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[Alesia_BH]

The SCS-Ascension Solo Challenge

Have you created the most powerful character in the realms? Have you turned an over-looked class into a powerhouse? If so, then this is your chance to share with your fellow gamers.

The objective for all entrants in the SCS-Ascension Solo Challenge is to defeat SCS Ascension Melissan and The Five with one -and only one- character. It’s not for the faint of heart -and there will be casualties along the way- but it should be good fun for all. If you are interested, don’t be shy: join in and share.

NW: For those who don’t know, SCS and Ascension are both mods which effect BGII. Further information on each can be found here:
http://www.gibberlings3.net/scsii/
http://weidu.org/asc.html

So, on to the administrivia. This will be mercifully brief.


Rule and Guidelines

1. Required Components- The challenge is focused on the ToB portion of the adventure: It officially begins when players start ToB. Accordingly, all required components relate to ToB.
  
Ascension: The Ascension mod package is required in entirety- including the Tougher Battle Series. By name these components are Ascension, Tougher Illasera, Tougher Gromnir, Tougher Yaga-Shura, and Tougher Abazigal
   
SCS: Entrants are required to install the SCS components which affect scripts and abilities in the Ascension/Tougher Battle Series encounters. By name these are Smarter General AI, Potions for NPCs, Smarter Mages, Smarter Priests, Smarter Dragons, Smarter Illasera, Smarter Yaga-Shura, Smarter Abazigal, Smarter Gromnir, Smarter Melissan, and Ascension versions of Irenicus and Sendai use SCS abilities and AI.

2. Suggested Components- While the challenge is focused on ToB, players are encouraged to post on their character’s SoA adventures either as backstory or for fun pure. Naturally players may use any and all SoA enhancements they choose- especially SCS SoA Tactical Components. Players are also encouraged to install SCS’ additional ToB Tactical Components notably the Improved Yaga Shura, Sendai, and Abazigal Enclaves. While SoA enhancements and ToB Tactical components are encouraged, there is freedom of choice here in order to accommodate as many players as possible. The only rule is this: let us all know what you’ve done to your install so we can appreciate the challenge your character is facing. This applies to non-required SCS components as well as any other mods you may choose.

3. Character Creation- Characters may be created in BG1, BG-II SoA, or BG-II ToB at the players discretion.They should be rolled and should not be adjusted with Shadow Keeper or analogous utilities. Players may benefit from Tomes or other in game stat enhancements, however, exporting and re-importing to max out stats is not permitted. Note that character diversity is highly encouraged! It would be great to see all kits and classes represented.

4. Allowable Tactics- Ultimately, each entrant is sharing their game. Consequently, players may use whatever tactics they wish. That said, players are strongly encouraged to keep the sensibilities of their fellow gamers in mind. Egregious exploits may be frowned upon and could defeat a players personal purpose for entering. Setting aside any definitions of cheats, cheese, exploits -or whatever- for our purposes, players are encouraged to apply a simple test to determine the usability of tactics: “Will people enjoy reading about this?” Trust your judgement, but if in doubt, ask: your audience will let you know.

5. Reloading- Reloading is allowed. Players should keep a reload count and are encouraged to cover battles in which deaths occurred: reports of battles that end disappointingly can be enlightening. That said, if the original Ascension Solo Challenge is any indication, some characters may have to reload, many, many times; note that no one is required to post full accounts of every death. Again, use your judgement. If your Barbarian is getting bonked over the head by Abazigal at the Throne over and over again, we probably don’t need to know about every instance. Keep a count, share the pith, and let us appreciate the problem. Someone will likely offer advice (or at least condolences).

6. Assorted Norms- As anyone reading this is likely aware, we have a few other challenges running on these boards. Players are encouraged to read those threads to get a sense of posting practices and community spirit. The intent is for the SCS-Ascension Challenge participants to be just as supportive and encouraging as, say, those in the No Reload Challenge. The purpose here isn’t to show off before an anonymous crowd, nor is it to force anyone to run the gauntlet: it is to share our mutual enjoyment of the game with friends. Keep that purpose in mind, and it will all be good.

So, that’s it everyone.

Best of luck!

A.

Modifié par Alesia_BH, 29 septembre 2012 - 05:27 .

[Alesia_BH]

Ok. So here is my entrant. Some of you may recognize her from the No Reload Challenge.

Abigail, Dwarven Cleric, follower of Marthammor Duin.


Character Description: Dwarven though she may be, Abigail wasn’t born for a life of the rock: winding roads and open skies are the things that speak to her. It shouldn’t come as a surprise then that she found Marthammor Duin early. She honors him, but more than that, she honors what he stands for- as well as the prospects of a life in his footsteps. She is a playful lass awed by the vastness of the world. She hopes to walk every foot of it.

