how can this be? a battle I failed to win (for now)

[Lemernis]

There be spoilers below:

Dang, this hasn't happened to me in a very, very long time. This is the hardest batle I can remember fighting since trying to beat the warders in Durlag's the first time. Guess I pushed the envelope a tad too far in seeking challenging party compositions, and taking on tough opponents at low levels: In endless tries I couldn't whup the Kahrk (well not really, read on) the ogre mage at Firewine with the following party (playing Dark Side):

druid, level 4
str 13
dex 18
con 16
"Bonebreaker" (staff +2, inflicts Slow upon opponent)
spells: Shield, Entangle, Chant, Flame Blade, Fairie Fire, Sparks
potion of power
gauntlets of weapons expertise
studded leather +2

bard, level 5
str 10
dex 18
con 10
long bow, kobold 'deathstik' (poisoned) arrows, arrows +1; longsword +1
spells: Shield, Sleep (2), Horror, Invisibility
1 Shocking Grasp scroll in quick slot
Cloak of Algernon
studded leather +1

Xan, level 4
spells: Color Spray, Charm Person (3), Melf's Acid Arrow (3)
2 Charm Person scrolls in quick slot
wand of chain lightning
oil of explosions

Safana, level 5
short sword +2; short bow +1, fire arrows, arrows +1
bracers of archery
leather armor +2

Poe, the bard
spear +1
charmed into joining the party via the cloak of Alegernon (unfortunately he already spent his spells on hobgoblins and Melium)

I let Kahrk's Minor Globe of Invulnerability and that purple cylinder protection spell (forget it's name) he's using run out before taking him on, of course. Naturally everyone was pumped up on Chant (the druid took the potion of power first), and he and bard had cast Shield, the bard was invisible and attempted a backstab along with Safana. The druid meleed with Flame Blade, with Poe helping him with his enchanted spear. Every time I managed to survive okay with my bard gulping down healing potions--until Kahrk ran out of spells and went after my Druid. If my druid was down to only a few HP the AI wouldn't let him drink healing potions and Kahrk simply cut him down. If he tried to run and drink potions, same thing.

I eventually resorted to charming Kahrk (Kahrk failed to save against one of Xan's Charm spells and then my bard charmed him with Algy's cloak) as my druid was running around with about 2 HP left with Kahrk in hot pursuit. I charmed all of the hobgoblins in the area and tried using them against Kahrk--no good, he tore through them like tissue paper. I then tried sleeping and having spawned monsters attack him. Finally, after he went though a half a dozen groups of monsters a band of orcs killed him--but before I could turn him hostile to get the XP! The problem is he is so devastating with that sword that if you don't time it just right he will turn right around and kill you before you knew what happened. Also, I lost Poe which bummed me, because I enjoy having him fight alongside my party.

So at the end of all that I could have had a pile of loot from Kahrk's slaughter of several gangs of spawned monsters, and the 4 scrolls of an extremely powerful spell (with Dark Side anyway). But no XP for all the trouble. So I ended up going to the save right before the battle and instead of fighting had my bard just walk up and take Carsa's Knave's Robe, pile of coins, and fire protection scroll right under Kahrk's nose. Just to play it safe she cast invisibility on herself and scooted out of there.

I can't believe I couldn't find a way to beat that bastard! Bah!

You win this round, Kahrk! *shaking fist* Just wait till I return dammit! I'm going to bring a couple friends of mine named Yeslick and Quayle and we're going to KICK YOUR ASS!

[Lavindathar]

Ah, tis an easy fight. Your levels do seem a bit low though!!

Hmmm. It sounds to me as though u have done everything as well as can be, your party seems a bit weak on Tanks also.

If I was u, I'd just wait til u level up, or you have an arrow of Ogre Slaying.

[Lemernis]

Yeah, I've gotten tired of simply going through the game and winning every fight. So I've gotten into trying to design games that push the challenges right up to the edge of what seems possible, and that's why I tried to take an opponent like that on with without a tank and at that level. I mean, with the same party except with Kagain instead of Xan I'm positive I would have won. But what fun is it to know that you'll win every time?

This particualr game I designed to use a druid and bard for once, having never used either class as main characters before. And the NPCs will be Safana, Xan, Yeslick, and Quayle, since I've barely used those four NPC in any previous games. I briefly used Imoen and Kivan prior to picking up Safana, but from here on out no one other than Yeslick and Quayle will join the party. They're going to have to get the job done with four (and no tank) until the complete Cloakwood.

Addendum: Okay my party did manage to kill him, but they relied on a cheesy tatctic to do it. It's not ideal but given the time and effort I put into this battle I went with this:

Once the Xan and Elissyra (bard) had succeeded in charming Kahrk, the party all expressed their awe at this creature's devastating, almost supernatural swordsmanship. Their new companion Poe then suggested an intruiging idea. Poe said that he had spied numerous bands of orcs, goblins, and hobgoblins in the area, he himself had learned to become very wary of them. He suggested that they make a fairly obvious camp for several days and use the ogre mage to their advantage. As bands of monsters tried to waylay them in their sleep Kahrk would defend them from their hapless assailants. The party erupted into laughter at this ingenious plan, realizing how Kahrk would tear through their attackers like a whirlwind. So the party did just that. They camped for several days and sat back as Kahrk desimated easily half a dozen bands of enemies.

After they had increased to their loot to the point they could carry no more the party attempted to leave the area with Kahrk. In doing so they were shocked to discover that the large creature was unable to climb through a narrow crevice of a rocky pass. Whether it was by some enchantment the creature was bound by upon release from his former astral prison into this plane, or his own physical limitations, the creature simply could not get through the narrow crevice. The party thanked their gods for this amamzing stroke of luck. The decided to end the foul creature's existence lest it molest future travelers. The druid having Chanted, the bard singing, and Fairie Fire cast, with the foul beast unable to close upon them they destroyed him with fire arrows, Melf's Acid Arrows, an oil of explosion, and two blast from Xan's wand of chain lightning.

As they departed the area, to the party's disappointment Poe decided to remain near the bridge to continue working on his verses. He let the adventurers know he would tell travelers upon the bridge of their adventure often. Elissyra, the party's bard, in turn promised to sing of their adventure as well. They wished Poe a fond farewell and returned to Beregost to sell their treasure.

[ 01-13-2002: Message edited by: Lemernis ]

[Lavindathar]

Hey Lemernis , that's a really cool RP.

Glad you won the fight, and I admire the fact you are playing and negating a tank.

Cast dispel magic, and he's gone

[Lemernis]

LOL, I could have at that. I kind of burrowed into finding a harder way to do it, I guess.

Dispell and arrows of dispelling are sort of unbalancing, as there is no saving throw against them. Only magic resistant creatures are immune, I believe. I try to avoid using them unless it means saving a character's life. I'm finding these battles are much more fun when you impose limits on yourself. For instance I don't use a wand of monster summoning anymore.