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.

[rbeverjr]

Thanks for the replies. I was appalled that Carsomyr never seems to do anything. When I had Item Upgrades, I could see spell effects disappear. It didn't seem to happen this time. I was actually considering sending in my mage with Staff of the Magi under Tenser's and Protection from Magic Weapons.

I have always been reluctant to bring in my pure mages into combat. In the unmodded game they can rain havoc from afar, but I can try to let them be distractions. I like better the idea of just sending in the Mord's.

I think the key here will be switching my focus to eliminating the Death Lords. I did not realize how much of an impact they were having on my THACO. If it weren't for them, my main character would miss the demon lord only on a 1. Another key is to make sure the game pauses often and carefully read what is happening. What spells do they have up? Are my weapons doing anything? If not, then why? I did this a little, but not very carefully. I usually don't like taking this much time. My vision always seemed to be blurred (half-asleep) when I run into these kinds of battles.

I know about The Answerer. Both it and the Soul Reaver could probably benefit me in this battle. Unfortunately, Saerileth took Soul Reaver out of the bag of holding and broke it. I never went to the Oasis, I left Saradush and went straight to the keep.

I went as far as I wanted in the current game; although, I may give this battle another go.

I think you are right about +3 weapons (thetruth). I don't think I ever hit, until I switched to a +4 weapon. But the +4 weapon is nothing compared to Blackrazor of Celestial Fury. (Although CF wouldn't be much help here. Hey, I did level drain something.)

I really wanted to play a kensai, because their offense is best until greater whirlwinds come. However, due to the huge amount of DR/damage of IA monsters, I'm thinking that I better stick with the morituri. Although I have ran away from such cheese in the past, it looks like I need to pull out a big wheel of it now. I'm thinking morituri, FMC, FMT, and sorcerer (no XP cap). In ToB, having a morituri, FMC, sorcerer, swashbuckler, and illusionist-fighter. What do you think?