Proficiencies: Slings, Hammers, Quarterstaves, Flails, Maces, Two-Handed Weapon Style, Two-Weapon Style

Mods: G3, SCS-II, Ascension (All required, full prebuffs, 50% Potion breakage, many tactical components)
NW: Unfortunately my Weidu log is no longer in my install folder. I'll try to track it down. I hope future entrants will provide links to their Weidu logs!

Character History: Abigail's prior adventures have been covered in the BG1 and BGII No Reload Challenge Threads. She's been effective, but I have some doubts about how she'll perform at high levels. I'm definitely curious to see how she'll fare in the battles at The Throne.

Abigail is currently finishing up SoA and will matriculate into the SCS-Ascension Solo Challenge soon. I'll post periodic updates on her progress leading up to her entry into ToB followed by detailed reports of her ToB adventures.

[Gate70]

I'm in.
Rolled for ToB so 2.5m XP and the standard bag of holding items available to him.


& the tidied WeiDU log for this ToB BG2 install (on Linux and running under Wine);

Ascension v1.41 (requires ToB)
Tougher Abazigal (optional, requires ToB)
Original Tougher Demogorgon (optional, requires ToB)
Tougher Gromnir (optional, requires ToB)
Tougher Illasera (optional, requires ToB)
Tougher Yaga-Shura (optional, requires ToB)

BG2 Fixpack - Core Fixes: v9.01

SCS II v20
Initialise mod (all other components require this)
Smarter general AI
Potions for NPCs (Half the potions dropped are lost)
Smarter Mages (some short-duration spells instantly at start of combat)
Smarter Priests (some short-duration spells instantly at start of combat)
Smarter Illasera
Smarter Yaga-Shura
Smarter Gromnir
Smarter Melissan
Give Ascension versions of Irenicus and Sendai SCSII scripts and abilities
Smarter dragons (fast, uninterruptable innate magic)
Smarter Abazigal
Enhanced Sendai's Enclave
Improved Abazigal's Lair
Improved Fire Giant temple

Generalized Biffing: v2.2

[Alesia_BH]

Welcome.

Looking forward to seeing Veyal in action!

[BBMorti]

It was always a solemn occasion when one pulled through this challenge, back in the days.

Good luck guys!

Modifié par BBMorti, 29 septembre 2012 - 05:30 .

[Alesia_BH]

Thanks for the well wishes BBMorti.

I have my doubts about Abigial. I'm confident she could do the original Ascension but I'm not so certain she'll make it with the SCS script.

Gate70 has a tough road ahead of him as well: a Monk rolled in ToB sounds tricky to me.

Enter and show us how it's done BBMorti!

[Gate70]

A tough road indeed; winding, steep and suited to a more experienced adventurer. The first obstacle is Illasera, and the Ascension version is as tough as the standard one is easy. She can see through invisibility, her arrows are pretty much a guaranteed hit and an imported character only has five healing potions. This is the equipment available (some other items of no use in his bag).


Anyway, enough whining. Even with my monk speed and starting from the shadows I take two arrows (+18 to hit, 17 and 18 damage) as I leave. One Black Reaver is phasing alongside me and a second has cast Timestop. As it ends the phaser hits me, and I keep running but each time he phases next to me I am hit again. Five hits and I am dead. Reload1 (and the first of this new challenge, it's an honour I tell ya).

My second attempt starts better - hide in shadows seems to have worked this time. I run as they buff and summon. Illasera has followed and hit with four arrows so I glug a previous potion and run back through her party to another clearing. She follows and turns ethereal so I run again and rest before sneaking back and tempting a Black Reaver (similar in appearance to Tazok) towards me. Game saved afterwards and a potion of extra healing retrieved.


Illasera has returned to her party and shoots - a critical miss and I am running again. Three hits more and she turns ethereal. She stops to do this and as I am out of sight she gives up the chase so I rest to preserve potions and save. Illasera has again returned to her party and I am able to sneak away before she reacts. Kitthix fails to lure her away so I approach from a different angle towards a second Black Reaver casting invisibility purge. I've moved away so hide again and ask myself why I packed a longbow, shortbow and crossbow but no sling or darts.What kind of adventurer wanders round with a near empty Bag of Holding and no cash whatsoever.

I summon a berserk warrior to lure the Black Reaver but instead he summons a skeleton warrior and arial servant. I grab their attention and kill them then send the badly wounded warrior forward again. The Black Reaver moves closer but the warrior unsummons. I retreat and save again, wishing I'd brought a healing ioun stone or regenerating ring.  

