Opening all 3 seals at once

THE JAKER · Post by **THE JAKER** » Sun Oct 21, 2001 1:49 pm

SPOILERS REGARDING WATCHERS KEEP ARE CONTAINED IN THIS POST!!!!!!!!

I wanted to try the fight where you open all three seals to Demogorgon's area at the same time. There was a thread regarding this - it's on page 4 right now called "Most Difficult Scrap". I am playing on Core rules right now (i'm going to have to join the insane club soon, but i'm not ready yet). I have my evil party with Korgan and Sarevok, Haer dalis, Viconia and Edwin. (PC fighter/thief) My people have about 5 million exp each except for Sarevok who is way behind but makes up for it with the Dragon's Breath halberd and his charming personality.

Anyway, I took this group through Watchers Keep without resting, but i didn't use up too many resources so i would be set for this fight. It took me 4 trys to win it. It is definitely a fun fight. You have the six, that lich azamantes, four flaming skulls, and those "Rilman" fighter/mages - what the h... are those things, anyway?

My tactics: I tried some different summons, had pretty good luck with the fire elementals because there are a lot of incendiary clouds and scorchers flying around. I had Viconia do a couple of greater restorations - those are the best in the big TOB fights

but her energy blades casting got interrupted

. I tried to compartmentalize the battle - I avoided the whole area where Azamantes is so he wouldn't be active, saving him for last. I took out the Rilman caster first, then I tried for the succubus, the Hive mother, and the Marilith (Sarevok took out the hive mother while wearing the cloak of reflection). I had Edwin do the old 3 abudazim chain contingency on a big bunch of baddies, which luckily killed the marilith on the spot. Well, there's so much to say....

Anyway, i definitely recommend this battle to anyone out there, If anyone else has done it post your results

THE JAKER · Post by **THE JAKER** » Sun Oct 21, 2001 8:20 pm

OK, continuing the saga of the three seals:

As described in the original thread, the "toughest scrap" is to open all three seals, leave through the portal, and then come back. This way, the enemies are all there, but your party comes through with no summons, simulacrums or projected images.

Before, I was buffing and summoning, then opening the seals and fighting. Now I've tried it as described before: open the seals, leave, buff outside, then enter and fight. Well, it took me a couple of tries but I just did it this way too!!! I am so proud of myself! Anyway, the battle IS tougher this way, but not all THAT much because your summons just buy you some time, they don't really change things all that much.

In the battle I just did, korgan kicked the bucket very early, and Sarevok didn't do that great either, getting killed before he could take out the hive mother. My PC and Viconia really shined in this fight. You really have to use the whole area to keep from just getting mobbed. Several different enemies all have true sight going, too, so you can't really stay invisible. I think the best part of the battle was when my PC, very injured, fled over into the western room followed by the huntress and two flaming skulls. He had time to heal himself with the wand of resurrection, then he took out the skulls, leaving him toe-to-toe with the huntress. He used a scroll of mirror image and then beat her down...sweet!

What I really like about this battle is that you're fighting a real army, no one of the opponents is super tough, and none of them are THAT weak, either.

two · Post by **two** » Mon Oct 22, 2001 5:25 am

Sounds fun -- makes me wish I hadn't incinerated my copy of TOB...

Shoot.

Wonder what this would be like solo...

Musashi Miyamoto · Post by **Musashi Miyamoto** » Mon Oct 22, 2001 5:59 am

LOL @ two, you incinerated your copy??? lol

THE JAKER · Post by **THE JAKER** » Mon Oct 22, 2001 9:40 am

Hey Two: Tob's still available in the stores, you could always pick up a new copy

I know how you feel, though. I want to get Arcanum or POR, and then of course NWN (or read a book or have a life), but it's like I just keep playing this one, now there's all the improved battles, and then of course the mods like TDD are just coming out, I don't know when I'll be done with it.

I think it would be perfectly possible to solo the seals battle. Probably the best character would be a berserker/mage, because you could use the rage to avoid the 2 imprisoning characters azamantes and the hive mother. Last night I was having Edwin and Haer dalis zone in improved hasted with a spell immunity - div up so their invisibilities wouldn't be dispelled. This allowed them to clear out to the side rooms and avoid the initial crush. Unfortunately some of the enemies (for sure the flaming skulls) can see invisible, so they will still incendiary cloud you. Someone is casting insect plague, too - I think it's those Rilmans. The problem there is that a solo character would have trouble dispelling the insect plague without getting interrupted and therefore wouldn't be able to cast for a while. You can hide out in the side room and summon stuff (I like the clay golem

), but the hive mother and Nalmissra will dire charm your summons, and you if you're not protected.

I think that a solo character would just have to be patient and use the side rooms (I wouldn't necessarily condone going back out the portal or pocketplaning, though.) Then just drink a potion of insight, cast "Wish" and do the wish-rest, and go take out the improved Demogorgon

two · Post by **two** » Tue Oct 23, 2001 4:42 am

Originally posted by Musashi Miyamoto:
<STRONG>LOL @ two, you incinerated your copy??? lol</STRONG>

Yes, actually took a match to it. CD's smell awful when burned; of course you don't have to do much more than scorch 'em to make 'em unreadible...

I'm pretty glad I did it. Since uninstalling and "treating" my TOB/SOA cd's to a little flame, I've had enough time to brush on up on chess skills, and write 50% of a new novel. Hey -- it's not Umar Hills, but -- I'll take it.

And Jaker, if you should happen to see me in a store, a SOA box in my hand, I empower you to use whatever method you choose to rip it out of my desperate claws. Really, it's for the best -- don't you think?

THE JAKER · Post by **THE JAKER** » Tue Oct 23, 2001 3:13 pm

(Jaker considers what two has said

Hmmm, Two has offered to let me protect him from himself....I could have a lot of fun following him around, "preventing" him from engaging in destructive behaviors....sounds fun

...but then I could just play more BGII...

Ok, two, don't worry you won't see a mysterious figure in a trenchcoat following you around Best Buy, OR going through your mail.