that one coming. 

 

What now? We have Aerie, unbuffed, in Greater Wolfwere form with a Black Blade of Disaster. We have Aphril, buffed, but with a book that's tapped at L5 and lean at L9. Adara and Nalia are both dead. Imoen is still on the dark side. What we need is Adara's book, and in particular her Wishes and Imprisonments. A plan is beginning to form.

 

Imoen rejoins the party, but she joins unbuffed and under Miscast Magic. Aphril conjures a PI, but it soon becomes clear that she lacks the spells to defend her allies. Unloading Aphril's book on the Fallen Solar and Simmy Irenicus was a mistake. We still need Adara's book. 

 

Unbuffed in broken field combat, Aerie and Imoen are highly vulnerable. The Planetar should be helping, but all it wants to do is Slow Imoen's Poison. We still need Adara's book.

 

Aerie and Imoen are cut down by poison arrows. Aphril finally raises Adara using her Bhaalspawn power Resurrection. The sorcerers are in dialogue once again. Adara, to the North, gets off a Wish: Resurrection on All Party Members.

 

Aphril, to the South: Restoration on All Party Members followed by Wish-Rest. We're unbuffed, and scattered, but we're back in business.

 

Charms quickly become a problem: we lose Adara and Nalia. But Aphril is buffed, fully loaded, and ready to fire up a Telefield. Somehow -someway- we're on the verge of victory. 

 

 

 

One Marilith down.

 

 

Where the rock have you been, Balthazar? 

 

Removes from Aphril clear the way for the Planetar. 

 

Imoen and Aerie join Aphril in the Telefield. The Planetar raises Adara. Finish it!

 

The Planetar raises Nalia.

 

And just like that, we move on. And in surprisingly good shape, I might add. The books are fully loaded. Balthazar is alive. We still have to free and dispatch a pair of Mariliths, but regrouped and reloaded that will hardly be a challenge. As crazy as that fight was, we came up roses. Now all I have to do is choose my See Enemy: Contingencies for the final fight...  

 

Best,

 

A.

 

 

Btw. The Big Lebowski reference is for Blackraven.

[Aasim]

 We have Aerie, unbuffed, in Greater Wolfwere form with a Black Blade of Disaster. 

That's someone I wouldn't want to meet!

Can you use weapons while shapeshifted?

[Alesia_BH]

 

Can you use weapons while shapeshifted?

 

If you conjure a magically created weapon after shapeshifting, then yes. 

 

In this case, Aerie read a Black Blade of Disaster scroll after shifting.

 

This is arguably abusey, but I can image a wolfwere wielding a longsword. And I think it's kind of cool.  

 

In general, I'm unfond of dispelling the shapeshift weapons. I don't intentionally dispel them in order to permit my characters to wield physical weapons. The farthest I'll go is letting creatures that I can imagine wielding weapons wield weapons. Wolfwere, Black Blade of Disaster. Sure. Mustard Jelly, Black Blade of Disaster: not so much. Spider, Sling of Seeking: no way. 

 

Best,

 

A.

[Aasim]

Got it. So Shapeshift forms don't actually allow casting, but allow scroll usage to cast spells if one desires to. That's how Tesner's works if I'm not mistaken (I used that spell a lot a decade ago when I was an Anvil player). 

[Alesia_BH]

Got it. So Shapeshift forms don't actually allow casting, but allow scroll usage to cast spells if one desires to. That's how Tesner's works if I'm not mistaken (I used that spell a lot a decade ago when I was an Anvil player). 

 

Yes. In that sense, they're the same.

 

There is a significant difference though: Tensered characters can't use special abilities, including Sequencers and Triggers. Shapeshifted characters can.

 

Best,

 

A. 

[Aasim]

One more question - this "Disjunction" spell you're referring to, how does it work? From reading above, nothing stops it. Is it an on-hit effect, a single-target spell or what? 

I assume it ignores Spell Shield as well...

[Alesia_BH]

One more question - this "Disjunction" spell you're referring to, how does it work? From reading above, nothing stops it. Is it an on-hit effect, a single-target spell or what? 

 

It's a nightmare insta-cast single target spell that targets through Improved Invisibility. It removes everything. Nothing stops it. It's awful.

