killing dragons...

Opeth1 · Post by **Opeth1** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 10:33 am

hmm..in the strategy guide it says that to defeat a dragon you can use cloudkill..well, i've got a little problems with this firkraag (or whatever his name is) in the windspearhill

...
I've like thrown 9 12-15 bursts of cloudkill on him and he ain't dead yet!! or do he heal himself or something everytime you go resting to reload your magics??

nephtu · Post by **nephtu** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 12:19 pm

Hmm...

In vanilla game, 12-15 cloudkills into the fog of war ought to do the job. Are you resting right away or what? - you probably shouldn't be resting at all while he's a live - if the cloudkills haven't killed him by the time they clear, you should be able to bum rush him the rest of the way down .

But if you let the cloudkills do their job, I'd think he ought to be pretty dead.

Sir Redweed · Post by **Sir Redweed** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 12:39 pm

I've always had sucess with the following:

Summon 4 or 5 high level monsters. Send them into the fight while using ranged weapons with your party. Have your spellcaster(s) cast lower resistance 4 or 5 times. Most times I was getting about 20-25% resistance lowering per spell. Make sure that you keep as many monsters summoned as possible while doing this. After this you can cast any spell at the dragon and it will start to wipe him out. I would suggest magic missle since it is so quick.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 4:42 pm

If you can, have a cleric cast magic resistance on Firkraag (this will actually LOWER his MR).
Then a few lower resistances on him, and he is funarable to magic.

Cast resist fear, and haste on your fighters, and have your mages cast damage spells on him.
If you have a thief that can set traps, you can set some traps close to him before you attack him.

Good luck!

Boris · Post by **Boris** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 4:56 pm

Just to emphasise the "ranged weapons" point.

Much to my displeasure, rushing in with big swords (although recommended by Prof. T. - cf. The Hobbit) is pretty useless, since you spend all your time being wing-buffeted away, running back in, then being buffeted back ad nauseam. Lots of pets to keep the Dragon busy while the party fires missiles is a pretty reliable method.

Multiple Cloudkills is pure cheese, not for any self-respecting role-player.

B.

P.S. I'm Exhalted, you know...

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 5:07 pm

Yeah ranged weapons is the way to go. If you can conjure fire elementals you should since they wont get hurt by the breath weapon. If you lower his resistance then you should try greater malison doom and spook, killer combo really. Or use called shot if you have an archer.

Sir Redweed · Post by **Sir Redweed** » Sat Jan 31, 2004 2:41 pm

Thanks Stilgar. I thought that only worked on party members to increase resistance. Never looked at the spellbook.

Congrats Boris. I"m getting there.

Idioteque · Post by **Idioteque** » Sat Jan 31, 2004 4:59 pm

Originally posted by Sir Redweed
Thanks Stilgar. I thought that only worked on party members to increase resistance. Never looked at the spellbook.

Congrats Boris. I"m getting there.

It doesn't usually decrease magic resistance but since Firkraag's is so high it increases past 100 and loops around back to a low number.

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Sat Jan 31, 2004 5:56 pm

Not really. It sets the magic resistance of the target to 2%*caster level. Maximum of 40% at 20th level. So for dragon killing purposes this spell is better at low levels.
You can kill firkraag very early using this spell and feeblemind but that would be extremely cheesy.

Sir Redweed · Post by **Sir Redweed** » Mon Feb 02, 2004 4:26 pm

Fable/Stilgar

Who is correct on lower resistance. I've seen two replies that state the opposite in this thread.

The way I understand the spell to read is that it will set the "target" MR to a set % based on your clerics level. The lower the cleric the lower the targets MR gets set to.

Thanks for the help.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Mon Feb 02, 2004 4:32 pm

Originally posted by Sir Redweed
The way I understand the spell to read is that it will set the "target" MR to a set % based on your clerics level. The lower the cleric the lower the targets MR gets set to.

That is correct (and the same as Bruce Lee explained it in the post before yours...). It's considered a friendly spell as well, for which reason Firkraag won't go hostile when you throw it on him even though it sets his MR to a much lower percentage than he has originally...

JackOfClubs · Post by **JackOfClubs** » Mon Feb 02, 2004 9:34 pm

A similar tactic can be used with the Strength spell on golems and giants. Since it sets STR to 18, it will actually lower those creatures who have greater than 18 STR.

Coconut_Crab · Post by **Coconut_Crab** » Thu Feb 05, 2004 4:35 pm

The easiest way I've found is,

Summon 6 fire elementals using the staff you get from the Planesphere. Give your melee fighters to drink Potion of XXXX Giant Strength, cast all the beneficial spells on your party, and then just go straight for Firkraag. Don't forget to cast Breach on him to get rid of his stoneskin. If a member of your party is hurt just move him/her away and drink healing potions. The battle will be gigantic, colorful, and quick.

CrownHead · Post by **CrownHead** » Thu Feb 05, 2004 4:57 pm

2 cheeses

multiple Dooms+Chromatic Orb - kills dragons (Chromatic Orb becomes a death spell at higher levels.)

Lower resistance+Polymorph Other - Amusing seeing Firkraag so feeble and squirrely

JonIrenicus · Post by **JonIrenicus** » Thu Feb 05, 2004 7:47 pm

The non-cheesyist way I can think of is: cast lower MR from a mage about 3 times; cast greater malison; have mages casting magic-missle and coc continiously (don't use coc for kill shot); of course have your fighters swinging at him; have your mage have spell protections on such as: stoneskin, mirror image, and protection of magical weapons then go to a very close wall near the dragon (so its wing attack wont knock you far) this will not allow the dragon to even touch your mage; for kill shot use Vampire Touch (instant 30 damage). This works for me

~

fable · Post by **fable** » Thu Feb 05, 2004 8:17 pm

Don't forget the Ring of the Ram: bypasses magic resistance completely.

And while you've lowered the dragon's magical resistance, consider having Jan hit it with some of his homemade bolts. The paralysis is sweet.

Aule · Post by **Aule** » Fri Feb 06, 2004 5:37 am

why it didn't work:
you must not rest against fierkraag he will cast heal on himself and be fully healed each time,
i didn't know about the cloudkill technique, i don't really read strategy guides i think its way more fun to just hack&slash him right in the front and the buffets are ok, he wont do them THAT often. if anyt of your party members are beiing buffetted just step back with the rest. with a bit of luck only one of your party will be driven back.
archers and the like work very well indeed

Sir Redweed · Post by **Sir Redweed** » Fri Feb 06, 2004 9:48 pm

Ring of the Ram is usually the first shot I get in to start the battle while lower resistance spells are in the air. Proper prep with summonings and this gets fairly easy

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

punk_blaze182 · Post by **punk_blaze182** » Mon Feb 09, 2004 10:19 pm

I found a really easy and non cheesy way to kill dragons. But that wont help for firkraag cuz ur a low level. I just made my fighter use whirlwind attack on the dragons I killed all the dragons easily. But on firkraag I suggest lots of melee power and magic missiles.