Can you say CHEESY?????

BadAzzCleric · Post by **BadAzzCleric** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 12:06 pm

I was wondering if anyone has an HONEST way to beat Vixthra that LichDragon after the Cult Temple??

I went in and got him to "barely injured" and then promptly lost. I had Deekin, my Familiar and few bone golems and a summoned ghoul). I cast all kinds of protection spells and try to dispel his magic protection and I can't last more than like 45 seconds. (I'm a 10th level Sorcerer/10th level Red Dragon Disciple/and a 4th level Pale Master.) I have a spear +6 with level drain and I still can't do much damage.

I ended up going the EXTREMELY cheesy route and just kept running out of the room, resting, and summoning more beasts. I did this for at least an HOUR, before he finally fell. (Luckily I read the walkthrough and knew to bash that phlactery thing so he couldn't come back.)

Anyway...has anyone beaten this Dragon in a straightforward manner...without constantly running out of the room??

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 12:20 pm

Sure.

I did have a little problems with him as a sorcerer I remember (was sorcerer/rdd (bad class-choice imo

)), but did manage it.
I had no problems at all with my fighter/barbarian/weapon master, and it was so easy I was almost ashamed of myself

But why not take Valen along with Deekin as a henchmen? it might help you a lot. (you can have 2 henchmen in HotU ... but I think Deekin has to be one of them)

Arturcic · Post by **Arturcic** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 1:17 pm

Well, asuming it's a tough enemy for almost any class, I have to say that I had no problem killing him with my epic monk. I didn't even destroy the filacteria first. Just used the 50% concealment hability and he couldn't hit me, and, considering his breath attacks, the Improved evasion feat is, how could I say it, GLORIOUS.

BadAzzCleric · Post by **BadAzzCleric** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 3:01 pm

I didn't have Valen yet because I didn't know I could pick him up until after I beat the dragon... But if I did, I imagine it would've been a much easier battle as he's a great powerhouse.
When I go through it again...I'll definitely change a few things. I may import my blown up character and see if my higher level RDD and Pale Master does.

Yeah...I've heard from a lot of people that the RDD isn't all that good...but I couldn't resist the wings and the breathing fire. I'm sucker for that aesthetic (sp) stuff!

How do you get the tail that Valen has???

Noober · Post by **Noober** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 7:25 pm

You will have to use scrolls *cough* IGMS *cough* seeing as your spellcasting abilities are rather lacking. And don't forget to destroy his phylactryty (sp?).

The only way to get Valen's tail is if you use a program like LETO and edit your character. You can also add dragon & angel wings etc.

ladyblack · Post by **ladyblack** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 6:20 am

I too have had MASSIVE problems with the dragon, I am 22 level wizard, and (at that time) 2nd level Pale Master. What I found was that I lost out on my will roll. I had Valen and Nadya (whatever the Dark Elf's called) and they were being mashed but at least did some damage. The problems started when the dragon a) attacked me directly and b) used his Bad Breath spell.

As I understand it, you can up your Will throw by using things like amulets (please correct me if this is wrong) and just before I went into the cave to fight Draggy once again, I noticed I had picked up an Amulet of Will +6. Unfortunately, I stepped into the cave before putting it on and got scragged again. I gave up after that and decided to start part two again (simply because at Pale Master level 2, my armour class was 26, and I wasn't allowed to carry anything that would really put my armour level up. Draggy managed to get through my Mage armour as though it wasn't there).

So along with all the other advice, I'm wondering if getting a Will Amulet will help too?

The problem with Valen is that although he's a REALLY good fighter with lots of hit points, when you examine his armour and his weapons, it says he won't part with them "even in favour of better armour". I've had some fantastic armour, but I've had to sell it, rather than whack his armour class up. So as your enemies get stronger, he.....well, he tends not to.

ladyblack · Post by **ladyblack** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 6:23 am

[QUOTE=Noober]And don't forget to destroy his phylactryty (sp?).[/QUOTE]

But how do you get near it? I get "bitten" as soon as I go near him?!!!

BadAzzCleric · Post by **BadAzzCleric** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 12:50 pm

to get near the phylactery, I became invisible and ran by him as he was attacking my party, and then I ran through the damn floor traps, (barely survived)...because that secret door doesn't appear quick enough, and then threw a three fireballs at it. Then I became invisible again and ran out of the room to rest!! It was so cheesy, but shoot..I couldn't do it any other way. I, like you, would get eaten so quickly it was scary. I never tried the Will amulet. I have the greater amulet of health on.

That's on thing I don't understand. I don't fully 'get' the concepts behind Will or Fortitude. What do they do for you? And that Scarab of protection too. I'm just not very well versed in D & D rules. My only knowledge comes from BG and NWN. I never really stopped to learn what the heck a high Will does. I mean...a high fortitude I can understand what it means...(conceptually) but how exactly does that value...and the value of Will come into play when you're in battle???

wnb · Post by **wnb** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 12:54 pm

I just killed the dragon while soloing, no problems to speak of. I'm currently playing a sorceror, I think I killed the dragon at level 24. You need immunity to mind affecting and an item that gives you haste to even stand a chance, and some damage reduction wouldn't hurt. Beyond that, it's a relatively simple task of loading up on buffs and dropping tons of empowered and maximized firebrands/igms on him-lead off with one mordenkainen's disjunction so he won't be able to resist. Epic spell piercing helps. I killed him four times while in the room before I went and bagged his phylactory.

