Battle squares

Anjelen79 · Post by **Anjelen79** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 1:37 pm

How long can I postphone doing them? I am currently at the Cold Marshes, and don't really feel up to doing all of them just now... Can I always do them later, whenever I want, or is there some sort of "point of no return" (like there is for Targos, e.g.). Thanks!

Dedigan · Post by **Dedigan** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 2:30 pm

Not to my knowledge.
I think in my first game, I did battle squares before the last chapter. But that was a long time ago.

edit - I usually do battle squares after the cold marsh. That's where I level up for the first time since Oswald's crash.

Erenor · Post by **Erenor** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 2:39 pm

You can come back through all of Chapter 3 and most of Chapter 4, but once you take another trip with Oswald, you only get one more change to come back to the squares and that isn't for long. I'd recommend completing the squares, though it isn't a requirement in the game, before leaving the next large building you enter: SPOILER I'd complete the squares before leaving the Black Raven Monastery.

Philos · Post by **Philos** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 10:59 am

How many levels/settings are there?

"Approximately" how long does it take to do the whole thing and is it worth the time in terms of experience gained?

I realize that this will have a lot to do with which PC you use and how effective you are with them, I finished the 1st level, but it seemed like there are something 50 level/setting combos and I wanted to do something else.

I am at a point I think I can still go back but need some advice.
Thanks

dj_venom · Post by **dj_venom** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 6:02 pm

Well, they are worth doing if you can complete them, as you get some pretty awesome weapons/equipment. Spoiler: You can gain the mace of distruption, an excellent anti-undead weapon.

But yes, once you take the trip with Oswald, there are no more chances. Spoiler: Depending on how you have played, you may be able to go back to the Ice Temple, however I do not believe the battlesqaures work the second time.

So I would suggest that you reach Oswald again, then go back and try to win as many battles as possible.

As for the battles, each level requires that 25 monsters are defeated, and there are 13 levels I believe.

ishuman · Post by **ishuman** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 9:35 pm

[QUOTE=dj_venom]As for the battles, each level requires that 25 monsters are defeated, and there are 13 levels I believe.[/QUOTE]

Hey Philos-
I think there were 10 levels at 25 monsters each. So that's 150 separate fights. I don't want to discourage you from doing it b/c there's no doubt that its worth doing for the loot. But I remember it took forever and seemed to me (imho) to be a waste of my time. I don't have a ton of time to play so the game took me 10 months to finish and the BS alone probably took me 2 weeks. And it really wasn't a challenge. I just buffed my tank to the gills and waited.

If you're so inclined, there is an ease-of-use mod to skip it and still get the loot.

-ishuman

dj_venom · Post by **dj_venom** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 1:12 am

[QUOTE=ishuman]I think there were 10 levels at 25 monsters each. So that's 150 separate fights.[/QUOTE]

Well, it's actually 250 fights. But yes, it is well worth doing it.

Brynn · Post by **Brynn** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 6:59 am

I think it's fun fighting them all. Once

It's a challenge if you want to do it right when you are in the Temple for the first time.

But I honestly admit that on my second play-through I used the ease-of-use mod to skip it

silverdragon72 · Post by **silverdragon72** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 7:14 am

.

AFAIK for each level to master you need 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 = 25 battles to win

and this 10(?) times should be 250 seperate battles

a few tips:

- save after each battle!!!

- always try to start with 7 and 6 battles in a row! - my impression was that enemies were getting tougher at the end of each level!

- you can support your PC with the rest of the party if you keep your party just out of the BS room north of the upper door (with this door open - you can fire with ranged weapons and spells into the BS!

- AFAIR remorhaz are best stopped with Chromatic Orb

- if nothing helps - you can always hope that the mace of disruption hits (even if the chance is only 5% against some enemies)

.

Philos · Post by **Philos** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 9:27 am

Thanks for the Help

Appreciate all the advice. I may try to go back. I also have a second party still in the early stages, so I may wait till they get there. Have to think on it. It sure looked like it would be a long process. Silverdragon, I had thought of your idea about firing from the northern corridor through the open door. But my mage who used magic missle and fighter/rogue who used his crossbow both got sent to the "penalty box" when they fired. Maybe I was too close to the door!?!

silverdragon72 · Post by **silverdragon72** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 10:07 am

.

as long as your PC keeps in the middle of the BS this should work!

the golem keeps in sight of your PC and follows him - if the golems sees any other PC of your party he will send him away!

