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Well, first thing's first, about Dradeel in Spellhold. After you talk to him a few times, he gives you a recipe. Is there any secret (i.e.: easter egg) to this at all?

Also, how many +4 weapons or higher are available in SoA without the use of ToB or any mods? I know of The Holy Avenger/Carsomyr, the Warblade, the Staff of Ryn, Crom Faeyr, a staff for druids only, and some short sword (forgot the name) you get in the Graveyard Catacombs when you "finish business" (won't be specific for those starting out or are up to Chpt. 2). Are there any others?

REMEMBER, THRONE OF BHAAL AND MOD ITEMS DO NOT COUNT.

Just looking for help.

You can also find:

Soul Reaver +4 (two-handed sword; Underdark)
Mana Bow +4 (longbow; either Windspear Hills or the forest)
Crossbow of Affliction +4 (Underdark)
BoneBlade +4 (dagger; Underdark)
Star Dart +5 (from Cloak of Stars)
The Wave +4 (halberd; artifact)
Blackmist +4 (halberd; Underdark)
Dragon's Breath +4 (halberd; Underdark)
Mace of Disruption +2 (considered a +5 weapon to determine what it can hit)
Sling of Arvoreen +4 (I can't remember where)
Sling of Everard +5 (bonus merchant)

The +4 short sword you mentioned is called Cutthroat.

Dradeel's Recipes are simply recipes you can actually make in real life. (Unlike the ones you find in the Orcish Cookbook.) Dradeel likes to cook; it keeps his mind off bad doggies.

Originally posted by Galuf the Dwarf
Well, first thing's first, about Dradeel in Spellhold. After you talk to him a few times, he gives you a recipe. Is there any secret (i.e.: easter egg) to this at all?

Did you recognize Dradeel as the mad mage from Werewolf Island in BG1/ToTSC? Remember his recipe book back in his hut with the cure for lycantropy? Well his appearance, like Tiax's, is just a nostalgic cameo. Now there is someone in Spellhold that has a couple of encrypted messages that you can get from him and decipher. Spoiler (highlite to read): The messages have to do with the pantaloons. Here's the coded and deciphered text (the decoding key is a simple alphabet shift):

First message:

AQW VJKPM K CO ETCBA, DWV VJGA YCPV AQW VQ VJKPM VJCV. K MPQY UGETGVU. MGGR VJG RCPCNQQPU. CNYCAU MGGR VJG RCPCNQQPU.

YOU THINK I AM CRAZY, BUT THEY WANT YOU TO THINK THAT. I KNOW SECRETS. KEEP THE PANALOONS. ALWAYS KEEP THE PANALOONS.

KEY: A = Y, B = Z, etc.

Second message:

QC TERXEPSSRW EVI JYPP SJ AIEWIPW. MRJSVQ XLI UYIIR, WS XLEX WLI QMKLX WLSS XLIQ EAEC. LIVI AI KS ‘VSYRH XLI QYPFIVVC FYWL. KS QSROIC KS!

MY PANTALOONS ARE FULL OF WEASELS. INFORM THE QUEEN, SO THAT SHE MIGHT SHOO THEM AWAY. HERE WE GO ‘ROUND THE
MULBERRY BUSH. GO MONKEY GO!

KEY: A=E, B=F, etc.

Originally posted by VonDondu
You can also find:

Soul Reaver +4 (two-handed sword; Underdark)
Mana Bow +4 (longbow; either Windspear Hills or the forest)
Crossbow of Affliction +4 (Underdark)
BoneBlade +4 (dagger; Underdark)
Star Dart +5 (from Cloak of Stars)
The Wave +4 (halberd; artifact)
Blackmist +4 (halberd; Underdark)
Dragon's Breath +4 (halberd; Underdark)
Mace of Disruption +2 (considered a +5 weapon to determine what it can hit)
Sling of Arvoreen +4 (I can't remember where)
Sling of Everard +5 (bonus merchant)

The +4 short sword you mentioned is called Cutthroat.

Dradeel's Recipes are simply recipes you can actually make in real life. (Unlike the ones you find in the Orcish Cookbook.) Dradeel likes to cook; it keeps his mind off bad doggies.

*snaps his fingers, having forgotten about the mana bow and Dragon's Breath*

Well, the thing is that my party is:

PC = Cavalier with greatest proficiencies in Long Sword and 2-Handed Sword. *So Carsomyr's a no-brainer*

Minsc (and Boo ), who will wield both the Warblade and the Mana Bow.

Anomen, who will wield either Crom Faeyr or the Staff of Rynn. I may give him the Sling of Arvoreen just in case. *

Jaheira, who will wield that druid staff that I mentioned about last night.

Imoen, who will wield Cutthroat (I was wishing there was a +4 long sword available, so that she could be proficient w/ that in SoA, wield Angurvadal in ToB, and gain "single weapon style" proficiency for the extra armor class).

Aerie (PC romance), *(See Anomen)

I wouldn't be able to get the Sling of Everard because I have Deirdre, not Joluv from the patch. I might download him some time, if I think it would help.

