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NobleNick · 11-17-2003, 02:56 PM

Welcome, TL!

Well, there goes my grip on (cough, cough) "most mature" player. You'll find plenty of folks in the "near or past 40" set; and virtually everyone here, regardless of age is pleasant to be around.

Do you have Heart of Winter (HoW) expansion installed? If you don't, then don't ask your brother about it: he might want the game back!

I'm guessing that you wanted your post to be part of the original thread on demographics. If so (for future reference) use the "Reply to" message button. The "Post" message button, as you can see, starts a whole new thread.

Your party, though quite basic, is also quite viable; with no essential skills lacking, and lots of physical firepower. I presume (since you did not say differently) that your mage is a general Mage (not a specialist). If you did specialize, I hope it was in a school that allows the use of the powerful Evocation (Invocation) spells.

A few words of advice for your Fighters: Stack your weapon Proficiency Points (PPs) in exactly one ranged weapon (e.g., bow, sling, darts) and exactly one close-in weapon until you have maxed out both. And specialize each Fighter in a different weapon, because there will typically be only one REALLY good weapon available of each class. Weapons are generally grouped by damage type: crushing, slashing and piercing. Bow and arrows, which most or all of your Fighters should use, cover piercing; so that leaves slashing and crushing. Your cleric will be constrained to using only crushing weapons (club, mace, flail, hammer, and sling). So maybe one of your Fighters should go crushing and the other two slashing for the close in weapons. At least one of your Fighters will be your "tank" (a front line member designed and equipped to take the brunt of the punishment the enemy dishes out). This guy should specialize in a one-handed weapon, so that he can use a shield, and should be given all your best protective equipment. (Two-handed weapons deal more damage, but don't allow use of shield.) A Fighter can use bow for ranged attack and then switch to shield and one-handed weapon for close in; but you need to remember to make the switch: it won't happen automatically. Here is ONE POSSIBLE way to do your front line:

---Fighter 1: Sling (or bow), long sword and shield. (This guy is your tank. Again, the bow typically deals out more ranged damage [and, for this reason, is what I prefer, even for the tank]; but it requires you to remember to trade the bow out to equip the shield for close up combat in order to get protection befitting a tank. If you are the forgetful type, then the sling might be a better choice: It allows the shield to be equipped at all times.)
---Fighter 2: Bow, mace and shield (your back-up tank)
---Fighter 3: Best bow and 2-handed axe (no shield): This will be your most viscious and hardest hitting, but also your most vulnerable Fighter. The idea is to get the troll to beat on your tank while Fighter 3 beats on the troll.
---Cleric 1: Sling, flail (my preference) OR hammer, and shield. Though not a Fighter, this guy can still hand out some hurt when not casting spells.

As several folks have said: the key to victory is to disable the A.I. and micromanage your battles using the space bar.

I have preferences set so that the battle automatically pauses at the end of round for every character, as well as auto pause for when the initial member of an enemy party is sighted. So I mostly use space bar to restart combat; and when it gets hot, I can be smacking that space bar about once a second. If using Aganazzar's Scorcher or the like, or in a tough fight, I use space bar even more often; because I am also stopping combat to nudge guys this way or that; so as they don't get fried. (Not many things are more satisfying than popping your mage out around the end of your front line, targeting the farthest enemy on THEIR front line, and successfully frying six lizards TWICE each, without flaming any of your own guys. Barbeque sauce, anyone?)

Some folks are a bit apologetic about deluging you with this basic stuff; but a guy came to the forum not too long ago needing some mid-late game help. Turns out his problem was not using space bar, because he didn't even know it existed, let alone that it was O.K. to use it. (He made it THAT far without pausing?? WOW!!!)

Pump up and use your thief's "hide in shadows" skill to scout out the territory ahead, so that you can formulate a plan and make preparations before the monsters are aware of your party's presence.

Trolls take damage until almost dead, then become immune to any further physical damage. That is why you were given the advice in previous posts. Once down they will stay down for a bit, rejuvenate and come back at you. So the typical tactic is to thack them soundly until they drop, then use your precious fire or acid spells/potions/weapons (e.g., fire or acid arrows, Burning Hands spell, burning oil potion, etc.) for that last shot to finish them off. If you think your tactics through at the start of a fight (Remember that "hide in shadows" skill? And the pause button?) then you can stack up the trolls in one spot and use ONE fire potion or spell to finish them off 2 or 3 at a time, or even all at once (fun to watch)!

What's a party,
without a song?
Bards ROCK! . . . . (if you have HoW installed)
Party On!!

