solo thief advice wanted

nael · Post by **nael** » Tue Aug 21, 2001 7:18 pm

feel free to post any advice for specific battles, but especially how to handle bohdi and the vampires since there are no items that provide protection from level drain for thieves.

Delacroix · Post by **Delacroix** » Tue Aug 21, 2001 7:39 pm

Thief cannot use the amulet of power? (I seriously don't know)

Considering the fact that you are playing a solo game, and the fast thief XP table, maybe is possible to get the use any iten ability before fight bodhi. But I don't know if this will work in fact. Sorry

bikeman · Post by **bikeman** » Tue Aug 21, 2001 8:50 pm

Your best choice is to buy TOB, get to level 24 (easily done just by doing every quest you can find and clearing the out-of-town areas), pick Use Any Item, and start wearing the Amulet of Power. The game is sooooo much better after you do this. No more reloading or running off to a healer every time you meet a wraith or vampire somewhere! You can also use wands of cloudkill, monster summoning, etc. afterwards, which make some of the tougher fights manageable. (Note: You need INT 9 to use the wands even with Use Any Item. If you don't have a 9, use a Potion of Genius, then put the wands in your quick item slots. As long as you don't take them out of the slots, they will stay there and be useable even after your INT drops back to normal. This is best done after selling the wands to a fence, then stealing them back, so they're totally recharged.)

If you don't have the upgrade, your other choice is to find Aerie or another NPC priest, bring them to the entrance, have them cast Negative Plane Protection on you, and run like blazes through the dungeon killing vampires as fast as you can. You DO have the boots of speed, right? If not, get them from the planar prison. I recommend getting the Ring of Gaxx first, though. A handy Protection from Undead will get you by the first two liches (they won't even cast any spells), and you don't have to kill Kangaxx to get the ring. Just pickpocket him in the instant before he materializes next to the sarcophagus, then run! Or if you have a +5 weapon, like the Sling of Everard, use a Protection from Magic scroll (2 are available at the Adventurer's Mart) and hammer away. The demilich is worth 55,000 EXP, and if you kill it, you get ANOTHER Ring of Gaxx. You haven't seen regeneration until you have two of those babies on at the same time! Enjoy! --Bikeman

Sojourner · Post by **Sojourner** » Tue Aug 21, 2001 9:51 pm

Get a Scroll of Protection from Undead and use it on yourself. Go kill all the vampires. You'll only be able to reduce Bodhi to near death until the scroll wears off (so she can give her little speech), but otherwise the vampires' lair will be ridiculously easy.

nael · Post by **nael** » Tue Aug 21, 2001 10:04 pm

dang it, i forgot all abotu those scrolls.

how about some mind flayer advice as well?

dragons? - not needed to be killed, but would be nice to do.

Sojourner · Post by **Sojourner** » Tue Aug 21, 2001 10:39 pm

Mind Flayers: Your main concern is to avoid getting stunned. In the Underdark, you can obtain brine potions and the Greenstone Amulet which help out there. Potions of Magic Protection/Shielding also help. Use your traps - set them in front of doors before opening and in hallways. Equipment I use in Mind Flayer lairs include the Boots of Speed, Celestial Fury, Staff of Striking, Tuigan Bow +1, and arrows of piercing. You'll be doing a lot of running, hiding, shooting/backstabbing, etc. Those with ToB installed can use the Use Any Item Ability to summon Mordenkainen's Swords from the scrolls.

Dragons: Set a nest of high-level thief traps near stairs and lead dragon into them. Fill it with arrows. Use summons from Staff of Fire/Air/Earth to help out.

[ 08-22-2001: Message edited by: Sojourner ]

Xyx · Post by **Xyx** » Wed Aug 22, 2001 3:51 am

Originally posted by Bikeman:
<STRONG>find Aerie or another NPC priest, bring them to the entrance, have them cast Negative Plane Protection on you</STRONG>

But that wouldn't be soloing, would it? That would be playing with a very small party for a very short time.

speedball · Post by **speedball** » Wed Aug 22, 2001 7:03 am

If you've got ToB and have the Use Any Item ability and a wand of cloudkill, just open each door in their lair then back up so they can't see you. Fire off a bunch of cloudkills from the wand then run up and shut the door. You might be blasted by their mind powers, but as long as they don't see you, they won't come up and INT drain you to death.

Hey, it is cheesy, but it is hard soloing the game without some cheese.

Doltan · Post by **Doltan** » Wed Aug 22, 2001 7:13 am

You guys are too dependent on equipment. I had no problem with Bodhi's lair and a solo thief. Just use the thief like you are suppose to: Set traps in a previous room, use stealth to scout ahead, backstab, run like hell (ok, boots of speed are a requirement) back to the traps and the traps kill off anything that your backstab didn't. With the boots of speed you can even run away, re-stealth, and backstab again. There is no reason for the vampires to even touch you, just be patient.

Uther Pendragon · Post by **Uther Pendragon** » Wed Aug 22, 2001 8:18 am

Originally posted by Doltan:
<STRONG>You guys are too dependent on equipment.</STRONG>

I completely agree. Everybody tells him to wait until he's level 24 and gets the UAI ability. It sounds to me that these people are not very well versed in "The art of the thief".

You don't need to wait until you are a 24+ level demi-god. Just use the cunning and finesse that has earned the thief his reputation.

I've soloed this game several times. A couple times with thieves, and it is not as hard as people make it out to be. Thieves are only second to bards as far as their versatility. They can hide in shadows, backstab for major damage, and set traps. What more does a good thief need?

Now, onto the matter at hand-Bodhi's Lair. I would start by going stealth and attacking the greater ghoul to get a good backstab in. Believe it or not, he is the one you should fear the most here, as he can stun you and will then just beat you to a blood pulp. The vamps are chumps compared to this guy. I know they can charm you, but I always seem to save against it (Luck or good saving throws). Anyway, the vamps should not be very difficult with a good ranged weapon and traps. As for Bodhi, she can be rather tough, if you are roleplaying, because you have no idea what's going to happen when you stake the last coffin. Just whiddle her down with as much offense as you can muster. You probably have a trap or two that hasn't been tripped yet, use it/them. Lore her to it/them. If you're not roleplaying, then just trap the spawn area and she's toast.

All in all, you don't need to wait until you're at the higher levels. I've taken out Bhodi's area at level 13, soloing a straight thief.

One more thing. Whatever you do, have fun! That is, after all why we play BG and the likes.

Sojourner · Post by **Sojourner** » Wed Aug 22, 2001 9:10 am

Traps are also a thief's best friend against golems. You can't backstab them, and unless you're playing a swashbuckler, you certainly can't go toe-to-toe with the tougher ones.

Yanlee · Post by **Yanlee** » Wed Aug 22, 2001 2:13 pm

I didn't think that Bodhi was any harder for my solo assassin than any other part of the game.

I set some traps outide the room, got off an initial backstab and then ran away and hid in shadows, or used potions of invisibility for the same effect.

Mind flayers are also easy. Traps make mincemeat out of them because they have so few hitpoints. Just backstab the first one, and let the rest walk into the traps.

In the early stages of the game I found potions to be invaluable. Stock up on (steal) potions of master thievery, invisibility and oils of speed. I also found that Celestial Fury was a great weapon, because of the stun ability. Get a ring of regeneration as soon as you can so that you can rest to heal.

Most of the areas that I found hard with a full party became much easier with a solo assassin.