By the way, the Sling of Arvoreen, if I remember right,

S
P
O
I
L
E
R
(Sometimes I love doing this out of respect )

is located in the Beholder Lair of the Underdark.

And how powerful is the Heavy Crossbow of Accuracy determined to be? It has a ThAC0 of +5, but a damage enhancement of +2.

Re: Re: A question about Spellhold and weapons in SoA *spoilers beyond Chpt. 2*

Originally posted by UncleScratchy
Did you recognize Dradeel as the mad mage from Werewolf Island in BG1/ToTSC? Remember his recipe book back in his hut with the cure for lycantropy? Well his appearance, like Tiax's, is just a nostalgic cameo. Now there is someone in Spellhold that has a couple of encrypted messages that you can get from him and decipher. Spoiler (highlite to read): The messages have to do with the pantaloons. Here's the coded and deciphered text (the decoding key is a simple alphabet shift):

First message:

AQW VJKPM K CO ETCBA, DWV VJGA YCPV AQW VQ VJKPM VJCV. K MPQY UGETGVU. MGGR VJG RCPCNQQPU. CNYCAU MGGR VJG RCPCNQQPU.

YOU THINK I AM CRAZY, BUT THEY WANT YOU TO THINK THAT. I KNOW SECRETS. KEEP THE PANALOONS. ALWAYS KEEP THE PANALOONS.

KEY: A = Y, B = Z, etc.

Second message:

QC TERXEPSSRW EVI JYPP SJ AIEWIPW. MRJSVQ XLI UYIIR, WS XLEX WLI QMKLX WLSS XLIQ EAEC. LIVI AI KS ‘VSYRH XLI QYPFIVVC FYWL. KS QSROIC KS!

MY PANTALOONS ARE FULL OF WEASELS. INFORM THE QUEEN, SO THAT SHE MIGHT SHOO THEM AWAY. HERE WE GO ‘ROUND THE
MULBERRY BUSH. GO MONKEY GO!

KEY: A=E, B=F, etc.

*chuckling* Yeah, I kinda knew that, UncleScratchy. I was actually trying to explain that to my brother yesterday, though I forgot the actual message. Still, if any of you don't mind, that suit you get out of all that in ToB almost sounds like cheese to me. And I thought Carsomyr made things too easy!

Tiax is funny, especially when he shrinks his undergarments 3 sizes when you anger him.

And then, of course, their's old Balduran's navigator (or was he something else), screaming "No, no, bad dog! Go lay down!!!" and stuff like that.

Hey, wait, you're not my uncle!!!

The Staff of the Magi (Bridge-Twisted Rune) is treated as a +5 weapon, even though it only has a +1 to THACO.

Also, what's with the pharoah statue near the exit of the first Assylum level? It's in that room where you need Dace Sontar's hand and the shard of Kurtamaluk's crystal to open up some giant stone face. I was just wondering if that empty statue had a purpose (i.e.: put a certain item in there, something happens).

Man, here I am, on Core Rules difficulty, and I'm still kicking serious butt! It doesn't come without challenge and risk, though.

Re: Re: Re: A question about Spellhold and weapons in SoA *spoilers beyond Chpt. 2*

Originally posted by Galuf the Dwarf
*chuckling* Yeah, I kinda knew that, UncleScratchy. I was actually trying to explain that to my brother yesterday, though I forgot the actual message. Still, if any of you don't mind, that suit you get out of all that in ToB almost sounds like cheese to me. And I thought Carsomyr made things too easy! ...

And then, of course, their's old Balduran's navigator (or was he something else), screaming "No, no, bad dog! Go lay down!!!" and stuff like that.

I don't use that cheesy suit either but I do like the cheesy launcher with its 3 types of endless ammo. I think the guy you refer to as Balduran's navigator is Dradeel if I'm not mistaken.

Also, what's with the pharoah statue near the exit of the first Assylum level? It's in that room where you need Dace Sontar's hand and the shard of Kurtamaluk's crystal to open up some giant stone face. I was just wondering if that empty statue had a purpose (i.e.: put a certain item in there, something happens).

I think you're refering to the statue holding an empty bowl? I've never found any use for that statue and I don't see any mention of it in the walkthroughs either. I've always felt there should have been some secret offering you could put in the bowl and receive something for it (e.g.:a message, a clue, a weapon, piece of armor, special darts/arrows/bolts/bullets, a curse, a blessing, gold, etc.) Might make for a good mini-mod to the game.

Re: Re: Re: Re: A question about Spellhold and weapons in SoA *spoilers beyond Chpt. 2*

Originally posted by UncleScratchy
I don't use that cheesy suit either but I do like the cheesy launcher with its 3 types of endless ammo. I think the guy you refer to as Balduran's navigator is Dradeel if I'm not mistaken.



I think you're refering to the statue holding an empty bowl? I've never found any use for that statue and I don't see any mention of it in the walkthroughs either. I've always felt there should have been some secret offering you could put in the bowl and receive something for it (e.g.:a message, a clue, a weapon, piece of armor, special darts/arrows/bolts/bullets, a curse, a blessing, gold, etc.) Might make for a good mini-mod to the game.