 

The Fallen Solars seem to only have one use per day, thankfully. It's still awful.

 

Interestingly, the Solars seem to preferentially target enemies holding the Reflex. This makes sense, since they can use their dispelling arrows on other targets. Yet another reason for sorcerers to bring Aerie along.

 

 

I assume it ignores Spell Shield as well...

 

Mordenkainen's Disjunction bypasses both the new and old Spell Shields, removing all protections. 

 

The new Spell Shield remains in place. It probably shouldn't

 

The old Spell Shield is dispelled along with all other buffs.

 

 

Best,

 

A.

[Aasim]

Got it. The reason I'm asking is that when first I started modding I wanted to differentiate mage kits a bit more. As they are, they're really nothing special. One banned school, one extra spell per level, in EE you get some minor bonuses as well. 

Specialist mages in PnP are much more "specialized" hence I wanted to do something about that. 

So, when I was making Abjurer, I gave him Mord. Disjunction 1xday at higher levels (I implemented this as a sort of Spellstrike+Breach effect on every hostile creature in area; similar to PnP where this is an AoE spell). It's blocked by Spell Shield - in the absence of it, it goes through everything and destroys everything).

I didn't implement the part where it destroys items, however.

[Alesia_BH]

Understood. 

 

I sure wish the Mordenkainen Disjunction in my install were blocked by Spell Shield...

 

Best,

 

A.

[Blackraven]

Norgath, Dwarven Bounty Hunter, 2nd & final BG2 report

I'm sorry to report that Norgath died in the Athkatla Tombs. A Giant Spider Held him. There were other Spiders nearby. He got poisoned and died.

Spoiler

My mistake was to assume that Arbane's Sword, which Norgath had equipped in the off-hand, protected against Web. On the Beamdog forums I've found differing statements on how Arbane's Sword is supposed to work. @bengoshi has mentioned that in BG2EE the blade doesn't protect against web; whereas @semiticgod (who plays the original game, like me in this case) says that Arbane's Sword does protect against Web. I know now that in my install it doesn't.

Sorry Norgath, for letting you down. I know you'll be back some day, perhaps in 6 months or so.

[Aasim]

Norgath, Dwarven Bounty Hunter, 2nd & final BG2 report
My mistake was to assume that Arbane's Sword, which Norgath had equipped in the off-hand, protected against Web. On the forums I've found differing statements on how Arbane's Sword is supposed to work. @bengoshi has mentioned that in BG2EE the blade doesn't protect against web; whereas @semiticgod (who plays the original game, like me in this case) says that Arbane's Sword does protect against Web. I know now that in my install it doesn't.

Sorry Norgath, for letting you down. I know you'll be back some day, perhaps in 6 months or so.

Auch man. These spiders almost had two of my characters, one monk and one f/c. I'm much more careful around them from that point.

Arbane's should protect vs Hold effect, but not Web (Web uses a different opcode, so it works vs creature immune to "normal" Hold (as in Hold Person spell). 

I think Fixpack fixed it, if semiticgod plays w/o that would explain it. With IR, Arbane does make user immune to Web.

[Serg BlackStrider]

Sad news, Blackraven...

In my install (WeiDU is in the signature as always) Arbane does protect vs Web, but then I have both //Change Free Action to Protect Against Stun// from Fixpack and //PnP Free Action// installed.

[Blackraven]

Btw. The Big Lebowski reference is for Blackraven.

 

Thank you. Much to my shame I must admit I missed the reference. Will have to reread your post...

The ladies showed great flexibility btw. Loved it.
I wasn't as surprised by the Mariliths, rememembered them from my last SCS/Ascension attempt, three years ago. 

[Alesia_BH]

Condolences, Blackraven.

 

Semiticgod plays without a Fixpack, which is why some things differ in his games.

 

The description of Arbane's sword states that it protects against Hold Person only. However, the original version of Arbane had a number of extraneous immunities. 

 

With the Fixpack, Arbane will protect against Hold Creature (175) and Hold Creature (109). That is all.

 

EE integrates the Fixpack.

 

Best,

 

A.

[Alesia_BH]

 

Thank you. Much to my shame I must admit I missed the reference. Will have to reread your post...
 

 

Hint, hint: subtitle.

 

Best,

 

A.