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]

Personally, I think that any fighter with Stoneskin and Protection from Magic Weapons and other spells is more "overpowered."

Who said that I don't consider F/Ms overpowered as well ?


But even a high level F/M with every protection possible can be defeated since his/her protections can be dispelled.

Now a Morituri at the XP CAP can have a "permanent" 100% resistance to physical damage ( 40% innate + 20% Defender of E. + 40% Hardiness).

Hardiness has a long duration at high levels (5-6 of them can get you through a high duration battle) and note that it is undispellable.
Now add on top of that a MR of near 100%, a -8 to saving throws, elemental resistances and other immunitites/abilities.

Honestly I can't find a more powerful kit out there.Maybe only the Druidic Sorcerer can be compared to power and even he will be much less effective with a mod like IA.

[Mordokai]

Hardiness has a long duration at high levels (5-6 of them can get you through a high duration battle) and note that it is undispellable.

But it can be breached. While it doesn't happen often, it does happen, and when it does, it can be painful Still, I agree, morituri is way overpowered, since it efectialy merges three already powerful classes together(monk, kensai, barbarian, iirc).

And if physical damage is a problem, Valygar can withstand that one very well too. New item that you get in ranger new quest + flail of defending and wounding + Judgement day + hardiness + shield of fate = 100+% physical damage. With the right potions, and his improved family armor, he is night unstopable. Luckily his family katana has been nerfed, he was way too powerful with that baby in his hands

[Sikret]

Hardiness has a long duration at high levels (5-6 of them can get you through a high duration battle) and note that it is undispellable.

But it can be breached. While it doesn't happen often, it does happen, and when it does, it can be painful Still, I agree, morituri is way overpowered, since it efectialy merges three already powerful classes together(monk, kensai, barbarian, iirc).

And if physical damage is a problem, Valygar can withstand that one very well too. New item that you get in ranger new quest + flail of defending and wounding + Judgement day + hardiness + shield of fate = 100+% physical damage. With the right potions, and his improved family armor, he is night unstopable. Luckily his family katana has been nerfed, he was way too powerful with that baby in his hands

Fortunately, Valygar doesn't have 3 hands to wield his improved family katana + Flail of Defending an Wounding + JD sword! (Not to mention that forging all these items plus his improved family armor will cost no less than 525000 gp and plenty of other components! )

BTW, what is Shield of Fate? It's not an IA item. (He will need an extra hand for the shield too.)

This post has been edited by Sikret: Feb 26 2007, 11:58 PM