Demon Lord vs Judgement Day (Spoilers) Options

[rbeverjr]

I just installed IA at the end of SoA. It's been nice for the most part. Irenicus at the Tree seemed to be Unbreechable - that's not fair. I did kill him with Dragon's Breath, no characters died, and no reload, but still. Irenicus in hell was a nice improvement over the stock game without being totally overboard like Tactics Improved Irenicus. I then went through Saradush and Watcher's Keep (through level 4). I have no major complaints there either. The game has become more challenging. However, when I received Angurvadal and left the Watcher's Keep to face the demon lord (upper right area at Watcher's Keep's exterior), I was VERY disappointed.

This is the cheesiest encounter that I've ever had the misfortune to see. Please spoil me. How do you defeat this crew? Specifically, I am talking about the demon lord and his 2 buddies.

As near as I can tell, the demon lord is immune to high level traps as well as time stop. If you normally do 30 HP damage/strike, you may do 8 - provided that you can strip his protections. A level 30 inquisitor's dispel magic (that'd be level 60 spell power) wasn't keeping things under control - I'm not sure it was working at all! Does everyone always have immunity to abjuration and divination (vs True Seeing)? Both his buddies wield Soul Reavers. I started with a -20 THACO or so and ended up with a +50 THACO or so. Isn't that sweet... I've tried many things and none seemed to work. He seems to have an inexhaustible spell supply. So, I doubt hit and come back later cheese would help. Mord's swords are only distractions. Planetars and elementals are lunch. Of course, dragon's breath is useless. So, what's the solution?

I hope the author tones this encounter down a lot.... If he thinks the weapon you may get some day from this encounter is too powerful - then dump the weapon. As it is, this encounter is STUPIDLY difficult. (Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinion and that's mine!)

I have been playing DnD from the first version until the latest. I am also a very experienced BG2 player. I generally/usually avoid using spells and tactics that would not be allowed/couldn't succeed while a human judge was running a DnD 3.5 table. That alone makes the game MUCH, MUCH harder. But for the game's replay value, I like new mods. Unfortunately, some tactical mods go far overboard, such as this encounter and Tactics Improved Irenicus (to name 2). Some people like tactical puzzles, but I play for enjoyment when I'm really too tired to solve some tough puzzles. If I have to reload more than 3 times on Core difficulty to beat and encounter, I consider it too much. Tactics Pontifex is one I had to reload more than 3x to succeed with all my team intact; although, I did luck out and kill him in 2 rounds on Insane once. I say this only to indicate that I am an experienced player to hopefully convince the author that this encounter is a little too difficult for the general player population.

I'm sure there's something my tired brain overlooked. So, please tell me how to defeat these guys. If someone can't help me, then this encounter will receive the ultimate rebuff, CTRL-Y the baddies and leave the treasure on the ground except for the component.

[thetruth]

@rbeverjr


As I wrote in my previous post you could use a chracter who has PfMWs to distract the Death Lords and take their hits.

I repeat use SI: Abjuration + Spell Shield + Spell Trap and keep casting SI: Abjuration if the Demons bring it down.

In the meantime keep attacking with your other party members.Concentrate your attacks on the first Death Lord and then the second.
GWWs are very useful here since with the many R.Magic spells of the demons I.Haste gets dispelled.

I wouldn't bother casting spells on them, but you can use your spell casters for other purposes.

- Mages can summon Mord.Swords, or use the Rod of Resurrection to insta-heal badly injured party members. Remember that a clone (Simulacrum,PI) can use the Rod too (very useful in extreme battles) .

- Bards have a bad THACO for these battles but you could use them with the buffs I suggested above or you can always have them sing.Improved Bard song is quite useful.

- Clerics have a great 7 level spell:

Greater Restoration will full heal ALL your party members even those out of the visual range of the cleric.

When you kill the Death Lords concentrate on the Demon Lord.

His main power (even more than his resistances) is his high AC.Also he is immune to +3 or less weapons IIRC.
Buffs from potions are not so useful in this battle because they get dispelled from the R.Magic.
So if you have Critical Strike it can make the battle easier.

Are you still having trouble killing the Demon Lord ?
Then in the Oasis you get one of the most powerful weapons of the game.
Read the description of the Answerer and you will see that the AC of the Demon will be no more a problem for you

From the comments that I read on other threads, you are a tactics maestro, defeating Ascension with a simple fighter.

Heh thanks but I assure you that I am nothing like that.
I have just played the game too many times with mods like IA,Tactics etc.

As for soloing Ascension with a plain Fighter, it's easier that it sounds if you are masochist enough (don't mind reloading constantly ) and can exploit the game's AI.
Something that would be impossible with IA though