After a while I think some Black Reaver buffs have faded (Blade Barrier, Defensive Harmony, Physical Mirror, Free Action, Chant, Bless, Magic Resistance) but others may still be active (Archons, Armour of Faith, Remove Fear). I check we're alone and try a Stunning Blow and miss. He's casting so I retreat and hide. My magic resistance beats his poison spell so I try another Stunning Blow. Two hits are saved then I retreat to observe another poison, resisted again. He quaffs (the posh glugger) a superior healing potion I wanted and is uninjured so I try a Quivering Palm instead. Four hits and four saves, he is injured so I try another Stunning Blow. He saves each time until my final hit stuns him - typical. I grab his gear plus two extra healing potions and one of invulnerability. Time for another save and rest.


As I thought, this is going to be a slow start so apologies in advance.

[Grond0]

I tried creating a BG2 only installation, but something in it disagreed with generalised biffing. Rather than hunt down what was causing that I've reverted to a BGT installation. The full list of mods in installation order is:
ToBEX
Ascension
BG2 Fixpack
Oversight
BGT
Bonehill
Grey Clan
BG1 NPC
BG1 UB
CoM Encounters
BG2 UB
SCS
Solaufein
G3 Anniversary
BGT Tweak
Turambar Fixes
SCS2
BG2 Tweaks
Item Pack
aTweaks
Generalised Biffing
BG1 level cap
Widescreen

The SCS2 components included are:
Initialise mod (all other components require this): v21
Blade Barrier and Globe of Blades only affect hostile creatures: v21
Cap damage done by Skull Trap at 12d6: v21
Make Power-Word: Blind single-target: v21
Slightly increase the power of Mantle, Improved Mantle, and Absolute Immunity: v21
Add an extra copy of some hard-to-find spell scrolls: v21
True Sight/True Seeing spells protect from magical blindness: v21
Grant large, flying, non-solid or similar creatures protection from Web and Entangle: v21
Make Freedom scrolls available earlier: v21
Retrieve Dropped Items from Hell: v21
Treat mages' and priests' High-Level Abilities as innate abilities rather than memorisable spells (each may be taken only once): v21
Remove animation from the Cloak of Mirroring (leave it for other spells and effects that use the same graphic): v21
Remove the blur graphic effect from the Displacer Cloak: v21
Smarter general AI: v21
Better calls for help: v21
Potions for NPCs -> Half the potions dropped by slain enemies break and are lost: v21
Improved golems: v21
Improved fiends -> Fiends have fast, uninterruptable innate magic: v21
Smarter genies -> Genies have fast, uninterruptable innate magic: v21
Smarter celestials -> Celestials have fast, uninterruptable innate magic: v21
Standardise dragon immunities: dragons in Shadows of Amn get the same immunities to vorpal attacks (etc) as their Throne of Bhaal cousins: v21
Smarter dragons -> Dragons have fast, uninterruptable innate magic: v21
Enemy mages (and Elder Orbs) use Simulacrum and Project Image spells (this component will have no effect unless you install Smarter Mages or Smarter Beholders): v21
Smarter beholders -> Don't give beholder rays any chance of burning through spell protections; beholder antimagic blocks all spells, including harmful ones, for a round (simulates D&D rules): v21
Smarter mind flayers -> Illithids have only original-game resistances; Illithids can see through invisibility: v21
Improved Vampires: v21
Smarter githyanki: v21
Add high-level abilities (HLAs) to ToB mages -> Only selected ToB mages get HLAs: v21
Add high-level abilities (HLAs) to SoA mages -> Only selected SoA mages get HLAs: v21
Smarter Mages -> Mages cast some short-duration spells instantly at start of combat, to simulate pre-battle casting: v21
Add high-level abilities (HLAs) to ToB priests -> Only selected ToB priests get HLAs: v21
Add high-level abilities (HLAs) to SoA priests -> Only selected SoA priests get HLAs: v21
Smarter Priests -> Priests cast some short-duration spells instantly at start of combat, to simulate pre-battle casting: v21
Smarter Illasera: v21
Smarter Yaga-Shura: v21
Smarter Abazigal: v21
Smarter Gromnir: v21
Smarter Melissan: v21
Give Ascension demons SCSII scripts and abilities: v21
Give Ascension versions of Irenicus and Sendai SCSII scripts and abilities: v21
Make the starting dungeon slightly harder: v21
Improved Shade Lord: v21
Spellcasting Demiliches: v21
More resilient trolls: v21
Increase difficulty of level-dependent monster groupings -> Mildly increased difficulty: v21
Improved Random Encounters: v21
Improved de'Arnise Keep ("Tactics Remix") -> Spirit trolls have the same powers as in the original game: v21
Slightly improved Faldorn: v21
Improved Unseeing Eye: v21
Improved Bodhi (Tactics Remix) -> "Toned-down" version of the original Tactics Improved Bodhi, with SCSII scripting: v21
Improved battle with Irenicus in Spellhold: v21
Improved Sahuagin: v21
Improved Beholder hive (adapted from Quest Pack): v21
Slightly Improved Drow -> Leave Ust Natha's defences alone: v21
Slightly Improved Watcher's Keep: v21
Improved Irenicus in Hell (Tactics remix) -> Tactics-SCSII hybrid: v21
Improved Fire Giant temple: v21
Enhanced Sendai's Enclave: v21
Improved Abazigal's Lair: v21
Improved Minor Encounters: v21

I'll roll a character up in BGT shortly and transfer it into this challenge when it dies.

