Suggestions please: solo tactics vs beholders

boo's daddy · Post by **boo's daddy** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 4:57 am

Hello

I've searched for help on this, but all the existing suggestions are either on my cheese list (i.e. Shield of Balduran) or require a mage.

I'm soloing a cleric/ranger (multiclass; Chapter 3, 13th/12th level); SoA fully installed and patched, no ToB though.

Most stuff is OK so far, but massed ranks of beholders & gauths are handing me my arse. I've had moderate success with summoned elementals buffed with Free Action but the beholder's Death Ray wipes them of course.

My guy hates to run from a fight. Any suggestions for other tactics? (I'm saving my Protection from Magic for Kangaxx and the Twisted Rune)

Jedi_Sauraus · Post by **Jedi_Sauraus** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 12:26 am

I would suggest wait until your a level 14 cleric and cast gate. I don't know if it will work against beholders but a single demon was able to tank firekraag quite well. Either way summons are the way to go

Edit a hoard of skeletons once your level 15 should also help

Saros · Post by **Saros** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 9:37 am

First of all, best save your Prot from Magic for never in SoA. Try using Protection from Undead to kill Kangaxx, don't forget to talk to him first else you're headed for a bug. If a bug occurs, then you must kill his lich form without any scrolls, and activate ProUndead when he assumes demilich form.

Now - beholders. First of all, you don't HAVE to fight them. Only the Unseeing eye fight is inevitable. You have Sanctuary and Ring of Invisibility/Ring of Air Control - well USE those. There is plenty xp for a solo, you don't actually need to fight them yet.

Second - I'd suggest you find some bonus CDs in order to get the bonus merchants Deirdre(Adventurer's Mart) and Joluv(Copper Coronet). Deirdre sells the ultimate weapon vs Beholders - the Shield of Balduran. Another thing she sells is the Vhailor's helm, with which you can duplicate whatever scrolls you want, including Protection from Magic(although this is absolute cheese and I use it only in dangerous trap areas, since it spoils the game).

Last, but not least, is the classic tactic - Sanctuary + Blade Barrier. Spend all of your sixth lvl slots on Blade Barrier, and most of the 1st lvl slots on Sanctuary. Go in the middle of a Beholder group Sanctuaried and cast Blade Barrier. Your Sanctuary will not be interrupted since BB is a protective

spell. This tactic works vs all beholders except Elder Orbs, but they are later in the game, so you'll worry about them afterwards

.

The Sanctuary-BB tactic is even better if Sanctuary is replaced by Pixie Dust(or Ring of Invisibility). Just remember - no offensive casting or actions, or you'll be spotted and killed on sight...oh I meant on gaze

boo's daddy · Post by **boo's daddy** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 4:07 am

Probably spoilers

Many thanks for those suggestions.

Sanctuary is an incredibly useful spell for soloing; indeed, that's how I completed the Unseeing Eye quest. Must try the + Blade Barrier tactic.

I thought Beholders could see invisible

I would regard Vhailor's Helm as less cheesy than the Balduran shield, as the shield just minces beholders without you having to do anything. But point taken re: scrolls etc.

Anyway, off to try the Sphere now; those Adamantite golems should be interesting.

galraen · Post by **galraen** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 4:13 am

You could leave the Beholder encounters until after the Undersea city and you acquire a certain cloak. It won't protect you from imprisonment of course, but in conjunction with chaotic commands will cover everything else.

Saros · Post by **Saros** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 5:21 am

Elder Orbs have True Sight which will dispel your Invisibility but also your Sanctuary. They will be really tough fight, so I suggest NOT fighting them at all. I.e. don't go in the Beholder tunnels. Because even the Shield of Balduran will not save you from their Imprisonment spell. The best tactic versus solo Elder Orbs will be simmy(and main) equipped with Shield of Balduran and pounding him, just make sure the Orb wastes his Imprisonment on the simmy. Afterwards, it's easy.

In Hell, however, I don't know how you'll fare in the Fear Trial(unless taking the evil path). There are three Elder Orbs, and your Remove Fear will be gone like the wind and you'll be scampering around until they kill you with Death rays. If you were a solo Ranger - Dragonslayer is your savior. And without it - try a potion of Clarity and don't let them see you!

Celacena · Post by **Celacena** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 8:18 am

I found that the fear test was easy - you just walk down the left side, grab the tear, go invisible and walk out.

In fact, I usually save and pick a fight with them for the XP. you only have any trouble if you use the right-sided route.

Saros · Post by **Saros** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 2:31 pm

Celacena wrote:I found that the fear test was easy - you just walk down the left side, grab the tear, go invisible and walk out.

In fact, I usually save and pick a fight with them for the XP. you only have any trouble if you use the right-sided route.

Even with double-speed, it is very likely that someone of your party will become Afraid before you get the Tear and will run right into the open arms of the Elder orbs. Which will afterwards see and kill all of your NPCs and your PC character. This is valid for a solo-character too, whether with or without Resist Fear...so maybe a Potion of Clarity will make the difference here.

Load Game is something I use only if I encounter a bug or the game crashes.