Need help with opponent

[sonny]

I'm in an area east of the Temple and southeast of Larswood called AR3500 and my party is getting wiped out by Basilisks.

I've checked the threads but can not find any help on how to defeat them. They are not in the game manual.

Not looking for step by step tactics, just a little hint that will help make it easier to defeat these guys.

If it helps, I just started Chapter 4 and all characters are Lv 5 or 6.

Thanks in advance.

[Celacena]

the big problem with those creatures is that they petrify the party - SO a protection from petrification scroll/spell might come in useful...

also - an army of summoned creatures, such as skeleton warriors is rather handy as basilisk fodder..

[CFM]

The "rocks" that the beasties seem to be chucking at you is the game's way of simulating a "gaze" attack. A successful "gaze" (i.e. a victim's unsuccessful Save versus Petrify) causes petrification.

Magicks that may be of assistance:

Protection from Petrification scroll
Protection from Petrification 2nd level wizard spell
Potion of Mirrored Eyes
Potion of Invulnerability (or anything that gives bonuses to your Saves)
Potion of Magic Blocking/Protection/Shielding
Stone to Flesh scroll (for any unfortunates after the battle is won)

Disabling the hostiles (via several methods), or summoning cannon fodder to absorb the "rocks", are always sound tactics. You could get inventive too. I wonder how the beasties would be if you successfully cast a Blindness spell on them? Or charm one, and have it attack its comrade?

Get medieval, man. They be worth some mighty fine experience points.

[VonDondu]

There are ways to protect your characters from the petrifying gaze. These include Scrolls of Protection Against Petrification, the Potion of Mirror Eyes, and the second level Mage spell Protection Against Petrification.

I'm surprised you haven't seen this in any of the guides, but a very old strategy is to befriend an unusally friendly ghoul you can meet in the area and let him help you fight the basilisks. If none of your party members has any protection against petrification, you can even try to let the ghoul fight the basilisks all by himself while your own characters wait safely at a distance. However, I don't remember whether the ghoul is powerful enough to kill all of the basilisks by himself.

Also, instead of sending your entire party into battle, try sending only one of them at a time. Characters who can backstab (such as a Fighter/Thief) can usually make short work of a single basilisk, especially if they are buffed up with a Potion of Giant Strength and a Potion of Haste. If any of your characters becomes petrified, you can of course use a Stone to Flesh scroll (after you have gotten any nearby basilisks out of the way).

Originally Posted by CFM

I wonder how the beastie's would be if you successfully cast a Blindness spell on them? Or charm one, and have it attack its comrade?

I don't think Blindness will disable their gaze attack, but I would have to test it to make sure.

You can charm the basilisks and have them attack each other, but they are not able to petrify each other. They can only harm each other with melee attacks (although they do try repeatedly to petrify each other since they are programmed to use that attack against all enemies). In any case, if the ones you charm are killed by the other basilisks, you won't get any experience for the kill. Therefore, I would Charm them mainly so that I could separate them and kill them one at a time (instead of trying to fight more than one of them at a time).

[CFM]

-

[Woundead]

I used this trick:
I summoned one batch of skeletons with my cleric and keep them between the basilisks and my party that all equiped ranged weapons.

Worked very well as skeletons are immune to their gaze.

(Note: was using tutu, but it shouldnt matter)

Woundead

[prof. Moriarty]

Since I found Protection from Petrification a tad bit hard to come by in large enough quantities I used following strategy. One fighter character (Khalid) is protected from and sent in first, any group of basilisks first targeted him and then I attacked with ranged weapons with the remaining party. Worked like a charm.

Deus Vult!
P

[sonny]

Thanks guys for all the help. I have a saved game back in Beregost before I came to this area, so I'll go back and get what I need.

VonDondu:
When you say "guides", if you are referring to the walkthroughs in this forum, as hard as it may be to believe I do not use them and until I've played through the complete game, don't want to look at them.

I did that when I played Wizardry Gold (against my grandsons advice) and it ruined the game for me. I knew what to do, what not to do, where to go, etc.
He told me that if you get stuck, go to a forum and ask for a little hint or nudge. Most gamers will help you out. But if you use a walkthrough the 1st time you play a game you will be sorry. I was.

Again, thanks everyone.

[VonDondu]

sonny, I'm sorry, I misunderstood what you meant when you said that you had "checked the threads" and the "manual". I was reading too fast and I thought you meant you had consulted some sort of guide.

In my opinion, any game is a lot more fun if you play it without consulting a walkthrough, and I sure wouldn't want to spoil anything for you.


prof. Moriarty, your strategy works very well, as long as the basilisks decide not to target anyone else.

[sonny]

VonDondu,
Please, you do not have anything to apologize for. You and the other people here will never know how much I appreciate all the help.

I probably misunderstood your use of the term guide. I wanted to let you guys know about why I don't use walkthroughs in hopes that it would help explain why I bug all of you so much.

When my grandson told me about the Baldurs Gate games he also put this site in my "Favorites" link and said "check the threads first, then ask your questions." That's why I said in another post, if I get to be a pain in the butt, let me know.

By the way, for the guys that helped when my first game froze up in Ulcaster when I picked up the Wand of Fire. Went there again in this game, and everything went fine. Got through the area, got the Wand and nothing happened. (As he rubs his rabbits foot with his fingers crossed)

Have a great day.

[CFM]

Originally Posted by sonny

By the way, for the guys that helped when my first game froze up in Ulcaster when I picked up the Wand of Fire. Went there again in this game, and everything went fine. Got through the area, got the Wand and nothing happened. (As he rubs his rabbits foot with his fingers crossed)

Sounds like that problem was isolated to your one particular savegame being corrupt. Good to hear.

And yes, looking at a walkthrough full of spoilers does tend to ruin things. So yes, asking for non-spoiler hints on these forums is The Way To Go. Save the walkthroughs for your second trip, to uncover what you might have missed in your first trip.

Last advice:
Most types of attacks have a counter defense. Many items and spells either provide a particular type of attack, or provide a particular counter defense. If your dudes get smoked, then review your inventory and spellbooks, and know what options you have available. (This becomes vital in BG2.) Heed the descriptions and take note... most items and spells were meant to be used in at least one particular type of situation.

(Although, I'm still trying to determine when it's a good time to use Infravision.)

[prof. Moriarty]

Agreed. But when I played Baldurs Gate II I used this walkthrough. It's lowspoiler and has, for example, a list over all the quests with info of where to find them but not how to solve them. Great stuff, no spoilers but I didn't miss a sidequest.

Deus Vult!
P

[sonny]

DID IT. DID IT.
Got through the area with the Basilisks and only had to reload 4 times before I finally figured it out.

Found Korax, used Potions of Mirrored Eyes on My PC and Minsc and had everyone else stand back and fire missiles. Man did it feel good when I was able to wipe them out. Do they re spawn, may want to go back for experience. LOVE THIS GAME.

Now I'm trying to get through the Firewine Dungeon. Those kobold commandos keep coming and coming, may have to come back after stocking up on arrows. But I'll get it, as you guys know, they are not hard, just so many of them.

As always, thanks again for the help and advice.

[prof. Moriarty]

Oh, blood and ashes. Forgot to link to the walkthrough that I was talking about. Burn my bones...

This is the site: Low-Spoiler Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn Hints and Tips
Sometimes I should probably preview my posts, eh?

Deus Vult!
P

[sonny]

Thanks prof.

I've saved the link and when I finish BG1 I'll take a look at it before starting BG2. Have a great day.