v7/Sibel mageless run, TOB melissan complete Options

[bulian]

Mages rule supreme! Well at least their buffing (IH, PFME, etc.) and debuffing (breach) powers do. I've long wanted to see whether a mageless and bardless party was possible. In 6.5 I took a solo avenger through the underdark but got stuck on Kruin's undispellable hardiness (journal posted here somewhere), so dealing with hardiness is a key factor for a game.

Here are the custom rules:

- Mages can be joined for their quests but cannot participate in battles,
- Mages can be joined to cast freedom spells as well as limited wish spells
- Mages can be joined to trigger Zallanora encounter
- No XP granting tweaks or mods besides Tower of Deception (v 3.2, IA canon), which can't be accessed until Ch 6
- Custom classes for NPCs allowed. Specifically, Korgan (wizard slayer), Valygar (Vagrant), and Imoen (Riskbreaker)
- Hard version of spellhold will be in effect if XP is too high
- I may use godbow item once an encounter is beat to save RL time. For example, spiders in undertomb of graveyard district.
- BG1 tomes and bags from Tweaks, no simplified economy
- Happy NPC tweak from IATweaks so Korgan doesn't leave.

Party design and strategy:

Since V7.0 game has a new druid stronghold and I haven't played the finalized druid final fights, we'll go with an Avenger PC, targeting dual wield (even though nerfed still powerful).
We will also be relying on powerful summons to help augment APRs and need another source of IH (ritual, whirlwind). Therefore, Jaheira (avenger) will fill the second slot. She will join almost immediately since she is buggy if joined later.
Since Sibel mod requires Sibel, we'll go with Sibel S->C.
The wizard slayer purge ability fills a big gap on the debuffing side. We'll use Korgan (wizard slayer) for this, though Keldorn is also an interesting potential NPC here.
There is still the problem of party APR. A riskbreaker (Imoen) and a late game vagrant (Valygar) will help quite a bit.
It may be that we mix in Cernd, let's see.

Overall the party comprises 6 excellent melee characters, 4 of which have self-IH (2x Avenger, vagrant, riskbreaker) and 3 of which have APR boosting items (Sibel, wizard slayer, avenger) with 4x big summoners (2x clan hunter, swanmay queen, arch deva) and a purge ability up to 3x per day that can take down hardiness, SI:A, PFMW, etc.

I will take the route of least resistance for XP and also try to maximize total party XP by arguably exploiting the scripts that give NPC XP upon joining the party. Therefore, this means I'll keep the party as small as possible, ideally just Sibel/PC/Jaheira (since Jaheira does not get XP if joined after prison), and we'll postpone joining Valygar (therefore planar sphere), Korgan, and going to Spellhold as long as possible.

This post has been edited by bulian: Aug 23 2024, 02:42 AM

[bulian]

Journal:

