496 réponses à ce sujet

[corey_russell]

Oops didn't see Anomen (maybe that's a subconscious thing....) -- Yes Anomen has the best chance being highest level, but at 31 almost nothing will be higher level than Viconia anyways. As I am sure you are aware "friendly fire" is possible with dispel magic, you can get own buffs too.

[Gate70]

I used to think it was guaranteed friendly fire but maybe that was just BG1 or something a fixpack has modified etc. I still avoid dispels anywhere near characters if I can help it.

[Gate70]

Verun, NE male human wild mage. With Stenky the imp familiar, Imoen, Viconia, Edwin, Anomen and Sarevok.

Ogremoch
We've buffed and rested so I cram Roranach's Horn over Anomen's unfeasibly large skull before we enter. He drops an EElemental before Sarevok performs a Deathbringer assault on the second.


A mass of stoneskin contingencies fire so I cast breach, and our melee pair do the rest.


Sarevok has been injured so we allow him to heal while we prepare for the next battle. Resting in the planes earlier has allowed our contingency spells to be reloaded without another rest. We sniff carefully and can detect the odours of a vampire, beholder, demon and some other things. Sarevok offhands the upgraded Spectral Brand for NPProtection.

Diaytha
A planetar, two EElementals, a servant and skeleton warrior follow Anomen and target the elder orb.

Hang on, Sarevok has pulled a fast one...for Anomen is stood next to me always a bad idea to switch the party order when the buffs obscure portraits and avatars.

We know he was badly wounded, and taking on this lot on his own is a bit ambitious.

We struggle to get into the room as there is as squeeze point and our summons are blocking a quick entry. As we enter various contingencies are triggered, and we add spell sequencers. We try to remember what happens a few screenshots, was rushing to get back to the multiplayer game and hope I got the main parts.


Although we succeed Diaytha has cast a swarm of insects. Viconia is either out of range or saves the effect and is able to dispel them for us.

[ussnorway]

Hit him with ‘Spell Strike’! The counter to this spell is to cloak so the mage can’t target you... the counter to cloaking is ‘Detect Illusions’ because ‘True Sight’ can be blocked and IMO: should of, would of, could of; have no place in the end game of your run but I don't get to reset after a wipe.

[Gate70]

Thanks, wish I had one memorised then. Good news is I did for the below before reading your response. Bad news is it was wasted...such is life.

Verun, NE male human wild mage. With Stenky the imp familiar, Imoen, Viconia, Edwin, Anomen and Sarevok.

Captain Egiassag and Spectator
No cheating! Despite my contingency, a planetar and a sequencer Edwin just can't help himself; and Spectator turns a blind eye to his contingencies.


Illithid welcome
Sarevok is held and drained, but we kill the flayer before it empties his brain entirely. His reward is an upgraded Angurvadal sword, used as a new offhand weapon.

We return with chaotic commands and death ward active. Plus summons and haste, making our task brief. A few contingencies have triggered again so we should plane rest, but I decide to press on instead.

Sendai
From below I can guess why this wasn't a candidate to be improved by Ascension.

Seven facets of Sendai must be defeated. Edwin has summoned a planetar, tasked with blocking the entrance. Anomen and Sarevok are meleeing Sendai as the rest of us cast debuff or offensive spells from the centre of the room. I suggest we add fireshields in case one incarnation targets us.

We check the planetar after each Sendai, finding it is uninjured - what a great choice by Edwin but I'll pretend it was my idea.

Sendai 1 falls to melee.
Sendai 2 requires two PMagics and three breaches, then melee.
Sendai 3 looks like a thief. Chunked in melee.
Sendai 4 is an enraged axe wielding fighter. Sarevok one shots her from full health to spatter with a deathbringer assault not even a critical.


Sendai 5 has an improved mantle. Breach/PMagic simply trigger mislead so Imoen casts oracle think I'm learning. Another contingency, this time I cast oracle. Down she goes, finally.

Imoen is casting truesight, while Viconia is summoning an elemental in case the planetar gets bored and leaves. The drow kill it with a death spell so we conjure up a stone golem and get on with Sendai.

Sendai 6 has a bow, and teleports. Anomen is quick enough to catch her though.

Sendai 7 looks like a dual wielding thief or kensai. She poisons her weapon, an assassin then. Anomen is getting hit but the Gaxx ring is neutralising the poison, and Sarevok is bright enough to switch rings in case her attention wanders.

Will the real Sendai please step forward
We scatter as Anomen and Sarevok converge on Sendai. Yet more buffs, do we have time to read this?


