A little bragging and some strange things (MAJOR SPOILERS)

[Andurbal]

My party:
Berserker level 22
Jaheira level 14/14
Keldorn level 18
Nalia level 4/18
Imoen level 7/16
Valygar level 13

Recent history:
After returning the Lanthorn to the Elves, Eltan brought me to the entrance of Suldanesselar. Since I hadn’t been to the Forest of Tethyr before, I decided to explore this map before entering the Elven city. After finishing, we rested in front of the Suldanesselar “gates”. We were awaken by some Werewolves, killed them, went to sleep again. When we woke up, some thugs had surrounded my party and their leader was holding my love Jaheira as hostage. I proposed to take her place, he didn’t accept, we killed them. Then we entered Suldanesselar. That was on day 75, 08h. Now it’s day 78, 20h and we haven’t rested again from that time, without anyone in my party suffering from fatigue.
In the meantime:
We killed every enemy in the city, and then the Black Dragon northwest (reloaded 3-4 times) to get the last thing needed to open the palace doors. But (thanks to the advice on this forum) instead of going into the Palace I decided we should return to Athkatla to tie some loose ends. So first I went for the Elemental Lich. Piece of cake. Then the Shade Lich followed. Another piece but that was lemon pie. Then I went to the Order which was near, I thought they might had a quest for me. And yes, they told me about the Fallen Paladins. I dealt with them and went back for my reward. Then I went to restore Kangaxx. Well, as I expected, he was pretty tougher than the other Liches. Reloaded 4-5 times, but as you understand we hadn’t many useful spells left after all this time and battles. So I quit it temporarily and decided to go to my Keep. I helped my people to overcome the floods and returned to Athkatla. No-one yet feeling fatigued. I sold many things that I had no use for, but couldn’t think of anything else to do except deal with Kangaxx. So I was ready to rest when I thought a little about it and decided to try again without resting. I had one berserker rage left (immunity to imprisonment among others), and I thought that if I used it the right time, maybe I could get rid of Kangaxx (the other times he was killing me with imprisonment, me having used the berserk earlier in the battle). So I went and killed him! It took only some ranged weapons, a Skeleton Warrior, 3 Ogres, an Invisible Stalker, one True Sight, and my berserker rage and Warblade in the end. Total damage my party suffered: 5hp. One Ogre was still alive (although near death). I am very proud. I think we all deserve some resting now, but we want to celebrate our victory before.
So I want your opinion:
1) Which is the best place in Athkatla to have a goood time?
2) Am I right to be bragging of having killed the Black Dragon, the Elemental and Shade Liches, the Fallen Paladins and Kangaxx in a row? (with reloads, but without resting)
3) Even after killing Kangaxx (I hope permanently) none of my party is yet fatigued, and it’s been 3,5 days since we last woke up from a rest. What’s going on?
4) I went to speak with Aran Linvail, cause he had promised me to keep an eye for Saemon Havarian. But when I did we told me the ship was ready!!!… I found myself for the second time in Brynlaw in chapter 8 (though the video said it was chapter 4, my journal had turned to chapter 8). The Vampires didn’t attack me on the docks like the first time. Then I loaded a previous save. I guess this is a bug, but most of you know better than me, so I wanted you to tell me so I could be 100% sure…

[dragon wench]

I can't really comment on the fatigue question since my parties are usually caster heavy and I naturally rest them a lot. Though, after travelling successively between areas that are far apart, those in my party with low constitutions will become tired and request sleep. So, your lack of fatigue does sound a bit odd.

But, the invitation to Brynnlaw for a second time is very definitely a bug, it should not be happening.

Do you have the final official patch? Do you have the Baldurdash fix patch?
Are you running any mods, if so which ones, and in what order did you install them?

[Andurbal]

I can't really comment on the fatigue question since my parties are usually caster heavy and I naturally rest them a lot. Though, after travelling successively between areas that are far apart, those in my party with low constitutions will become tired and request sleep. So, your lack of fatigue does sound a bit odd.

Well, everyone in my party has a high constitution, i have a belt of fortitude(? -constitution raised to 18 for 8 hours) that no-one needs to wear at the moment... Maybe this explains the situation a bit, but I still think 3,5 days are too much...

Do you have the final official patch? Do you have the Baldurdash fix patch?
Are you running any mods, if so which ones, and in what order did you install them?

