How to defeat the Orcs at Silver Falls

[gravelcords]

I’m into the Dragon’s Eye quest where I travel to Grimtooth Castle. Wow, all of a sudden, it seems like the battles are getting a lot tougher. When I first enter the region called “Above the Silver Falls” there is an Orc party to battle, and we can’t seem to defeat them.

I decided to go back to town and change companions (I had chosen Dranor, and wanted to try Forgrimm to see if his higher ST and VI would help) Even trying to get back, we were forced to fight a group of Dragon Cultists and could not take them down either. Had to use the “avoid” option to get back to Ferdok. This in spite of taking down the 6-7 cultists in the earlier battle with Gamblack (I had Forgrimm there) in the ruins in the Blood Mountains. Granted, we were able to separate them from Gamblack, and split the battle into two parts.

Now, on the way to Grimtooth Castle, I can’t figure out a way to separate these Orcs, so we have a better chance. I’m playing a Battlemage, and I’m using Rhulana, Gladys, and Dranor (he’s going down first, hence my plan to replace with Forgrimm). I’ve got VI maxed on all characters, and my AE is pretty high (don’t remember the number right now though). Decent weapons and armor (Rhulana has flaming arrows now, and chainmail armor and gloves, and Dranor has a magic rapier or cutlass with an enhanced damage component, as does Gladys).

Their combat skills are maxed for the weapons they are using. I’m still using the Staff of Valinoran however, and I plan to change that out before going back in. Everyone is at level 9. Buffs include Elixer of Courage for everyone, an endurance potion for Ruhlana, Constitution Amulet for me, Cleverness potions for Gladys and Dranor (although I don’t know that this is helpful at all), and of course Fastness of Body for me. I use healing salve during battle, but the way these Orcs can knock down health, it does little good. Have enough healing potions on hand, if folks can down them in time before getting hit.

I’ve got the “Stiff as Stone” Paralysis spell, which I’ve tried using on the Orc Captain to gain time at the start, before we’re discovered, but it takes sooooo long to cast this thing, that I’m down before I get started. I currently use the “Burst of Flame” and “Thunderbolt” spells the most, and wonder when I can get the Fireball spell. This would give me an AoE spell that would really help here. When and where does that become available, or have I missed it?

If anyone can coach me in a strategy for this battle, please don’t hesitate. We’ve got to get by these guys before we can travel north.

[Scottg]

Fireball isn't available until chp. 7 (..next chp. for you). It's a nearly useless spell anyway - it takes FOREVER to cast and usually ends-up hitting your party. (..it's good for first strikes before you are "seen".. so in that respect, yeah it would have been nice for the Orc/Ogre camp.)

As for party members..

Anyone can be decent with weapons, but not everyone can wield magic (and particularly not well). Also note that anyone can learn thieving skills.

The "killer app" spell is the "armor" spell (Fastness of Body I mentioned previously), so if possible have all of your party members with the ability to cast this spell. (make sure and have it "+" to the max). A close second is the Eleven-only damage soaking spell (Ice Cold Warrior).

You should always have a strong summon as well, either with Gwendala's Animal summon OR latter with an *11th* level Skelatarius (from either your character or Jost).

Ultimately I ended up with Anacorn (chp 7.), Gwendala, and Jost. (Jost also handled my lock-picking.) They can ALL use the armor spell and BOTH Anacorn and Gwendala can cast the damage soaking spell (..crucial late in chp. 7.)

Until you get to Anacorn, use either Fogrim or Rulanna.

Jost can cast the petrify spell as well - particularly useful when you can also cast it.

In this case cast it on the Ogre in the cap AND the Orc Captain simultaneously. Have Gwendela in the back ground healing the characters that get hit and have your tanks (Fogrim or Rulanna) and your summon distracting who ever needs distraction. Once you have the Ogre and the Orc Captain petrified then attack only one opponent at a time with all of your party (heal as necessary).

[gravelcords]

Scott, thanks for this info; it obvious to me that I've been missing a lot on this first playthrough. Since posting the thread, I've taken Ruhlanna on her personal quest to defeat the Mactateanata, and have gained a nice upgrade for her armor (gee, why can't I have gold armor? I know, I know, because then I couldn't use magic) This should prove helpful when we get back to the Orcs at Silver Falls.

I'm going to work with the stats for Jost and Gwendela at this point; having two Battlemages on the team would only leave me the two slots to fill, and I will have to do some experimenting there. Maybe Gwendala could work as the healer, and if the animals she can summon are powerful enough, Ruhlanna might be able to tank. From what I've seen so far though, one warrior on the team will not be enough.

Time to really get into the fantastic Guide available here on GameBanshee! Thanks again, and I would enjoy hearing any further thoughts you may have.

[Scottg]

Most of the Armor looks horrible, and while the gold (girl) armor does look good - it actually isn't that good. Your quest driven gold armor is MUCH better, especially when it's upgraded.

I did this for armor.

My character with the Astral robes + leather padded thigh armor + Eleven Leather boots + Elven +2 gloves and leather brace combo. I could have used the leather shoulder pads.. but they look horrible in conjunction with the Astral robe. No hat either. Once the quest armor was complete I used that instead.

Ancoron had on Nasreddin's armor and a studded leather cap.. fantastic for the fire damage immunity.. (something you'll want as soon as you get Ancoron).

Jost - as much leather armor as possible until getting the "blue" robe near the beginning of chp. 8 (robe "prize"). (Mage cap once getting the robe.)

Gwendela - not a lot of armor.. something like the fencing shirt, hunter's cap, blue pants, high boots. At chp. 7 or 8 I think I had her in studded leather instead of the fencing shirt.. didn't look as good though.

