How hard is it to not have a mage in the party?

[Merlin from Amber]

I think that all of this depends on you. And talking about a bunch of liches let me ask you: bunch of people are playing with the liches and you're with your anti-mage party. What will decide the battle ? And also speaking of that the matter with the mages is only to remove their protections - until you're removing their protections they what - will stay and watch - it never have happened. As I can remember most of the many load games were because of the mages and I don't think they are easy. I have not mods installed. I would like to hear foreaxmple how the "rune ones" are beaten without a piece of magic and mods in the pure SoA on the core AD&D rules right after the spellhold.

Watch your battle log. Run (when masive destruction spells are cast - there are spells that cause non-magic damage and spells that affect you only if you are evil aligned foreaxmple) - attack - run(when the spellcaster is trying to come to you - he'll try something nasty inprisonment forexample or drain or harm ) - attack(they all have little hp). There is no mage in SoA that is protected against +5 weapons. Absolute immunity is short. You need at least 'true sight' or they'll become many or you'll hit nothing but air. This of course is the short answer. Hope to help. Happy playing. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 04-17-2003, 07:46 AM: Message edited by: Merlin from Amber ]

[Solus]

well, I just thought of something: Why not taking an Archer and just shoot at mages first...that ought to duzzle their spell attempts, aint it?

[Sir Exxon]

Originally posted by Solus: well, I just thought of something: Why not taking an Archer and just shoot at mages first...that ought to duzzle their spell attempts, aint it?

Not if the mages are stoneskinned or have any other sort of protection. The casting speed of Stoneskin is so fast that I doubt that any arrow can hit the mage before he manages to protect himself. Also, it takes more than just one arrow to kill a character, even if it is a low-HP mage. So, even though you are an Archer, you can't kill a mage before he casts any spells.

Unless we're talking about a Kobold Shaman or something like that. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Wumpspawner]

I tend to keep a regular, non-magic weapon in one of each tank's weapon slots, in addition to to usual magical arsenal. So, when a mage thinks he's smart, and casts protection from magical weapons, we switch, and tear through him like he's wet toilet paper.

Please note that trying this tactic against a lich WILL get your ass handed to you in a trash bag.

I've no solution to the lich problem. I'll admit it, the thought of going without a mage boggles me. I tend to have two when I can. They're my artillery pieces, or, as I like to call them, 'meat tenderizers.' So, if you're going without arcane backup, you've more cajones then li'l old me.

[Olorin]

Without the tactics mod; archers and assasins can really make mage battles easy. Most of the mages in SoA put up stoneskin as a contingency to being hit. That means the first hit counts. An archer with arrows of biting or an assasin firing arrows using the poison weapon ability will give you several rounds of spell disruption against most mages. And if they manage to throw up a really annoying protection spell, arrows of dispelling are really handy.

If you have the smarter mages from the tactics mod, just lead with the arrows of dispelling and follow with the poison damage. Or just beef up you attacks per round to run through the stoneskins faster.

[Assassin]

For the Tactic's Mod, Archers with Arrows of Dispelling or Arrows of Fire. You can get the Arrows of Fire from the Keep. Arrows of Acid work, in my experience, better, as the wizards don't cast Protection from Acid, but they do cast Protection from Fire.

Dispel Magic from an Anti-Paladin or Inquisitor will chew through the protections easily, but the main problem is that they will cast Spell Immunity: Abjuration. Actually, now that I think of it, an Anti-Paladin or a higher level Monk will make any Wizard battle laughable.