• avenger PC (18, 17,16,8,18,18), boot imoen, join and send minsc away (PC gains lvl 9, clan hunter). clear chateau using clan hunter and summons (nymph and then animal II). join yoshimo to unlock and disarm first level and then boot (more XP clearing 2nd level solo then from traps). PC uses wisdom, charisma, dex/int books but save strength/con books. clear second level (PC XP 233k) and free/join jaheira just before leaving. PC XP 271k.
• Join Sibel (immediate dual to cleric), circus (don't turn in rep (295k XP) copper coronet trash (beastmaster too hard), prebek, rescue jan and lockpick/traps part of city, turn in to gaelen (371k, sibel level 7), lockpick/trap reset of city, maever's quests up to turn in docs (rep 10), rescue viconia (rep 8), buy rep 12 (3500 GP), boot viconia (rep 14), turn in skinner (rep 15), dock minotuars, neb/return illithium to sarles (don't turn in), fallen paladins and turn in (rep 16), temple sewers early, maevar, mook, ployer, beastmaster, guild contact (2 brides), sewer mists, beholder cult (yaun ti mage difficult, 3 gauth across bridge, sibel regains swash), use rod on beholder, turn in (rep 17), turn in sarles (ring of sune). PC XP 888
• neera's refuge (join her to unlock area then disband), umar hills early quests (sibel hits lvl 11), windspear hills outside and mists (summons strong enough - 2x CH, 4x bear 1x aeriel servant), cleric 1, lilarcor (summons very strong, couple reloads), suna seni (greater command, summons), vampire 1, renfeld, xzar, harper hold, graveyard, under graveyard (except bodhi's lair/pai'na), rescue hexxat (PC hits lvl 13 so CH has +3 weapons), sibel's quest (make sure to buy catfood!, best gift placement, 3x item upgrades, AC-17), cleric 2, bodhi's lair, vampire 2 (Sibel lvl 13). PC XP 1533
• de'arnise keep lvl 1/2, jaheira 1 (PC XP 1648k), torgal (melee rush, water's edge +3, don't turn in), rasaad, neera (sibel lvl 14), buy staff/belt from talos (8k), cleric 3/4, montaron's body, mekrath's imp/mekrath (fight)/return portal gem (mistake - save for >2350k for spiders), ashideena (PC XP 1875k), vampire 3, hexxat 1, crypt king (PC XP 1938k), dorn 1/2/3 (console to advance timer, PC XP 1991, rep 14), temple ruins (anath, jainer, undead, PC XP 2096k, Sibel lvl 15), jaheira 2, tanova, screaming statue (sibel solos 1, skeleton warriors 2, 2x anaconda 2x CH 2x bears 1x skeleton warrior 3), temple/bridge lich, sewer rakasha, mencar (sibel/anacondas punch through improved mantle), ruhk (only 1 AI)/golems (doorway)/sibel talk (45k XP)/vampires/werewolves/golems(PC lvl 14), conster (presummon before talking to fiirkraag, melee rush), guardians (why so annoying?)/tomb mist, dermin fight (Sibel lvl 17), turn in de'arnise keep and paladin, PCXP 2689k

PC now has level 7 spells so summon army is much more potent. However, clearly the hardest-mode Spellhold will be encountered, giving a new sub-goal is to clear as much content as possible. Sibel is insanely powerful right now and basically completed screaming statue with minimal support. But party and summon army can take on groups of five golems so is in general quite strong.

• slavers, hexxat 2, borinall, receive harper's pin, pirates (summon then melee captain, then 2x creeping doom on sibel hitting coordinator), jan's quest, forge harper's ward (75k)/boots of speed (50k)/paws of the furious cats (60k), paina (melee everything under free action, 3 spawn), gaius (creeping doom delivery, sibel lvl 18, no diamond necklaces), paladin 1, shadelord (~20 attempts, summon 2x CH anaconda, shadow patrick/2x SWL, get lucky with 3x AHDW, should have waited and come back but trying to avoid many encounters, plus execution of fight are reproducible except for ADHW survival) and turn in (rep 17), keldorn, paladin 2, fighter 1 (PC lvl 15), paladin 3, ranger 1 (Jaheira lvl 15), squirrel 1: PC XP 3075k
• join cernd (~3MM XP), disband cernd, druid grove/rakasha/belm (1 spawn)/faldorn/werewolves/nilthiri/troll mound guardians (PC XP 3205k), buy AoP (3k), kill djinnis and turn in (rep 18, PC lvl 16), founder (no Rhynn), ranger 2 (jaheira lvl 16), fighter 2, forge TFA+3 (50k)/imp yeti cloak+2 (40k)/upgrade horn 2x(7k), druid ambush (overrun but focused down jagdu, 28k pp kill XP, PC XP 3338, new staff is quite nice), anomen 1, cernd, planar prison (invisible potions and bonk elite, 1-2 spawns from each ghost spider, destroy orb and outlast warden PFMW scrolls since SI:A, arouind 19 planar hounds, PXCP 3564k), fighter 3, fael mages, chaos, bard 1, theshal (2x smilidon, 2x CH, many anaconda, 3-4 bone devils, PC XP 3683k), fighter 4 (troll mound impossible - hardiness + vengeance trolls, umar too hard), thaxy (Sibel lvl 21, deva), umar (many tries, wonderous imp killed before coin/gem spawns, outlast PFMW scrolls, 8x skeletons killed), rescue mazzy/gorf the squisher, PC XP 3797k

Available Ch2/3 encounters excluding WK are almost exhausted since I don't want to join Valygar yet. But I did learn of a secret encounter with Fael that I had never experienced and also took out theshal, thaxy, shadelord, and umar. PC is missing +4 weapon and is very far from level 19 where clan hunter gets +4 weapons. Either WK, increase party size (e.g. Valygar and planar sphere), or go for spellhold. next.