[Gate70]

Two Black Reavers down, two left. I sneak around the north side to avoid Illasera and observe a mage and a fighter who is phasing next to me despite the shadows. I move away and he phases alongside several times so I try a Quivering Palm. It looks like a mistake as he starts to get the better of me, but as I prepare to raise my hand my third hit does the job. I stash two more extra healing potions and rest/save.


The Mage is now invisible so I send Kitthix in, making sure I am away from any spell zone and we are both nowhere near Illasera. A host of buffs fire and the spider crumples. I maintain my distance knowing that time is on my side, moving in and out to force an oracle and to check on enemy buffs. The Berserk Warrior succumbs to Melf Minor Meteors and I remain hidden as a third sphere of chaos is cast. I hit his stoneskin and hide behind a pillar as he casts Timestop and eventually targets me with Slow. I'm immune to slow so as time starts again I move in and hit as he refreshes stoneskins. Two more hits in exchange for a minor Magic Missile sequencer then two chromatic orbs (save vs spells is 1 and magic resistance is helping too) and another set of Minor Meteors so I stay in melee against his ranged meteors. He casts another stoneskin and swings his staff before firing two sets of Magic Missiles, some of which are foiled by my magic resistance.

A fourth stoneskin and more Magic Missiles, then I have to lead him away as he is sidling towards Illasera. He is down to melee now and I land two hits before he turns invisible and quaffs a superior healing potion. I respond with a Stunning Blow which he resists three hits of, but three hits are more than his body can take. I grab his gear and rest/save.


Just Illasera left and not a lot of point buffing as her arrows dispel. I sneak in but she casts hardiness and starts shooting so I retreat and lay on hands. She saves against Quivering Palm (damage of 20 and 15) before becoming ethereal, so I run and hide. Kittix arrives just before Illasera, and the three of us use web / hardiness / Stunning Blow. I have hurt her but she returns the compliment and I survive as Kitthix takes an arrow that would have finished me.


I copy Illasera, quaffing a superior healing potion then add an extra healing potion too. She is barely injured so I try another Stunning Blow (she seems to have innate true sight with no game text so best to rush in and hope it is well timed). Three hits, three saves and she glugs another potion then turns the tide. Reload2.


I trade Quivering Palm with Hardiness and Ethereal, then run. A Stunning Blow is resisted then I have to summon Kitthix as I glug a potion. Another Stunning Blow is resisted then I get a similar pair of knockbacks. Reload3.

I glug potions of Frost Giant Strength and Invulnerability before trying Quivering Palm. She turns ethereal and despite me sending Kitthix and the Berserk warrior in she dispels my buffs. A Quivering Palm means I cannot glug a potion quickly enough. Reload4. Reload5 & Reload6 are quick (and futile). The next attempt looks promising but the game crashes.

I land a Stunning Blow - but Illasera ignores it and I run as both Kitthix and the Berserk Warrior have been fatally pierced. At least I now know I'm up against an unstunnable enemy so all I can do is try a Quivering Palm then attempt hit and run tactics.

She saves against two Quivering Palm hits and quaffs a potion as I hide behind a pillar and save. Two more hits (with Stunning Blow activated for fun), another quaff as I save behind the pillar. One hit and a pillar save.

Two hits force a "Red Slayers" shout (which seems to indicate knockback is about to happen) then we each glug a potion as I retreat. I lay on hands and pillar save. Another two hits and she glugs a potion. This time she follows and as she rounds the pillar I hit her twice then hide around the pillar (getting her to the pillar could be a good idea, give her some of the old Sarevok temple treatment). Two more hits and she casts cure critical wounds so I hide and save. Two further hits and she moves away from the pillar - hide and save! She cures critical wounds for a second time so I test her aura by trading two hits for an arrow. It is my turn to glug a potion before hiding and saving. I change to one hit each time and two solid blows (29 and critical 46) have her near death with no response, and a shocking death follows (78/80hp). I grab her gear and glug a healing potion as a second bolt of lightning badly wounds me - a typical Bhaalspawn who won't give up even when dead (back to 65/80hp).


A third strike hits as a solar summons me to a pocket plane with 25/80 hp - the 27hp potion I glugged has just saved my life. I speak to a solar and raise Sarevok.

[Alesia_BH]

Nice work on Illasera Gate70. Woe to Gromnir.

And welcome Grond0!

Best,

A.

[Grond0]

Thanks Alesia.  On second thoughts I don't think I'll post any details on progress up to ToB.  I'll just summarise briefly where he's got to (and no. of reloads) here.

