Vuki's experience with IA V5.0, Using a special party composition Options

[Vuki]

I started a new party because I was a little bit tired and bored with the previous one. My previous party was a usual IA party: sorcerer protagonist + barbarian + blade + ranger->cleric (dual) + cleric/mage (multi) + monk. I will surely continue my old game later on but at the moment I concentrate on the new party. Ok, so this is the new party composation (and their current statistics):

Protagonist: Lothar, a half-elf Vagrant: Chaotic Good; lvl 9th; Axe++, Flail++, Club++, two-weapon style+++
Barbie, the half-ork barbarian (he is a male! ): Chaotic Good; lvl 9th; 2H Sword++, Spear+, Quater Staff++, 2H weapon style++
Ince, the Inquisitor: Lawful Good; lvl 9th; 2H Sword++, Halberd++, Quater Staff+, 2H weapon style++
Rancle, the Ranger->Cleric (dual class): Neutral Good; lvl 7/9th; War Hammer++, Club++, Flail++, Mace++, Quater Staff+, two-weapon style+++
Berti, the Berserker->Thief (dual): Chaotic Neutral; lvl 9/10th; Long Sword++, Scimitar+, Short Sword+, Dagger+, Club++, Dart+, two-weapon style+++
Cernd, the Auramaster: True Neutral; lvl 11th; Scimitar+, Dagger+, Quater Staff+, Sling+

Yes, there is no arcane caster at all! And there will be no arcane caster in the future as well. I will replace sometimes Cernd with other NPCs to trigger their quest but not arcane caster NPC. That was my intention from the beginning and it is a concept and not an accident.

I think in a lot of cases it will make my life harder but some battles will be easier. Also I do not have to prebuff as much because I am not able to do as much prebuff as with an arcane caster. Life is good.

I will write here my experience with this party as I advance in the game. I will update my second post here (so, not this one). I will write it from the viewpoint of Lothar. Btw, I have no idea how I was able to find such a name. Lothar. In the other cases I think the naming logic is clear.

Ps. Sorry for my not so good English! I hope it would be still enjoyable.

Update:
Part 1 is finished
Part 2 is finished
Part 3 is finished
Part 4 is partially entered

This post has been edited by Vuki: Sep 1 2008, 09:33 AM

[Vuki]

We killed our first lich! See the updated walkthrough! I noticed something interesting and I am not sure if I am right or not. During PfMW party hit the lich by non-magical weapons. It does not affect the lich of course but does it remove the stoneskin? My second idea is that it does not affect the lich anyway, so it does not remove his stoneskin.

[SpellStorm]

We killed our first lich! See the updated walkthrough! I noticed something interesting and I am not sure if I am right or not. During PfMW party hit the lich by non-magical weapons. It does not affect the lich of course but does it remove the stoneskin? My second idea is that it does not affect the lich anyway, so it does not remove his stoneskin.

No, it doesn't. Any message in the battle text window which states: 'Weapon Ineffective' doesn't count as a hit, and thus does not remove stoneskin/mirror image, nor does it apply special melee character or weapon effects (no spellcasting failure applied in case of Wizard Slayer attack in this case, for instance).

If an enemy is immune to certain type of damage, like missile damage, and the text in the battle window states '*** was immune to my damage' it still counts as a hit, and will apply any of the other hit effects, such as elemental damage, spellcasting failure for Wizard Slayers, and will also remove a Stoneskin or Mirrored Image.

Besides, since you have Cernd in the party, I'm surprised that you didn't try several Insect Plagues on the lich. The Mace of Disruption also may prove useful.

This post has been edited by SpellStorm: Sep 4 2008, 08:32 AM

[Vuki]

No, it doesn't. Any message in the battle text window which states: 'Weapon Ineffective' doesn't count as a hit, and thus does not remove stoneskin/mirror image, nor does it apply special melee character or weapon effects (no spellcasting failure applied in case of Wizard Slayer attack in this case, for instance).

I knew it, I just confused something. Maybe I sleep less than enough?

If an enemy is immune to certain type of damage, like missile damage, and the text in the battle window states '*** was immune to my damage' it still counts as a hit, and will apply any of the other hit effects, such as elemental damage, spellcasting failure for Wizard Slayers, and will also remove a Stoneskin or Mirrored Image.

Strange thing was that one of my character used arrows against Firkraag and I did not see any such a message however he still did not make any damage. But I will check it again.

Besides, since you have Cernd in the party, I'm surprised that you didn't try several Insect Plagues on the lich. The Mace of Disruption also may prove useful.

I thought that the lich is immune to 1-5 level spells and Insect Plague is 5th level. So, I did not try it. I used the mace against him but I was not able to affect him during PfMW and when it was removed then he died very soon.