V7 run, after loooong break Options

[SparrowJacek]

I've just realized I've missed Girdle of Fortitude in SoA. Any chance to find it in ToB, or I completely overlooked it in SoA?

It is randomized betwee 3 areas, two of which are in WK, so there's a chance that you'll still get it
SPOILER!

Teshal in Athkatlan sewers
Elemental Golem in WK level 2
Saladrex in WK level 4

ToB part could use a judgement day - esque fight (or two) somewhere.

What are the most characteristic aspects of that fight that you like?

This post has been edited by SparrowJacek: Mar 4 2025, 09:26 PM

[Shadan]

It is randomized betwee 3 areas, two of which are in WK, so there's a chance that you'll still get it

Thanks, it must be at 3rd place, because other 2 are done.

Meanwhile I've finshed Sradush, and killed Gromnir. It was quite straightforward, and Gromnir was quite good. Fist I've tried to kill Gromnir fast, but it seems this kind of tactic is not working in IA. When I read the message about this, then changed to kill others first. Karun the Black was the last since apparently he was above lvl 30, so I was not able to dispel with lvl 30 Sibel. The end of fight was a bit annoying. Karun was not able to pose any threat for my party. Nalia and Neera moved out of LoS after they were dispelled, to avoid any FoD or triple ADHW. But Karun had alot of spells, endless PfMW and very looooong SI:Div.

Yaga's lair was annoying also. Especially fire trolls. They were immune to acid and cold spells, and I was able to kill them only with acid and cold proc. from weapons. I don't know how they could be immune to spells, but I've tried MAA, Ice Strom, Cone of Cold, all of them gave an immune message several times. Otherwise Beren was a good fight, especially because my party was tired and out of some resources, but I didn't want to rest.

Yaga himself was a bit challange. 1st I wanted to kill him, while my mages under IA take care of bodyguards (RRRs + Breach), and other adds (Comets, ChL etc.) But apparently, I was not bale to bring Yaga under barely injured despite of Crit Strikes from 3 chars + Sibel, and avarage 36 attacks per round. Also I wonder why was he immune to Lower Resistance. I've casted severel of them on him, and no spell res. text, no immune text, no success text. I've loaded like 30 spells on him, after 3-4 LR, and only one of them did damage. I've found offensive magic extremely weak in IA, and I remembered Yaga fight as one of the few places where offensive magic can shine. Well, 2 mages under IA, LR on Elite Fire Giant, loaded like 20+ MAA, 10 ChL, 8 C. Orb, 12 Nahal MAA (some of them were wild surge), 8-10 LB, and giant didn't die... I had to change target for RRRs sometimes, and giant drunk 1 or maybe 2 potions. So all of this unsuccesful attempt, I used the same tatctic again:
Protagonist tanked Yaga at place where there was no room to be thrown away. RB, Sibel and Kensai killed adds in this order: bodyguards (after breached), clerics, elite fire giants, others. Mages RRR, Breach, loaded spells on Giants during IA, and sometimes cleared a bit with Comets and ADHW. After all adds died, Yaga was an easy pick.
I used only the best summons in this fight: clan hunter. smilodon, archdeva, noble spider, planetar, greater djinni, no other summon. Half of my crit strikes were unused at end of the fight (didn't cast Wish to refill them, but I had 2 Wishes in reserve), I used CS only on Yaga at end.

WK 4th level, the Oasis next.

Question: What is the difference between Dragon's Breath and Comet? As far as I saw, Comet is marginally better becuase of better knockback effect. Otherwise most enemies are immune to fire.

This post has been edited by Shadan: Mar 10 2025, 07:57 PM

[Berzerkerzz]

Meanwhile I've finshed Sradush, and killed Gromnir. It was quite straightforward, and Gromnir was quite good. Fist I've tried to kill Gromnir fast, but it seems this kind of tactic is not working in IA. When I read the message about this, then changed to kill others first. Karun the Black was the last since apparently he was above lvl 30, so I was not able to dispel with lvl 30 Sibel. The end of fight was a bit annoying. Karun was not able to pose any threat for my party. Nalia and Neera moved out of LoS after they were dispelled, to avoid any FoD or triple ADHW. But Karun had alot of spells, endless PfMW and very looooong SI:Div.