• WK1 (PC/Jaheira lvl 18, ritual, spider queen - rush and ignore helpers, she falls quickly, no webs, golem room Sibel hits lvl 22 archdeva, 4139k), fighter 5, bard 2, forge shadow dragon armor (5k)/golden spider (75k), anomen 2, wk2 (2x coins on elemental, chromatic demon - focus fire get lucky with remove magic, 3x tries, 4481k), fighter 6, forge FoA+4, samia (summons very strong), windmaster, fiirkraag (~5 tries, PC XP 4630), fighter 7, forge boots of speed (50k)/circlet of golden flowers (100k)/water's edge (50k), bard 4, troll mound (troll king first round, vengeance trolls, outlast PFMW troll queen) PCXP 4738k
• wk3 (don't milk demons, tieflings - prebuff, rush mage, demons - rest, rebuff, wraith - summons, outlast PFMW, jaheira tanks 3x ADHW - PCXP 5203k, aesgerath - win, win, lose/fight, cure yakman - PCXP 5302k), deck of many things - donjon/star (PC - wisdom)/moon (10 HP PC)). Its not possible to fight the green wyrm or supreme golem now, so this is as far as the pre-spellhold WK journey goes. Bard 5, forge rimed club (50k)/potion of clear thinking (50k - PC uses), roenall (secret exit flank, summon army, creeping doom sibel delivery, PC XP - 5410k)

I did not know you could forge noble spider in Ch 2/3. All party members have +4 weapons (PC - rimed club, Jaheira - silent hunt staff, Sibel - King of Clubs), and army is very good now with archdeva, 2x Clan Hunter, 2x smilodon, noble spider, and anacondas, all of which hit with +4 weapons. Up next are very hard encounters - guarded compound, illithid lair, vanya quests, etc.

• guarded compound (first floor - easy, second floor - drink invis potions, run to nearest room, summons and angles, outlast AI from sion, PCXP 5516), ancient lich (12 SGL), GEG (3 golems, down before 1st purge, PC XP 5664), bard 6 (try both ancient mage and assassins but they are too difficult), illithid lair (first room - sibel creeping doom delivery, girdle of inertial barrier and hill giant strength, 2nd room - 3 golems, time PFMW for alhoon, periapit of poison, PCXP 5848k), bard 7 (barbarians)/8/9 (performance, and sell, PCXP 5915k, lvl25), turn in dawn ring/traisa (PC/Jaheira lvl 25, best clan hunter with +5 weapons)/mazzy 2, vanya 1 assassins (6103k, sibel creeping doom delivery, take out coordinators then trash then guildmaster at end, no milking, PCXP 6103k, ~160k pp, 7 RoP+1, ~160 invisibility potions), turn in assassins, join edwin cast limited wish (no platemail option!) and zallanora (annoying amount of spawns, no XP!), edwin quest, gong quest, vanya 2 serpents (prebuff before labyrinth, CS down), turn in vanya (PCXP 6276), gaxx (sibel dies to 3x ADHW, jaheira imprisoned, edwin frees jaheira), PC XP 6331k

That covers everything available except for planar sphere/mage stronghold, gate lich, twisted rune, orcus, and the ancient mage - not bad for a nature loving duo and a time traveling pious swashbuckler.

• forge magic blossom potion (50k, PC, PCXP 6581k), note - this bumps up Valygar's joining XP by 1 MM. join valygar (vagrant, 6161k) and korgan (wizard slayer, 6161k), valygar uses strength tome, planar sphere (PCXP 6902k), forge truth (100k)/AoP+2 (60k)/buy maulers arm (6k)/forge phosphorous (90k), gate lich, Note: orcus (drop daystar, enter crypt, summon army, buff very well, two purge magics after skeletons/vampires down, no BE used, PCXP 7022k). Really fun, but skip this since exploitive of engine, mage stronghold (dagger/scroll/stop, pay ribald), twisted rune (purge magic on layene and vampire, 2nd purge on vaxall/lich, jaheira/sibel die to CC:3xAHDW), mage stronghold finale, orcus (legit approach - join with very good prebuffs, summon 2x CH/swanmay queen/archdeva while Orcus summons his army and duke it out. Jaheira dies during SGL, vampires spawn during SGL, lords spawn during vampires, eventually just orcus. Sibel unsilenced and raises jaheira, outlast PFMW, PCXP 7108k), ancient mage (kill as fast as possible, only 4 golems PCXP 7170k), forge girdle of lordly might (60k)/ring of djinni summoning (15k), join yoshimo, depart for spellhold. crafting and misc supplies: 12x necklace of the rich, 3x perm scroll, 4x mem boosting, 2x elab, 5x chunks of amber. This comprises every available encounter.
  
