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prodigal · 10-22-2002, 05:37 PM

I am one of the lucky few (though not lucky for my law practice) that has discovered this game just recently.

My experience of the game has been great, though I got frustrated a couple times till I found this site. The retro dungeons were really annoying. Still, it was really annoying to discover this game (best I've ever played) then find out through this board that the company is kaput and no sequel likely anytime soon.

I confess I didn't even finish the game - and still haven't.

Most of the way through (post rapax castle) I realized I had blown the away camp part of the game by exploring too much too often too early, and killed some people maybe I shouldn't have for a good experience (like all the t'rang [img]smile.gif[/img] )

And, of course, I hadn't configured a great party, used an eight-player party through most of the game, so had my fun spells only available at the very very end...

Anyway, I am now playing two four-characted games. One is an absolute kick-ass dual-class group, though a little tough early on, and that one is:

faerie ninja (1st three levels alchemist), cane of corpus and winterwand
hobbit monk (1st three levels psionic), staff of doom
hobbit (I think they're the best overall race) samurai, (1st three levels wizard), bloodlust, heater shield (no ivory blade yet)
dwarf lord, (three levels priest), fang and dragon kite

this dual class party seems too easy though at later levels - every fight has multiple death spells cast first, plus power ups, then close to melee range and critical hits all over the place - even the lord is getting instant kills more than just from the weapon (don't understand this), all are pushing armor class 30 or higher in combat, hardly even get hit anymore

they have just acquired their last level 6 spells and are about to go level seven and we are in rapax rift

other party is more traditional, though took some tinkering

lizardman fighter
hobbit rogue
hobbit bishop (mage/psionic)
hobbit bishop (alchemist/preist)

I am thinking of doing a three-player party later, as above but with only one bishop (alchemist/mage/psionic) with only bless really necessary as priest spell

I have a couple of questions though:

1. Why can't my bishop alchemist/priest combine potions? (this is a recent discovery for me due to the board) I can't seem to do it - is it because of the bishop status as opposed to pure alchemist? I noticed that my ninja couldn't do it but I expected that.

2. Can someone recommend a party that is challenging but not impossible (practically speaking - I don't have a free month-on-end to do solo spell-less bishop for example) at all stages of the game at normal difficulty?

3. I've found the gimmicky classes not too great (bard and gadgeteer) - is there something that makes them indispensable in anyone's opinion?

4. I have run into one problem with new games.

5. I usually train stealth and shield skill in the lower monastery if I have patience for it. Otherwise, my characters come out pretty standard at level 6 or 7 out of the monastery. I have run into normal opposition in iron-man games on arnika road (the odd crimson poppy and maybe small groups of higardi highwaymen but mostly easier stuff) on the way to arnika.

A couple of times, for no apparent reason, I have run into groups like:

7 higardi highwaymen
4 caustic vines
6 higardi highwaymen
3 cultists

cultists!

my guys haven't even learned soul shield or element shield at this stage!

any explanation for this? difficult is one thing, but that seems crazy. Makes iron-man a lot less fun when you ahve a fight that you might get out of 1 in 10 times...

10-22-2002, 05:37 PM	#1
prodigal Elite Waterdeep Guard Join Date: October 7, 2002 Location: toronto, ontario Age: 58 Posts: 12	I am one of the lucky few (though not lucky for my law practice) that has discovered this game just recently. My experience of the game has been great, though I got frustrated a couple times till I found this site. The retro dungeons were really annoying. Still, it was really annoying to discover this game (best I've ever played) then find out through this board that the company is kaput and no sequel likely anytime soon. I confess I didn't even finish the game - and still haven't. Most of the way through (post rapax castle) I realized I had blown the away camp part of the game by exploring too much too often too early, and killed some people maybe I shouldn't have for a good experience (like all the t'rang [img]smile.gif[/img] ) And, of course, I hadn't configured a great party, used an eight-player party through most of the game, so had my fun spells only available at the very very end... Anyway, I am now playing two four-characted games. One is an absolute kick-ass dual-class group, though a little tough early on, and that one is: faerie ninja (1st three levels alchemist), cane of corpus and winterwand hobbit monk (1st three levels psionic), staff of doom hobbit (I think they're the best overall race) samurai, (1st three levels wizard), bloodlust, heater shield (no ivory blade yet) dwarf lord, (three levels priest), fang and dragon kite this dual class party seems too easy though at later levels - every fight has multiple death spells cast first, plus power ups, then close to melee range and critical hits all over the place - even the lord is getting instant kills more than just from the weapon (don't understand this), all are pushing armor class 30 or higher in combat, hardly even get hit anymore they have just acquired their last level 6 spells and are about to go level seven and we are in rapax rift other party is more traditional, though took some tinkering lizardman fighter hobbit rogue hobbit bishop (mage/psionic) hobbit bishop (alchemist/preist) I am thinking of doing a three-player party later, as above but with only one bishop (alchemist/mage/psionic) with only bless really necessary as priest spell I have a couple of questions though: 1. Why can't my bishop alchemist/priest combine potions? (this is a recent discovery for me due to the board) I can't seem to do it - is it because of the bishop status as opposed to pure alchemist? I noticed that my ninja couldn't do it but I expected that. 2. Can someone recommend a party that is challenging but not impossible (practically speaking - I don't have a free month-on-end to do solo spell-less bishop for example) at all stages of the game at normal difficulty? 3. I've found the gimmicky classes not too great (bard and gadgeteer) - is there something that makes them indispensable in anyone's opinion? 4. I have run into one problem with new games. 5. I usually train stealth and shield skill in the lower monastery if I have patience for it. Otherwise, my characters come out pretty standard at level 6 or 7 out of the monastery. I have run into normal opposition in iron-man games on arnika road (the odd crimson poppy and maybe small groups of higardi highwaymen but mostly easier stuff) on the way to arnika. A couple of times, for no apparent reason, I have run into groups like: 7 higardi highwaymen 4 caustic vines 6 higardi highwaymen 3 cultists cultists! my guys haven't even learned soul shield or element shield at this stage! any explanation for this? difficult is one thing, but that seems crazy. Makes iron-man a lot less fun when you ahve a fight that you might get out of 1 in 10 times...