No mods, no patches, just SoA&ToB, but i think it's allright for my first time. Though I'd love more banters... They have become so scarce...)

[Jedi_Sauraus]

hmm I could probably easly do that as well. Congrats on a powerfull team but really any expierienced players can easly duplicate that feat. you essentially killed 1 dragon with 2 good tanks and 2 good mages at 18th and 16th levels, it probably took you all of 2 rounds?? , fallen Paladins are nothing and liches are dependent on equipent. they'll die asap before doing any damage if you have Carsomyr, MoD, or Crom. Kangaxx is an exception, I don't know what it's like to face him with a very high level team, but when I do him at level 12, usually most of my people get down to 50% hp before he turns demi. Then he usually dies from MoD +2 before casting the first imprisonment.

as for going to Brynnlaw in chapter 8 this is a very serious bug, If you haven't already, install the latest patch and baldurdash fixpack and reload a save before going to Brynnlaw in chapter 8. you absolutly need those two they fix countless bugs that could ruin your gameplay

as for fatigue I've noticed that people with high con. routnily pull 72h all nighters but aster 3 days someone in your party should be complaining

[Celacena]

not so tough

I like to take out Kangaxx early on, as I want his ring. I try not to use protection from undead+protection from magic scrolls as the PFM scrolls are few and far between and I might want to use it facing Demagorgon, for example.

If I haven't done The Twisted Rune by that time in the game, I find that the Staff of Rhym +4 is the best way for a mage to bitch-slap old Kangy - I tend to summon up a few pieces of cannon-fodder for him to waste spells on - he is usually stupid enough to get into a fight with his own summoned creatures, which is nice. I usually use Daystar to light up his (un)life. anyhow, by the time he is having a big stick stuck up his boney orifice, he forgets to use maze/imprison and stands there being sticked to death, as I usually have more proficiency points in sticks than in blades.

If you leave it untl later, when you have items such as the war-blade, carsomyr, purifier or Crom Freyr, then Kangy is a minor inconvenience and not the challenge you'd generally want.

if we are into boast mode - I managed to 'off' Demagorgon rather quicker than I anticipated and it was rather an anticlimax - no Yoshimo, so no multiple traps, but was on my first re-load after giving up when his summonings overwealmed the party. I could have simply teleported them out, but decided to reload. having 6 mariliths (or whatever) chasing my party and causing massive damage was an annoyance, so I avoided it on the reload.

when Big D materialised, I ran away to start with and sneaked back invisible, to get an 'edge'.

Obviously, I had the wand of spell-strike and with my level 18 (ish) mage having memorised a couple of lower resistance spells - the Demagorgon was over-exposed: he started casting summonses or defensive spells and my mage (without Vecna, but slightly speed-enhanced with the Amulet of Power) managed to out-cast him and his chopper was on the block before he knew it. I quickly ran out of useful offensive spells, but when I closed for melee combat, I think I must have hit him with a critical hit or something, because before I had really got into the swing of it and hadn't got to the point of deciding to withdraw to refresh myself - Demagorgon was screaming out "No!" and returning to the pit. In all the excitement, I can't recall if I had summoned my fallen planetar - who may have got a lucky strike in, or whether I was about to do that - but whichever one of us did it, it would be fair to say that my mage defeated Demagorgon without any aid from the team. still, he likes a challenge - so I have gone on to ToB where he took out the whole of the first bhaalspawn lord's team in the throne room - the rest of the team all got wasted in a few seconds, because I wasn't prepared for the fight, but the PC managed to take them out on his own. I was looking for the top man (Wagamama or somesuch) and realised from the treasure I found that I had already taken him down.

sometimes your luck holds, sometimes it doesn't - if the Silver Sword did as it should - you should only need a max of 4 re-loads anyhow...

[Jedi_Sauraus]

if you really want us to be in awe of you install tactics and ascension then solo a beast master with no reloads I'd be amazed if you somehow got out of chapter 2 but really don't try this it's impossible

Generally speaking the only thing I can "boast" of is doing going through the improved fights in Ascension as well as the Ascension final. Then again everybody and their Grandmother has done that. I may in future solo Ascension because doing it with a party has become easy, but I would hate a game where doing everything is a challange. IMO the improved Ascension fights provide good challenge in every regard, without being too hard or too easy, but Ascesion final is rediculous.