(Posting this on the ToB forum because of Sarevok.)

The Anomen/Kelsey games are still going strong. I took the Kelsey suggestions, but I didn't have the heart to pick up Mazzy and Valygar for the Anomen party. So right now it's just me, LG Anomen, and one heckuva Flirt Pack. I plan to pick up Imoen, and Sarevok.

Thing is, I've installed all of Ascension, and I hope the Flirt Pack won't screw it up. By the time Sarevok joins the party, Anomen and Mariel (elven swashbuckler PC) will probably have their HLAs, and Imoen will be close to getting hers. I'm hoping that Sarevok has missile weapon points, because I think he'll be too weak for the improved fights. I'll have no problem getting Sarevok to turn good or Balthazar to join my side; with 19 base charisma (BG1 imported char), the Blade of Roses, and the Nymph Cloak, I have 23 CHA. :D

I'm playing on core difficulty with a slideback to Normal for max rolls. (Both Mariel and Anomen get Constitution bonuses, and dangit, I want Mariel to have enough HP to be immune to certain spells. [img]tongue.gif[/img] ) I plan to bash Yaga-Shura's head in before taking on Watcher's Keep. By the time the party gets Sarevok, everyone will have the items to make them powerhouses. But is this enough? Can an elven swashbuckler, a human fighter/cleric, a human thief/mage, and a human fighter take on the improved Big Five with low or no cheese involved?

Also...
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(Anomen romance spoilers ahead)
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Does the Flirt Pack finally give Moira's ring some enhancements?

It comes with it's very own Anomen initiated flirt! But other than that, no. Perhaps for the next version... Request something to be done about it on Forgotten Wars (and while you're there, let me know what your favorite Anomen flirts are.) [img]smile.gif[/img]

Most likely, yes. With two top-notch tanks, some traps, arcane support and an extra brute, it should be doable - especially on Core Rules.

That proabably depends on your definition of "cheese", though. Do you define cheese as:

(1) Employing some power-tactics (say... Mind Flayer Circlets) & using player foreknowledge (as in, out-of-character knowledge).

...or...

(2) Bending the rules via the various game engine exploits (e.g., Project Image and an army of Planetars).

?

Ascension is doable with "merely" (1)-kind of cheese and without resorting to (2), but I doubt it's beatable otherwise.

[ 06-10-2003, 02:52 AM: Message edited by: Alson ]

Most likely, yes. With two top-notch tanks, some traps, arcane support and an extra brute, it should be doable - especially on Core Rules.

Hrm. I decided to max traps last. I don't want to get too dependent on the little buggers. I did, however, max detect illusion for whatever that's worth. Came in handy a few times. (The battle with Tanova first time through Chateau Bodhi, for example. Mariel's DI stripped away most of Tanova's protections, and Anomen's TU finished her off. Yay! [img]smile.gif[/img] )

That proabably depends on your definition of "cheese", though. Do you define cheese as:

(1) Employing some power-tactics (say... Mind Flayer Circlets) & using player foreknowledge (as in, out-of-character knowledge).

Ascension is doable with "merely" (1)-kind of cheese and without resorting to (2), but I doubt it's beatable otherwise.

Uh-oh... [img]tongue.gif[/img]

I admit, I fall victim to "magical foresight." Usually after I get my kiester handed to me. I figure if I run a battle through until I die, I can use my magical Bhaalspawn abilities to transport me back in time until right before the battle so I can go "hey, wait a minute..." and buff some more.

I don't take advantage of obvious bugs. I tend to use magic on an as-needed basis. After all, as Charles Warren said, why bother with magic? Nothing is immune to cold steel. (Unless they have Protection from Normal/Magic Weapons up, and an abjuration spell usually takes that off so I can continue bashing happily. :D )

I have no idea what Sarevok does, where his proficiencies lie, what his stats are like, etc., and I think I like it that way. [img]smile.gif[/img] Hopefully, I will be pleasantly surprised...

Detect Illusions is excellent. Especially for Ascension!

Wouldn't you like to know why! [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Slick! http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/cool.gif

If you're OK with OOC knowledge, Ascension shouldn't be impossible for you. You'll probably die for the first couple of times, but in each time you'll learn yet another thing (OOC, of course) and eventually, after a few casting of the ever-omnipowerful Power Word: Reload, you'll beat it. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Knowing things from beforehand, because you've 'been there, done that' is almost inevitable when playing a game, IMHO. In my first game through I got killed by Tolgerias a zillion times, but eventually I just hurtled a couple of fireballs in the room, killing him and his apprentice. There's no justification in that, because my character wasn't supposed to know there was an evil man in that room. But I (player) did know.. Long story, short question: is there even a way besides forcing yourself not to use your 'telepathic abilities' of winning a battle? Not only from a gamer's point of view, but also from the game makers (adjusting what happens when you loose for instance)