Wiz Slayer 1MR/Lvl display bug, right?

[Rataxes]

Started a Wizard Slayer and noticed the game displayed his MR as equal to his level (7 at lvl 7). I was under the impression that the game showed the correct value (2/lvl) and that the error was in the manual. But I suppose the true MR bonus is just hidden?

Also, I know MR will almost completely protect me from all spells, but. What other direct damage spells are there that ignore MR besides Dragon Breath? And what other negative effects, that aren't really spells, are stopped by MR? Disease? Poison? Acid traps? Attribute draining attacks? Level drain? The charm cast by Alu Fiends and Succubus? Anti-magic rays? Irenicus Shatter Magic ability? In short, I want to know precisely what, besides pure physical attacks, my char would be vulnerable to with 100% MR.

[ 12-21-2002, 12:09 PM: Message edited by: Rataxes ]

[Sir Galefin]

Well i know any spell acid fire or ice based i dunno exactly though

[Alson]

Originally posted by Rataxes: Started a Wizard Slayer and noticed the game displayed his MR as equal to his level (7 at lvl 7). I was under the impression that the game showed the correct value (2/lvl) and that the error was in the manual.

Most likely.

Also, I know MR will almost completely protect me from all spells, but. What other direct damage spells are there that ignore MR besides Dragon Breath?

Sunfire, but only when cast by party members. Wierd, yet fun.
Make those Drow suffer.

Bolt of Glory bypasses MR, but no one will cast it on you anyway.

Earthquake, but, just like BoG, don't expect to deal with it. Not 100% sure about this.

Teleport isn't a direct damage spell, but it bypasses MR AND allows no save. A truly devilish spell versus melee opponents if used correctly.

Imprisonment also bypasses MR.

Implosion. ToB only.

And what other negative effects, that aren't really spells, are stopped by MR?

Almost none.

Disease?

Depends on the source of the Poison.
Once your'e poisoned, MR makes no difference.

Poison?

Ditto.

Acid traps?

Hmmm... Not sure, but i my guess would be yes.
One of the veteran soloers might know better.

Attribute draining attacks?

Like? STR Drain and the like? Probably not.

Level drain?

Nope.

The charm cast by Alu Fiends and Succubus?

Nope.

Anti-magic rays?

Nope.

Irenicus Shatter Magic ability?

Don't know.
But since it is a Weimer creation, but guess would be no.

[ 12-21-2002, 03:05 PM: Message edited by: Alson ]

[Rataxes]

Ahw crap Well the Wizard will have to be put on hold. Thinking of a solo Swashbuckler once I actually finish ToB for the first time with a party. Looks like he really could be the ultimate tank, tried him out with some nice equipment and he ended up with -25 AC [img]smile.gif[/img] Not to mention a very decent THAC0 and damage indeed, plus all of the nifty abilities of a thief would probably make him a hell of a lot more versatile than any other fighter.
Only problem I have with him is that he'd max out WAY too fast. Even with Lvl 50 extender he was finished at 9 mil, which I will easily reach before even doing half of SoA. The game honestly loses some of it's touch when you cease to grow.

[Alson]

A solo Swashbuckler can really become a juggernaut.
Stock loads of Stoneskin and PfMW scrolls for the big fights, and abuse Use Any Item to get a high Magic Resistance, and you are nearly immune to anything in the game.

A solo Halfling Fighter/Thief is even more powerful.
Try it if you like soloing. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Rataxes]

Fighter/Thief eh? Well he'd certainly take a longer time to max out, though I wonder if he'd really be such a great tank, lacking the huge AC boost that pure Swashbucklers get. I noticed with my Undead Hunter, who focused entirely on AC and reached -17, that even AC's in that range hardly makes a difference vs ToB and Tactics monsters. But an AC of -25 really should give even the most powerful monsters a hard time scoring hits.

[Alson]

A Fighter/Thief shouldn't even aim for rock bottom AC. Resistances and immunities are his lifesavers.

Being a Halfling will give you +5 to save vs. spell. As an expert soloer, you must know how important it is for no-magic solo classes.

With Use Any Item, equip JansenWear and the Defender of Easthaven. Activate Hardiness, and you have 85% resistance to all physical damage. Do you have Ascension? Do one of the test evilly, and the 85% suddenly becomes 110%!

