Beholders and Fire Elementals (Beholder Spoiler)

decadurabolin · Post by **decadurabolin** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 11:59 am

SPOILER ABOUT BEHOLDERS

I just noticed something strange, I am using Fire elementals against beholders (and other elementals too).

But they just seems to disappear when they meet the beholders, wonder if they died. They dont work as amazingly as in the past when I only need to send one Fire Elemental to thrash a group of beholders. Now I am sending 2 Fire backupped with 2 or 3 earth and air and they just either got Held, paralysed or killed by the Beholder's death spells.

It wasn't like that in the past, Elementals used to rule Beholders and Gauths, what went wrong? Now I am stuck with eye tyrants floating all around me and my Elementals just cant stand up to them. Dont have Cloak of Mirroring nor Balduran Shield since I planned to use Elementals.

Could it be some patch I installed?

Morlock · Post by **Morlock** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 1:23 pm

Possibly installing ToB changes the damage. Check Biowares website for patches.

Sojourner · Post by **Sojourner** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 2:11 pm

I've noticed that, ever since installing ToB, beholders were tougher to take down, outside of the Unseeing Eye area. None of the summons last long. Beneficial effects from spells and potions are removed within a couple of rounds by their anti-magic rays. The only spell which stands up to them is Spell Trap - which doesn't last long when several of them are zapping you.

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 3:41 pm

That is what I always said, Beholders are tough, very tough.

UserUnfriendly · Post by **UserUnfriendly** » Fri Apr 26, 2002 12:28 am

try g deathblow and area effect weapons, like arrows of detonation...one stinking frag grenade took care of the worst beholder ambush in game, underdark, with flayres and drow...oh yeah, the grenade took care of the flayer and drow too...giggle...

decadurabolin · Post by **decadurabolin** » Fri Apr 26, 2002 12:29 am

Glitterdust dont work either, in the end I have to use Cloudkill and invisibility

I reckon you guys are right, its because of TOB, I have the latest patches and also baldurdashed. I felt the changes after having TOB installed.

It's a good sign however, Beholders are supposed to be very very powerful.

I remembered that in fact you shouldn't be able to cast spells when you are facing the main eye because of the anti magic ray.

Sojourner · Post by **Sojourner** » Fri Apr 26, 2002 1:11 am

Greater DeathBlow is great for taking down Beholders, Gauths, and Elder Orbs, but is ineffective against Death Tyrants and Hive Mothers (which you see a lot when you're very high-level). I've also have read on the Black Isle Boards that the Shield of Balduran/Cloak of Mirroring may not block/reflect all the rays from these more powerful types. (I haven't tested this yet, myself.)

JackOfClubs · Post by **JackOfClubs** » Fri Apr 26, 2002 7:27 pm

One case where the Shield of Balduran does not seem to be effective is when your PC has it and a Beholder casts imprisonment. You don't die, but the menus disappear and you lose control of the action. Everyone just stands around waiting.

Evidently the game starts to process the PC-death scenario before it realizes that the effect has been nullified then never resets. Happens every time I play the fear test in hell unless I give the shield to an NPC.

UserUnfriendly · Post by **UserUnfriendly** » Fri Apr 26, 2002 8:57 pm

sfunny, distinctly recall taking down a hive mother with deathblow area effect...oooppppssss...elder orb!!!

jack, try spell immunity abjuration...you must be using smart beholders, right?? I never had trouble causing them to self destruct....

ick...glitterdust no longer works on beholders???
deca, youre talking about the hive mother anti magic ray...will be bounced off shield, but will also anti magic you as well...so if you got remove fear on, it will take that down....its the only known weapon that will take down spell trap via staff of magi...its an innate 8th level spell...and my Bun Bun has it...bwahahahahahaha!!!

punches thru spell trap, like knife thru butter, and goes thru every spell protection known, with POSSIBLE exception of spell immunity...

also miscasts magic for 3 rounds, no save!!!

fun fun fun!!!

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 6:49 am

I am pretty sure anti magic ray is abjuration so spell immunity abjuration should protect you from both that and imprisonment.

Phantom Lord · Post by **Phantom Lord** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 5:54 pm

One key to deal with beholders is simply high level. Once you've good saving throws a beholder - at least a single one or a small group - can't hurt you too much and you can simply slice it in melee.

Littiz · Post by **Littiz** » Mon Apr 29, 2002 1:21 am

Again my advice is, get Xyx's Smart Beholder AND the
BeholderHiveUpgrade (places an Hive Mother in the Underdark,
makes sense, that is a beholder lair...)
Now, if you do like me (rescuing Immie early in the game)
this will be a REALLY hard fight... I used the shield of Balduran
but not the Cloak of Mirroring (which takes out the fun from the
game...)
I only managed to kill the Mother with traps