My thoughts exactly on the statue. For all we know, that was an area not fully filled in like with the empty potions in the Guarded Compound.

Oh, and here's a joke. What do you call a wet dwarf on a tavern floor?

I'll bite

Matt?

Re: I'll bite

Originally posted by nephtu
Matt?

Nope. A MOP!

Well, I think I'll give Imoen the Boneblade instead of Cutthroat, and I'll give her Long Sword Proficiency in ToB (for Angurvadal).

So there are NO +4 or higher long swords in SoA without modding?

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: A question about Spellhold and weapons in SoA *spoilers beyond Chpt. 2*

Originally posted by Galuf the Dwarf
My thoughts exactly on the statue. For all we know, that was an area not fully filled in like with the empty potions in the Guarded Compound.

The staue is actually very important...

S
P
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L
E
R

If you have a romance when you try and go vampire hunting in Chapter 5, Bodhi will inflict him/her with vampirism. After killing Bodhi, you go to the temple of Oghma in the Docks, and they tell you to use soemthing or other (can't remember) in a place which was once of a powerful good deity. That statue will restore your romance's life.

Rav

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: A question about Spellhold and weapons in SoA *spoilers beyond Chpt. 2*

Originally posted by Rav
The staue is actually very important...

S
P
O
I
L
E
R

If you have a romance when you try and go vampire hunting in Chapter 5, Bodhi will inflict him/her with vampirism. After killing Bodhi, you go to the temple of Oghma in the Docks, and they tell you to use soemthing or other (can't remember) in a place which was once of a powerful good deity. That statue will restore your romance's life.

Rav

Sorry Rav, the statue Dwarf was referring to is the pharonic looking statue in the asylum right before you go from level 1 to level 2 of the asylum dungeon. The statue you're talking about is in the Shade Lord dungeon. Both hold bowls.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: A question about Spellhold and weapons in SoA *spoilers beyond Chpt. 2*

Originally posted by UncleScratchy
Sorry Rav, the statue Dwarf was referring to is the pharonic looking statue in the asylum right before you go from level 1 to level 2 of the asylum dungeon. The statue you're talking about is in the Shade Lord dungeon. Both hold bowls.

Of course I remember the ol' Amaunator statue thing. Been there, done that in SoA and about until the end of ToB.

What have been your crew for facing the final battle of SoA, 'Scratchy, and what were their weapons?

That's what I get for skipping a post. Oops.

Sling of Avoreen Location (spoiler)

The Sling of Avoreen +4 is located in the Beholder Dungeon (Underdark) in a niche. Location x=1214, y=766.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: A question about Spellhold and weapons in SoA *spoilers beyond Chpt.

Originally posted by Galuf the Dwarf
Of course I remember the ol' Amaunator statue thing. Been there, done that in SoA and about until the end of ToB.

What have been your crew for facing the final battle of SoA, 'Scratchy, and what were their weapons?

In my last game I played a half-elf F/M/T and did the game with Jaheira as my only other party member until we rescued Immy. Then the three of us finished the game and picked up Saravok in ToB. My main char wielded Celestial Fury with Crom Faeyr as a back up. Jaheira used the Blackblood club with Sling of Avoreen as back up and Immy wielded Tuigan Bow and Staff of the Magi. I used a lot of traps and druid/mage magic and it was a lot of fun. Sarevok was great addition to my party in ToB (the Bhaalspawn trio plus Jaheira). I never finished that one but I might still go back to it. It was actually getting to be too easy with this party as Jaheira leveled up very fast and became a very formidable character. I try to play the game radically different each time.

Now, about other pieces of equipment and a thief ability...

Now for a slightly different subject. Where are the best pieces of equipment for these parts of the party, and for these classes in SoA (minus mods and Watcher's Keep)?

Cleric - Body Armor, Shields and Accessories. I was wondering if any other of the rewards from the Cleric Stronghold were worth it.

Thief(single class) - Body Armor, Headgear and Amulets. Is there anything that's ultimately better than the Night's Gift?

Barbarian - Body Armor. What's the best in Chain/Splint mail?


The one thing that I would have to say the game needed more of, possibly, is more helmets. I thought of this one about 2 years ago. I hope this all right with the moderators that I post this.

Helm of Vigilance
Ingredients:
Helm of Infravision
Helm of Glory
Scroll of True Seeing
Sphene Gem (wasn't there some other that said wizards made scrying stones from them?)

Abilities:
True Seeing 3 times per day
+1 to Armor Class
+1 to Charisma
Infravision
Detect Illusion Once/Day
Immunity to Blindness

Usable by:
Paladin
Cleric
Lawful Alignment
Non-Evil Alignment


And how useful is the Thief ability "Detect Illusions"? Did it have any use at all?

Re: Now, about other pieces of equipment and a thief ability...

Originally posted by Galuf the Dwarf

And how useful is the Thief ability "Detect Illusions"? Did it have any use at all?

Very useful if you are low on spells in your party. it will dispel any and all illusions without nasty stuff as dispel magic affecting your own party! You can keep your party buffed while getting rid of invisbilities, mirror images etc!

Go Jan!