[Tancred]

Time for some whimsy.

Battles in Throne of Bhaal. Some people say they're the hardest thing since the titanium toffee scone. Some people say they're easier than a game of tiddlywinks against a man with no arms. Me, I see every battle in Throne of Bhaal - and several in SoA too - as obeying a simple system. Every time you go into combat, you -

- Are not prepared, and die swiftly.

- Are over-prepared, and don't take a scratch.

It's getting on my nerves.

Has anyone ever succeeded in striking a balance between these two? Is there anyone out there, anywhere, who has succeeded in playing a heroic, nail-biting game, where every conflict brought you to within a knife-edge of death, but clever planning and heroic behaviour saw you through? If so, was that fun, or just very expensive in terms of healing? Or is the only way to be successful in ToB to use every single power you have in one combat, rest, and continue fighting and resting ad infinitum?

Is there room for such a thing as dogged heroism and true grit in the Infinity Engine? Your opinions are welcome.