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How do you protect against domination (for example from vampires) when soloing as a sorcerer?

Spell Immunity: Enchantment.

Various spell deflection and spell turning.

I would think improved invisibility would do the trick also.

The Staff of Magi (by "blinking" due to unequipping it and then equipping it to turn invisible all the time)

Summoned help to tank for you so you aren't takeing the "heat" of the battle.

helm of charm protection...

and the staff will protect from charm simply if you have it equipped....

chaotic commands...

items that give you high save vs spells...

free action...like the ring you get in asylum...

the greenstone amulet..

brine potions..

berserker enrage...

inquisitor kit.

lilacor

ardatha the drinker from astral prison...

potion of clarity, i think...

Well @UserU. - many of thoese things aren't avaible for a solo sorcerer

Thanks for the replies!

The reason I ask this is because I'm doing a no-reload solo game and I got caught by a Domination down at the Docks and had to restart.

My new sorceress has slightly changed her spell selection. Here is what I have planned (in order as selected):

1st
Magic Missile
Prot f Evil
Shield
Identify
Friends

2nd
Mirror Image
Knock
Melf's Acid Arrow
Web
Resist Fear

3rd
MMM
Skull Trap
Haste
Flame Arrow
Remove Magic

4th
Spider Spawn
Stoneskin
Polymorph Self (100% MR)
Farsight
Gr Malison

5th
Spell Immunity
Breach
Lower Resistance
Animate Dead
Spell Shield (?)

6th
Mislead
Death Spell
True Sight
Contingency
P f Magical Weapons

7th
Project Image
Mordenkainen's Sword
Spell Sequencer
Delayed Blast Fireball
Ruby Ray of Reversal

8th
Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting
Spell Trigger
Power Word Blind
Simulacrum

9th
Chain Contingency
Wish (Int 18, Wis 18)
Time Stop
Shapechange

All through SoA I will not level up over level 17 (the SoA xp cap) and I will not use any ToB items.

Different kinds of Invisibility is what I had in mind as the only possible ways of countering Vampiric Domination. I wasn't sure Spell Immunity would work since I think the vampires Domination might be an ability and that could screw things up. Does Spell Immunity work against the Umber Hulk Confusion for example? I believe it doesn't.

Summoned Help is not a sure solution. Of course I use it all the time, but the solution must be certain or as certain as possible.

Again, thanks for your help!

Originally posted by Earl Grey 1
Thanks for the replies!

The reason I ask this is because I'm doing a no-reload solo game and I got caught by a Domination down at the Docks and had to restart.

My new sorceress has slightly changed her spell selection. Here is what I have planned (in order as selected):

1st
Magic Missile
Prot f Evil
Shield
Identify
Friends

2nd
Mirror Image
Knock
Melf's Acid Arrow
Web
Resist Fear

3rd
MMM
Skull Trap
Haste
Flame Arrow
Remove Magic

4th
Spider Spawn
Stoneskin
Polymorph Self (100% MR)
Farsight
Gr Malison

5th
Spell Immunity
Breach
Lower Resistance
Animate Dead
Spell Shield (?)

6th
Mislead
Death Spell
True Sight
Contingency
P f Magical Weapons

7th
Project Image
Mordenkainen's Sword
Spell Sequencer
Delayed Blast Fireball
Ruby Ray of Reversal

8th
Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting
Spell Trigger
Power Word Blind
Simulacrum

9th
Chain Contingency
Wish (Int 18, Wis 18)
Time Stop
Shapechange

All through SoA I will not level up over level 17 (the SoA xp cap) and I will not use any ToB items.

Different kinds of Invisibility is what I had in mind as the only possible ways of countering Vampiric Domination. I wasn't sure Spell Immunity would work since I think the vampires Domination might be an ability and that could screw things up. Does Spell Immunity work against the Umber Hulk Confusion for example? I believe it doesn't.

Summoned Help is not a sure solution. Of course I use it all the time, but the solution must be certain or as certain as possible.