• brynlaw dwarf/ginia/claire/buy girdle (1k)/mage (3 golems)/external spellhold (mists,rest,trolls)/desharik/give up dex (PCXP 7314k), spellhold (HARDMODE! first time in ages, riddles/spiders (7368k)/golems (no XP??), spellhold2 - lots of spawns, ghostspider - 4x spawns, purge - lich, librarian, shaman. sibel solos vampire master under low AC until hardiness wears off, PC 7509k, join Imoen (7.16 MM XP), PC uses Sibel strength tome, rest, spellhold 3 - spawns are annoying, summons before 8x SWL and straight to mithril golem. PCXP 7694k XP), irenicus - purge magic and CS, down before golems spawn, sibel ambush, escape brynlaw, balduran island (3 spawns total, PC XP 7804k), sahaugin city - side with king (PCXP 7963k), descende to underdark (PCXP 7983k)
  underdark - ambushes are super easy, only 2 spiders on 1st on, none on 2nd even with high levels, buy spear of withering and yellow potions (45k), no mage encounters available in tavern. overall, easy at these levels - dracolich did one wail and couldn't overcome summon armies or 3x purge and high level dispels, noble efreeti died to melee, demon knights and demon lord die immediately once purged. don't betray adalon, save illithid (need rep) and imprisoned mage (no freedom) for ch 6 return trip PC XP: 8669k

Hardmde spellhold is... challenging, even at these levels, but several mistakes could have eased it. While joining the high level NPCs feels a bit game breaking since everyone is high level, I'm not sure that it is since practically speaking the party can rest to have purge magic and summon army for key encounters (except in hardmode spellhold), and not having any arcane support is a significant disadvantage. But it is a big advantage. Beating Orcus before Spellhold was a first for me and rather fun. Overall, the Wizard Slayer is living up to its name and made Irenicus and Demon Lords fight trivial, eased Dracolich fight by taking out 3x PFMWs, and significantly eased several minor fights such as Drow Ambushes, Sahuagin mages, liches, etc.

• recruit drizzt, small teeth pass/north forest/forest of tethy, kruin (purge, dies first round, elementals die before any summons), buried ambitions (part I - felern is a beast PC XP 8805k, rest, part II - +4 weapons for boss straight from underdark is tough, PC XP 8892k, dragon breath sure would be nice for this fight...), pitre/turn in, ancient priest (very fun revamp though instant GR makes it a bit easy), reginald's ghost (all except RB Imoen have PFLD, 9x word of wisdom keeps it safe), forge boots of the riskbreaker lord (30k)/symbol of wisdom (30k)/ring of djinni summoning (60k)/improved cat figurine (80k)/treefolk's fist (50k)/adamantite horn of valhalla (10k)/indigo ioun stone (20k)/wave (7.5k)/poseidon's wrath (150k) - total 537k, bodhi's lair - no gift, forge pendant of recovered light (60k)/boots of focused combat (50k), remaining crafting supplies: 5 perm scroll, 4 mem boost, 4 elab, 8 amber. PCXP: 9225
• green wyrm (purge and offsite dispels form Sibel with frequent zone of clean airs), forge boots of the rangerlord (125k), join edwin to cast freedom in underdark then boot, retrieve pull, vithal (betray him, rep 18), ancient golem (no spawns, didn't last a single round, was softened 1x), illithid lair (rep 19, no spawns on golem), forge warhammer+3(15k)/amber chunk (5k)/hammer axe (50k)/improved silent hunt (40k), sulda (outside/AMBush/Nizi (use all summons, dies almost instantly) house of horn (rush rakasha, then GEG, only 1x amber chunk), rest of city promenade), virtus I, turn in circus (rep 20, lol), buy warblade+4 (13k), forge glimmering amber amulet (75k)/warblade+5 (regen, 50k), return Yoshimo's heart, remaining crafting supplies: 8 chunk of amber, 4 perm, 3 elab, 5 mem boost, 23 necklace of the rich PCXP: 9880
• buried ambitions finale (prebuff, melee everything, 1 purge for green hardiness, lots of ZoCA spells memorized, few GR but never much danger, PC XP 9985k, sibel lvl 39, final dialogue writing is fantastic - good job Critto!), forge rust dragon armor (75k)/rust dragon cloak (60k)/avenger's dream (50k), sibel govt, sibel finale (long pause very disruptive to buffs, valygar dies to 3x AHDW in phase 2, how I miss dragon breath, PC XP 10172k, lvl 39, gain 3x reinforced amber), sell some stuff, forge flask ( 50k)/fruitful attempt (30k)/reinforced amber (30k)/chunk of amber (5k)/amber horn (50k)/reinforced horn (50k), use flask (+30 HP/magic damage resist), remaining crafting supplies: 10 chunk of amber, 4 perm, 3 elab, 5 mem boost, 25 necklace of the rich, 6 perm, 5 mem boost, 1 elab, PCXP: 10172k

