This post contains SPOILERS.
I just finished playing Icewind Dale for the first time. Just the original game and the final patch, that's all. I didn't use any spoilers or any guides, so I probably missed a lot. (I'll see what I missed the next time I play, if ever.) I just have some questions about Belhifet.
I managed to defeat him on my fourth try. My party consisted of an 11th Level Paladin, a 10th Level Fighter/Cleric, a 12th Level Cleric, a 14th Level Thief, a 12th Level Conjurer, and a 12th Level Illusionist. My Thief had maximum points in Find Traps, but he still couldn't disarm any of the traps. My Paladin, Fighter/Cleric, and Cleric were all equipped with +4 weapons, and they dispatched the Iron Golems without any trouble; however, they couldn't even hit Belhifet. My Thief did some damage with his Arrows of Piercing, which confuses me because in Baldur's Gate, they only count as +1 weapons as far what they're able to hit (even though they have a +4 THAC0 bonus). At some point, even the Arrows of Piercing stopped hitting Belhifet. What sort of immunity against weapons does he have?
I defeated him by using lots of Flame Arrow spells and Magic Missile spells. Nothing else seemed to work. I was lucky that I had made frequent use of the Jester's Bag of Holding, which produced a few Magic Missile scrolls and Flame Arrow scrolls that I held onto. Burning Hands, Melf's Acid Arrow, Shroud of Flame, and Flame Strike, etc. were all useless because of Belhifet's magic resistance. Magic Missile hit him about half of the time, so I figure that his magic resistance is about 50%. I would have assumed that he's resistant to fire damage, but obviously, that isn't the case.
Is there anything else that will hurt him besides Arrows of Piercing, Magic Missile, and Flame Arrow? As it was, the final battle in my game was very inelegant. I spent most of the time running around to avoid traps and fiery clouds and melee attacks while I pelted Belhifet with small stones, so to speak. My Paladin, Fighter/Cleric, and Cleric, who couldn't seem to inflict any damage, served merely as cannon fodder, decoys, and healers, which I really felt was beneath them.
Battling the big boss
Big B
Your final battle does seem a bit odd, although certain things run true to form. I'm running the same version of IWD as you are, so hopefully I can help. From what I've read, we really miss out by not have the expansion Heart of Winter, which adds spells and items (including bags for scrolls, gems, and potions so they don't take all your inventory space) and gives really cool powers to druids and bards. Don't give up on the game yet! (I'm bidding on the expansion right now, on ebay)
SPOILERS
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First off, although thieves can detect those traps, no thief can disarm them. If you walk over them, they dispel magic, which is a major pain (but then, it's supposed to be tough).
Second, that battle has always been chaotic for me, too. Lots of running, little time to cast spells. I've always gone right after B, on the theory that he's tough enough to deal out damage faster than I can repair or block it, so better to take him out as quickly as possible.
Third. Here's where it gets strange. I've always been able to hit Belhifet with weapons. In fact, given his high resistance, immunity to most missiles and regenerative powers, melee seems to be the preferred method for taking him out. I've finished the game twice, and never had to reload the final fight, by having hasted, fighter-heavy parties go right after B. Clerics stay to the side to cast Heal, Recitation, Prayer, Animate Dead, Entropy Shield, Defensive Harmony, Protection from Evil '10 Radius, etc., and join in if they have to. Mages use the boots of speed, mirror image and stoneskin to lead the golems down the garden path around the circle while sniping whenever possible with magic missile. There's a couple of items that should give you 10+ first level slots to spend on magic missile.
I think you should be able to hit him with +4 weapons, especially if you take potions of giant strength and haste your fighters somehow (potion or spell). Possibly the trouble is that your party was a little weak, or that you had some bad luck with attack rolls. Were you just missing, or did you get the "weapon ineffective" message?
If I'm wrong about the +4 weapons, there are better weapons available.
MAJOR SPOILERS
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For paladins, the best weapon in the game is the longsword Pale Justice (+7). It's very easy to miss. In the Lower Dorn's area, if you walk around, three umber hulks should burst out a wall at you (in the upper left of the map). In the corridor they leave is a corpse, which holds the Pale Justice. It's +7 (!!) against evil creatures.
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Another longsword is Aihonen's Blade (+5). At the very start of the game in Easthaven you must talk to the water sprite in the extreme lower left and complete the quest she gives you (talk to the humming fisherman by the boats). Upon returning to Easthaven, there is a fisherman in the exact same spot, who gives you the sword (and a whole bucketful of experience).
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The Slayer spear (+5), taken from the flaming corpse of the salamander king. He's in the next room over (to the left, I believe) from Maiden Ilmadia.
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Conlan's Hammer, although made to combat iron golems, can hit anything that requires magical weapons to hit, regardless of the actual specifics of the weapon (+1). You get it from the locked chest in the back room of the Kuldahar blacksmith. The conventional way of getting it is to ask Conlan about why he's so gloomy when you first meet him. He will tell you that his son Sheemish was kidnapped. You can find Sheemish on the second level of Dragon's Eye, and tell him to go home if you've cleared out all the monsters between him and the exit. When you return to Kuldahar, Sheemish is at the blacksmith's, and he will give you a key to the chest if you talk to him. I've heard that it's also possible to break open the chest using a magical hammer, but I've never tried it (you get a lot more experience the other way).
As for spells, magic missile is the best, as at least a few will get through the hefty magic resistance. There's a wand of magic missiles usable by any character that you can buy from Orrick in Kuldahar (mage tower in upper left, across the bridge) after (I think) finishing the Temple of the Forgotten Gods. Be warned, the inventory changes after you finish Dragon's Eye, so save your money and buy it before killing Yxunomei.