11-17-2003, 02:56 PM	#8
NobleNick Quintesson Join Date: February 5, 2002 Location: Huntsville, AL, USA Age: 64 Posts: 1,045	Welcome, TL! Well, there goes my grip on (cough, cough) "most mature" player. You'll find plenty of folks in the "near or past 40" set; and virtually everyone here, regardless of age is pleasant to be around. Do you have Heart of Winter (HoW) expansion installed? If you don't, then don't ask your brother about it: he might want the game back! I'm guessing that you wanted your post to be part of the original thread on demographics. If so (for future reference) use the "Reply to" message button. The "Post" message button, as you can see, starts a whole new thread. Your party, though quite basic, is also quite viable; with no essential skills lacking, and lots of physical firepower. I presume (since you did not say differently) that your mage is a general Mage (not a specialist). If you did specialize, I hope it was in a school that allows the use of the powerful Evocation (Invocation) spells. A few words of advice for your Fighters: Stack your weapon Proficiency Points (PPs) in exactly one ranged weapon (e.g., bow, sling, darts) and exactly one close-in weapon until you have maxed out both. And specialize each Fighter in a different weapon, because there will typically be only one REALLY good weapon available of each class. Weapons are generally grouped by damage type: crushing, slashing and piercing. Bow and arrows, which most or all of your Fighters should use, cover piercing; so that leaves slashing and crushing. Your cleric will be constrained to using only crushing weapons (club, mace, flail, hammer, and sling). So maybe one of your Fighters should go crushing and the other two slashing for the close in weapons. At least one of your Fighters will be your "tank" (a front line member designed and equipped to take the brunt of the punishment the enemy dishes out). This guy should specialize in a one-handed weapon, so that he can use a shield, and should be given all your best protective equipment. (Two-handed weapons deal more damage, but don't allow use of shield.) A Fighter can use bow for ranged attack and then switch to shield and one-handed weapon for close in; but you need to remember to make the switch: it won't happen automatically. Here is ONE POSSIBLE way to do your front line: ---Fighter 1: Sling (or bow), long sword and shield. (This guy is your tank. Again, the bow typically deals out more ranged damage [and, for this reason, is what I prefer, even for the tank]; but it requires you to remember to trade the bow out to equip the shield for close up combat in order to get protection befitting a tank. If you are the forgetful type, then the sling might be a better choice: It allows the shield to be equipped at all times.) ---Fighter 2: Bow, mace and shield (your back-up tank) ---Fighter 3: Best bow and 2-handed axe (no shield): This will be your most viscious and hardest hitting, but also your most vulnerable Fighter. The idea is to get the troll to beat on your tank while Fighter 3 beats on the troll. ---Cleric 1: Sling, flail (my preference) OR hammer, and shield. Though not a Fighter, this guy can still hand out some hurt when not casting spells. As several folks have said: the key to victory is to disable the A.I. and micromanage your battles using the space bar. I have preferences set so that the battle automatically pauses at the end of round for every character, as well as auto pause for when the initial member of an enemy party is sighted. So I mostly use space bar to restart combat; and when it gets hot, I can be smacking that space bar about once a second. If using Aganazzar's Scorcher or the like, or in a tough fight, I use space bar even more often; because I am also stopping combat to nudge guys this way or that; so as they don't get fried. (Not many things are more satisfying than popping your mage out around the end of your front line, targeting the farthest enemy on THEIR front line, and successfully frying six lizards TWICE each, without flaming any of your own guys. Barbeque sauce, anyone?) Some folks are a bit apologetic about deluging you with this basic stuff; but a guy came to the forum not too long ago needing some mid-late game help. Turns out his problem was not using space bar, because he didn't even know it existed, let alone that it was O.K. to use it. (He made it THAT far without pausing?? WOW!!!) Pump up and use your thief's "hide in shadows" skill to scout out the territory ahead, so that you can formulate a plan and make preparations before the monsters are aware of your party's presence. Trolls take damage until almost dead, then become immune to any further physical damage. That is why you were given the advice in previous posts. Once down they will stay down for a bit, rejuvenate and come back at you. So the typical tactic is to thack them soundly until they drop, then use your precious fire or acid spells/potions/weapons (e.g., fire or acid arrows, Burning Hands spell, burning oil potion, etc.) for that last shot to finish them off. If you think your tactics through at the start of a fight (Remember that "hide in shadows" skill? And the pause button?) then you can stack up the trolls in one spot and use ONE fire potion or spell to finish them off 2 or 3 at a time, or even all at once (fun to watch)! What's a party, without a song? Bards ROCK! . . . . (if you have HoW installed) Party On!!