I really enjoyed the druid quest finale and Sibel SoA finale with the party. The lack of IH, dragon's breath, and remove magic is noticeable, but only barely - the party has responses for any threat. The remainder of WK and demogorgon are on the docket before TOB. Gold has not been an issue even while (unnecessarily) holding onto necklace of the rich, though selling scrolls pretty much as they are acquired helps.

• WK4- supreme leader (inquisitors hardest part, purge->CS->dead SL), demilich (death ward undispellable), saladrex (sibel stays back for GR duty). No aeger hide check code (global = 2) so it should have been in Bodhi's lair. Spawn with console and fix gloal = 3, illithid/golems (1x golem out of 3x spawns)/rock, use machine- wis/dex/cha/int-PC, con-valygar, str - korgan, PCXP: 10403k
• wk5 - skeleton grandlord spawn, 4x elemental group (2 golems only, Imoen lvl 39)/globes (3x red (1 golem), 4x green, 3x purple, 4x blue w/o rest Jaehira 39), finish globes/mind key (korgan lvl 39)/riddle/horde (kill mages, pixie dust since wizard slayer can't drink invis potion), ancient dragon (sibel stays back, melee helpers, 3x purge, 2-3x offscreen dispel magic from sibel), forge corthala armor (75k, needs reworked for vagrant), treefolk's fury (75k), NSoE (60k), hammer of thor (75k)/2x chunk of amber (10k)/helm of balduran (40k)/talisman of shielding (60k)/girdle of majestic might (50k)/girdle of cloud giant str (30k)/adamantite staff of strength (75k). total: 550k, remaining crafting and misc items: 5 mem boost, 2 perm, 0 elab, 3 chunk of amber, 26 necklace of the rich,
• demogorgon - buff very well (resists/CC/giant strength on some party and key summons), full summon army (2x CH, 2x smilidon, 1 prince (NSoE), archdeva, element (sibel), 2x greater swanmay, 1x swanmay queen, noble spider, greater djinni, forgot to use horn warrior and could have summoned a few more anacondas, but 12 summons plus 6 melee party is enough), purge magic 3x targetting nulonga/kargoth, then roz/kazuul, then belcheresk, demo. jaheira somehow dies when just demo due to laziness. only 1 vargouille, no escorts, around 4 rounds total), Valygar lvl 36, sell a bunch of stuff, deep cuts. forge amber chunk (5k)/damascus blade (75k)/great wyrm armor (125k). wish i hadn't forged the amber horn upgrade to have more chunks (phosphorous, roses in particular). irenicus/hell (good path, 0 golem spawns), remaining crafting and misc items: 1 amber chunk, 6 mem boost, 3 perm scroll, 26 necklace of the rich, 44 RoP+1 (unworn),PCXP: 11292k

Wizard Slayer destroyed these hard fights by timely removal of buffs. Demogorgon fight was almost trivial due to high level buffs from party, complete debuffing of enemies by wizard slayer, and a huge summon army.