Weapons:

Me: Rapier
Ancoron: Spear
Jost: Bow
Gwendela: Bow

Weapon choice reasons:

Rapier and Spear both have access to Mortal Blow.
The use of bows had higher rates of fire and access to Master Marksmen.

Those are the 2 special abilities that really count with supremely difficult opponents.

Note that the use of bows for Jost and Gwendela allowed them less than stellar armor (having less exposure to being hit).

[gravelcords]

Thanks, Scott! Had to curtail the game time last night; I'll be getting back to it now.

[candesco]

I'm now also at this region and busy with the dragon eye quest.
At first i was getting also difficulties with the orcs, especially the ones with the captain. But i managed to defeat all the orcs an ogres in the region Above the silver falls, which is outside the castle. And i haven't travelled back to Ferdok.
My companions where i travel with in this dragon quest are Gwendala, Rhulana and Gladys. My own character is a thorwalian pirate. That means 2 melee, one stealth with a little bit of magic (rogue with illusion tricks) and a ranged/magic type (sortkind of druid). Some may think "why gladys?". Because gladys is good in picking locks, in healing, have some nice spells and she is capable enough to defend herself. Plus i have now a nice mix of different archetypes.
Before running into Humbold i let Gwendala casting a boar and have the magic like types casting fastness of body. I set Gladys to the defensive stance and the rest to agressive. I activated for Rhulana the offensive combat talent and for myself the defensive. Also put weapon balm on the weapons. First let the orcs coming to my way and then attacked. When the orcs were defeated healed everybody and then with everybody on the ogre. The first batch is actually not that difficult. But after that you run into an orc captain, some orc warriors and on the background 3 orc archers. The strategy here is to lure those archers away from the rest, so i did just that. Otherwise you're attacked from 2 sides (melee and ranged) and that captain is also tough. I used gladys as bait and sended her to the archers. The rest was concentrating on the warriors and the captain. Used a couple of times healing potions and one berry juice and also some wound powder. It worked. The warriors got as first down, then with 3 plus summon on the captain and then finally help poor gladys with those archers. That was probably one of the hardest part in the region. After that you run 2 times into a bunch of 4 orcs, before you reach the camp where Gondwin is. Those patrols were no problem. The ones who holds Gondwin is a different story, since there is a captain, an ogre, some warriors, a dog and dog handler. I used the grimtooth gorg as a strategic place. Set everybody on defensive and then lured the whole gang to me. Then runned back to the gorg. The orcs and ogre will attack a little time and then they go back to the camp. I used this advantage to kill them one by one. Killed the dog, healing the party, go back to the camp, rinse and repeat. It resulted in first killing the dog, then the dog handler, then 2 warriors and finally only the captain and the ogre where standing. Then switched everybody except gladys to agressive, let the boar attack the ogre and the party all attack the captain, taking him down with special attacks such as knockdown, marksman, feint and the like. And then concentrating on the ogre. Following Gondwin then to the passage and arriving at what it seems a cemetary i encountered also 4 more orcs. I looted everything from all the camps (there are 2 of them), the cemetary and the barrels which are scattered around and offcourse from the orc corpses. There is also a corpse lying not far from the hostage camp, which is holding 2 weapons. Also plucked all the plants. I'm now ready to go inside the vaults.

This is the equipment of my party:

Myself:
armor: Almadian satin dress , thorwalian water boots, elf gloves
jewelry: knowall's ring, medal of the city of ferdok
weapons: Snip, rondracomb. Snip is my main weapon at the moment

Rhulana
armor: full kurkumian amazon (helm, armor, plated boots, arm greaves)
jewelry: amulet of constitution
weapons: amazon saber, kurkumian shield

Gladys
armor: fencing shirt, lace-up leather pants, soldier boots, gloves of shadow
jewelry: ring of phex, fingerblade ring, soul instrument
weapons: farfara's rapier

Gwendala
armor: elven robe 1 (actually a dress), silvan elf shoes, silvan elf gloves.
jewelry: ring of agility
weapons: elven bow, war arrows, incendiary arrows

Not all armor looks good, but not all is bad. I like the current equipment of my character and the companions. Maybe it's not that protective, but i have the idea that the kind of armor doesn't matter at all. As long as you have a strategy, the right companions, good weapons and you put the points into the right talents and attributes, then you have nothing to fear.
And bring always some healing potions/juices/powder with you, to make sure you survive might this be necessary.

[bolandjd]

Wounds

Well, the OP hopefully figured it out by now, but I might as well chime in. I'm a big fan of using wounding attacks to take out those pesky high-hitpoint baddies. Give all your adventurers a bow or crossbow (Roleplaying 101) and learn them up some Marksman, and you'll be carving through Ogres and Orc Captains (and Giant Black Wolf Rats and Spiders and anything else with lots of HP) like a hot chainsaw through butter. (Lunge is nice for that too, but you might not have it in Silver Falls depending on how you did the Blood Mountains) And when you get Master Marksman in Tallon... fa ged about et! One dude can take down an Ogre in two shots. Its almost like cheating. But more fun.

[bolandjd]

Not all armor looks good, but not all is bad. I like the current equipment of my character and the companions. Maybe it's not that protective, but i have the idea that the kind of armor doesn't matter at all. As long as you have a strategy, the right companions, good weapons and you put the points into the right talents and attributes, then you have nothing to fear.
And bring always some healing potions/juices/powder with you, to make sure you survive might this be necessary.

I totally agree. What armor you have doesn't really matter that much, except for possibly a handful of really hard fights. I usually keep my characters in what I think looks best instead of what is strictly the most effective. Some of the armor looks dumb, but I really like the historically realistic armors like the chainmail, the Gothic plate armor, and even the 16th century-looking cuirass - one of the best features of the game from an immersion standpoint, IMHO. And the Robin Hood hat - that thing rocks!