[Cerek the Barbaric]

Originally posted by Leslie: Here's my next no reloads plan: Solo FMC with these rules (limitations): I will not use: Wands of anything, Cloak of Cheese, Shield of Balduran, Shield of Reflection, Vhailor's Helm, Improved Kitthix, Boots of Preservation (only for countering Shatter Magic) I will use: Robe of Vecna, Staff of The Magi (but not for disrupting the spell caster if you reequip and become invisible) I will not use scrolls: Prot. from Undead, Prot. from Magic (maybe in Ascension battle! heh, if I get there ) I will not use spells: Mislead, Project Image I have already rolled his numbers (yeah, it took me 10 minutes) 18/45, 18, 18, 13, 18, 7 I think Ilyich will be very hard! I already played a little and when I fought my first Duergar Proletariat, I summoned a skeleton for a decoy. He destroyed it faster (in 3 hits) before I made one swing at him.

Good luck to you, Leslie. If I could beat Ilyich and crew with a bard, I'm sure you can do it with a F/M/C. You'll have a MUCH better chance of actually hitting your enemies and you'll also have a heap more healing than I did. I believe the number of spells are actually very similar for the bard and the mage in the Chateau, but it seems as if the mage should have more of those also.

As for the duergar, my tried and true tactic was to Dire Charm the fighter and send him after the mage (or the other fighter if more than the two showed up). Of course, I'm only playing on Normal, not Insane.

One suggestion I would offer against the Proletariats would be to cast Grease to slow him down. That saves your higher level spells for better uses (and - unlike Dire Charm - there is no Save vs Grease). Then, while the dwarf is slowed in his approach, fill him full of arrows. When he does reach you, at least he will be injured.

The mages are very easy to beat solo. Just wait for their protections to go down, then cast Stinking Cloud. The only serious problem comes if they manage to cast their Spider Spawn spell, but again, being a fighter AND a cleric will give you an advantage against them that I didn't have.

BTW, what race will your character be?