• ilasera (she dies instantly after WS purge, all SGL spawn), pocket plane challenge, saradush (so much items to pickup and sell, I miss simplified economy), forge helm of the rock (5k)/foebane(5k)/improved cloak of protection+2 (20k), gromnir (3x purge magic to take down mage, next time wait for IA to be pausing), rescue merchant (buy obsidian ioun stone and spear +3 (17k)), shadow temple and fire giant temple, forge dagger of starts (5k)/axe of the unyielding (5k), yagashura (use purges on elite body guards), pocket plane 2
• oasis (strong summons first round, rush jamis, purge hits mages and clerics, keep sibel free for GR (2-3x used), amekrathan (outside - PC hits 12200k, return soul gem, rescue priest etc.), sibel finale (phase I - urge magic/kill all liches first round, storm of vengeance takes out undertakers (slowly), whittle down greater ambers and summon army, use flask for regen, phase II - CS down and use purges once PFMWs start, korgan gets kill, valygar lvl 39), forge reinforced staff of strength (90k)/phosphorous +5 (40k)/blade of roses (50k)/reinforced indigo ioun stone (40k)/adorned horn (50k)/spear of shrivel (60k)/shield of missionaire+6 (2x40k), dragon lord (200k)/heartwood ring (5k)/improvedboots of the ranger lord (50k) total spent: 655k, crafting remaining: 4 perm, 7 mem boost, 0 elab, 1 greater chunk, 1 chunk, 26 neckalce of the rich
• draconis/abazigal (ignore golems, 2x purges and he's down), sendai's enclave outside, forge hindo's doom +4 (5k - note wizard slayer can cast GR from it)/FoA+5 (5k), sendai's enclave (valygar/jaheira hit lvl 40, all XP maxed, no SGL on odamaron, sendai - buff during fight, use purges but she still has PFMW, sell all goods, join neera to sell mechanical bird, forge short sword of mask +5 (5k)/spectral brand+5 (5k), 2x CoP+2 (60k), 2x RoP+4 (120k+120k+180k = 420k), 3x RoP+2 (90k). total: 580k. crafting remaining: 7 mem boost, 8 perm, 3 elab, 27 RoP+1, 27 necklace of the rich
• sell necklace of the rich and other items, forge remaining desirables (hesperus (100k), valygar katana (75k), githerzia blade (75k - console in silver sword (10k)), corrosive lance (75k). Leftover gold: 470k), pocket plane 3/4, balthazar via saemon (never went this way before) leaving all mercenaries left alive, pocketplane 5, EDE (summon very well, prebuff very well, all summons to NW ultra, party CS down supreme (1 elemental, no spawns) then SE ultra (no amber) then elemental then NW ultra (1 amber), outlast AI from prince (wizard slayer doesn't purge his AI), 1 rakasha spawns, melissan (very good finale, last round is brutal - few/no resources, difficult to kill guardians)

TOB is always a slog. It is what it is, I suppose. Sikret and Critto did a fantastic job over the years making it as interesting and challenging as it could be. The new Melissan finale is very difficult and a fitting end to the mod. Oasis wasn't as bad as I thought - powerful army in first round along with getting Jamis down in first or second round really eased things, and the WS purges meant the mages were killable before they could do much damage. Overall, wizard slayer was super powerful and useful. I missed the buffing abilities of the mage and certain high level spells (wish, RVE, dragon's breath, improved haste) so it would be a difficult choice to choose between a WS and a sorcerer or necromancer. So why not both?!?

This post has been edited by bulian: Aug 23 2024, 12:51 AM

[bulian]

Reserved

[lroumen]

What will you dual-wield? Club+scimitar and later dagger?

[bulian]

Initial PC proficiencies were club **/scimitar */dual wield *. Plan is to have treefolk's arm/belm, but even +3 club single weapon wield from beastmaster is very strong early game. Level 12 pip will be dagger, then round out scimitar, dagger, and then get staves etc.

[nicoper]

@bulian: Impressive attempt! Was once tempted to try mage-free run, but RRoR and Breach prevented me to, as well as my poor skills at using dispel magic without triggering it on party

Just for info you can trigger mage/Zallanora ambush without a mage, there is a belt (Rassad or Neera quest, do not remember precisely) that triggers minor globe on hit (with a %), and mages in city react to it

This post has been edited by nicoper: Jul 29 2024, 06:56 PM

[lroumen]

ah yes, dual wield before dagger makes sense. I am tempted to play a similar avenger in v7, but my v6.6 (?) shaman game with the cleric enhancements is now at the point where it is nearly at the end of SoA. Since ToB is short I think I will finish that first, which will take me the summer.

