Elminster and Volo

mrnicetry · Post by **mrnicetry** » Wed Sep 05, 2001 1:54 pm

Are these guys in BGII/TOB at all? Does anyone know their stats?

I heard somewhere that Elminster was a 40th level mage. I would like to try taking him down.

Johnny · Post by **Johnny** » Wed Sep 05, 2001 2:18 pm

Well, here are some 3ed stats I posted of him on the NWN board:

ELMINSTER
Male human (Chosen of Mystra)
Ftr1/Rog2/Clr3/Wiz20/Archmage4/Epic4
Challenge Rating: 45
HD: 1d10 + 2d6 + 3d8 + 14d4 + 140 (219)

Strength: 13
Dexterity: 18
Constitution: 24
Intelligence: 24 (boosted through wish spells)
Wisdom: 18
Charisma: 17

Armor Class: 29
Spell Resistance: 21
Immunities: detect thoughts, disintegrate, Evard's black tentacles, feeblemind, finger of death, fireball, magic missile, sunburst, time stop (yes, he's immune to time stop)

Possessions: +5 longsword, ring of protection +3, amulet of natural armor +5, bracers of armor +7, ring of regeneration, mantle of spell resistance, eversmoking pipe.

Quitch · Post by **Quitch** » Wed Sep 05, 2001 2:52 pm

*SPOILERS*

Volo is in the game, far left of the Inn in Saradush. EDIT: To clarify, he's INSIDE the Inn, in the room on the left side.

Elminster comes to see you after you have defeated and leave the lair of the fourth Bhaalspawn.

You can't take on Eliminster, he's always invincible. If you summon him in, I don't think he fights.

[ 09-05-2001: Message edited by: Quitch ]

humanflyz · Post by **humanflyz** » Wed Sep 05, 2001 7:49 pm

Who is Volo anyways? And how come Elminster has SIX classes? A fighter, rogue, cleric, mage, wizard, archmage, and what is the Epic class? I thought you can only have three classes.

To kill an immortal, just have transform one of the party to Mind Flayer, and use the intelligence drain ability to kill them. WOnder how much XP is Elminster worth?

Foss · Post by **Foss** » Wed Sep 05, 2001 11:43 pm

Volo is a story writer...I would say a bard.

He was in BG1 as well, he also post comments in the BG´s manuals.

He also made the map you get in BG1.

Kayless · Post by **Kayless** » Thu Sep 06, 2001 1:04 am

Originally posted by humanflyz:
Who is Volo anyways? And how come Elminster has SIX classes? A fighter, rogue, cleric, mage, wizard, archmage, and what is the Epic class? I thought you can only have three classes.

Johny posted Elminster's 3rd edition stats (so they don't apply to ToB). His real level and stats in BG are identical to Irenicus.

The reason why Elminster has so many classes is because he’s Ed Greenwood’s (the creator of the Forgotten Realms) alter ego and the ultimate uber-munchkin. Elminster is the quintessential Mary Sue. For those of you not familiar with the concept, a Mary Sue is the writer's perfect character -- everyone loves him/her, s/he is perfect at everything s/he does, s/he is the center of the universe, with all other characters subordinate to the coolness that is Mary Sue -- or, in this case, Elminster. The fatal flaw of this type of character (besides the fact that they're damned annoying) is that to make Elminster the best, everyone else in the Realms seems smaller, given flaws and weaknesses, or simply made less than what they were. Somehow being the child of a god doesn’t seem all that special when invincible characters like Elminster are wandering around. It's good that he only has the briefest of cameo's in the game.

Foss · Post by **Foss** » Thu Sep 06, 2001 1:31 am

it could be cool, if you as an evil party should kill Elminster

But Elminster is only special because he was chosen by Mystra...and it all started in Tolkien with Gandalf...now it is just Elminster in this realm.

Rail · Post by **Rail** » Thu Sep 06, 2001 1:55 am

Originally posted by Kayless:
Johny posted Elminster's 3rd edition stats (so they don't apply to ToB). His real level and stats in BG are identical to Irenicus.

