Chpt. 5 and Anti-Mage Tactics *plot spoilers*

Galuf the Dwarf · Post by **Galuf the Dwarf** » Tue May 20, 2003 9:02 am

Okay, so here I am, in the Underdark after slaughtering the entire Sahuagin City *after I completed the "Prophecy of Sekolah quest*. I did already save the mage and do all of the deep gnome city stuff. What I'm asking about is the sphere with captive wackos. I swore I read that you can heal one of the mentally crazed guys and get something of theirs without fighting. Is that possible in any way?

Now, I think it's time I mentioned a big idea on how to handle mages.

1) Pause at the very beginning of a battle.

2) Have a druid cast Insect Plague, and your mage (either off of a scroll, or with it memorized later on) cast Khelben's Warding Whip.

3) The Insect Plague, unless stoneskin or such is up, will interupt spellcasting, while Warding Whip will remove various enchantments every couple of seconds.

4) Meanwhile have you own mage(s) cast breach, pierce magic, or anything else KWW doesn't take off.

5) Have a warrior or two ready with a good weapon all the while. A paladin with Carsomyr is a must-have.

6) If this all works out - ENJOY!

So, how does that sound?

VonDondu · Post by **VonDondu** » Tue May 20, 2003 9:46 am

Originally posted by Galuf the Dwarf
What I'm asking about is the sphere with captive wackos. I swore I read that you can heal one of the mentally crazed guys and get something of theirs without fighting. Is that possible in any way?

Yes, you can cure Raevilin of his madness, and he will reward you with a bastard sword if you don't demand payment from him. (If you demand a reward, he will think you're threatening to imprison him again if he doesn't pay you, and he will not yield to such extortion. Quite understandably, he will try to kill anyone who would imprison him again.)

I can't remember which spell I used to heal him. I think I used a scroll of Restoration the last time, but I can't remember for sure.

As for your Mage-fighting tactics, it looks like you know how to hurt them. Dispel their defenses and whack them hard.

The only thing you seem to be neglecting is, what do you think those Mages will be doing to you during the battle? You can't always cast Insect Plague if you don't have the element of surprise (or what is known in the D&D universe as "the initiative"). Insect Plague takes a long time to cast, and it can be interrupted. So you need to consider using other defenses against the spells of enemy Mages. Death Ward, Chaotic Commands, Remove Fear, Freedom of Movement, and plenty of others come to mind, but which ones you really need will be determined by the spells your opponent uses.

Galuf the Dwarf · Post by **Galuf the Dwarf** » Tue May 20, 2003 11:20 am

Re: Re: Chpt. 5 and Anti-Mage Tactics *plot spoilers*

Originally posted by VonDondu
Yes, you can cure Raevilin of his madness, and he will reward you with a bastard sword if you don't demand payment from him. (If you demand a reward, he will think you're threatening to imprison him again if he doesn't pay you, and he will not yield to such extortion. Quite understandably, he will try to kill anyone who would imprison him again.)

I can't remember which spell I used to heal him. I think I used a scroll of Restoration the last time, but I can't remember for sure.

As for your Mage-fighting tactics, it looks like you know how to hurt them. Dispel their defenses and whack them hard. The only thing you seem to be neglecting is, what do you think those Mages will be doing to you during the battle? You can't always cast Insect Plague if you don't have the element of surprise (or what is known in the D&D universe as "the initiative"). Insect Plague takes a long time to cast, and it can be interrupted. So you need to consider using other defenses against the spells of enemy Mages. Death Ward, Chaotic Commands, Remove Fear, Freedom of Movement, and plenty of others come to mind, but which ones you really need will be determined by the spells your opponent uses.

Don't worry, I do use buffs alot, but I just wanted to get to the point. Listing all the buff spells might make the post longer than I would care to make it for people. Haste, of course, would make casting Insect Plague go faster. Besides, it is the spell I used (w/o Haste) to take care of Faldorn in the druid grove (back in Chpt. 2), I just paused before she could cast her spell, had Cernd cast that, then summon some animal friends, and shapeshifted into a werewolf. Easy as pie.

ARcheR_S_ · Post by **ARcheR_S_** » Tue May 20, 2003 12:23 pm

Haste does NOT improve your casting speed

Galuf the Dwarf · Post by **Galuf the Dwarf** » Tue May 20, 2003 12:57 pm

Originally posted by ARcheR_S_
Haste does NOT improve your casting speed

Really? It seemed to for me.

Well, these are some things that I remember to improve casting speed otherwise

- Robe of Vecna

- Drow Chain Mail

- That amulet you get from Aran Linvail for siding with him. What was is called?