Here is Escal's starting record.

[Alesia_BH]

Understood. So, an early challenge update might read...

Active

Character Name: Veyal
class: Monk
Race: Human
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Most Powerful Vanquished: Illasera
Current Location: Saradush
Entered by Gate70

En Route

Character Name: Abigail
class: Cleirc
Race: Dwarf
Alignment: Neutral Good
Most Powerful Vanquished: Shade Lord
Current Location: Spellhold
Entered by Alesia_BH

Character Name: Escal
class: Feralan
Race: Human
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Most Powerful Vanquished: Candlekeep Rats
Current Location: The Lion's Way
Entered by Grond0

[Grond0]

Good guess, but I'm afraid Escal was too scared to kill anything at all in Candlekeep.

[Alesia_BH]

It was a joke of course.

[Gate70]

Well good luck to you both when you start, I'm busy building an unassailable lead (in terms of reloads)

Pocket Plane trial 1; Gavid & Retribution
I start on kobolds and when there are none left I pick off the doppelgangers. A pre-buffed ogre mage has to be worn down, giving two gnolls an extended chance to attack me before the three of them are finally dropped. Two drow priestesses and two drow warriors follow them and I decide to sort my wounds out. I've glugged an extra healing potion and cast lay on hands, expecting something worse (Irenicus) only for Gavid to congratulate me.

Saradush
I almost blend into the crowd until Melissan tells everyone that I am a Bhaalspawn, and a group of guards attack. I hit one and run as they use Critical Strike and GWW, returning with Stunning Blows from the shadows. I add a Quivering Palm for the last (both icons briefly overlap but the stun seems to wear off before the hit registers).


Next I re-open Lazarus Librarius, re-house re-temple some elves before breaking up a fight nearby and sort out two mercenaries inside the tavern. At that point Melissan introduces herself (activating the dead parent and Mateo tasks). Kiser Jhaeri falls for my line about wanting a piece of the action, and this is what I get.


I've hidden in the shadows to lay on hands and summon a berserk warrior. Their thief gets a Quivering Palm and I stay to try and Quiver somebody else but receive a hit that takes me from half-health to dead in one go. Reload7 - I need to adapt to glugging lots of healing potions on the assumption that more will be dropped by enemies.


I manage to pick off some enemies this time but know from previous experience that Kiser Jhaeri and his thief are both nasty backstabbers. A mage joins in so I resort to feeling around to find where my enemies are and I have learnt Hardiness while down here. Two Timestops pass uneventfully then I cast Hardiness and present the thieves a suitable target with the mage out of sight. I take two backstabs but stun and drop the thief with 41/82hp. The  stun is still active and I catch Kiser Jhaeri with it twice. Three saves aren't enough for him to avoid rapid decomposition and the mage soon discovers my fists of patience are too much for her defensive buffs.


Reloads :
Illasera: 6.
Kiser Jhaeri: 1.

[ussnorway]

Alesia_BH wrote...
3. Character Creation- Characters may be created in BG1, BG-II SoA, or BG-II ToB at the players discretion.They should be rolled and should not be adjusted with Shadow Keeper or analogous utilities. Players may benefit from Tomes or other in game stat enhancements, however, exporting and re-importing to max out stats is not permitted. Note that character diversity is highly encouraged! It would be great to see all kits and classes represented.
[b]

So if I want to test an Avenger Druid then I have to play Halfelf Druid in BG1 or is an EasyTutu Avenger ok with you?

[Gate70]

My view; EasyTutu must be acceptable, with your lawyer hat on would something like "BG1 (or EasyTutu/BGT variant of)" make more sense.

Stretching the reload-lead out now...

Sister Farielle hands me a key to the underground prison but warns me of the danger ahead. I glug two potions of Mind Focusing, a Heroism and a Cloud Giant Strength. I defeat each vampire in turn without taking a hit until I reach Phyldian, and although I kill her she has drained me to level 12 (so I'm glad the Berserk Warrior came into the room with me).


Sister Farielle restores me and although fatigued I decide the potion buffs should allow me to continue without resting. The prison is well guarded and I have to retreat, but one guard has split from the rest when I return. My stunning Blow is resisted and I almost kill him before help arrives. He glugs a potion of Storm Giant Strength and Extra Healing before I leave. We trade blows as a thief appears and backstabs me too. Reload8 - autosave is moments before death. Reload9 follows 2-3 minutes later, Reload10 soon after and I am still unable to clear a path from the prison entrance into the main corridors.

I finally bludgeon one fighter down and retreat as another backstab hits. I've made a route into the prison and can at lastto sneak past the guards. I throw down a second guard who has been running scared since my first attack. My buffs have worn off but I free two prisoners and antagonise a mage with some hide and seek; this means I have to sit tight while three Spheres of Chaos and two Mordenkainen's Swords are active.

