I just completed the Battle Squares for the first time! And I got my first 100+ shot doing it - 111 with the Greataxe +2 (1d12+2)
I didn't really have much trouble with dying (although the Rhemorhaz hurt ) but that %*$!ing teleport that everything does is so annoying..
I did it with my Fighter(4)/Rogue(3)/Barbarian(X) - did up to Rank 6 when I got there first time, then came back after the encounter with the big bad twins, when I was L12. I tried with my other characters a bit, but they weren't anywhere near as effective. I was wondering - when do you guys finish the squares, and what character do you use to do it?
I generally finish it sometime before crushing the Zhinda Citadel in the Underdark. You need +3 weapons to hit golems (mind golems in the Citadel, iron golems guarding Valas' tomb), and the cheapest and best +3 or better weapons come from battle squares. If you don't do battle squares before going after those golems, you also don't have enough money to buy any available +3 weapons. I don't do it too early because it can unbalance the game for a while with XP and items.
I prefer to use a cleric optimized for melee (e.g. high Str); cleric buffs (including elemental protection spells), spontaneous healing, and decent BAB. Warriors and rogues have to suck down potions by the barrel and wizards/sorcs are surprisingly ineffective and vulnerable to running out of spells. My second choice if I don't have a battle cleric is a warrior. The most important aspect of battle squares is the ability to hand out damage fast. At higher levels where the Club of Disruption is king, you still need a high BAB to hit more often so the enemies have more chances to fail a save.
When your back is against the wall... the other guy is in a whole lotta trouble.
I didn't have to use many potions, although there were a few reloads - mainly because of teleports or running out of time rather than dying.. the elementals were tricky til I realised they were 'outsiders', then I just used the Mace of Disruption and crossed my fingers.
I had my character buffed up with everything I had though, especially for seven squares - 16 buffs she had when I went back, although some of those didn't last too long With the +1d4+4 Str buff she was hitting for 23-34 each time, with 19-20x3, which was quite nice
I had my druid do the battles, bear form combined with static charge is quite frightening.
She did the first 6 levels or so right when the party got there, the later levels where done after the fell wood labyrinth when she was about level 14. Saving and reloading between battles wasn't neccessary, you can loose some battle and still win the level.
