The trick for mage heavy parties (assuming high level mages) is Wish with high intel. and wisdom. Use a spell trigger of Lower Resistances, a Chain Contingency of Abi Dalzims, then maybe an improved alacrity and more abi dalzims, then when it's all done use the Wish to recharge all your spells and rememorize stuff when there's no enemies around. Traps should work for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th melissan battles as well.
However, for a virtually thiefless, tankless, and high level mage-less party, i don't have any advice. Aside from playing a full game of SOA, doing all the side quests, and continuing on to TOB, in which case the party will have high level mages.

i don't think that that major battles in throne of bhaal are way too difficult, though they can be a little frustrating at time just due to the sheer multiplicity of the foes you do battle with. i have beaten the game once, and i'm right at the end of it again, and i have to say that Melissan really is not too much of a challenge. at least not something some good strategy and plentiful whirlwind attacks cannot handle...

my main complaint in respect to the big fights is how much the game slows down all together (especially when all your guys are loaded with protective magic. it ruins the whole playing experience....http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...es/bongsmi.gif

ToB is way to hard for magic users...played a 6 mages party...went into the Watchers keep. WWEEEEE DEAD MAGIC ZONE WEEEEE. i was so not happy bout it. http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...iles/smile.gif

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When Ixion the mage walks, the world shivers. (old BG saying)

Hmm I cheesed Melissan's butt by bringing in the Killer sword that dishes out 500-1500 points of damage... oh well...

But I have to say, I am such a barbaric person I have no idea how eliminate the blade barrier, so I also cheated on the Ravager.. teehee

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But to be honest, they have to be annoying, but what annoys me the most is Sendai... her portrait is poor.. I mean she's ugly! And, she has all of these clones of her and and all...

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Chaotic Cavalier of ALSB, protector of the Innocent, slayer of the mad...

I had a hard time beating Melissan. I eventually done it then realised that I left dificulty on easy after teching Imoen a spell and was guted (I like playing on Normal rules, but I hate failing to learn spells so I put it down then forget to put it back up *sigh*). Well when I did beat her this is what i did. 1st battle sent al my chars after her. Ignored summons. 2nd battle sent all my chars after her. Used the weaker whirlwinds on her(Minsc and Sarovak, 1 each), summond Deva. 3rd battle. Again set all cars on her. Ignored summons. Used greater whirlwinds. Dummond Planeter(sp). Final battle. Same as 3rd battle. Summond a Greater Elemantal, and a Jug Golem. I found if you just bundled her, and ignored what she summond. It takes her out. However like I said this was on easy mode. + I also have 50 bottles of superior healing. Sorry about the spelling.

Under Normal diffculty, you will always have a 100% chance of memorising spells. Enemies also deal only 75% damage under Normal.

It is only under Core rules that you have a chance to fail to learn a spell.

Is that when its in the middle? Cos thats where I put it.

From left to right, where Core is in the middle of the bar.

Easy-->Normal-->Core-->Hard-->Insane

Oh.. how about with Abazigal... well he's better than Yaga-Shura though... fighting fire giants... all six of 'em in one time can really scare me to death... although I took care of them quite effectively... http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...miles/wink.gif

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Chaotic Cavalier of ALSB, protector of the Innocent, slayer of the mad...

Think some of the battle are hard, TRY INSANE diffucity 2x the damage a hit, and use all the improved ai patch like improved demogroggy, improved bhaalspawn improved everything, all i can say is its massive bloodbath