As I free a third prisoner a hidden thief blocks the door and the mage moves around to join in. I've hidden behind the door but cannot escape (could pocket plane) so elect to punch past the thief and into the mage stoneskin. She contingencies and I move away as the thief misses. A peaceful Timestop later the thief misses again and I hit him three times before he vanishes. He hits me for 46 damage so I glug a superior healing potion and hit three times before he drinks himself invisible, then add two punches as he misses a final backstab.

With the thief dead I decide the mage has to go. I lure a Blue Fireshield and Shadow Door, hide after an Absolute Immunity and again for an Improved Mantle. I fail a hide before a Timestop and she tracks me down to behind a door to cast Greater Malison, Slow and Symbol Fear. Melfs Acid Arrow is a minor irritation but a Flame Arrow hits for 6-9-2-10-6-10-6-7 (some of that may be the Melf exiting Timestop) and I hide to glug a potion or three. She Stoneskins as I wait for the Melf to wear off. She starts throwing Melf Minor Meteors from zero distance so I work on her defences and once the stoneskin is down my fists are quicker than her next spell. The remaining four fighters are uninjured (and my buffs have gone - too soon so either the mage dispelled them or I ran over the trap that also dispels - noticed that happen later) so I rest in my pocket plane and return. Only one fighter is there so I Quivering Palm him as two thieves backstab me from full health to gurgling - can't remember if I'd used Hardiness. Reload 11.

I find another fighter instead and stun him, then a second. Level 21 - WW. A third fighter is next, then I use Kitthix, Hardiness and the Berserk Warrior before stunning the final fighter. I take some backstabs but a web has held the fighter and the thieves are targeted each time they appear.


Time for a pocket plane rest before moving from the cells to the castle cellars, and a reflection on how challenging it is proving with imported items only (need to be less lazy without the likes of Ilbratha, Ring of Gaxx, Belt of Inertial Barrier, Cloak of the Sewers and the Cloak of Mirroring).

Reloads :
Illasera - 6.
Kiser Jhaeri - 1.
Saradush Prison - 4.

Modifié par Gate70, 30 septembre 2012 - 12:19 .

[ussnorway]

Introducing Daemonique,
neutral female "tiefling" (half-elf) Avenger
Modelled by Laetitia Casta. Follow this link to get her.



BG1 easyTutu with... the idea is to add her in once she gets to Tob.
// Log of Currently Installed WeiDU Mods
// The top of the file is the 'oldest' mod
// ~TP2_File~ #language_number #component_number // [Subcomponent Name -> ] Component Name [ : Version]
~BG1NPC.TP2~ #0 #0 // The BG1 NPC Project: Required Modifications: v20
~BG1NPC.TP2~ #0 #1 // The BG1 NPC Project: Banters, Quests, and Interjections: v20
~BG1NPC.TP2~ #0 #2 // The BG1 NPC Project: Give Edwin his BG2 portrait: v20
~BG1NPC.TP2~ #0 #3 // The BG1 NPC Project: Give Imoen her BG2 portrait: v20
~BG1NPC.TP2~ #0 #4 // The BG1 NPC Project: Give Jaheira her BG2 portrait: v20
~BG1NPC.TP2~ #0 #5 // The BG1 NPC Project: Give Minsc his BG2 portrait: v20
~BG1NPC.TP2~ #0 #6 // The BG1 NPC Project: Give Viconia her BG2 portrait: v20
~BG1NPC.TP2~ #0 #7 // The BG1 NPC Project: Kivan's "Kivan and Deheriana Companions" portrait: v20
~BG1NPC.TP2~ #0 #8 // The BG1 NPC Project: Add Non-Joinable NPC portraits to quests and dialogues: v20
~BG1NPC.TP2~ #0 #200 // The BG1 NPC Project: Player-Initiated Dialogues: v20
~SETUP-SCS.TP2~ #0 #10 // Initialise (required by almost all other mod components): v20
~SETUP-SCS.TP2~ #0 #1070 // Make spell sequencers, spell triggers, and contingencies learnable by all mages: v20
~SETUP-SCS.TP2~ #0 #3030 // Allow NPC pairs to separate: v20
~SETUP-SCS.TP2~ #0 #3040 // NPCs go to inns: v20
~SETUP-SCS.TP2~ #0 #4030 // Move Boo out of quick access and into Minsc's pack: v20
~SETUP-SCS.TP2~ #0 #4040 // Ensure Shar-Teel doesn't die in the original challenge: v20
~SETUP-SCS.TP2~ #0 #5000 // Smarter general AI: v20
~SETUP-SCS.TP2~ #0 #5010 // Better calls for help: v20
~SETUP-SCS.TP2~ #0 #6030 // Dark Side-based kobold upgrade: v20

[Alesia_BH]

Gate70 wrote...
EasyTutu must be acceptable

Yuppers. The point of the character creation passage is to be inclusive while nudging people away from hacked monstrosities: that's all. The BG1 variants are fine.