Another summons gets a death spell so we hope the planetar can hang on. Anomen chases an invisible stalker while Edwin casts spellstrike saved this as I thought Sendai made a final stand.

Sendai casts shadow door and poor Edwin is left to see his spell fizzle out harmlessly. Sarevok turns to a nearby stalker and attacks it as Sendai partially re-appears to cast at him. Bad news...

...for Sendai as I have just cast IAlacrity. Glitterdust, RMagic. She's de-buffed. Sarevok and Anomen instantly switch targets but I am just getting started and an aerial servant already has a head start.


Quick spells first. GMalison, Slow, 2MAArrows. Spell trigger (GMalison, emotion, failed slow). Spell sequencer (Flame arrow, lightning bolt, slow). Minor sequencer (MAArrow, MMMissile). PMagic - a slow caster so I check what my other spells do (they all hit while it is being cast).

Lots of spell ineffective and magic resistance messages. Curses. PMagic again then. Warding whip, another slow caster which allows me to see Sarevok is hitting her and Anomen is blocked by a berserk warrior. I tell him to force the warrior to attack Sendai too as she is badly injured and Anomen can finally weigh in.

I cast Comet and tell Viconia to use implosion while Edwin casts PMagic and Imoen adds a wilting finally Imoen, 3 casters with wiltings mwahaha.

By the time the comet lands I've almost cast a wilting, IAlacrity allowing me to vastly outpace my fellow casters. Sendai resists but the comet takes her to a near-death experience.


With my wilting on the way I'm half way through another when Sarevok finally thrusts his sword right through Sendai and she concedes defeat.


The planetar has been the hero of the day by keeping all the other drow busy and allowing six of us to focus on Sendai instead of GWWind melee and debilitating spells from multiple directions. It is also standing on possibly the largest pile of katanas you've ever seen.

Drow remnants
After a discussion with the Solar we are returned, and the planetar is still holding off the drow. I cast a wilting and kill one while the berserk warrior kills a second. Sarevok and Anomen have waded in too. Imoen casts GMalison and saving throws plummet. Edwin is whining, having just moved so he can cast IAlacrity for his seven wiltings plus sequenced wiltings, but there is nothing left to do when Anomen, Sarevok and the planetar have had their fun.

Request for more education
Sendai 5 had lots of contingencies. Am I right that for example three instances of level 6 contingency can be cast and held one after the other, say one for enemy sighted, a second for injured and a third for helpless?

Sarevok, Fighter 18 > Thief 20. 78 kills, Tahazzar.
Anomen, Fighter 7 > Cleric 35. 1058 kills, Saladrax.
Verun, Wild Mage 25. 395 kills, Bodhi.
Edwin, Conjurer 25. 292 kills, Thaxll'ssillyia.
Imoen, Mage 16 (Thief 22). 290 kills, Shangalar.
Viconia, Cleric 32. 419 kills, Firkraag.

Reloads 4 (skulltrap in Unseeing Eye pit, Adalon, wild surge: Petrify self, Improved Demogorgon).

Modifié par Gate70, 17 mai 2012 - 05:57 .

[ussnorway]

You can cast as many contingencies (one at a time) as you have slots i.e. set them all to see enemy or do you mean how many can she have scripted?

p.s. IMO Anomen is correct about who should be the front man... give him ‘Blade Barrier’ &/ or ‘Globe of Blades’ &/ or even better, ‘Aura of Flaming Death’ and let the guy DW-tank for you.

Edit; You can have them all up at once if you want to.

Modifié par ussnorway, 17 mai 2012 - 07:04 .

[Gate70]

OK, maybe an example with Verun in the pocket plane. Casts contingency > see enemy > target myself > reflected image. Rests. Casts contingency - gets message "you cannot cast multiple instances of the same spell upon yourself". Looks like you've answered my question and I've just proved it in the example.

It just seemed to me that the final Sendai had a lot of contingencies but I could be mistaken. Verun has contingency and chain contingency available, so two. Maybe what I assumed were contingencies were actually triggers - one of my screenshots has an example of this so perhaps that's how it felt like she had a bunch of contingencies & I didn't read the log well enough to notice this.

Yes, Anomen should be a better front-man and I use the aura a lot.

Globe of blades and blade barrier aren't party friendly (save vs spell at -2/0). Just tested with Imoen in the plane.

With Sarevok sharing the frontline they could be counter-productive. I usually have a planetar too and turning that hostile would easily outweigh any benefit. I could change my strategy to have Anomen a lone frontman but still have the risk of making a mistake. Also, Sarevok would be wasted with a bow imo.