Again, thanks for your help!

http://members.chello.nl/~j.vanthull/BG2SR/Main.htm

according to xyx, i think it will....

the ring of free action will protect you from stun,sleep, chaos, charm, dire charm, domination, etc....

until then, using mislead is a good option...

dump spell shield, mislead and spell immunity will do more. so will the staff of magi. you are going to want sunfire...one of the finest spells in the game, totally ignores magic resistance...spell shield has only one real use...protection from beholder anti magic ray, and the cloak of mirrors is actually better....

you don't want simulacrum...project image is much better for a sorceror, simmy really is best for fighter mages, since its actually a fighting summon and is best used as such....

better might be inc cloud, incredibly powerful damage over time spell....

you're missing out on elemental protection, like protection from energy, however, are you aware that mirror image will protect you from cloudkill, inc cloud and even abi dahzim spells? if you are, then you're ok....

i would dump spell sequencer, since you already chose spell trigger...why settle for second best? trigger and chain contingency are the two finest spells of its type, you really don't need sequencer...try finger of death for instant killing...a malison, two lower resistance in a spell trigger, and a finger of death will kill most dragons....

oh yeah, dump shield for chromatic orb...i've seen a spell triggered chromatic orbs kill dragons in one cast....

aside from those suggestions, you've got a very good spell table indeed...

these are just suggestions, mind you...you really should choose spells you like best, and fits your style of play...

Chromatic Orb is the King.
Sequence it with 2 greater Malisons ... and wammo.

Thank you for some excellent suggestions!

Chromatic Orb is indeed nice, but I decided against using it and my Sorceress is now almost level 14, so the decision has been made.
I have been averse to using CO for years now primarily because of the big save bonus. For others reading this topic I would however advice using CO.

Spell Sequencer will be dumped. Silly of me to include it really, especially planning to pick it at the very same level as I plan to pick Spell Trigger! Moving up DB Fireball to be a level 17 pick will give me a nice lich killer spell while still in SoA.
Finger of Death or Pf the Elements (nice together w Pf Energy) are candidate choices for the level 22 pick.

I am aware of the protections MI gives vs area spells.

Spell Shield is indeed a doubtful choice, but note that it's a pick at level 28, so will not be used in SoA for me. Sunfire is the first alternative, but I am sceptical about taking advantage of it's disregarding MR. Might decide to pick it anyway.

Simulacrum was also planned for after SoA - at level 23.
Incendiary Cloud as well as Abi-Dalzim? In which cases will that prove useful?
I'm considering Incendiary Cloud and Pf Energy as alternatives to Simulacrum at level 23.

I'll make sure to get the Ring of Free Action. I usually don't give that ring much attention.

Personally - I'd get room for Ice Storm (level 4). It is a great AE spell and has no Save Throw against the damage.

Originally posted by Xandax
Chromatic Orb is the King.
Sequence it with 2 greater Malisons ... and wammo.

once you install the baldurdash patch, malison will no longer stack with itself....

"Chromatic Orb is indeed nice, but I decided against using it and my Sorceress is now almost level 14, so the decision has been made.
I have been averse to using CO for years now primarily because of the big save bonus. For others reading this topic I would however advice using CO."

yeah, but it improves when you level up and its a LEVEL ONE spell...therefore once you run out of higher level spells, a chromatic orb becomes quite attractive alternative to attacking with magic missile volleys...


"I'm considering Incendiary Cloud and Pf Energy as alternatives to Simulacrum at level 23."

you should pick up pf energy only if you do NOT plan to get protection from energy...

heck...protection from energy and the belt of inertial barrior will give you the same protection as protection from magic energy, so you can dump protection from elements and pick up finger of death...

ice storm is ok, but i dislike its low damage effect....if you really want a cold based spell, cone of cold is a much better choice...it levels up as you level up...

my criteria for sorceror picks are

1) cheesyness...(surprising absolutely no one!!!)
2) levels up as you level up...
3) does not duplicate something you can cast via wand or device...i never ever get cloudkill, that's why you get the wand...

urm...for a solo sorceror, a power word kill is an excellent choice...

when you've hit a dragon with cones of cold or sunfires, and its hurt badly, a quick power word kill will end most battles...it casts fast, and while it takes practice to use right, it is a lifesaver...