And welcome USSNorway! Best of luck with your Avenger Druid. An Avenger made it through the old Ascension Solo Challenge, but I suspect the SCS scripting will make life much, much tougher on single-class Druids. Looking forward to seeing how it goes.

Stretching the reload-lead out now...

Indeed. Veyal is well on his way to becoming Lord of (Getting) Murder(ed).

But with an unkitted Cleric, an Avenger Druid, and a Grond0 on the way it may be a short-lived distinction: I'm expecting plenty of reloads for us all...

Modifié par Alesia_BH, 30 septembre 2012 - 03:46 .

[Grond0]

I've found it a bit difficult to get into this as SCS requires a very different approach to stealth. Things that you can just run and shoot don't need stealth, but for things that do it tends to be too dangerous to use to attack (at least at lower levels). That's because it makes most things attacked run round for a long time after the attack - if you try and keep track of them stealth may break exposing you and if you don't then the area becomes effectively out of bounds.

Escal just died in the bandit camp when Venkt chased him all over the map (while stealthed) until Escal finally appeared and copped a charm. I think I need a bit more practice anyway at appropriate tactics, so I'll restart him, but try and be a bit quicker this time.

Edit: And died again.  This time things felt much better and everything was under control until facing Tenya at L7.  I expected her to talk after she got whacked, but she kept fighting and Escal was a fraction too slow in running into the house to escape a hold person.  I'll have one more go, but this time use protective potions or equipment where necessary.

Modifié par Grond0, 30 septembre 2012 - 03:41 .

[BBMorti]

Alesia_BH wrote...

Thanks for the well wishes BBMorti.

I have my doubts about Abigial. I'm confident she could do the original Ascension but I'm not so certain she'll make it with the SCS script.

Gate70 has a tough road ahead of him as well: a Monk rolled in ToB sounds tricky to me.

Enter and show us how it's done BBMorti!

Haha, well it is tempting to join!

But I doubt I could show anyone here how to untie this knot, that is the SCS-Ascension challenge, better than the current participants.

Least of all you my friend

Edit: I forgot to wish the newest participants good luck! Grond0 with your experience you will improve super fast, hang in there!

Modifié par BBMorti, 30 septembre 2012 - 07:42 .

[Gate70]

The Castle dungeon is easy, each enemy in the first room hit from the shadows then the two remaining rooms see Hardiness, Quivering Palm, WW and Stunning Blow used to take the fight to the enemy without hiding, retreating, glugging or bleeding (too much, anyway). A Pocket Plane rest is taken before moving to the the castle entrance. A Battle Mage starts casting spells but I am in a corner of the room out of sight. Kitthix goes for a walk and discovers a host of contingencies, GWW and a Called Shot. Once their buffs calm down I send a Berserk Warrior to a glorious death and observe more buffs.

I drop out of the shadows and use Quivering Palm to one-shot a soldier and the same QP takes a second soldier before the mage casts Timestop. As the mage is out of sight the Timestop concludes peacefully and the second Palmed body hits the floor. I try a Stunning Blow on a third soldier. It fails but the soldier is dead in four blows. I foolishly loot their corpses instead of hiding and have to duck behind a pillar as the mage casts a second Timestop. Again he does nothing else so I am free to hide and try to stun the female soldier with a bow. After two hits I hide but a FoD hits me for 8 damage. My Stunning Blow is still active and the soldier is held from my next hit. Three more hits chunk her and I grin recklessly as a second FoD hits me for 4 (save vs spells is 1, tch). I loot her corpse and hide as the Battle Mage misses with a missile of some sort. Time to try WW out against his stoneskin - he manages to squeak out Remove Magic at the same time as his final skin collapses and two more hits finish the battle as my WW expires. A good result in this room, but my thoughts are on Gromnir who will no doubt prove far more challenging. I decide to publish my journal now (before Gromnir sullies it with 23 ways to kill a monk).

[Gate70]

I kick open the door and boldly stride...outside. That was a practice run, honest (at least it wasn't a cupboard).

I stride boldly up the stairs and towards Gromnir, observing from the shadows as Melissan is taken away. He accuses me of being an assassin and I am attacked. I try to target his mages but they both elude me and everybody buffs. I'm prepared for this, having kept my buffs in reserve to keep my distance and wear them out (fat chance). Karun the Black casts Timestop and we all wait. When time resumes I cast WW and kill Lashar'ra (level drain, no thank you) then hit Berena Elkan a couple of times before running. I am hit on the way out and barely make it up the staircase and onto the city wall.

