I have somehow managed to get many bits and pieces of magical equipment,but not enough to get Cromwell to create the Equalizer or Crom Fayer. I guess my question is - are these items necessary to the last battle? I have lots of other stuff.

Nah, not really. You can get through the game without them. Getting them makes it a lot easier though (esp. Crom Faeyr).

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no they are just very helpful. qwhen i completed the game the first time through i had keldorn in my party. i had him using the holy avenger and i had minsc using crom faeyr(sp)lot of it depends on what character type you are using and your alignment. when you go through each of the rooms to get the tears theres a good and evil path so choose according to your needs and alignment. dont forget to use all the scrolls and potions you have in preperation for these battle. you wont need them anymore!!!! make sure you export your character before the last battle so you can use it again in another game be it single or multiplayer.

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IS THE PIZZA HERE YET????
WANNA PASS ME A BEER??? THANKS!!!!!!

I can't figure out what I did with the gauntlets of ogre strength...I thought I had them at one time and now they are missing from my stash...then I think I may have given them to Valygar before a nasty battle in the planar sphere with a demon and he was killed in that area - which promptly disappeared after the last sphere battle was fought...evidently I didn't pick up all of his gear! Anyway, that burns! Thanks for the info though.