Finished soloing on insane and thoughts on the series

Magior · Post by **Magior** » Fri Sep 21, 2001 5:14 am

I soloed using the same Ranger/Cleric through BG1, SoA and ToB. On insane difficulty to add some challenge. Used Baldurdash patches (no stacking armors of faith).

BG1 was actually the easiest part. If you want to know the details, please read my thread in the BG1 forum.

Went through SoA using the 2950K experience cap. Installed ToB after dropping Jonny boy in hell.

It was my first run through ToB. Did Watcher's keep after Gromnir. Capped againist Nalmissra & friends. Dropped Demogorgy, Yaga-Shura, Sendai, Abazigal, Balthazar and Ravager pretty easily. Took me 6 real hours of frustration and tactical analysis to drop Melissan.

Overall, this is the one of the top 6 CRPGs I've played (the other being Betrayal at Krondor (1993), Dungeon Master (1987), Ultima Underworld series (1991-2), Nethack (1985-) and ADOM (1994-)). The BG series games are the best AD&D games ever made. Stoty-wise, the BG games are good, but nothing like the old Krondor. The battle system, however, is the best ever, IMHO. I don't really care about the graphics (as my list of favorite games might suggest) but I guess they're pretty good.

Some personal opinions:

Hardest Battles:

Melissan: By far. I spent 6 hours with the b***h. The hardest final battle ever. A full party or a magic-user would propably make this pretty easy, but this was the hardest battle to *me*.

Tahazzar: Who?, you ask. The *damned* balor lord in Watcher's keep, level 3. You have to enter his room through a dead magic zone. That makes it impossible to prepare yourself. IIRC, the demon lord even is happily casting dispel magic to get rid of your iron skins or whatever few buffs you *might've* been able to pull off. Oh, and he rapidly summons more and more fast glabrezus to chase you.

Draconis: The only dragon whose breath was *extremely damaging* AND I wasn't able to get immunity to. He did 100 dam per breath when I was 70% resistand to acid.

Most overrated battle: Sendai. I made a point of standing on the platform where the drow get summoned whenever I finished a statue. It takes 3 hits to drop a drow fighter and 2 hits to drop a mage. I used a deva to keep Sendai busy in the final confrontation and finished the summoned drow quickly using simunclarum and me both imp. hasted. I can't imagine how someone with core rules difficulty and 2 or more characters in party could lose this battle.

Funniest incident: The low-level adventurers reloading in Abazigal's lair

Best priest spells by level:
1 - Sanctuary
2 - Draw Upon Holy Might
3 - Animate dead
4 - Death Ward is the only one you need
5 - Iron Skins, the best spell in the game
6 - Harm
7 - Nature's Beauty
Q - Energy Blades

Weapons I used (In order of appearance)

War Hammer +0
Flail +0
Morningstar +0
Mace +1
Cleric's Staff +1 - +2 AC helps a lot
Sleeper +2
Defender of Easthaven +2
Flail of the Ages +3 +4 +5
Sling of Everard +5
Mace of Disruption +2
Crom Faeyr +5
Erienne Sling +5
Club of Detonation +5

Mostly used the FoA/Crom combo.

Most hated monster type: The tougher beholders who imprison you

[ 09-21-2001: Message edited by: tram ]

Alyse · Post by **Alyse** » Fri Sep 21, 2001 10:16 am

What was your strategy against Draconis? That was by far my most difficult battle.

This game definitely ties w/ Betrayal at Krondor as my all time favorite RPG.

Magior · Post by **Magior** » Fri Sep 21, 2001 9:57 pm

I donned Shadow dragon scales prior to the battle (+50% acid resist). IIRC, had 70% acid resistance, but have no idea where the extra 20% came from. Maybe it was only 50%? Casted remove fear (dragon fear has a crazy penalty to saves). Noticed shortly that Draconis' human form's and his summoned helpers' (invis stalkers, an efreeti) weapons were +1 or less: they couldn't harm me or eat my iron skins. The human form was pretty easy. When Draconis' human form got badly injured, I summoned my vhailor's helm simulclarum and had the simmy iron skin and remove fear himself immediately. Proceeded to finish the human form and let the Real Action begin. My both clones were wielding FoA +4/Crom. The idea was to slow the dragon with a lucky FoA hit, then just pound him, imp hasted if possible, healing right after his breaths (which did 80-100 damage) with the rod of resurrection of the guy Draconis wasn't pounding at the moment and renewing my Iron skins whenever they ran out. IIRC Draconis was able to Heal himself once and drop my simmy but I was able to kill him.

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Sat Sep 22, 2001 12:24 am

That is a very comprehensive description.

I have to say that the Sendai fight is easy, but getting attacked from 2 flanks when you have non-buffed spell casters can cause problems that soloing does not account for.

stolider · Post by **stolider** » Sat Sep 22, 2001 12:38 am

Sidenote: The extra 20% resistance is probably from hell, where you opened the eyes with bhaal's tears. If you are of good alignment, you received 20% acid, fire and cold resistance.

Magior · Post by **Magior** » Sat Sep 22, 2001 1:16 am

Can't be. The pride tear reward is only to fire, cold and electricity. (Yes, I'm positive).

Oh, and if a Cleric/Ranger loses her good alignment in hell, she becomes a Fighter/Fallen Ranger. So much for a try to save dexterity

Cybot · Post by **Cybot** » Sun Sep 23, 2001 12:49 pm

Could be some other kind of equipment.

There are plenty of items that gives you 20% acid resistance. Most notable the Dragon helmet and shield.