BadAzzCleric · Post by **BadAzzCleric** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 1:03 pm

Ok...what's igms?

BadAzzCleric · Post by **BadAzzCleric** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 1:11 pm

I think my problem is that I'm too spread thin in my multiclassing obsession. I'm a level 10 Sorc/10 RDD/4 Pale Master. Maybe if I was a level 20 Sorc or 20 RDD, or higher, I would've had better luck...

Question: Does it matter "how evil or neutral" you are when you switch to Pale Master? I was just wondering, because everytime I do something good, even though I'm stil neutral (52), I get a warning about it...

wnb · Post by **wnb** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 2:38 pm

[QUOTE=BadAzzCleric]I think my problem is that I'm too spread thin in my multiclassing obsession. I'm a level 10 Sorc/10 RDD/4 Pale Master. Maybe if I was a level 20 Sorc or 20 RDD, or higher, I would've had better luck...

Question: Does it matter "how evil or neutral" you are when you switch to Pale Master? I was just wondering, because everytime I do something good, even though I'm stil neutral (52), I get a warning about it...[/QUOTE]

Do not multiclass spellcasters to spellcasting prestige classes until they can cast level 9 spells, or it'll severely weaken your character to the point where it'll be unplayable.

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 2:53 pm

[QUOTE=BadAzzCleric]Ok...what's igms?[/QUOTE]

The spell Isacs Greater Missile Storm. Basically an very upgraded version of Magic Missile.

[QUOTE=BadAzzCleric]
Question: Does it matter "how evil or neutral" you are when you switch to Pale Master? I was just wondering, because everytime I do something good, even though I'm stil neutral (52), I get a warning about it...
[/QUOTE]

I'm not sure what you mean by a "warning", but you will always get a notification when your alignment changes.

Noober · Post by **Noober** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 3:13 pm

[QUOTE=BadAzzCleric] I think my problem is that I'm too spread thin in my multiclassing obsession. I'm a level 10 Sorc/10 RDD/4 Pale Master. Maybe if I was a level 20 Sorc or 20 RDD, or higher, I would've had better luck... [/QUOTE]

Well, most people prefer to go Wizard Palemaster as you can learn new spell from scrolls, and really it's your own fault for going RDD.

[QUOTE=ladyblack] But how do you get near it? I get "bitten" as soon as I go near him?!!! [/QUOTE]

You can either find the secret door, or tolerate the traps through the visible passage. To keep Vix'Thra away the best way would be to use Bibgy's Crushing, or Mord's Sword.

[QUOTE=BadAzzCleric] That's on thing I don't understand. I don't fully 'get' the concepts behind Will or Fortitude. What do they do for you? And that Scarab of protection too. I'm just not very well versed in D & D rules. My only knowledge comes from BG and NWN. I never really stopped to learn what the heck a high Will does. I mean...a high fortitude I can understand what it means...(conceptually) but how exactly does that value...and the value of Will come into play when you're in battle??? [/QUOTE]

There are three different types of saves in D&D, Will, Fort and Reflex. Certain events allow for a save to be made (like a Fireball allows a reflex save for 1/2 damage). A d20 is rolled and added to the appropriate save. It if exceeds or equals the Difficulty Class of the save, then you have saved, and you gain the benefits from the save. If on the d20 you roll a 20, you automatically suceed, if you roll a 1, you auto-fail. The type of save is predetermined. A situation where a Fort save will be need is for example if someone cast Finger of Death on you, you make make the fort save or die. A will save you help when you reach the mind flayers etc.

BadAzzCleric · Post by **BadAzzCleric** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 3:24 pm

<<<Do not multiclass spellcasters to spellcasting prestige classes until they can cast level 9 spells, or it'll severely weaken your character to the point where it'll be unplayable.>>>

Ya know...after I started thinking about it, I figured that's where I screwed up. Basically I'm a multi-talented ****!

That's what I did the first time I multiclassed. I waited until I got the MAX spell level out of my Cleric and then switched to a Sorcerer.

Oh well...ya live and ya learn...

Noober, thanks for the info on the Reflex/Fort/Will concepts...

Wizard/PaleMaster, eh? I'll try that next time...

ladyblack · Post by **ladyblack** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 5:18 am

Thanks for all the help, guys. I really, really want to kill this monster outright, but have now completed most parts of the other quests, so getting up levels is very hard. I think I may have to face Draggy whilst still 4th level Pale Master.

Must try the Magic missiles, I think I need to sort out my spells, as I have long range spells and short range spells (by short range, I mean e.g. "Power Word, Kill" and I see my character suddenly running towards the big beast with the large teeth) on one quick bar. I get in a room, cast Time stop and basically throw everything at the main opponents. However, if the beast is immune to mind spells, it means I waste a fair bit of my Time stop spell when I could be doing lots of damage with a missile spell. Such a shock when someone doesn't keel over dead after having "Wail of the Banshee" and "Weird" chucked at them. Mind you, I now have a Shield Guardian (whoo-hoo!) with spells, so hopefully I'll stomp on him.