[corey_russell]

Gate70 - I agree with your reasoning. Once Sarevok has his fighter abilities, he's wasted if he's not using a melee weapon. (I mean come on, who wouldn't want to give him a two-hand sword like the sword of grief when he has ***** in two-hand swords) -- though when I had him as a thief, he was just fine using a weapon like the firetooth crossbow.

There's a mod (might be SCS) that allows GoB to not harm party members or summons, in which case there would be no reason NOT use GoB in that case...

[Gate70]

Verun, NE male human wild mage. With Stenky the imp familiar, Imoen, Viconia, Edwin, Anomen and Sarevok.

Draconis
Our plan is to have four snares, two skeleton warriors and two aerial servants guard us while Anomen and Sarevok go and introduce themselves. We each have jobs to do, even Imoen with truesight and oracle. Edwin casts a planetar as I cast haste and our preparations are complete other than Imoen waiting to add truesight.


Sarevok (-7/-5, 5APR) and Anomen (-10/-8, 4APR) have flanked Draconis, Viconia following with the Sling of Seeking (-7, 2APR). She moves a bit better screenshot potential and lands hit almost as hard as the two delivered by Sarevok/Anomen. Draconis shields but a bit more melee damage is done so he contingencies in a GMantle and a wilt. Sarevok and Anomen have +4/5 weapons and Viconia switches to bullets +4, the wilt saved by both attackers.


Draconis hits Anomen for 10 but burns himself on an aura. This contingencies a death spell, improved haste and mislead. We all have death wards active so Sarevok is safe and the false image is attacked while Viconia casts true sight. Draconis casts spell turning first though. Sarevok ends the illusion, then Viconia completes her true sight.


More contingencies, but Viconia decides the FoAges +4 will bypass them and the combined attack soon wears through the protection and prevents a PfmW being cast.


Viconia retreats to use her sling but Sarevok has done enough and Draconis wants to parley. Or something. Maybe not. His death field effect wipes out our waiting summons so Edwin and I start casting as Sarevok, Anomen and Viconia lead Draconis back to us.


Draconis is chasing Anomen but I have IAlacrity ready just in time and Edwin is summoning a planetar. Imoen has true sight on the way and Sarevok is closing in from behind but I see a glimpse of spell immunity (Abjuration).


Sarevok yells that Ruby Ray is alteration so I cast it as our contingencies trigger. Anomen is being hit so glugs a potion.


Wiltings appear to be working and I have four left to cast under alacrity while Imoen has one and Edwin eight. Anomen gets a wing buffet, taking Sarevok away too but I've cast two wiltings already. Instead Draconis goes invisible then attacks as my alacrity expires. From what I can see his invisibility avoided the two incoming wilts?

I start a PMagic while Edwin starts casting IAlacrity and Anomen refreshes his flaming aura.

Draconis moves to Viconia who has cast implosion. This and my comet are enough to end his life but it seems Bodhi is still considered a tougher enemy.


Sarevok, Fighter 18 > Thief 20. 78 kills, Tahazzar.
Anomen, Fighter 7 > Cleric 35. 1058 kills, Saladrax.
Verun, Wild Mage 25. 396 kills, Bodhi.
Edwin, Conjurer 25. 292 kills, Thaxll'ssillyia.
Imoen, Mage 16 (Thief 22). 290 kills, Shangalar.
Viconia, Cleric 32. 419 kills, Firkraag.

Reloads 4 (skulltrap in Unseeing Eye pit, Adalon, wild surge: Petrify self, Improved Demogorgon).

Modifié par Gate70, 17 mai 2012 - 05:57 .

[Gate70]

Verun, NE male human wild mage. With Stenky the imp familiar, Imoen, Viconia, Edwin, Anomen and Sarevok.

A werewyvern and earth elementals guard the inner entrance for Abazigal. Melee soon has them removed.

Breath potion
Anomen and Sarevok are buffed against fire/cold and deal with frost salamanders. Two bone golems look tough but Sarevok has a surprise for them with another deathbringer assault.


Olhydra pool
Wilt wilt wilt. Anomen fancies a change so summons a fallen deva. The olhydra doesn't like flame arrows or MMMeteors either. I return to Cespenar, to improve Hindo's sword.

Lycanth the mad
We use Bondari and his crew to retrieve an item for Lycanth, and in return are able to free a guardian dragon.

Improved Abazigal
Our usual set of buffs, plus I have protected Anomen and Sarevok from acid. Anomen is buffeted and trapped by wyverns so has to fight his way out of a corner while Abazigal has dropped one planetar forcing me to summon a second.

