Cheesy Items and spells?

[Leslie]

I've noticed in some of the threads that some experts say that they don't use some items which are too cheesy:
Cloak of Mirroring, Staff of The Magi, Upgraded Impaler, Bloodbane

also

cheesy spells - Project Image then summon everything you can and repeat

also Endless spell strategy (PI refilling you with Spell Trap on)

So what do you use and don't you use (anymore ) ?

Me - I don't use PI to bring my lost spells back and use it only once to summon something

I don't use Cloak of Mirroring - except if everything else fails (hasn't happened yet)

I haven't tried Upgraded Impaler and only tried Bloodbane once or twice.

You ?

[Xen]

I don`t used PI`s anymore becuase it is TOO boring,i still use the Cloak of Mirroring sometimes...I use SoTM just for being invisible...Have`nt tried Upgraded Impaler yet
Cheers [img]smile.gif[/img]
Xen

[ 04-22-2003, 02:39 PM: Message edited by: Xen ]

[SixOfSpades]

Improved Kitthix
Soul Reaver+6
Gloves of the Master Thief
Azuredge+4 for its Disruption hits (although I do like it and the MoD+2 solely for their NPP)
PfU scrolls
PfM scrolls
SoTM for its Invisibility cheese

[Olorin]

My first time through SoA I had a Monk, and used the Cloak of Mirroring. I haven't used the cloak since because it got boring at the end of the game. Playing games like bounce the flame arrows with enemy mages (they always lose because their spell deflection wears off after a few rounds while the cloak is permanent) just wasn't much fun after awhile.

So far I haven't finished the game with a mage as my main character, so I haven't gotten much into the infinite spells and PI problems much. When I did use Edwin at high levels, I didn't use PIs to recharge, and self-enforced a total summoning limit of 5. Usually I didn't even get that high because with a PI, I had enough of an arsenal to magic most things to death without summons.

Lately, I am trying to uncheese my play even more by avoiding the abuse of blue circles. Now I make myself be honest about my intentions during dialogues (Yes, Mr. Dragon, I really am going to kill you now...). I do allow some combat preps if the CHARACTERS know what's coming, but not battlefield positioning and preemptive strikes using traps or quasi-combat spells (magic resistance, charms, etc). I mean, who wouldn't count it as hostile for someone to start lobbing charm spells at their group? Or to draw melee weapons and surround a mage? I do allow my thieves to sneak in and go for the backstab, but that's more reasonable. Sometimes I force myself to use Invisibility instead of hide in shadows, if there is no realistic way for the thief to sneak into position (inside a private room, no cover available, etc.)

[Rataxes]

ITEMS

• Cloak of Mirroring
• Staff of the Magi
• Mace of Disruption
• Protection from Magic
• Protection from Undead
• Azuredge
• Improved Kitthix
• Reflection Shield
• Girdle of Glory
• Preserving Boots
• Sanchuudoku
• Bloodbane
• Vhailor's Helm
• Gloves of the Master Thief
• Blackrazor

SPELLS

• Project Image
• Simulacrum
• Imprisonment

GENERAL

• Don't use multiple potions for stacked effects
• Don't sell & re-sell items to black market dealers
• Don't copy items
• No Fake-talk

Probably forgotten a few more personal rules I wish I could say I didn't use the Shield of Balduran, but I frankly don't think I would've had the guts to clear out the Beholder Lairs in my current NRS games without it, even though the mean buggers are still quite dangerous what with their ridiculous THAC0, Poison attacks and Anti-Magic Rays that bars me from spell-casting.

[ 04-22-2003, 03:32 PM: Message edited by: Rataxes ]

[Gangrell]

I doubt game designers and creaters would have put items into the game if they saw it as cheap or a way to cheat. Cloak of Mirroring isn't a cheasy item, take this for example. It only deflects offensive spells, not spells like Symbol Stun, or Power Word Silence so there's still a good chance it'll be useless in a wizard battle. Staff of the Magi also isn't that bad. It adds to a mage's AC to help them in heated combat and equipped Invisibility isn't all that great considering most magical creatures like liches and dragons can see through them. You even have to wait through most of the game to gain these items, so see them as well earned rewards instead of cheese.

Nothing is cheesy, you will soon learn young grasshopper

[Rataxes]

Right, such items basically zap every ounce of challenge from the game and leave nothing for the player. Hence, I don't use them [img]smile.gif[/img] I don't mind if people like walking around immune to spell damage, or being invulnerable to all but those 5% who can see the invisible, but it's not my own personal idea of fun. As has been said on another thread, neither cheats nor cheese is the main concern, ones own enjoyment is...

[ 04-22-2003, 05:32 PM: Message edited by: Rataxes ]

[Assassin]

First time I ever seen the Shield of Reflection called cheesy... I mean, I only find it useful three times: In the Sahuagain City, against Ilasera, and in Ascension, against Ilasera.

[Dundee Slaytern]

Shield of Reflection is cheesy? Only in what? 0.0000~1% of the game? The only time I recall loving it was during the Mercernary Ambush in Amkerthan( ToB), and the final fight of ToB.

Other than that, I never felt compelled to use it.

[Rataxes]

Well it is in just those situations that it makes things too easy, just like The Other Shield is only cheesy when you face Beholders. Renders should-be-tough encounters like Improved Sahuagin and Illasera pretty much harmless don't you think? [img]smile.gif[/img]