It's by design, some enemies are not meant to be killed off quickly. The only thing that could be questionable is the approach in which way it was achieved, either way some serious work was put into the scripts and encounters in general.

[SparrowJacek]

Karun the Black was the last since apparently he was above lvl 30, so I was not able to dispel with lvl 30 Sibel.

If I remember correctly, there are 3 enemies immune to Dispel Magic and Karun is one of them.

Yaga's lair was annoying also. Especially fire trolls. They were immune to acid and cold spells, and I was able to kill them only with acid and cold proc. from weapons.

That's weird. I just CLUAed a Fire Troll and when he fell down I was able to simply finish him off with a Melf's Acid Arrow. I'll take a closer look when I reach Yaga Shura in my current run.

What is the difference between Dragon's Breath and Comet? As far as I saw, Comet is marginally better becuase of better knockback effect. Otherwise most enemies are immune to fire.

Dragon's Breath deals 20-200 dmg, bypasses Magic Resistance and allows a saving throw for all of its effects. Comet deals 10-100 dmg, is affected by Magic Resistance and doesn't allow any saving throws.

[Shadan]

Dragon's Breath deals 20-200 dmg, bypasses Magic Resistance and allows a saving throw for all of its effects. Comet deals 10-100 dmg, is affected by Magic Resistance and doesn't allow any saving throws.

Yes, this is what I wanted to say. Enemies, or at least any threatening enemy, mostly immune to fire. So damage is unimportant. The only thing that matters if saving throw or MR is better. I think faling a saving throw mostly 1 (max. 2) on 20, while MR is mostly around 50-80%, so to bypass is about 4-10 on 20.
But yes, not too much difference, and these spells are not too meaningfuls in any important fights. Important spells in important fights:
buffs, protections, IH, RRR+ Breach, Dispel/Remove, heals.

That's weird. I just CLUAed a Fire Troll and when he fell down I was able to simply finish him off with a Melf's Acid Arrow. I'll take a closer look when I reach Yaga Shura in my current run.

At first, I didn't have any cold spell memorized. I've tried MAA, didn't work, then I've tried cold spells from Nahal. After this I reloaded, rested, and tried 2 MAA, 2 Ice Strom, 2 CoC. Maybe problem is at me only, but I have clean install, I've installed before started the game, rerolled back to previous version of EE, then EoU, IA Tweaks, no other mods.

This post has been edited by Shadan: Mar 13 2025, 07:13 PM

[Berzerkerzz]

Dragon's Breath deals 20-200 dmg, bypasses Magic Resistance and allows a saving throw for all of its effects. Comet deals 10-100 dmg, is affected by Magic Resistance and doesn't allow any saving throws.

Yes, this is what I wanted to say. Enemies, or at least any threatening enemy, mostly immune to fire. So damage is unimportant. The only thing that matters if saving throw or MR is better. I think faling a saving throw mostly 1 (max. 2) on 20, while MR is mostly around 50-80%, so to bypass is about 4-10 on 20.
But yes, not too much difference, and these spells are not too meaningfuls in any important fights. Important spells in important fights:
buffs, protections, IH, RRR+ Breach, Dispel/Remove, heals.

That's weird. I just CLUAed a Fire Troll and when he fell down I was able to simply finish him off with a Melf's Acid Arrow. I'll take a closer look when I reach Yaga Shura in my current run.

At first, I didn't have any cold spell memorized. I've tried MAA, didn't work, then I've tried cold spells from Nahal. After this I reloaded, rested, and tried 2 MAA, 2 Ice Strom, 2 CoC. Maybe problem is at me only, but I have clean install, I've installed before started the game, rerolled back to previous version of EE, then EoU, IA Tweaks, no other mods.

I've reworked the Comet spell in one of my runs, 4d10 Crushing and about 6d10 Fire damage. Didn't really end up using it often because I needed level 9 slots for other spells. When I did use it, it ended up doing only a bit of crushing damage. It's tricky to balance this because of the other spells too, Bigbys Hand would need some damage boots, perhaps around 6d10 Crushing but also a lot of enemies need a HP boost in general as they are too weak. Perhaps a way to lower the fire resistance, temporarily at least. so that foes still take some fire damage but without going below 0 for those that don't have fire resistance.

There are too many boss fights that once their invulnerabilities run out they fall within one round. Very anti-climatic.