Just started MotB (poss spoilerish to newbies)

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 2:15 pm

And although it is on 'normal' difficulty setting, I'm finding it surprisingly hard. Ok, I started out with a Rogue - I like Rogues - though her lack of muscle was a bit of a problem. We dealt with Okku ok once I had figured that you kill his protectors before you attack HIM, but once in the city that Red Wizard beyond the mirror totally outclassed my char and Saphiya. Wiped out in no time, despite carefull buffing. Over and over and over.

So I abandoned that and had a bit of a think, and started over with a Fighter instead. We've just exited the Barrow, and before we go any further I thought I'd pop in to see if anyone could give me a bit of advice about dealing with Saphiya's ex-boyfriend?

Scottg · Post by **Scottg** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 3:37 pm

Sayfia alone should be able to take him out.

9th level Bigby's with perhaps a Spell Breach first.

TIP: add-in a level of Shadow Dancer to get HiPS for your Rogue. A well-built Rogue *should* be able to hide from spell casters.

Fiberfar · Post by **Fiberfar** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 5:46 pm

Scottg wrote:Sayfia alone should be able to take him out.

9th level Bigby's with perhaps a Spell Breach first.

TIP: add-in a level of Shadow Dancer to get HiPS for your Rogue. A well-built Rogue *should* be able to hide from spell casters.

If you're refering to Khai whatever-his-name-is, spell breach or even better, Mordekainen's disjunction followed by a Bigby's or a high end spell like maximized chain lightning are the best way to go.

Anyways, you should consider getting Protection from Spells (Safiya should be able to get that). Your will saves are your downfall in that particular battle, as those succubi have a high DC dominate monster ability. Immunity to mind spells helps a lot!

Other than that, you should have Safiya focus on Khai and your fighter should keep her safe from the succubi. Remember that those bastards got a decent damage reduction, so buff your weapon. Summoning (and buffing up) Mordekainen's sword (greater magic weapon, bull's strength, stone skin etc) could probably make the battle a bit easier.

Edit: aaah, but the big question is if your rogue can find the mages that hide from you?

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 11:15 am

Scottg wrote:Sayfia alone should be able to take him out.

9th level Bigby's with perhaps a Spell Breach first.

TIP: add-in a level of Shadow Dancer to get HiPS for your Rogue. A well-built Rogue *should* be able to hide from spell casters.

Hm. Thanks for the SD suggestion.

I have a habit of keeping my Rogues 'pure'.

As for Safiya, even though we both go in well-buffed, she gets shot to bits before my char!

But I admit I haven't had her use either of those spells! Maybe time I did! :laugh:

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 11:21 am

Fiberfar wrote:If you're refering to Khai whatever-his-name-is, spell breach or even better, Mordekainen's disjunction followed by a Bigby's or a high end spell like maximized chain lightning are the best way to go.

Anyways, you should consider getting Protection from Spells (Safiya should be able to get that). Your will saves are your downfall in that particular battle, as those succubi have a high DC dominate monster ability. Immunity to mind spells helps a lot!

Other than that, you should have Safiya focus on Khai and your fighter should keep her safe from the succubi. Remember that those bastards got a decent damage reduction, so buff your weapon. Summoning (and buffing up) Mordekainen's sword (greater magic weapon, bull's strength, stone skin etc) could probably make the battle a bit easier.

Edit: aaah, but the big question is if your rogue can find the mages that hide from you?

Mm. She has a ring - or something - that improves Will save. And a belt of Frost Giant Str. Safiya loves Mordekainans Sword. My char weapon enchanted with Frost.

Hm. I guess that what I'm hearing from both of you is to keep my char protecting Safiya whilst she does the business with spells. I always send my char in to kill the Red Wizard, and have Safiya as back-up.

Many thanks!

Fiberfar · Post by **Fiberfar** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 12:31 pm

I found that particular battle to be harder/more annoying than many others in the game

Good luck!

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 4:30 pm

Fiberfar wrote:I found that particular battle to be harder/more annoying than many others in the game

Good luck!

I've just tried it again, with a Rogue, got plastered again. Tried over, and when I had Safiya cast Mordekainan's Disjuction, the game crashed the whole system...

Sheesh...

Scottg · Post by **Scottg** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 6:36 pm

Fljotsdale wrote:I've just tried it again, with a Rogue, got plastered again. Tried over, and when I had Safiya cast Mordekainan's Disjuction, the game crashed the whole system...

Sheesh...

The more spells the greater the graphics demand. Try going into the menu options and lowering the "quality" of the graphics substantially. In truth - it doesn't appear as a huge reduction in quality to do so.

Safiya should have Premonition (or Greater Stoneskin) already on. (I don't remember what spells she doesn't have access to.) She should also have one of the Spell Mantles on, AND Mirror Image (extended spell).

You should also have her cast persistent Haste (9th level persistent spell).

Finally you should have "Protection from Spells" (8th level) on you and Safiya.

Now..

Set Safiya and your character on "puppet mode" on the character sheet tab.

Then - proceed into the area for the "conversation/battle".

Next..

As soon as the opponents go hostile (at the end of the conversation) - PAUSE. (..and make sure it paused before anyone starts casting a spell.)

In this order:

Have Safiya cast Bigby's Crushing Hand (9th level) on her "ex.".

Then have her cast "Create Greater Undead" (8th level) next to her position - left of her.

Next cast "Gust of Wind" (2nd level) with as good a "spread" that will envelop her position and all the other current opponent's positions as well.

Then start casting some (2+) Chain Lightnings (6th level) on non-wizard "henchmen" types (targeting one for each spell).

Set your Rogue to attack the closest Wizard to your character that isn't the "Ex".

Finally..

UNPAUSE (and let the mayhem commence).

........................