High Magic Resistance is easily obtained with Use Any Item. If you're feeling cheesy, you can even abuse the infamous Vhailor's Helm -> Pro-Magic scroll cheese.

Dual wield Flail of Ages / Celestial Fury and the Defender of Easthaven. You won't be disappointed.

Stock loads of good scrolls. Once you have Use Any Item, use your Simmie (you bought Vhailor's Helm, right?) to act as a "mini mage". Equip him with scrolls of Breach, Abi Dalzim's and Time Stop.

Tell me if you want further tips. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Rataxes]

Tried out a dwarven Fighter/Thief (couldn't stand 17 str with a Halfling). Improved Ilyich has never been easier [img]smile.gif[/img]
Detect Illusion was almost as good as the Inquisitors True Sight at rendering the thieves harmless. Horror and backstab made short work of the Greater Otuygh. The Extra Planar Demon went down just as easily to a few stacked traps. Seperated Ilyich from his gang and with an Oil of Speed and constant hiding in shadows, he was easy prey. The rest of the gang fell to a combination of traps and backstabs. So far I've played him as I would play a pure Thief, with lots of sneaking and trap setting, but I suspect that his abilities as a Fighter will become more and more useful as I go on.

Detect Illusions at a decent level and some of the Breaching wands you get in Watcher's Keep, would make him just as good as an Inquisitor at dealing with mages. Not even mentioning the obvious advantages of having full access to both Fighter and Thief abilities and HLA's.

Think I'll skip Vhailor's Helm though, seems like this guy will be powerful and versatile enough anyway, besides, having a mini mage with me would defeat the purpose of soloing a non-mage [img]smile.gif[/img]

Saving up money for Defender of Easthaven now, a base of 45% Phys res with Jan's special armor sounds very appealing. Best of all though - This guy will still advance in levels quite some time after SoA [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Alson]

Yes, i guess a Dwarf is just as good...
A Halfling has much better thieving skills, though, and STR is easily to increase.

What are your profs?
I would suggest to resist the early urge to dual-wield -- shields are your friends.

~~ Tip of the day: you can Detect Traps (and thus, Detect Illusions) while wearing Full Plate +1 ~~

[ 12-23-2002, 11:30 AM: Message edited by: Alson ]

[Rataxes]

I'd say a Dwarf is better in the long run, with 25 points per level I'll soon have more than enough points in all necessary skills anyway. The only issue was which skills to prioritize in the beginning. I set Detect Illusion at 70, which was enough to dispel both Invisibility potions and their normal Hide in shadows. Didn't even touch Pick Pockets since I it wouldn't be of any use at all in the dungeon. Find traps, set traps and Open locks all at 70, Hide In Shadows/Move Silently was at 45/45 when I left the dungeon.

+++ Two Weapons
++ Katana
+ Flail

That's how I started out, got ++ in Flails now. I think the extra attack was far more useful than a a single extra AC bonus in the beginning. Against the tougher monsters in the first dungeon, the AC doesn't seem to matter anyway. Ilyich certainly hits me every time no matter if I have 2 or -5 AC. The main concern was killing them quickly. I've never been able to tank the tougher creatures in the first dungeon with any char I've tried. Even now (lvl 9/11, done Wuakeen's + Slum and just acquired Defender of Easthaven), I think the extra attack makes a far bigger difference than a +3 Shield that would add to an AC which would still be inadequate.

Noticed that I can detect stuff with armor on, also noticed that I can hide in shadows and then put on my suit [img]smile.gif[/img]

I've speculated on the total MR I could get with a single set of equipment. 60% with the Lum machine and Tear of Bhaal bonuses seems to be the most.

I plan to dual-wield Purifier +5 and Defender of Easthaven, with Ring of Gaxx and Amulet of Power, this would get me

30 + 10 + 5 + 10 +5 = 60%

Physical resist would be 80-85% as you said. Also using the Belt of Inertial Barrier to get 50% MDR.

What bonuses do you get in Hell for taking the evil path? (Never taken it)
I was checking out how an Evil Barbarian would do resistance-wise. 80-85% Physical resist just like the thief, and with the Human Flesh +5 he would get 50% MR. He's got some advantages that the Fighter/Thief doesn't, but also misses out on a huge amount of Thief abilities.