Sarevok is fighting Tamah, I help him with various IAlacrity spells but she is tough. He is managing to drain her levels though which should help.


Anomen is out, but Abazigal has destroyed our juggernaut golem. I try a DWEOMER but fall over, as does Sarevok for a different reason. Fortunately Edwin has stopped Tamah with a wilt.


My second DWEOMER comet hits Rance as we get thrown across the cavern. Maybe someone just hurt Abazigal. Sarevok and Anomen pile into Rance and Shelligh to try and remove them from the fight while the rest of us regroup. I hit Rance with MMissile, only to see a huge dragon rush me (well a misled me actually). Time to run.

I cast PMagic as Imoen lowers magic resistance. Anomen and Sarevok are flanking Abazigal while Viconia is summoning a skeleton warrior. Edwin is safe but has spell failure active. I go past Sarevok so Rance will target him, and cast a natural Comet at Abazigal, but go dizzy again and realise I also have casting failure. Sarevok is down, and remains down (sleep icon, unconscious on log).

Edwin and I decide to attack Rance. Viconia and Imoen also have spell failure now, but Edwin realises his sequence can be used. I empty my sequencers too but they fail. Viconia and Imoen are free to cast again so retreat.

Edwin is malisoned and chased but can cast again. Planetar! Hoorah.

He escapes and starts to cast IAlacity. Anomen has chugged a series of healing potions and returns for about the tenth time. Viconia has finally got a skeleton warrior and aerial servant involved too, while Abazigal is injured.

Another earthquake rocks the cavern and Sarevok still won't get up. Edwin has casting failure again so maybe it is caused by the earthquake. The planetar heals Sarevok from near-death and he finally gets up.

Abazigal seems to be in trouble, taking a breather but his spells are failing. Maybe it was one of our sequencers, we had lots of effects like slow, emotion and contagion. I cast GMalison and PMagic, retreating each time. Edwin has added two wilts. Sarovok, Anomen and the planetar are able to stay on their feet. Abazigal is at a near-death state.

I cast contagion and witness a tail slap. Viconia finds out the hard way that BoGlory doesn't seem to do very much.


Sarevok makes up for sleeping on the job, but it looks like some other effect adds more damage. We don't know how he died or who was responsible.


There are two pocket plane challenges to complete but first we must come to an agreement on who should wear this splendid suit of armour.

Sarevok, Fighter 18 > Thief 21. 93 kills, Tahazzar.
Anomen, Fighter 7 > Cleric 36. 1072 kills, Saladrax.
Verun, Wild Mage 25. 399 kills, Bodhi.
Edwin, Conjurer 25. 302 kills, Thaxll'ssillyia.
Imoen, Mage 16 (Thief 22). 291 kills, Shangalar.
Viconia, Cleric 32. 432 422 kills, Firkraag.

Reloads 4 (skulltrap in Unseeing Eye pit, Adalon, wild surge: Petrify self, Improved Demogorgon).

Modifié par Gate70, 17 mai 2012 - 09:10 .

[Gate70]

Verun, NE male human wild mage. With Stenky the imp familiar, Imoen, Viconia, Edwin, Anomen and Sarevok.

Pocket Plane challenge 3 : The Slayer
I'm the target, so I run as my stoneskins won't last long and no chance of anyone else becoming the target. Sarevok and Anomen give chase while contingencies and spells are aimed. It takes a while but eventually the slayer is defeated and I regain a DUHMight ability.

Pocket Plane challenge 4 : Favoured of Cyric
Contingencies and melee have these favoured enemies dead in moments.

Preparation for Amkethran
All our contingencies are loaded, the final task is to stoneskin and rest before leaving. Unfortunately we have to do it all again when my stoneskin SURGES into BURST. Not only are my party slightly injured, a nearby aerial servant turns hostile and all our contingencies erupt. Sarevok is rolling on the floor in hysterics, trying to beat the flames out.

Amkethran
Mercenaries and monks are a constant distraction but we make our way to Saemon Havarian. Shortly afterwards we are near to Balthazar and decide to buff before proceeding.

Balthazar
I try to convince Balthazar I am a force of good but he won't buy it. Die then!

He runs off to kill a planetar, and when we chase he starts picking on us. The battle is tough and we glug a dozen or so healing potions before he gives up.


Pocket Plane challenge 5 : The Ravager
Anomen and Sarevok are happy in melee. A planetar cannot harm The Ravager, so we send it to deal with the minions instead. I activate an IAlacrity and unload my spellbook.