Thufir Hawat · Post by **Thufir Hawat** » Tue May 20, 2003 7:52 pm

Originally posted by Galuf the Dwarf
That amulet you get from Aran Linvail for siding with him. What was is called?

I believe that it is called the Amulet of Power.

Also, when fighting mages, after their spell protection is removed, acid arrow is a nifty little spell, especially when sequenced. It may only be a level two spell, but the poison damage is excellent for disrupting the mages, and a nice alternative for when your Druids run out of Insect Swarms.

Galuf the Dwarf · Post by **Galuf the Dwarf** » Tue May 20, 2003 8:05 pm

Originally posted by Thufir Hawat
I believe that it is called the Amulet of Power.

Also, when fighting mages, after their spell protection is removed, acid arrow is a nifty little spell, especially when sequenced. It may only be a level two spell, but the poison damage is excellent for disrupting the mages, and a nice alternative for when your Druids run out of Insect Swarms.

Yeah, you got a point. I'll try and get the minor spell sequencer memorized then. Melf's Acid Arrow is one spell I have memorized twice on Imoen, and at least once of Aerie.

Well, welcome to Gamebanshee, Thufir.

Now, speaking of the Underdark, what are there for easter eggs,

S
P
O
I
L
E
R

other than the Sling of Arvoreen?

As sort-of an aside, has anyone ever found a good use for Minsc's berserk ability? I know it raises his Str to 20 and his Dex to 18 (and I swore it also raised his Con to that amount too; i could be wrong). Does it give any immunities?

The Z · Post by **The Z** » Tue May 20, 2003 8:13 pm

"True Seeing" is a great spell to use on mages.

UserUnfriendly · Post by **UserUnfriendly** » Tue May 20, 2003 11:45 pm

Originally posted by Galuf the Dwarf
Yeah, you got a point. I'll try and get the minor spell sequencer memorized then. Melf's Acid Arrow is one spell I have memorized twice on Imoen, and at least once of Aerie.

Well, welcome to Gamebanshee, Thufir.

Now, speaking of the Underdark, what are there for easter eggs,

S
P
O
I
L
E
R

other than the Sling of Arvoreen?

As sort-of an aside, has anyone ever found a good use for Minsc's berserk ability? I know it raises his Str to 20 and his Dex to 18 (and I swore it also raised his Con to that amount too; i could be wrong). Does it give any immunities?

some people claim it gives immunity to imprisonment, like enrage ability...I've heard it does make him immune, I've also heard it doesn't...seems to be patch dependent...

Tolwyn · Post by **Tolwyn** » Wed May 21, 2003 12:53 am

Minsc

Minsc's Rage ability is awesome. Every time I see a Kangaxx,elder orb or so cast imprisinoment on him I quickly send him in 'berserker' mode and voila....no effect. works quite handy against various things..

Mirk · Post by **Mirk** » Wed May 21, 2003 2:04 am

a good tactic vs. mages is to employ weapons that add elemental damage to missile fire (xbow of searing, firetooth xbow, gesen bow) with NORMAL arrows/bolts. this way you hit them through prot. from magical weapons, as well as stoneskin. if you can get an assassin to shot this while "poison weapon" is in effect, well... you get the picture...

as to the protection removals - i only use breach. never bothered with spell-protections.

Tolwyn · Post by **Tolwyn** » Wed May 21, 2003 3:18 am

Don't forget that a Inquisitor can use his dispel magic quite effectively on a enemy mage. dispel magic has a % chance to dispel any protection but with a great dependancy on trhe difference between caster and victim but as an inquisitor casts as 3* his level...you get the point...

IHateUsernames · Post by **IHateUsernames** » Wed May 21, 2003 7:40 am

Don't forget that a Inquisitor can use his dispel magic quite effectively on a enemy mage. dispel magic has a % chance to dispel any protection but with a great dependancy on trhe difference between caster and victim but as an inquisitor casts as 3* his level...you get the point...

It's only 2 times but you are right, a great tactic

In my game Minsc does NOT gain immunity to imprisonment. stupid kangaxx

UncleScratchy · Post by **UncleScratchy** » Wed May 21, 2003 7:42 am

Underdark Easter Eggs (spoilers galore)