After it looks like either:

1. Your Rogue has killed the Wizard it is attacking, OR

2. Safiya is just about to finish her last "cued up" spell, THEN

If condition #1 happens first then have your Rogue go attack the next Wizard/Cleric/Caster that is close to your Rogue that is NOT the "Ex".

or,

If condition #2 occurs then start looking at other damage spells in your arsenal.

(Note that the "offensive" portion above is just *one* way to do things.. but the inital "defensive" portion is pretty much *THE* way to do it.)

Don't forget to quaff heal potions as needed!

(..also I think that Mirror Image needs to be purchased or selected on level-up for Safiya.)

XantharTheFlame · Post by **XantharTheFlame** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 7:08 pm

Make sure you go out to the market outside the theater before you enter that room for that battle, and buy Safya as many spells as you can afford that she doesn't already have in her book. In particular fireball and lightning bolt. Don't know why any wizard wouldn't have those if they are permitted by class, but anyhoo....

If you are close to a level, or need cash, go explore the whole town first -- you can earn XP and find lots of gold.

There may even be enough to get you or Safya a good magic item for buffing / protection from one of the merchants before you try this fight too.

Good luck and let us know how it goes! I also found this fight hard with my own Drow Rogue / Wizard / Arcane Trickster character.

XantharTheFlame

Fiberfar · Post by **Fiberfar** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 8:32 am

Safiya don't have access to illusion or conjuration spells, and I believe mirror image is illusion?

Anyways, personally I would go with extended haste. A level 9 slot for a "permanent" haste is a bit to high, IMHO.

I think the henchmen (succubi, not counting the undead) are immune or at least resistant to lightning. Only truly effective range of spells I've found is banishment, death effect spells and missile storms.

You could always try to apply more elemental damage to your weapon(s). Might be able to take them down faster. If you found the greater robe of eyes back in the veil you could also give that one to Safiya (or yourself). It gives true seeing, and hitting those pesky wizards once they go invisible should be a piece of cake.

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 1:08 pm

Thanks, Scottg, XTF, and Fiberfar.

All useful stuff!

She doesn't have several of the spells you mentioned, so I'll take the advice to purchase 'em! I'm going back to a save before going through the portal, so I can visit the market.

I have a habit of bulling in without setting stuff up beforehand (apart from buffing and protections), too, so that advice should help a lot!

I also made the mistake of touching the table and taking a hit in STR before going through the portal - I'll make sure not to do that until later, now!

Thanks a lot! You have been very helpful!

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 5:49 pm

Damn it all to perdition!

I can't stop it crashing the system! And I DO have a system that fits the requirements listed on the damn boxes! I wouldn't have bought the expansions if I didn't! And NWN2 site support was totally useless as well.
I'm - expletive deleted - annoyed!

I wonder if putting it on 'easy' would make a difference?

Claudius · Post by **Claudius** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 6:53 pm

Are you patched up? Is it only with mordenkainen's disjunction? Prior saves?

Red Wizards have high DCs I believe depending on level. Any spell foci? Try to figure out if there are any high DC (higher level spells of schools with foci) spells that are save or else spells...particularly AoE spells with a duration. Even dropping a grease or something might help you throughout the course of the battle if they roll some 1-5s on saves some round.

taikanatur · Post by **taikanatur** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:40 pm

If you are still having trouble to beat the mages, here is another hint: at the start of the fight, have Safya and yourself go back to the table room. You can keep closing the door when they use spells (+you`ll get some neat sneak attacks) and you`ll have only one melee hitting you at the door, while your mage will be safe behind. Also, I found it useful to equip an armor (you can find in the barrow, if I remember correctly) that gives immunity to paralysis.

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:50 pm

iT'S NOT THE fight, guys - I know I'll get that in the end, IF ONLY the system didn't crash mid-battle almost every time. ONCE we got to kill the ex-boyfriend, but then got killed ourselves by the few survivors (SO darn infuriating!)
Nope, the REAL problem is the system crashing on a regular basis during this fight. And I don't just just mean crashing to desktop, I mean totally crashing out and restarting the machine. I figure something is wrong - clever me

- but I dunno what, because everything checks out fine.

I just wondered if playing this bit on 'easy' instead of 'normal', it might reduce the intensity of the spells or activity enought to stop the crashing. Any thoughts?

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 5:37 pm

I finally managed to complete that fight, and have now got other quests to do.

Not sure which of two things I did actually prevented the system crashing this last time:

1. I have been playing with the NWN2 disc. It is a fairly old disc, and well-played. So, I decided to use the unused MotB disc instead.

2. Just for that fight, I put the game on 'easy', then upped it to 'normal' again afterwards.

Either of those could have prevented the system crash. I don't feel like running through the fight again on 'normal' to find out. I'll save that for my next new character, which hopefully won't be for some time!

Meanwhile I have me a vain Spirit Shaman on my team.

And thanks for all the advice, everyone. Much appreciated.

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:55 pm

This game still keeps crashing the system if there is too much spell activity going on. Not all the time, but it's darned annoying.
Any idea why it should happen? Is it just my system isn't good enough, or could I have a problem with the disc drive?

Mz_Trixter · Post by **Mz_Trixter** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 1:20 pm

Fljotsdale wrote:This game still keeps crashing the system if there is too much spell activity going on. Not all the time, but it's darned annoying.
Any idea why it should happen? Is it just my system isn't good enough, or could I have a problem with the disc drive?

It could be one of a few or a combination of: the settings being set on high, Did you check 'em out?.. if you didnt yet that might help. Another just being too much activity, in which I hate to say seems pretty inevitable
(mine game/comp would jar Im sure as any moderate system would). The last possible would be the computer/dirty or scratched disc (just hope this isn't it because it tends to be more problematic

) Anyway.. hope some of these help where to look 'n goodluck.