One of my wilts does the job and I need to prepare for Melissan looks like I have to battle Balthazar too so could be frustrating. Hopefully 5 Bhaalspawn vs 3 but been a while since I've battled Melissan and co with Ascension so can't remember who starts where, if Yaga Shura starts off invincible again etc. Can't remember Sarevok through Ascension either so not sure if he won't leave or betray as I haven't changed his alignment. Fun fun fun, or more likely reload reload reload.

Sarevok, Fighter 22 > Thief 20. 118 kills, Tahazzar.
Anomen, Fighter 7 > Cleric 37. 1084 kills, Saladrax.
Verun, Wild Mage 26. 403 kills, Bodhi.
Edwin, Conjurer 26. 310 kills, Thaxll'ssillyia.
Imoen, Mage 17 (Thief 22). 293 kills, Shangalar.
Viconia, Cleric 34. 424 kills, Firkraag.

Reloads 4 (skulltrap in Unseeing Eye pit, Adalon, wild surge: Petrify self, Improved Demogorgon).

[corey_russell]

Good luck Gate70 - here's hoping it won't take you more than 1/2 dozen reloads...

[ussnorway]

Yes, ok I play that they only hit hostiles... that's why I need to tag some targets with ‘False Dawn’ before I can kill them.

Edit: Sorry corey_russell was faster again.

~SCSII/SETUP-SCSII.TP2~ #0 #2070 // Blade Barrier and Globe of Blades only affect hostile creatures: v20

Modifié par ussnorway, 17 mai 2012 - 11:41 .

[Gate70]

Verun, NE male human wild mage. With Stenky the imp familiar, Imoen, Viconia, Edwin, Anomen and Sarevok.

Throne of Bhaal
We're buffed, spells reviewed, refreshed, contingencied and sequenced. I have raided my potion store and we will be using oils of speed to avoid fatigue from haste. With our preparations complete we step out to the Throne of Bhaal, leaving the pocket plane for the last time an in hope that our buffs aren't immediately dispelled by Melissan or the assembled Bhaalspawn.

Irenicus, Bodhi and Imoen
I am unable to talk either of the former into joining me don't know if it is my dialogue choice, charisma, reputation or alignment. Imoen has been coaxed into a slayer change, turning her hostile too.


Bodhi either has very little life essence or the Runehammer +5 adds a death effect. Either way Anomen has ended her challenge. Imoen is injured by our contingencies too, nothing we can do about that.


Sarevok cannot hurt the solar with Blackrazor so switches to Gram +5 while Viconia adds the FoA +5 / Storm Star +5. I cast Oracle so Anomen can get stuck into Irenicus while Edwin decides we need a planetar.

The solar and Imoen are injuring Sarevok so he glugs and runs. The solar drops Edwin so we converge on it.


The solar and Irenicus' illusion pop together, but I have insects all over me and expect our planetar will target Imoen after the real Irenicus is defeated. This proves to be the case but I drag it away long enough for her to regain her senses and convince her to stick around. Sarevok is demonstrating a Deathbringer Assault against 50% slashing damage.


The planetar raises Edwin.


Whatever next?

[Gate70]

Verun, NE male human wild mage. With Stenky the imp familiar, Imoen, Viconia, Edwin, BigMetalUnit (aka Anomen) and Sarevok.

Essence Pool 1
This doesn't look good, maybe we should position differently for the remaining pools....if we get that far.

Dweomer (1 of 6) : Wish - area effect. Imoen even gets a choice when scared.


Wisdom as below, and six choices made. Not too bad.
Sarevok 10, Anomen 12, Verun 17, Edwin 10, Viconia 22, Imoen 11.

Lose 10,000gp.
Random wand.
Hardiness on all party members.
Random wand.
Heal everybody, friend and foe.
Two great choices. Could breach all enemies but choose rest/re-memorise.

Back to the battle. Imoen is being chased by a cambion so summons the juggernaut golem and stands away. A second cambion is after Edwin, he escapes using the SotMagi only for a fireball to kill him.


Viconia complements my marilith breach with an iMoD critical chunk, the juggernaut golem is handling a cambion while the planetar has destroyed a balor. Anomen is coping against a Glazebru while Viconia has switched to the Sling of Seeking on one cambion as Sarevok drains and destroys another.


My IAlacrity is active but I am fearful of emptying my spellbook at the start of what could be a very long day, a bad level 9 spell selection in hindsight. Also suspect wisdom 17 is not enough for a good wish.
 
