[Cerek the Barbaric]

The Guarded Compound is definitely one of the harder fights. If you have not installed Weimer's Tactics Mod...the best advice is to use a standard "Hit & Run". Go up the stairs - launch a few attacks - and retreat back downstairs. From what I understand, the Tactics Mod eliminates this option (not something I'm looking forward too...I much prefer to lure the enemy to an area of my choosing). Anyway....here is how I would do it.

Have your mage/thief go Invisible and send him up the left staircase. This will bring him into the lower part of the room upstairs. This puts you on the opposite side of the room from the Hiding Thief who is waiting to Backstab you. Immediately cast Cloudkill centered right next to the mage. If you don't have Cloudkill, Stinking Cloud will do. Both of these spells will hopefully knock out a couple of opponents and should eliminate the mage from casting.

Once the Cloud goes off, follow up with a Fireball. That will deal out some nice, general damage to all the enemies...whether you can see them or not. Now it's time to bring in the reinforcements. Bring the rest of the group up the staircase behind you and have them begin attacking anybody that isn't knocked out by the Cloud. Use missile weapons if they are not advancing, or send your tanks into melee if they are. Also have Jaheira and the mage Summon Monsters or Call Woodland Beings as soon as the Cloud dissipates. These spells are highly recommended by the Cannon Fodders R Us gaming commission.

Two things to consider. Jaheira is a good back-up tank and a back-spellcaster. You may want to hold her back and have her attack with a sling rather than advancing to melee. That way, she is still far enough away from the action to cast any needed spells (like HEALING!!!!!). Also, you may want to have Valygar Hide in Shadows and try to open his attacks with a Backstab.

VERY IMPORTANT!! Concentrate ALL of your attacks on a single opponent. DO NOT SPREAD YOUR GROUP OUT!!! The enemies fall MUCH faster when the odds are 6-1 against them...and the other enemies usually won't be able to hit you often enough to do any major damage before it is their turn for some "Group Therapy".

I figured this out about halfway through BGII the first time. My initial strategy was to always divide the fighters up and send them after different opponents. Then use the mages and thieves to provide "cover fire and support". After losing one battle about 6 times this way, I finally got ticked off. There was one member of the other party that was more powerful than any single character I had...so he would kill whoever I sent against him and then move on to the next target...usually killing them too. After about 7 tries, I just had EVERYBODY jump on this guy. He went down in about 3 rounds and only scored one hit on one character of mine. The others fell just as easily.

Final note on Guarded Compound. Whenever you start taking serious damage....RETREAT!!!! One or two of the opponents may follow you. But that gives you strength in numbers downstairs without having to worry about THEIR friends jumping you from behind.

Good Luck. Be sure to post the tale of your inevitable victory here.
http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/cg...c;f=2;t=019476
I look forward to reading about your heroic success.