Love to hear your experiences w/ the final ToB-Ascension battle

[Bigby's Nose]

Hi all. Ok, so I've just finished SoA and ToB with Ascension installed- the first time I've played BG2 in a couple of years and the first time I've played Ascension. I've got to say that Ascension is a *vast* improvement over the original- most of the boss battles are much more fun and memorable and the NPC end stories are more satisfying. Now, I prefer the Ascension Melissan battle over the original but maybe it's just a little too much. So my party was me, a cleric(lvl 37)/ranger(lvl 9) w/ Crom Fayer&Flail of Ages +5, Minsc (lvl 30), Jaheira (fighter 21/druid 17), Nalia (lvl 28 w/Vecna's robe), Imoen (lvl 25, but missing spells due to lvl drain from Bodhi and succubi) and Anomen(lvl 37) with special appearance by Balthazar. This party was overkill power-wise for most of the game, but certainly not for the final battle! Let me, off of the top of my head, make a list of the materials and spells I used against Melissan, Yaga-Shura, Abizigal, Sarevok& friends.

11 potions superior healing, 3 potions extra healing, the Juggernaut Golem, a fire elemental, 2 aerial servants, the Prince of the Earth Elementals, Cerebus the Moon Dog, one Planetar, a Deva, 6 Iron Skins spells, 3 Heal spells, 4 Horrid Wiltings, 3 Remove Magics, 2 Spheres of Chaos, 2 Spell Triggers(3 Lower Resistances each), one Spell Sequencer (Greater Malison +2 Fireballs), 1 Minor Sequencer (2 Acid Arrows), 3 Improved Hastes, 1 Prot. from Evil 10' ft. rad., 3 Draw upon Holy Mights, 13 Greater Whirlwind Attacks, one regular Whirlwind, 2 Hardinesses, 2 Armors of Faith, 1 Chant, 2 Physical Mirrors, 2 Shapechanges, 2 Improved Alacrities, 6 Chain Lightnings, 5 Chaotic Commands, 5 Death Wards, 1 Wish, 3 Focus abilities, 1 Control Demon ability, 2 Unleashes, 3 Breaches, 1 Agility potion, 2 Blurs, 2 Mirror Images, I True Sight, 1 True Seeing, 4 Resist Fire/Cold, dozens of +3 and +4 bullets, wand of frost, 1 Resurrection spell for poor Nalia who, despite all of the above, got walloped by an Unleash from Melissan.

Disclaimer: this list is incomplete due to too much information to recall.

Total running time: 4+ hours.

I have never, ever spent close to this much time on a single video game battle.

Oh, and poor Balthazar also kicked the bucket after having received a heroic beating. He almost, almost made it to the end. But no cigar for him. The Solar was kind enough to resurrect him though.

So I had fun . How was it for you?