I have persuaded the planetar to raise Edwin mid-battle, it heals him without being asked and then returns to the fight. Sarevok and the planetar help Anomen overwhelm the Glazebru as Imoen uses her staff to summon a lesser fire elemental and overwhelm the final cambion. The planetar and golem vanish as I return to the pool and dip my hand into the water.

I drain the pool essence, picking up a new ability, Unleash. A pit fiend maybe? Only one way to find out unfortunately.

That wasn't too bad once the wish activated but the few moments before that were going very badly. I'm going to have to try Unleash, not really a good idea in a minimal reload though.

[Gate70]

Verun, NE male human wild mage. With Stenky the imp familiar, Imoen, Viconia, Edwin, BigMetalUnit (aka Anomen) and Sarevok.

Essence Pool 2
Viconia casts PfEvil 10' as Anomen accompanies me to the second pool. I have added a mislead contingency as a precaution, then dip my hand into the pool. Demons and fiends erupt and I retreat in a different direction to my mislead as Anomen engages the enemy.

The Babau have many effects, including fear so Viconia protects the party from that before Sarevok joins Anomen to kill a Babau. Our front-men seem to be holding their own in this battle so we keep our magic and summons to a minimum.

Edwin, Sarevok and Anomen combo breach melee to kill a marilith, but Sarevok is thrown across the orb by telekinesis and cannot move. I draw a skeleton to him which he promptly dissects. I start to draw a Glabrezu over too, but he recovers strongly with another DAssault.


Sarevok has dropped the Glabrezu but a cambion latches onto Edwin. He SotMagi's, and Imoen is targeted instead. She switches to melee as Anomen and Sarevok swarm the cambion. Imoen takes a hit as she runs but Sarevok and Gram add another DAssault.


Anomen re-equips Crom Faeyr to neutralise a Babau ray of enfeeblement. He and Imoen glug healing potions as we target a Nabassu which Sarevok kills. His next strike kills the other Nabassu. The next target is a cambion and it once more switches to Imoen. She quickly moves away, barely noticing her newest relative as he DAssault's again.


Anomen chunks an alu-fiend to finish the second battle, the party is refreshed (but not spells) and I learn how to control a demon. Perhaps it is as well that I forgot to try the Unleash spell...

There is a dire warning that after the third pool is drained Melissan will immediately be upon us. Whatever next?

[Gate70]

Verun, NE male human wild mage. With Stenky the imp familiar, Imoen, Viconia, Edwin, BigMetalUnit (aka Anomen) and Sarevok.

Essence Pool 3
Quickly done, then we buff before turning off the pool.

Illasera - Yaga Shura - Sendai - Abazigal - Balthazar
Imoen is killed by Illasera before we can re-group in the bottom left pool.
Sendai uses power word kill on a de-buffed Edwin.
Yaga Shura has killed Anomen as he tried to block the entrance.

I manage 10 auto-pause IAlacrity spells before a target vanishes and normal speed resumes blur of text as I hammer the space key. I am unable to continue casting as my stoneskins have shredded. Abazigal is still there despite my second dweomer maze spell hitting him. Is he immune?

I make a run for it with Viconia and Sarevok blocking our attackers in the bottom left pool.

Abazigal kills Viconia.
Sarevok is up against it with three Bhaalspawn on him. He falls to Illasera.

Five against one
All I can do is try and prise out any weaknesses they have. I make it to the top right pool but Balthazar is closing in ahead of the others. I know they can see through invisibility but can think of little else. I get a bit of luck but know it is too little too late. My volley of earlier spells is nibbling away at Illasera too.


I decide to keep running and see if I can get another IAlacrity cast. They block my exit and Abazigal takes another slice of me so I glug a potion and do another lap of the pool.

Balthazar has been closer than my shadow so far and I am relieved when he stops to silence me; doubly so because the AoPower grants me permanent vocalise. I glance behind me, Balthazar is injured and closing again, Sendai and Abazigal are slightly injured. Yaga Shura is too slow to worry me but Illasera is a constant reminder that I should not stop unless I want a nasty shock.

I start to zig-zag because Balthazar is a cheat and is targeting my destination each time. Also change to a melee dagger to reduce his aim from perfect to still-too-near-perfect.

After half a lap of the main ring I face a dilemma. Continue round this ring or see if I can borrow equipment from my fallen companions. Maybe later, but at least I can see Yaga Shura has a minor scratch or two.

I pop a stoneskin as I run. Another 3/4 of a lap and I see a sight for sore eyes.


Balthazar is literally within my fireshield at all times. Illasera has taken offence to Yaga Shura lava bomb presumably and is plinking away at him.