Other spells? Summoning spells are good to distract the attention of B or his golems. Lightning bolt may work, although it can be dangerous to your people as well. Ditto for skull trap. I'm not sure if cold works; if so, try Snilloc Snowballs or Cone of Cold. I usually use my fourth level slots for stoneskin and emotion:courage (or hope). It's also helpful to have at least one Otiluke's Resilient Sphere memorized, as it's a handy way to prevent a damaged character from dying. As the golems like to attack the weakest characters, they may also fruitlessly expend their energy on attacking the invulnerable character inside. I've also heard (not yet tried) that the druid spell Static Charge is of great help if cast multiple times.
Hope this helps. Trust me and run through IWD again. It really is a lot of fun the second time through, as foreknowledge of encounters allows you to tailor your tactics (including memorized spells). Try innovative spell combinations and experiment. My all time favourite is to cast Protection from Fire on a tough character ("tank"), run him through a horde of enemies to draw their attention, and circle back to the party close enough to hit the works with fireball, then clean up the mess.
Cheers!
Your final battle does seem a bit odd, although certain things run true to form. I'm running the same version of IWD as you are, so hopefully I can help. From what I've read, we really miss out by not have the expansion Heart of Winter, which adds spells and items (including bags for scrolls, gems, and potions so they don't take all your inventory space) and gives really cool powers to druids and bards. Don't give up on the game yet! (I'm bidding on the expansion right now, on ebay)
SPOILERS
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
First off, although thieves can detect those traps, no thief can disarm them. If you walk over them, they dispel magic, which is a major pain (but then, it's supposed to be tough).
Second, that battle has always been chaotic for me, too. Lots of running, little time to cast spells. I've always gone right after B, on the theory that he's tough enough to deal out damage faster than I can repair or block it, so better to take him out as quickly as possible.
Third. Here's where it gets strange. I've always been able to hit Belhifet with weapons. In fact, given his high resistance, immunity to most missiles and regenerative powers, melee seems to be the preferred method for taking him out. I've finished the game twice, and never had to reload the final fight, by having hasted, fighter-heavy parties go right after B. Clerics stay to the side to cast Heal, Recitation, Prayer, Animate Dead, Entropy Shield, Defensive Harmony, Protection from Evil '10 Radius, etc., and join in if they have to. Mages use the boots of speed, mirror image and stoneskin to lead the golems down the garden path around the circle while sniping whenever possible with magic missile. There's a couple of items that should give you 10+ first level slots to spend on magic missile.
I think you should be able to hit him with +4 weapons, especially if you take potions of giant strength and haste your fighters somehow (potion or spell). Possibly the trouble is that your party was a little weak, or that you had some bad luck with attack rolls. Were you just missing, or did you get the "weapon ineffective" message?
If I'm wrong about the +4 weapons, there are better weapons available.
MAJOR SPOILERS
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
For paladins, the best weapon in the game is the longsword Pale Justice (+7). It's very easy to miss. In the Lower Dorn's area, if you walk around, three umber hulks should burst out a wall at you (in the upper left of the map). In the corridor they leave is a corpse, which holds the Pale Justice. It's +7 (!!) against evil creatures.
*
*
*
Another longsword is Aihonen's Blade (+5). At the very start of the game in Easthaven you must talk to the water sprite in the extreme lower left and complete the quest she gives you (talk to the humming fisherman by the boats). Upon returning to Easthaven, there is a fisherman in the exact same spot, who gives you the sword (and a whole bucketful of experience).
*
*
*
The Slayer spear (+5), taken from the flaming corpse of the salamander king. He's in the next room over (to the left, I believe) from Maiden Ilmadia.
*
*
*
Conlan's Hammer, although made to combat iron golems, can hit anything that requires magical weapons to hit, regardless of the actual specifics of the weapon (+1). You get it from the locked chest in the back room of the Kuldahar blacksmith. The conventional way of getting it is to ask Conlan about why he's so gloomy when you first meet him. He will tell you that his son Sheemish was kidnapped. You can find Sheemish on the second level of Dragon's Eye, and tell him to go home if you've cleared out all the monsters between him and the exit. When you return to Kuldahar, Sheemish is at the blacksmith's, and he will give you a key to the chest if you talk to him. I've heard that it's also possible to break open the chest using a magical hammer, but I've never tried it (you get a lot more experience the other way).
As for spells, magic missile is the best, as at least a few will get through the hefty magic resistance. There's a wand of magic missiles usable by any character that you can buy from Orrick in Kuldahar (mage tower in upper left, across the bridge) after (I think) finishing the Temple of the Forgotten Gods. Be warned, the inventory changes after you finish Dragon's Eye, so save your money and buy it before killing Yxunomei.
Other spells? Summoning spells are good to distract the attention of B or his golems. Lightning bolt may work, although it can be dangerous to your people as well. Ditto for skull trap. I'm not sure if cold works; if so, try Snilloc Snowballs or Cone of Cold. I usually use my fourth level slots for stoneskin and emotion:courage (or hope). It's also helpful to have at least one Otiluke's Resilient Sphere memorized, as it's a handy way to prevent a damaged character from dying. As the golems like to attack the weakest characters, they may also fruitlessly expend their energy on attacking the invulnerable character inside. I've also heard (not yet tried) that the druid spell Static Charge is of great help if cast multiple times.
Hope this helps. Trust me and run through IWD again. It really is a lot of fun the second time through, as foreknowledge of encounters allows you to tailor your tactics (including memorized spells). Try innovative spell combinations and experiment. My all time favourite is to cast Protection from Fire on a tough character ("tank"), run him through a horde of enemies to draw their attention, and circle back to the party close enough to hit the works with fireball, then clean up the mess.
Cheers!
When your back is against the wall... the other guy is in a whole lotta trouble.