Need help at the end! Definite SPOILER!!

[Lymond]

Definite SPOILER below as this question pertains to the final fight.
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Ok- so I get transported to the ice tower and overwrite my last save, which I called "final assault." Then I went around Easthaven, made my way into the tower where I ended up doing a quick save. Moving between areas performed an auto save. Now the only saves I have left are in the frozen Easthaven. Here's where it get frustrating- I made it to the final battle and get totally killed. The first time wasn't a surprise, but the next three (using different strategies) were. Then I went online and read the walkthrough and realized that I should not have sold that Golem hammer or some of those other good weapons. I have enough with +4, just not the ones specifically mentioned in the walkthrough I read. On top of that, I don't have haste. Even so, I tried three more times (I almost have that bad guy speech memorized) and, using various combinations of oil of speed, magic resistance, strength, and strategies, the closest I've come to finishing is with Belihest almost dead and me with one ranger at 10hp. I didn't make it. I'm annoyed that the strategies that brought me through the game have left me totally unprepared for the final fight. Furthermore, my mage, whom I thought would be the key to the final battle, only serves as the designated decoy for the golems and doesn't even have time to get off any spells besides dimension door.
Enough whining.
What should I do now? I looked for an exit so I could go and regroup and as far as I can tell there isn't one. It appears that my only simple option is to keep trying the strategy that almost worked and hope I get better "rolls." I really don't want to do that. What about this- if I install HOW, will I then be able to get out of Easthaven (maybe through exporting or importing characters) so that I can buy back those weapons and the haste spell and then go to lower Dorn's Deep to try again?
Any other strategies of advice you can offer would be appreciated.

[pritchke]

Sorry to hear of your problems. The first time I played the game I had much the same problem. My party was fairly weak. So your mage doesn't have haste memorized? The mage probably isn't going to be much use in the final battle without spells that boost your party members, or summons. I do believe the golems go straight for the mage so just keep the mage out of harms way while the rest of your party hacks away at the golems. Summons are also great not that they do much damage but they act as a distraction. Fire Elementals are best because they stay alive the longest to give your party members a break while they heal. Healing and fire resistance potions are also good as it is faster then the cleric spells. I have heard that some people don't even bother with the golems but I find it easier to take them out first. I don't think this is much help for you.

Last Resort:

The other thing you could do is place the setting of the game on the "Easy" level. At least that way you will get a chance to beat him. They you can add HoW and try it over again. With a little more preparation a knowledge going in the final battle will not be so hard.

[ 03-10-2003, 10:35 AM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

[Dragonshadow]

Hmmm..... this always was a hard one. I ran through once and gopt it with a higer level group. Keep your mage well back, kill the golems, and detect trpas like anything.
Send your best fighters in and smash the thing ASAP

[Charlak The Axeman]

This is how i completed it. I got all my characters first to take care of the golems. Then i used one character that was quite quick on his feet to run round distracting Poquelin. While this was happening all the characters that had missle weapons were using them (A particularly good one is the throwing axe that returns to your hand) anyway when the distraction of the fastest person wore off (in my case my mage) he casted summoning spell. While thge summons were attacking the mage and all that could inflict damage casted spells and eventually we killed him

[Lymond]

Thanks for the help everyone. I felt like a loser lowering the difficulty, but I was too sick of getting killed again and again.

Now I've installed HoW and am considering killing off my mage and going for one of the canned ones. If nothing else, I'd like to get haste- it sounds pretty good.

I've read about the ToLM expansion. Is that something I should install after I complete HoW or can I do that now?

[pritchke]

ToLM expansion

You can install it now if you wish.

However make sure you have a save before talking to the hobbit in the inn in lonelywood as the expansion is very difficult, and if you can't finish ToLM, it is good to have a save so you can complete the main quest of HoW.

If you would like a decent Mage, start with a human fighter max out the points in Int, Dex, and Con, place the Wis and Chr at its lowest and put the remaining points in strength, then at level 6 dual to a mage. As you go up levels as a fighter place 3 points in bows, and 2 in another melee weapon of your choice. This makes for an excellent beefy mage, who can fight as well as cast spells. For example you will be able to cast stone skin, and have him fight with your fighters when required, more of a battle mage.

[ 03-11-2003, 04:59 PM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

[Micah Foehammer]

One word of warning:

Once you go the Sea of Moving Ice in Heart of Winter, you can NOT return to Lonelywood and start the TolM expansion. The TolM expansion game will automatically end the game once the bad boss at end is killed (in HoW only) or will transport you back to Kuldahar if you are playing IWD/HOW. At the end of TolM you will be transported back to Lonelywood so you can resume HoW.