I dive for Edwin's gear (SofMagi specifically) and get within a gnats whisker (below). Our change of direction gives Abazigal time to cast breach, and my fireshield vanishes together with the invisibility leaving me open to spells. Balthazar does a lunar stance, causing malison and glitterdust. Sendai hits me with implosion and I am held. I know what is coming and am powerless to prevent it, nor can I see who delivers the fatal blow as Balthazar dithers and Abazigal swings.


Strategy re-think. Considering sanctuary for Anomen and Viconia, and seeing how many of Edwin, Imoen and Sarevok make it into another pool while I try again with the staff. I can't see a way to fight them party v party as it is too hard to micro-manage. Or sanctuary Anomen with blade barrier and globe of blades but Abazigal and breach could be an issue.

Reloads 5 (skulltrap in Unseeing Eye pit, Adalon, wild surge: Petrify self, Improved Demogorgon, Improved Throne).

[Gate70]

Verun, NE male human wild mage. With Stenky the imp familiar, Imoen, Viconia, Edwin, BigMetalUnit (aka Anomen) and Sarevok.

Attempt 2 : Illasera - Yaga Shura - Sendai - Abazigal - Balthazar

The previously summoned planetar casts IInvisibility on Sarevok, Viconia and Imoen. I do the same for Edwin as Anomen puts up five summons then sanctuaries. I de-activate the essence pool and grasp the SotMagi firmly.

We all make it to the bottom left essence pool without incident. Anomen has placed summons onto the traps laid by Sarevok, causing 94 damage to Yaga Shura.

Sendai arrives and Edwin is soon dead. Anomen follows and Imoen almost dies. Viconia and Sarevok get Balthazar injured as Yaga Shura arrives, by which time my IAlacrity has Abazigal wounded and two wishes.
- All party stats to 25 for four rounds.
- Hmm. Silence on everybody.  Including dead party members.

I'm OK as I have the AoPower, and Viconia is OK with her 100% magical resistance. Imoen uses her staff to conjure a lesser fire elemental.

Illasera has killed Viconia, while Sarevok and Imoen are being chased. Sendai has vocalised so  I am running too. Illasera adds Imoen to her killboard, while Sarevok is unconscious when Yaga Shura kills him.

Sendai has fired a LResistance at me, and although I have to keep re-equipping my staff to evade true sight I have managed three laps of the ring without the LResistance catching me. I get bored and let it hit, reducing my resistance to 9%. Then I grab some items and try out an ability since I have nothing to lose.


Then I try hitting Yaga Shura, and am immediately de-buffed. I turn invisible again and run but I am slow. I check my boots and even then Balthazar is too quick without an oil of speed.

That's it for tonight. Won't post again unless I either give up or find something that works.

[ussnorway]

I’ve enjoyed reading this because I haven’t encountered Ascension (assumed) yet & I have a couple questions:

1 Wisdom; You don’t have any way to temp increase your stats... “Axe of Hrothgar +3”, “Silver Ioun Stone” or “Potion of Insight” etc?

2 I take it from your post that there is no resting so there is no/ limited spell refreshment, which seems incredibly biased toward melee combat & I also noted you abstained from traps before activating Yaga Shura which IMO would have helped so what regeneration options are around?

[Gate70]

I have the ioun stone, overlooked it.

Looks like the rest/refresh happens before each pool fight so I could have unloaded a lot more but was expecting the five to arrive and didn't want to have nothing left if I couldn't rest/refresh. Including re-filling the same contingencies and triggers. May experiment some more here to check as I have save games before each fight.

I have a load of potions. Just can't gulp them fast enough. Sample from quick test & CTRL/Y.

Abazigal. Kensai 30/Mage 30. 364hp, AC -18. THACO -21. 9/2 APR. 32 +3+4 for one hit.
Yaga Shura, Berserker 25. 406hp, AC -9. THACO -17/-14, 5 APR. 38+9 for 1 hit
Illasera. Archer 18.226hp, AC -5, THACO -24, 9/2 APR. 25+3 for1 hit.
Balthazar. Monk 30. 338hp, AC -8, THACO -17, 2 APR. 31 for 1 hit.
Sendai. Cleric 20/Mage 20. 210hp, THACO 8 but just casts spells.

All I can think is don't get hit or share it out and use hardiness, stoneskin, ironskin, damage reduction items etc. & gang up on them with GWW etc. I've tried wilts, comets, FoD's etc and start with full contingencies (the wrong ones by the results to date). Sarevok as a fighter might stand a better chance for example.