@EG: Consider yourself lucky. User rarely posts this much on a single thread.

And get Power Word: Kill. Easiest way of taking out mages before they get protections up.

With some ivisibility (spell or staff of magi) you can take them out imidiatley. Usefull for higer lvl mages.

EDIT: A lot of people in here soloed sorcs, so dont worry. I am in the middle of one right now (stopped to play a solo thies for a while).

And User knows what hes talking about. You should get his Cheese Guide (if you dont mind the game getting a litle easier (but not much))

I've solo'd many times before so that's not a problem. This time it's "Ironman" style, by which I mean no reloads. It's vital to be able to avoid instant death situations.

I've not played BG2 for about a year so when going over my different lists of spell selections now, it was not clear to me why I had made some selections.
One reason is that soloing is, as we all know, easy, so I may have come up with spell selections which fit the way I played and then think that's the perfect or close to perfect selection.

I'm sure some of you have been to Sorcerer's Place and know me from there. I wrote about Gloin Bonehead the wizard slayer, speed soloing and soloing from BG1 to ToB among other things.

What about the Incendiary Cloud vs Abi-Dalzim question? Is it worth taking both as a sorc?

Is Power Word Kill affected by MR?
I like Shapechange, which is the only 9th level spell that could possibly be exchanged for PW Kill. The arguments for PW Kill makes good sense, but it boils down to if it is affected by MR or not.

Oh, I really don't like cheese. Sure, I've used it and will continue to use it, but I much prefer not to. This game has countless exploits, numerous overpowered items and a myriad cheesy tactics, so it's almost impossible not to cheese.

My two coppers on this.

Well, I'm no expert on Sorcerors, but I thought I'd provide what I'd think might help.

1) Amulet of Power (depending upon what you've done to go on, will spoil how to get it if requested) protects against level drain, for various caster types (mages/sorcerors, clerics, druids), but not for fighter/thief single-classes. Will also help with any Silence/Deafness you may have trouble with.

I know you may not have asked about level drain from vampires, but hey, I'm trying to help in anyway I can.

2) For Charm/Domination: Greenstone Amulet. If this actually works (may vary depending upon patches and mods, I think), it'll protect you from various psionic/mind attacks, possibly including vampiric domination.

3) For Soloing (definitely not my strong point ) : Definitely use good summons. Go with as many serious protections (which might include the Amulet of Power, I guess). I can't really suggest too much for spells, especially with a sorc because as much as I can think of spells that will come in handy, it's more from of a mage/wizard standpoint.

Good luck, kick major arse, and have fun above all.

The high save on cromatic orb doesn't do much if you hit someone with 20 of them all at once... (Timestop+greater acuity+robe of vecna and/or amulet of power).

Originally posted by Earl Grey 1
Sunfire is the first alternative, but I am sceptical about taking advantage of it's disregarding MR. Might decide to pick it anyway. I'm considering Incendiary Cloud and Pf Energy as alternatives to Simulacrum at level 23.

I'll make sure to get the Ring of Free Action. I usually don't give that ring much attention.

Definitely take Sunfire - it's one of the few spells effective against Drow. Mislead + Spell Immunity: Divinition in the Underdark, then go to town with Sunfire. Use Project Image instead of Simulacrum, but I'd recommend neither.

"What about the Incendiary Cloud vs Abi-Dalzim question? Is it worth taking both as a sorc?"

Yes!! inc cloud is a wonderful spell, and even if you don't like cheese, you will appreciate its ability to damage over time...

use the ring of fire protection+protection from energy or mirror image to protect yourself, and chain contingency a triple inc cloud on self, when you see an enemy...just wait until they die...while you're nice and toasty...

"Is Power Word Kill affected by MR?
I like Shapechange, which is the only 9th level spell that could possibly be exchanged for PW Kill. The arguments for PW Kill makes good sense, but it boils down to if it is affected by MR or not."


I believe it is indeed affected by magic resistance...but no save...

that reminds me of another quality that I want in my spell selections...

either cannot be magic resisted (sunfire, dragon breath, lower resistance) or saved against...(p word kill, bigby the 8th level version) or both...

both include strength spell, imprison, teleport field...