The reason why Elminster has so many classes is because he’s Ed Greenwood’s (the creator of the Forgotten Realms) alter ego and the ultimate uber-munchkin. Elminster is the quintessential Mary Sue. For those of you not familiar with the concept, a Mary Sue is the writer's perfect character -- everyone loves him/her, s/he is perfect at everything s/he does, s/he is the center of the universe, with all other characters subordinate to the coolness that is Mary Sue -- or, in this case, Elminster. The fatal flaw of this type of character (besides the fact that they're damned annoying) is that to make Elminster the best, everyone else in the Realms seems smaller, given flaws and weaknesses, or simply made less than what they were. Somehow being the child of a god doesn’t seem all that special when invincible characters like Elminster are wandering around. It's good that he only has the briefest of cameo's in the game.

Hmmmmmm.

Sounds like you're describing Drizzt, too!

StigTC · Post by **StigTC** » Thu Sep 06, 2001 5:34 am

Originally posted by Foss:
Volo is a story writer...I would say a bard.

He was in BG1 as well, he also post comments in the BG´s manuals.

He also made the map you get in BG1.

Actually Volo is a mage as well, if you read the ToB manual, under the describtion of the wild mage, he says that it is mages like that who gives his chosen proffession a bad reputation.

rapier · Post by **rapier** » Thu Sep 06, 2001 6:37 am

He's a lvl 5 mage...

Aegis · Post by **Aegis** » Thu Sep 06, 2001 9:04 am

I actually wouldn't mind seeing a file to make Elminster a playable NPC in BG2. It could be interesting. Maybe Manveru would do it...

rapier · Post by **rapier** » Thu Sep 06, 2001 9:28 am

Isn't he a bit too powerful, being immortal and all...

Foss · Post by **Foss** » Thu Sep 06, 2001 9:30 am

well, Edwin sais actually at a time, that he can twist Elminster around his thumb or something like that...can´t remember that much.

Valyissiun · Post by **Valyissiun** » Thu Sep 06, 2001 6:49 pm

One of Edwin's rants about Elminster in BG1: "Elminster this, Elminster that.. Give me 2000 years, a pipe, and a pointy hat - I'll kick his arse!"

He does get to take him on, eventualy

but im not going to spoil it.

Valyissiun

[ 09-06-2001: Message edited by: Valyissiun ]

Aegis · Post by **Aegis** » Thu Sep 06, 2001 7:40 pm

Didn't that end with Edwina somehow?

humanflyz · Post by **humanflyz** » Thu Sep 06, 2001 8:19 pm

How is Gandalf similar to Elminster. I know Gandalf was supposed to be the greatest of the Wizards, or the Istari. They are kind of similar given that they are both sent by some Immortal Power. However, Gandalf has flaws, and he actually dies.

What are Elminster's backgrounds? What makes him so powerful? I know Volo has those comments in the game manual? What I mean is that what is he in terms of the Forgotten Realms setting? And what are his relationships with Elminster?

[ 09-06-2001: Message edited by: humanflyz ]

UserUnfriendly · Post by **UserUnfriendly** » Thu Sep 06, 2001 9:05 pm

Read the book the chosen of mystaria, on the library in irenicus dungeon or other places. it describes his history, how he and a few other chosen were given mystaria's powers, before the time of troubles to help the new goddess of magic

Foss · Post by **Foss** » Thu Sep 06, 2001 9:54 pm

the thing is TOlkien was the first to create such a person...which everyone looked up to and thought was powerfull, then it has been copied to alot of other stories, including Forgotten Realms with Elminster...
And in Tolkien Lord of the rings, Gandalf do not die, maybe in osme books I haven´t read, but we all die sometime

Elminster is only special because he is favored by Mystra

Quitch · Post by **Quitch** » Fri Sep 07, 2001 5:32 am

Well actually, in Lord of the Rings I believe Gandalf does say that he died when he was cast down with the Balrog.

Musashi Miyamoto · Post by **Musashi Miyamoto** » Fri Sep 07, 2001 6:15 am

*spoiler*

Heh edwin is the best mage u can get ur hand in the game, better than even the prologust, but heh he aint the smartest, if he tries to take on elemister, i bet elemister would had crushed him into an puddle of red all over the floor. without breaking a sweat.