I have done Ascension several times in the distant past, but expect I probably got fed up and dropped the difficulty for this battle. & for Abazigal too I would think, got through that OK this time.

[ussnorway]

Only Haer'Dalis has the -24 armour to tank heavy hitters like Yaga Shura... if you have ‘Aura of Flaming Death’ then Anomen will have the lowest (best) armour in your group but I’d assign Sarevok to kite him over traps while you kill the bugger from range. Hypothetically someone like Edwin or Imoen could hold him with ‘Absolute Immunity’ & ‘Time Stop’ but then Sarevok tanks something else or just becomes a third wheel.

Do you have any 'Spike traps'?

It’s hard to be definitive but vanilla Yaga Shura is not immune to ‘Energy Blades’ & IMO giving the humble “Ilbratha +1” to Sarevok because the ‘Mirror Image’ will help keep him up makes sense... note that he only needs to carry it, not equip it.

[Gate70]

No special traps. Balthazar is immune to time stop so that would be a huge mistake for the party.

Did I mention Illasera dispels with her arrows as well as doing a ranged knockdown? I don't have the reflection shield, but could try Anomen or Viconia with a physical mirror which might need to be used several times while Sendai and Illasera de-buff.

Edit. Just to say I've given up on this run after 3-4 more quick fails. Am considering one more run of Ascension with a different style of play (solo monk might work for me). After that I think I'll consider a different BGT install.

Modifié par Gate70, 20 mai 2012 - 09:45 .

[ussnorway]

Bug update;

I’ve had time to play around with the SCS build and removing SCS completely does remove the bug however only removing the ~SCSII/SETUP-SCSII.TP2~ #0 #7126 // Improved Irenicus in Hell (Tactics remix) -> Tactics-SCSII hybrid: v20 allows the battle happen normally about 2/3 of the time... I suspect this is a combination of the ~HAERDALISROMANCE/HAERDALISROMANCE.TP2~ #0 #0 // Haer'Dalis Romance (SoA): v1 insistence on making the “I love you” speech as Icky makes his appearance.

The fact that SCS Icky is immune to trap damage (at the start of battle) & the Tactics remix Icky isn’t does make things problematic but basically I think the two mods can only go together if you don’t kill Icky before he makes his opening speech... and even then they still bug out occasionally. I do want to finish Ormaline for my own amusement so I’m going to remove SCS (for this battle only) and then continue on as a minimum re-load game.

Udm1:

Vanilla Icky put up a pretty simple resistance with four demons and then went Slayer on us... Do’Dad/ Alyssia grabbed a Baler each and the rest of us mopped up the other two, I forget the name but the ones that see through stealth.

Destinies’ calling:

   

After listening to the critic message I’m warned that a battle is approaching... right’o buff up with barriers & adds then seed the soil with oodles of ‘Skull Trap’/ ‘Delayed Blast Fireball’... many a no-reloader has underestimated this battle for an embarrassing finish to their Tob run. My traps dispatched the mage (Yipee) but Haer’dalis had trouble holding Black Reaver & died despite his impressive armour... it was only later as I studied the screenshots that I understood it was Illasera doing the damage.

Pocket home sweet home:

 

Sarevok agrees to join me (no vow) & Imoen has disturbing dreams... I’m sorely considering parking Amber because (despite being very powerful) she is becoming too needy with her talks. With Watchers out of the way any change in party makeup is dicey but it would give me a backup character in case of chunking... so, who gets the spot?
Reloads = 1 (due to bug).

Modifié par ussnorway, 29 mai 2012 - 02:00 .

[ussnorway]

Udm2;

After looking at my options I’ve settled for a slightly underpowered Jan as Ambers replacement... multiclass characters give me two sets of abilities to pick from and I’m curious as to what effect his stun bolts will have in Ascension?

Trial one (gang bang):

   

As I’m now an evil B, I get commoners; elves & knights... standard AOE tactics dispatched the riffraff which allowed me to save the big guns to use against the final bosses then it’s off to Saradush for some shopping & to repair my rep.

Saradush (heated negotiations):

   

Imoen tried her new brain sucking ploy * against Karun the black but he was immune so she switched to Gromnir instead then my melee held the mage while Ormaline started a magic dual, with ‘Chain Contingency (3X ‘Pierce Shield’ )’; ‘Spellstrike’ & ‘Improved Alacrity’... Karun fell after about the first eight spells with at least a ½ dozen still in transit.

* ‘Time stop’ + ‘Shape Change’ (Mind Flayer)

Reloads = 1 (due to bug). 

[Gate70]

What levels are your party now ussnorway?