15 réponses à ce sujet

[Son of Imoen]

I'm in the Underdark, where I've got an access stone to visit Andalon, but I've gotta fight my way past a drow war party that spawns at both end of the bridge when I attempt to cross it. I've got SCS II installed without the pre-buffs. About a dozen drow spawn in front of me and about half a dozen in my rear.

The strategy I attempted thus far is trying to cause AoE damage for wiping out the weaker ones before taking on the strong, while at the same time I try disrupt the drow priest's castings so as not to get hampered by their spells. Spells I've tried to use are Fireball, but that one doesn't get cast as Imoen starts to walk and idle away in a dead corner at the side of the bridge instead of throwing the fireball, probably for lack of a clear line of sight to where I want it, in the huddle at the far end of the bridge, while Keldorn is at the front and shouldn't get caught in the blast.

Holy smite is easier to target, but damages only about one in 3 or 4 of the drow, as most get saved by their magic resistance. The magic resistance also saves most of the drow from my incapitating spells like chaos, hold person or the horn of silence by one of my fighters. I haven't tried lower resistance yet, as there are so much drow and lower resistance can only lower the resistance of 1 drow at a time and would take many castings to start having a signicant effect on disabling of larger number of drow.

What strategies would work?

My party:

Faihra: Cleric-ranger L12/11
Keldorn: Inquisitor L13
Amber: Fighter>Thief L6/17
Aerie: Cleric-mage L11/11
Imoen: Adventurer>Mage L7/12
Xan: Enchanter L14

spell levels available (making it easier for you to answer, without looking up): Faihra up to level 6 cleric & druid spells, Aerie up to 1 level 6 cleric and up to level 5 mage, Imoen up to 1 level 6 spell, Xan up to level 7 spells, all have quite a wide selection known.



most helpful (AFAIK) items I have right now: Lilacor +3 or Hallowed Redeemer + Reflection Shield (Keldorn), dual-wielding Flail of the Ages +3/Skullcrusher +3 – other options Wyvern's Tail and The Sleeper (Faihra), Mauler's Arm, other option: Staff of Striking (Aerie), Blade of the Roses +3 or Impaler +3 or Elven Court Bow +3, also Horn of Silence & Cloak of the Sewers can be used (Amber), Imoen Shortsword +3 or Cleric's Staff +3 or Tuigan's Bow, but she should be casting of course. Xan has is Moonblade, but should also be casting.

I gave Drow armour to Faihra, Aerie and Imoen, Amber has the Night's Gift, Keldorn his family plate mail and Xan a Robe of Fire Resistance. In my bag I have the Rod of Lordly Might and Jhor the Bleeder, if they would be more helpful than one of the weapons currently equiped.

What strategy would help me defeat the drow war party and get to Andalon's Lair?

Modifié par Son of Imoen, 13 janvier 2012 - 11:14 .

[Son of Imoen]

Up till now while I was casting Smites, Magic Missiles for Disruption, summonings in their rear, they all survived my attacks. Keldorn was more busy trying to swallow healing potions to stay alive than hacking away and by the time some of their spells managed to get through and 1 or 2 of my characters got held, all of them where still standing and I started taking damage quicker and decided to quit and call for your help when party members started dying like domino's (as in: once 1 or 2 of them are dead, the rest doesn't stand much stance when all the drow are still standing).

[Grond0]

I don't particularly remember the ambush, but is it possible to trigger it with only 1 character? The remainder could then be behind the smaller group of drow to quickly beat them up. As you've noted it's probably easier to kill drow quickly with weapons rather than spells, so your spells should be targeted to improving your offense and defending against opposition spells.

Some ambushes trigger even when characters are invisible. If that's the case here then invis 10' can be used to give you a free initial attack from perfect position.

It's also likely to be helpful to put some summons onto the bridge at the start of the combat to slow down the other drow from providing support.

[Son of Imoen]

Divide and conquer, yes, that's a good idea. The party got triggered by one invisible character when I was scouting the map, so I might try to use that to my advantage. I've only got spiderspawn summons memorized right now, but even a swordspider blocking the way might buy me some rounds. I'll try it tonight, need to do some shopping first now.

[Humanoid_Taifun]

Grond0 wrote...
so your spells should be targeted to improving your offense and defending against opposition spells.

Emphasizing this. Pre-Dragon Breath, melee is usually the best anti-drow tactic.

Furthermore, you don't seem to have installed the area-disablers when configuring your SCS2, otherwise it might actually worth your time trying to lower their resistance.