Enjoy your play! I am curious how no-breach no-ruby ray works out. I cannot imagine doing it to be honest. I have enough problems as it is playing on normal Core. I never remember what counters what and I need to try out encounters all the time (although this run I am taking notes).

This post has been edited by lroumen: Jul 29 2024, 08:35 PM

[pekkae]

Haha! I though I was doing an "extreme run" since I didn't have a single class arcane caster with me (let alone Necro), but this is next level.

Do you have a plan for Demo?

And I guess Judgemenet Day is snubbed (as it will provide constant IH to a character), especially a Kensai.

Also, if you postpone the last WK fights to ToB you can grab upgraded cloaks +2 from Cespenar which will provide IH (for 23 rounds if I remember right).

[kilorew]

Haha! I though I was doing an "extreme run" since I didn't have a single class arcane caster with me (let alone Necro), but this is next level.

Do you have a plan for Demo?

And I guess Judgemenet Day is snubbed (as it will provide constant IH to a character), especially a Kensai.

Also, if you postpone the last WK fights to ToB you can grab upgraded cloaks +2 from Cespenar which will provide IH (for 23 rounds if I remember right).

Judgement Day is snubbed completely because the PC is a Druid (Do wish those restrictions were eased )

This run does look very doable to be honest, think the wizard slayer will shine in many fights considering the fact there's no mage (kind of redundant having both in the same party)

In my head it looks like the toughest fight will be probably Ancient Dragon? Good luck!

[pekkae]

In my head it looks like the toughest fight will be probably Ancient Dragon? Good luck!

That shouldn't be a problem; one can dispel with wizard slayer, Sibel or a little bit with the double-avenger. It should be enough.

[kilorew]

In my head it looks like the toughest fight will be probably Ancient Dragon? Good luck!

That shouldn't be a problem; one can dispel with wizard slayer, Sibel or a little bit with the double-avenger. It should be enough.

Ancient Dragon for purposes of Divine spell casting is level 39 (Arcane level 32) Sibel/Avengers will have a very long way to go in a 6 person party to reliably dispel that.

[pekkae]

Yup, divine is much higher.

But pfmw is arcane, so the level is much lower (maybe level 32?).

I just whacked ancient dragon + minions, my auramaster managed to dispel just fine. Though my crew is quite well exp-maxed. I think my auramaster was +1 level compared to ancient dragon (arcane level).

[bulian]

Thanks for the vote of confidence! Oasis is probably the fight that scares me the most in this run, since pre-buffing is generally important for avenger maximization. Plus the ones I'm not as familiar with (last two druid quest encounters, final encounter of rakasha prince). Definitely later mage spells will be missed (dragon's breath, wish, rve, IH) at many points throughout the run.

Regarding JD sword, some of the code around those drops got tweaked in v7 development so I don't believe the Tweaks package to enable drops will fully work for it. Still, you can mess with near infinity pretty easily to locally enable some of those encounters if you really want them - I get the desire for completionist runs since I wrote the original tweaks. Perhaps one day I'll get to fixing it, but in either case the JD sword did get reworked quite a bit and isn't nearly as OP as it used to be.

[bulian]

SoA/WK/demogorgon complete. i'll give the first part of the run (PC avenger/Jaheira/Sibel clearing through Vanya's second quest in Ch 2/3, 6.3 MM XP) two thumbs up. Hardest part was figuring out pathing during this time.

I'll give the rest of the run an asterisk due to the high level NPC experience joining trick, and perhaps i'll circle back with a smaller party size or give joining NPCs more moderate XP levels. But in either case, the mageless run is very possible albeit difficult, and a well timed purge magic (or three) on the party side is incredibly powerful.

TOB next!

[bulian]

TOB run complete! Melissan final fight was a fitting end - great work, Critto and Sikret! Overall, this is an achievable party to work with - for someone new to the mod, I'd recommend having a wizard slayer and a mage to facilitate mass destruction and key buffs, but this was a fun challenge playthrough.

[critto]

Good stuff! Congrats on finishing the run. Now I can finally read the whole journal :-)

[Sikret]

Congrats, bulian! I'm particularly glad that you liked the new Wizard Slayer kit and Milissan finale.