I stand outside and after instantly hiding decide to review the action. Lashar'ra has hit me but her claws were ineffective so I've wasted effort and a vital WW on the wrong target. A soldier with arrows has hit me twice and Berena Elkan hit me once. Eler Had has an ineffective weapon so I can ignore him (or her). 750gp of healing takes me from 21 to full health and I am ready to return to the fight. Game saved before each entrance and a pity they don't follow me outside as a fight around the city, into the tavern, prison and sewers appeals (well more than in a confined room anyway).

Entrances and exits;
2. Soldier (4 hits). Boxed in, pit fiend scares me, Gromnir taps for reload12.
3. Soldier (3).
4. Soldier (3, dead).
5. Mage stoneskins 4 or 5 hits.
6. Berena (1) and Ramazith (1).
7. Halbazzer Drin (1) and Berena (5). Stunned, skeleton warrior taps for reload13.
8. Halbazzer Drin (3) and Berena (2). Halbazzer has sanctuaried and glugged.
9. Halbazzer Drin (1) and Berena (3).

Lucky number 10;
By this time the mages have resorted to melee so I elect to stay longer - circling until a suitable target is presented. Berena (1, 1st dead).
Halbazzer Drin (9,  2 superior healing, 2nd chunked).
Ramazith (3, 3rd dead).
Mage stoneskins (1).
skeleton warriors (3, convenient target).
Glug an extra healing (45 to 72hp).
Skeleton warriors (4, 1 dead, 2 more, 2nd dead).

Eler Had and the mages are no danger so I just need to keep my distance from Gromnir. Eler Had takes 4, hits and glugs a superior healing.. Gromnir is pillared (you have to see the screenshot below) so I get a free run at his three remaining courtiers. This means I save a few minutes in a battle that has raged for perhaps an hour (or longer) in real time.


Eler Had chunks at the fourth hit and I turn to the Battle Mage. Three hits drop the stoneskins and two more kill the mage - by the sound, a female. I get a level up so opt for GWW and kick out at Karun the Black without moving. Four hits remove his stoneskins and I get one hit before he re-skins. Nine hits remove them but he's getting into the spirit of this and hits me for 6, takes a hit himself and stoneskins again. Either I can't count or this time I require 10 hits to remove the skins. Either way, one final hit has him dead, leaving Gromnir alone.

Time to turn the tables with Kitthix as the webber, the Berserk Warrior as the target and me with Hardiness and the newly available GWW. Gromnir has saved a Critical Strike (or I stayed far enough away for him not to use it) as I cast GWW and Kitthix fires a web. The web has failed and the warrior is chunked, while Kitthix has teleported in.


My final WW blow disrupts his casting so I'm cautious about what he has left even when badly injured.


I try a Quivering Palm, expecting him to be immune. I only get two shots and he saves both, killing Kitthix as well.


I switch to Stunning Blow with him still badly injured. Three hits force me to run, and I see Kitthix is fighting beyond death (never seen this behaviour before as Kitthix is teleporting but it has no impact - the spider isn't targeted and doesn't hit).

Gromnir glugs a superior healing so I lay on hands, hit and run. He glugs another so I activate another Stunning Blow and close in. Two hits each, but he is stunned.


I don't need to apply a second Stunning Blow ability.


Gromnir took 10 entrances (2 reloads), a struggle at first and not how I'd like to have done it. I thought the tenth stand from Berena onwards was much better and will be interested to see better tactics from other posters.

Reloads : 13
Illasera - 6.
Kiser Jhaeri - 1.
Saradush Prison - 4.
Gromnir - 2.

[The Potty 1]

Damn, that's pretty tempting. That said, I'm not playing BG much, I'm having too much fun with assassin's creed 1 & 2. Well my current run is with a Kensai 7>mage, currently early in BG2 with a full group heavy on mages. Specifically Nalia (romance), Keto, Angelo, Jan, & Mazzy. If I make it to ToB I'll lose the group and commit what by then may well be thread necromancy on this thread. Also note I didn't install the full mage pre-buffing, so I kinda have SCS-lite.

[Alesia_BH]

@BBMorti- Please do feel free to join in. I can't speak for others, but I'm sure I could learn a thing or two from one of your characters And even if that weren't the case I'd still enjoy reading your adventures.

@ Potty1. It would be wonderful to have you! (So everyone knows, Potty1 was one of the participants in the original Ascension Solo Challenge on the old forums). Best of luck with your run. Let us know when your Kensai->Mage is ready to start ToB.

Btw. Full pre-buffs are not required.

@Grond0. Glad to hear Escal is still on the way. Keep chuggin': Gate looks a little lonely here right now and since I'm sick, it is going to be a while before Abigail can join him.

@Gate70. Congrats on getting past Gromnir. Once again, I respect the challenge you are facing: pulling this off with a Monk rolled in ToB sounds tough!

Modifié par Alesia_BH, 01 octobre 2012 - 04:02 .