There are some nice objects you can pick up in the Underdark. If you help out the entrapped mage (Vithal) by using the Freedom spell (buy it from the gnomes at the bottom of the map) he will give you a couple of nice items - like the Wand of Absorption. If you kill him you can get a helm (Skull of Death) that casts Death once per rest and some nice spell scrolls (Time Stop, Incinderary Cloud and Wail of the Banshee). I believe you get a nice mace (Skullcrusher +3) from the elder Dagglefodd guy when you rescue the gnome child (Bedlen Dagglefodd) from that giant imprisonment soul gem thingy and if you play it right he gives you Bracers AC4. If you kill or cure Madman Aganalo (from the same thingy) you get Jhor the Bleeder, a nice bastard sword. There are a couple of nice items sold by the drow merchants just as you enter the city (I usually rob these chumps blind for all their spells and equipment). One sells a throwing knife that returns to your hand, and then there's a special stave for whacking golems, there's the Girdle of Frost Giant Strengh you can get for making a sacrifice to the demogorgon statue, its one of the parts needed to make Crom Faeyr. The blade and hilt needed to make the Equalizer sword. There's the Methild's Harp (hold person X3/day) in the Mind Flayer area (check the walls). A nice suit of Gorgon Plate+4 drow armor - treated with Gorgon blood so it won't disintegrate in the sun and a Ring of Spell Turning (on corpses after a certain demon does his thing after a summoning ritual). You meet the githyanki's that have the hilt to the Silver Sword (Vorpal blade) but you won't actually get it there - they want the blade from you. There's an ambush by a group - one has the Dragons Breath, Halberd +4 on him. The dragon will give you Necaradan's Crossbow +3 if you help her recover her eggs. If you kill the drow gal for the thing in the tank I think you can find the Boneblade Dagger +4 on one of the dead. There's the Leather Armor of the Viper+5 (I think this is may be a cursed item), Crossbow of Affliction +4 and the scrolls of Cacofiend and Ruby Ray of Reversal you can get for helping Jarlaxle (part of the loot you find, not a reward). In the Beholder den you can find the Amulet of Spell Warding and as previously mentioned, another piece of Equalizer. You already know about the Sling of Avoreen +4. There's a Ring of Fire Control and a Staff of Command to be found in the Mind Flayer area. There's probably some other minor items but I think that covers the major loot. Also you can cheat the drow armor into the game if you still have Jaheira in your party. If you haven't ever kicked her out of the party before you can load her up with all kinds of drow stuff and then kick her out. She will return to the docks area next to the entrance to the Harper hold and the drow stuff won't disintegrate. Just don't take the drow stuff back to the area where you exit the Underdark as it will then disintegrate. Apparently the game checks for any drow equipment when you are in that area and that's when it disintegrates.

Galuf the Dwarf · Post by **Galuf the Dwarf** » Wed May 21, 2003 10:29 am

Re: Underdark Easter Eggs (spoilers galore)

Originally posted by UncleScratchy
There are some nice objects you can pick up in the Underdark. If you help out the entrapped mage (Vithal) by using the Freedom spell (buy it from the gnomes at the bottom of the map) he will give you a couple of nice items - like the Wand of Absorption. If you kill him you can get a helm (Skull of Death) that casts Death once per rest and some nice spell scrolls (Time Stop, Incinderary Cloud and Wail of the Banshee). I believe you get a nice mace (Skullcrusher +3) from the elder Dagglefodd guy when you rescue the gnome child (Bedlen Dagglefodd) from that giant imprisonment soul gem thingy and if you play it right he gives you Bracers AC4. If you kill or cure Madman Aganalo (from the same thingy) you get Jhor the Bleeder, a nice bastard sword. There are a couple of nice items sold by the drow merchants just as you enter the city (I usually rob these chumps blind for all their spells and equipment). One sells a throwing knife that returns to your hand, and then there's a special stave for whacking golems, there's the Girdle of Frost Giant Strengh you can get for making a sacrifice to the demogorgon statue, its one of the parts needed to make Crom Faeyr. The blade and hilt needed to make the Equalizer sword. There's the Methild's Harp (hold person X3/day) in the Mind Flayer area (check the walls). A nice suit of Gorgon Plate+4 drow armor - treated with Gorgon blood so it won't disintegrate in the sun and a Ring of Spell Turning (on corpses after a certain demon does his thing after a summoning ritual). You meet the githyanki's that have the hilt to the Silver Sword (Vorpal blade) but you won't actually get it there - they want the blade from you. There's an ambush by a group - one has the Dragons Breath, Halberd +4 on him. The dragon will give you Necaradan's Crossbow +3 if you help her recover her eggs. If you kill the drow gal for the thing in the tank I think you can find the Boneblade Dagger +4 on one of the dead. There's the Leather Armor of the Viper+5 (I think this is may be a cursed item), Crossbow of Affliction +4 and the scrolls of Cacofiend and Ruby Ray of Reversal you can get for helping Jarlaxle (part of the loot you find, not a reward). In the Beholder den you can find the Amulet of Spell Warding and as previously mentioned, another piece of Equalizer. You already know about the Sling of Avoreen +4. There's a Ring of Fire Control and a Staff of Command to be found in the Mind Flayer area. There's probably some other minor items but I think that covers the major loot. Also you can cheat the drow armor into the game if you still have Jaheira in your party. If you haven't ever kicked her out of the party before you can load her up with all kinds of drow stuff and then kick her out. She will return to the docks area next to the entrance to the Harper hold and the drow stuff won't disintegrate. Just don't take the drow stuff back to the area where you exit the Underdark as it will then disintegrate. Apparently the game checks for any drow equipment when you are in that area and that's when it disintegrates.