.

dj_venom · Post by **dj_venom** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 1:15 am

A funny trick is this:

Equip your chosen fighter with boots of speed or a haste spell/item. Then, when the monster appears, make sure it goes to fight one of the other pcs instead. The golem will make them disappear, and the monster will try to follow them. Then, using your original character, you can beat the heck out of them without them doing a thing.

Brynn · Post by **Brynn** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 4:36 am

[QUOTE=dj_venom]A funny trick is this:

Equip your chosen fighter with boots of speed or a haste spell/item. Then, when the monster appears, make sure it goes to fight one of the other pcs instead. The golem will make them disappear, and the monster will try to follow them. Then, using your original character, you can beat the heck out of them without them doing a thing.

[/QUOTE]
UNLESS they resist your spells or immune to your weapon

dj_venom · Post by **dj_venom** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 5:11 am

Yeah, well in that case your stuffed either way. But I forgot to mention, the boots are so you can kill the monster before the time runs out.

Philos · Post by **Philos** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 11:43 am

Sounds Like Fun

Sounds like a fun idea, if I can make it work. Some monsters also redirect their attention (or seem to) if their original target in out of sight or unreachable.

I do like to occasionally put one over on the critters. They get to bend the rules all too often anyhow. I found a fun one in IWD/HOW/TotL having your cleric run among the undead while invisible (see my thread in the IWD 1 forum called "Interesting Tactic for a Cleric"), the results are hilarious. But that said, I much prefer to do a challenge straight up. Fun diversions are great though.

ishuman · Post by **ishuman** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 6:21 pm

[QUOTE=Brynn]But I honestly admit that on my second play-through I used the ease-of-use mod to skip it

[/QUOTE]

I was thinking of doing the same thing. Does anyone know if this mod has to be installed before beginning a new game or will it apply to a saved game in progress?

-ishuman

Heidrek · Post by **Heidrek** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 11:01 pm

Should work with a game in progress.

I don't recommend you use the item swapping part though, I tried it and got some very weird results including the loss of some important equipment and impossible equips.

Yeah, I couldn't face going all that stuff again either.

Gavro · Post by **Gavro** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 4:02 pm

The Ice Temple: The Battle Room (arg!) (spoiler)

I have one simple question, and that is how the heck do you get all five levels in all ten ranks?!? I have toiled and struggled, and managed to make it all the way through the first 5 ranks, but cannot see how it is possible to make it through all ten, the monsters are simply to difficult to take on in one on one combat (I'm one of those guys that just can't leave an area until every quest is completed, and every room has been uncovered!). Has anyone else experienced this, or do my characters just suck? And does anyone have any strategies that helped them through the process?

Thanks.

Dedigan · Post by **Dedigan** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 5:19 pm

I always go further then go back to battle squares before I get to the underdark. I haven't ever successfully completed it without going back later. And I think I usually have really good characters.

ishuman · Post by **ishuman** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 9:28 pm

I went through the BS as the last step before the final battle at the Ice Temple (on the first visit). I think I was maybe 7th or 8th level? I used my Barbarian x/fighter 4 and didn't have much trouble.

- Save before every fight.

- Before hitting that switch, I started each session by throwing every buffing spell I could on the one character in order of their duration. For me that included: Cat's Grace, Champion's strength, Protection from Evil, Bless, Stoneskin, Aid, Emotion Hope, Recitation, Haste, Improved Invisibility. If you have luck, use that too. When the buffs started to wear off I rested and then started over.

- If you consistently have trouble with a certain creature just reload every time that creature turns up.

- I used rage for those moments when you had almost killed a monster just needed the extra 20 or so hp to make it through a tough fight. I didn't want to use up all my healing potions.

If you search this forum on Battle Squares I'm sure you'll get plenty of other great tips. Good luck and be sure to tell us how it goes!

-ishuman