[morbidest2]

I would rely more on Summons than Area Effect spells, but if I had to use the latter I would go with things like Spider Web and Acid Fog for the North side of the bridge. Fire never seems to work for me when dealing with Drow - their high magic resistance seems to shrug it off. I assume that Aerie and your PC have a big collection of elemental staffs by now. Thus another possible strategy is to have your party work on killing off the southern drow, and plunk your elementals mid-bridge as a blocking force. After the South drow are dead, web and acid soak the north party as you missile them to Lolth.
GO FOR THE EYES, BOO!  

Modifié par morbidest2, 13 janvier 2012 - 03:29 .

[amanasleep]

The best spells at your disposal for dealing with Drow are Sunfire and Blade Barrier, both of which ignore magic resistance.

To maximize the effects of Blade Barrier, cast it on your C->R, as well as Haste. This will force enemies in range to save twice per round. In addition, you might use Invis 10' Radius Pixie Dust to start your party invis, then attack with your C->R to ensure that the maximum number of Drow converge on the active Blade Barrier.

Fire Shields also ignore MR. so if you prebuff your Mages with Red and Blue Fire Shields along with the other standard combat protections, then move in to cast sunfires, any Drow that hit your casters will take a fair amount of unavoidable damage.

[Humanoid_Taifun]

amanasleep wrote...
To maximize the effects of Blade Barrier, cast it on your C->R, as well as Haste. This will force enemies in range to save twice per round.

This only works with Improved Haste, doesn't it?

[Son of Imoen]

H_T, what are the area-disablers in SCS II that you're referring to?

[Humanoid_Taifun]

Son of Imoen wrote...
H_T, what are the area-disablers in SCS II that you're referring to?

Sorry, I typed rubbish. I meant dispellers (Secret Word, Spellstrike,
Ruby Ray of Reversal...). Apparently the new version also has a single-target option (just checked), but when last I installed it allowed you to target invisible creatures with these spells by giving them a small AoE.

[Grond0]

Humanoid_Taifun wrote...

Son of Imoen wrote...
H_T, what are the area-disablers in SCS II that you're referring to?

Sorry, I typed rubbish. I meant dispellers (Secret Word, Spellstrike,
Ruby Ray of Reversal...). Apparently the new version also has a single-target option (just checked), but when last I installed it allowed you to target invisible creatures with these spells by giving them a small AoE.

I think that's still there as an option, but it is a pretty small AoE and doesn't move when the enemy does - so you may well be better off going with the single-target option.

[Humanoid_Taifun]

Grond0 wrote...
I think that's still there as an option, but it is a pretty small AoE and doesn't move when the enemy does - so you may well be better off going with the single-target option.

Nice thing about mages is they can be completely invulnerable for a time, so if you get the enemy to gang up on you it's pretty easy to hit a group of them at once. I've used this in a chain contingency with a seriously overleveled sorcerer to get rid of pretty much any group of magic resistant enemies (mostly mind flayers and drow).

[Son of Imoen]

I still use the AoE version, even on more recent campaigns or I'd have to rember about every campaign what version was installed. Now it's the old version in all campaigns.

And I've managed to defeat them! Thanks for your help. Didn't even need to memorize other spells, just hang back more and let them get at me piecemeal. I didn't have any elemental rods, but I had an elemental bottle that I used.

But now I face another question: is there no option for resting in the Ust Natha tavern? I'm undercover there in guise of a drow now, but no-one I talk to is the Inn-owner, all have either a tale to tell or offer a fight in an arena. Do I have to get back to the Svernefblin to rest? Will I be welcome there as a drow?

[ussnorway]

Traps (physical) are a good anti-drow devise as they will hit every enemy in range... assuming Amber has any points allocated.

You can rest in the lust chamber... (I assume you do eventually sleep)... of Ust'Natha Tavern.

p.s. IMO ‘Death Fog’ (L6) should be your AOE of choice against most things encountered in the underdark... immunity to acid or evocation while not required is highly desirable.

[Humanoid_Taifun]

Son of Imoen wrote...
But now I face another question: is there no option for resting in the Ust Natha tavern?

Upper right corner (main area, not lust chambers). It's 30 coins per night.

Modifié par Humanoid_Taifun, 13 janvier 2012 - 09:49 .

[HoonDing]

The half-assed way magic resistance is implemented in 2nd edition D&D makes the Underdark denizens much harder than they're supposed to be.