Hate to break it to you, but practically all of those items aren't anything I didn't know about. I meant items hidden in secret niches like the sling was. I've been through this game already, and I was just wondering if there was something I could have missed. I've heard of a +3 (or less) named Water's Edge, but not much else of interest. Nice try, though.

nephtu · Post by **nephtu** » Wed May 21, 2003 10:58 am

Originally posted by ARcheR_S_
Haste does NOT improve your casting speed

This is correct - it DOES speed up the cating animation shown (as in, your hands move faster), but the real time to cast the spell doesn't change.

kopywrite · Post by **kopywrite** » Wed May 21, 2003 11:45 am

Re: Underdark Easter Eggs (spoilers galore)

Originally posted by UncleScratchy
If you haven't ever kicked her out of the party before you can load her up with all kinds of drow stuff and then kick her out. She will return to the docks area next to the entrance to the Harper hold and the drow stuff won't disintegrate. Just don't take the drow stuff back to the area where you exit the Underdark as it will then disintegrate. Apparently the game checks for any drow equipment when you are in that area and that's when it disintegrates.

Tsk, such cheese uncle

(Also works with Imoen, preferable if you're romancing J. as I think booting her breaks the romance. Immy heads back to the Copper Coronet...just don't send her off with the Staff of the Magi and the cloak of non detection or you'll never see her again)

IIRC the start of ToB aslo checks for drow equipment and there's no way round that..

VonDondu · Post by **VonDondu** » Wed May 21, 2003 11:47 am

Originally posted by Galuf the Dwarf
Hate to break it to you, but practically all of those items aren't anything I didn't know about. I meant items hidden in secret niches like the sling was. I've been through this game already, and I was just wondering if there was something I could have missed. I've heard of a +3 (or less) named Water's Edge, but not much else of interest. Nice try, though.

That's no way to talk to Uncle Scratchy. (Dwarves and gnomes. Sigh.)

But anyway, if you're interested in rare items, have you ever gotten Blackmist +4 (a halberd) from the demon lord? If you've been playing a Paladin, I don't see why you would have.

I always try to kill the demon lord, but trying to follow the conversation path that lets you do it requires cheesiness (or flakiness), in my opinion.

UncleScratchy · Post by **UncleScratchy** » Wed May 21, 2003 12:35 pm

Originally posted by VonDondu
That's no way to talk to Uncle Scratchy. (Dwarves and gnomes. Sigh.)

But anyway, if you're interested in rare items, have you ever gotten Blackmist +4 (a halberd) from the demon lord? If you've been playing a Paladin, I don't see why you would have. I always try to kill the demon lord, but trying to follow the conversation path that lets you do it requires cheesiness (or flakiness), in my opinion.

Thanks for the support Dondy. There's just no pleasing some people. Don't you have to give the demon the real eggs thereby double crossing the silver dragon? I've never played it that evil, but I guess if you want the dragon blood for the human flesh armor you may as well pick up Blackmist while you're at it.

Originally posted by Galuf the Dwarf
Hate to break it to you, but practically all of those items aren't anything I didn't know about.

@Dwarf: Sorry, but I hardly consider the Sling of Avoreen an easter egg or the use of Insect Plague to disrupt mages as big news. With ToB loaded all the hidden areas light up when you hit the Tab key so where's the challenge in finding it? Even without ToB we pretty much all know that Beholders hide their loot in nooks in the walls and floors (afterall those are the only places they have to hide things). I guess I just got the mistaken impression from your posts that you were relatively new to the game and trying to do it for the first or second time without a walkthru. Sorry, but Water's Edge isn't in the original game. At least as far as I know.

Leonardo · Post by **Leonardo** » Wed May 21, 2003 1:21 pm

Sorry, but Water's Edge isn't in the original game.

Yes it is. It is a plain scimitar +2 (or would it be +3?).

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Chpt. 5 and Anti-Mage Tactics plot spoilers

Chpt. 5 and Anti-Mage Tactics plot spoilers