9 réponses à ce sujet

[Aasim]

Due to RL constraints, I've had little time playing, even less posting. So I'll put just 2 endings here.

First is a Revisions/SCS run - with a custom party (f/c protag, sorc, barbarian, mage/thief, wizardslayer). Reached ToB w/o much issues, had huge problems in WK

 

Mind you, the only thing that save my protagonist is that SR makes Deflections absorb AoE spells like Unholy Blight - otherwise Glabrezus would have ended this run. It didn't take long after that to fail, however, as Odamaron proved fatal.

 

Problems here are many. First, Odamaron is nigh invulnerable for few rounds. Second, the fact that he summons Glabrezus makes your effective HP much lower - the moment you're below the treshold, PW:Stun is coming. 

Finally, vampire claws drain CON lowering HP even further. We fought bravely, succumbing in the end to the ever annoying Glabrezus (there was at least 4 of those.)

 

 

 

2nd run I want to mention is a vanilla game run, with only Ascension installed. I ran it with 4 barbarians (dwarves). Got all the way to the end w/o permanently loosing anybody. First chunking was here- final battle vs Irenicus at Ascension.

 

Withing his Time Stop/Alacrity sequence, he cast a lot of Cone of Cold spells, killing one barbarian and chunking the other, before getting vorpalized himself.

 

The end was quick to follow - in vanilla game, Balors have a no-save vorpal attack, which killed the protagonist after activating the first pool battle.

 

I'm about the start a new game, so I'll probably post something later today, provided the party I have in mind survives first few levels. It will be a SCS/aTweaks install, w/o Revisions, since I don't think that my Revisions setup is viable for no-reload games.

[corey_russell]

@Aasim- thanks for the post. If I remember correctly, when Balors attack in vanilla in the Melissan battles they have a 15% chance to "vorpal" a character. Thus saves are immaterial to this mechanic, which you mentioned. Which is why Korgan got vorpaled in one of my runs, and people were surprised because surely by then he would have great saves (which he did).

 

Two questions about weapons - the Foebane has specific bonuses to creatures like demons - were you using that? The other weapon, I forget what is called but you get it in Spellhold. It has 10% magic resistance, is a +2 two-hand sword, only good characters can use and has something like +4 damage and attack vs. evil creatures - surely a demon would count as such. Could these be of any help?

[Aasim]

If I remember correctly, when Balors attack in vanilla in the Melissan battles they have a 15% chance to "vorpal" a character. Thus saves are immaterial to this mechanic, which you mentioned. Which is why Korgan got vorpaled in one of my runs, and people were surprised because surely by then he would have great saves (which he did).

Yes, you remember correctly - mind you, it seems vanilla Balors are worse than SCS-modified ones (they allow a save), at least when it comes to No-Reload games. The irony is that after you defeat that particular group, activating the pool makes your protagonist immune to vorpal hits.

 

 

Two questions about weapons - the Foebane has specific bonuses to creatures like demons - were you using that? The other weapon, I forget what is called but you get it in Spellhold. It has 10% magic resistance, is a +2 two-hand sword, only good characters can use and has something like +4 damage and attack vs. evil creatures - surely a demon would count as such. Could these be of any help?

Yeah, Foebane was with us - it's a fantastic weapon since even if extra damage from Larloch's Drain is blocked by MR the HP bonus wielder gets isn't - hence a WW attack boosts your HP by a large margin - which is perfect for a highly damage resistant barbarian. It's probably a bug in the mechanic, but it can't really be fixed easilly (same goes for Vampiric Touch).

I don't think the Spellhold sword (I believe it's Flame of the North) would help much, it's +2 only, and we had finished WK so we had much better weapons (Ravager, Unyielding, Ages+5, Foebane, Ixil's +6 and similar). Even in this battle, very few enemies are immune to vorpal hits- making Ravager a top-pick for a two-handed specialist when it comes to equipment. 

[corey_russell]

What about using Silver Sword vs. demons then? It would have to be swapped out when attacking Melissan, but most demons wouldn't be immune right? It's a vorpal after all. Vorpal + GWW good right?

[Aasim]

What about using Silver Sword vs. demons then? It would have to be swapped out when attacking Melissan, but most demons wouldn't be immune right? It's a vorpal after all. Vorpal + GWW good right?

Yeah, Silver Sword and Unyielding Axe are also good, not as good as Ravager howeve . The thing is, I went to melee the Balors - in vanilla setup, one is only safe under PfMW or using ranged weapons/summons. It took one lucky swipe to end the run.

[corey_russell]

Well I certainly agree the protagonist must not get into melee with vanilla Balors - but that's what party members are for - to die for ya. : )

[Dyara]

Death Ward and upgraded Hindo's Doom should help too.

[corey_russell]

In vanilla at least, I am not sure death ward protects against the Balor's attack. But if someone knows for sure that would work, let me know, because I may need to do that for Reem II, if he makes it that far.

[Dyara]

Balor attack uses effect 55 (slay) and Death Ward grants immunity to that effect.

[corey_russell]

Balor attack uses effect 55 (slay) and Death Ward grants immunity to that effect.

Awesome, thanks! If Reem II makes it that far, he will definitely be doing death ward in that scenario, as I'm not that great at running/shooting, not to mention disdain the tactic.