this is geddin outta' hand

[Grellan]

just entered the rapax castle after long tedious battle through the courtyard filled with archers, bowmen and veterans.

once inside headed off in search of Ferro when ran in to an army of rapax. the fight started off with 3 Archers, 2 Veterans, 8 Beserkers and 3 Warlocks. then in the second or third round they were joined by 3 Samuris, 5 Warmages, 8 Patrols and 4 more Beserkers!!! talk about the mother of all battles; a total of 36 guys in one battle.

anyhow, managed to limp through the battle with only my bishop getting killed near the end. unfortunately ferro, who never even appeared on my radar got killed off somewhere in a nearby corridor.

2 questions;

is the castle normally this tough?
can i do without ferro? i presume there is no way to resurect him,m or is there?

[Gimli]

Yeah it's usually horde city in the rapax castle - and while you can do without Ferro, he has some really, really cool items that you would miss out on - to me it would be worth a reload to have him around.

[otter]

If you become a Templar first, nobody will attack Ferro.

[Wereboar]

If you become a Templar first, nobody will attack Ferro.

But you can't become a Templar before you enter the castle ...

[Oruboris]

I tend not to worry too much about Ferro, he's good at taking care of himself. Have finished the game several times without him being seriously dammaged. I do drop by and heal him if I know he's been badly injured, though.

And of course, if I can see a large attack coming, I try and get to him, less for his benefit than mine: he's good at covering your back.

I'm sure you've noticed by now that your own buff spells apply to him too if he's close by when you cast them: if you are really worried, you can keep him magic and missle sheilded, armorplated and enchanted bladed most of the time you are in the castle: when your own buffs wear out, just return to his shop before re-casting.

Oru

[otter]

But you can't become a Templar before you enter the castle ...[/QB]

But if you go straight there (immed upon reaching the teleporter into that part of the rift) the whole area will be easier, and i've never had Ferro be dead when i've done it that way. And you get all the good stuff sooner.

[Annheiser]

Ferro won't die unless you blatantly leave him on his own. If and when you do encounter a horde of Rapax (which is normal), always stand by Ferro and try to position your party so that he can't go charging mindlessly on his own. Your protection spells will cover Ferro. Generally I would keep my party near the counter, and then summon a pet to block off the tunnel behind me.

BTW, since the Rapax are all bunched up in the tunnels, this is when you chain-cast with your party members Acid Bomb, Noxious Fumes, and whatever area-effect spells you have plus Insanity. Great way to weaken them before you get into close combat.