Non-Degenerating Solo Sorc Tip Post

[Kaleban]

Let's make this thread all about the tips. No arguments, no groans, just post your tips/hints/spell lists/etc. for people to use as they see fit. They can use what they want if they want, that way we can avoid arguing the merits of the Mage vs. the Sorcerer and vice versa *raises hand* (I'm guilty too...

I'll post my spell list later, but the best tip I can give to an aspiring Flinger of Magical Devastation is this:

Keep the Staff of the Magi in your primary quickslot, and ALWAYS wear your Cloak of Non-Detection. With these two items, you can basically kill with impunity, as the Cloak protects you from True Sight (or any Detection spell/ability) and you can have invisibility at ANY time simply by hitting the appropriate F key for your quickslot. The only creatures you need to worry about are ones that can see invisible like the Tanar'ri demons. Also, the ideal equipment list (SoA only):
Armor: Robe of Vecna
Helm: Any type of Ioun Stone
Bracer: Bracers of Defense AC3
Necklace: Amulet of Power
Ring slots: Ring of Gaxx, Ring of Acuity or your choice
Cloak: Cloak of Non-Detection
Boots: Boots of Speed
Belt: Belt of Inertial Barrier, Girdle of Frost Giant Strength
Weapons: Staff of the Magi, Staff of Rynn, Sling of Everard
Quick Items: Various High level scrolls (for your Projected Image), any of the animal figurines or the Horn of Valhalla, etc.

There's some better stuff in ToB, including a massively powerful quarterstaff, and a wizard's type of "helm" that really shine.

Post your thoughts!

[Dundee Slaytern]

My PRATI Tactic,

PRATI stands for Project Image + Robe of Vecna + Amulet of Power + Time Stop + Improved Alacrity.

It is a relatively easy tactic to use, simply cast Project Image and immediately make the illusion cast Time Stop followed by Improved Alacrity. That done, proceed to cast every single spell that you can within the frame of the Time Stop. Since you have the Robe of Vecna and the Amulet of Power, the majority of your spells are cast instantaneously, which basically means a lot of spells to you and me.

Remember to remove enemy Mages' spell protections like Spell Trap or Spell Turning during the Time Stop first; so that your spells will go through properly and hit the target.

During the Time Stop, remember also to cast counter spells( Lower Resistance/Ruby Ray of Reversal/Pierce Shield/etc...) nearer to the target then the offensive spells. The logic is simple, you need the counter spells to affect the target first before the offensive spells hit it; otherwise your offensive spells will be wasted.

I will add more later, I will let others have a go first. Still got about a dozen or more tactics left.

[Dundee Slaytern]

Wow... I had enough time to sleep, cut and dye my hair and nobody else posted in here yet. Cute. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

If you do not have the Cloak of Non-Detection, you still can have temporary undispellable invisibility. Before engaging an enemy in combat, go to some empty room and cast Mislead. Leave the illusion in the room and now your Sorcerer is invisible until the illusion's duration runs out. True Sight will not dispel your invisibility because the enemy Mage/Cleric needs to have the illusion in their line of sight in order to dispel the illusion and your invisibility.

[lord_gabriel]

i'm trying to solo-gnome-illusionist right now. How am s supposed to take out those damn Golems ? or dragons ?

[Manwe]

Maybe if you try to cast some 'Lower Resistance' against Golems and then move on to damage spells...

Against dragons, cast the priest/cleric spell 'Magic Resistance', the spell will actually lower the dragons magic resistance, though the description says that it will increase... or maybe try to use the Mage's 'Lower Resistance' spell. Then cast 'Greater Malison' a couple of times, and last 'Finger of Death'...

I'm not really sure if this will work on your problem... it's just a suggestion.

[Dundee Slaytern]

Manwe, Gabriel is a solo Illusionist, he does not have access to Clerical spells and Necromantic spells( like Finger of Death).

Gabriel, summon some fodder like Monster Summoning III and pelt the Golems with Melf's Minute Meteors. If you have either Dragon's Breath and/or Comet, use them too. They work very well against the regular size Golems.

For Iron/Adamantium Golems, lead them to a narrow passageway and pelt them with Melf's Minute Meteors. Stone Golems are also vulnerable to Sunfire.

For Defence, cast Stoneskin and Mirror Image. Never let a Golem melee you unless it is absolutely necessary. Use summons to distract/kill them while you assist with the spells I have mentioned.

Dragons are easier targets, you can access the link in my signature for various spell tactics.

[Manwe]

Aargh, sorry, didn't notice that.

[Kaleban]

Trap Avoidance 101

To circumvent any trap, use the following spells:

Spike/Arrow Traps - Stoneskin
Projectile Spells (Lightning Bolt) - Mirror Image, Spell Immunity (Evocation/Invocation)
Instant Death Spells (Flesh to Stone/Disintegrate/Imprisonment) - Appropriate Spell Immunity, Protection from Petrification
Gas Cloud Spells (Cloudkill, Stinking Cloud) - Boots of Speed and a fast mouse hand...

That covers pretty much every trap type I think...

[Dundee Slaytern]

Spell Immunity will protect you from Cloudkill and Death Fog too, the school to choose is Evocation.

Stoneskin will protect you from backstabs too.

The following will deal with, "How does a solo Sorcerer deal with Demi-Liches?"

As we all know, Demi-Liches are largely immuned to spells and Sorcerers have lousy THACO. All is not lost however, the solo Sorcerer still has a few tricks up his/her sleeves.

To deal with the never-ending barrage of Imprisonments, cast Spell Immunity and choose the school of Abjuration. This will absorb all the Imprisonments for the duration of the spell. If you are willing to spend some money, then buy a scroll of Protection from Undead. This will let the Demi-Lich ignore you for 10 turns( 10 minutes). Be warned though, in the case of Kangaxx, only use the scroll when he has transformed into a Demi-Lich. If you use it beforehand, you will risk making him stuck at near-death status. Now that we have settled the defensive measures, we move on to the attack plans.

Time Stop + Melf's Minute Meteors:

Very simple, cast Time Stop and repeatedly hurl Melf's Minute Meteors at the Demi-Lich. Since you are in a Time Stop, all the MMM becomes automatic hits. If the first volley does not kill the Demi-Lich, rinse and repeat. You can also use a Ring of the Ram to hasten the process.

Dragon's Breath or Comet:

Cast once, Demi-Lich dies. Very simple.

[Kaleban]

Hmm, I thought Spell Immunity didn't protect against persistent cloud effects like Cloudkill, since its supposedly toxic (read: biological) gas, but Mind Flayers are largely immune due to their high Magic Resistance, so I guess you're right.

Nice tactic with the TS and MMM, and not to criticize, but my intent was for tactics in SoA with the lower level spells, as by the time a Sorcerer reaches ToB, he/she will probably have some tactics of their own.

Addendum to the golem issue: if you can get the really large golems like Iron and Adamantite to block a doorway/entryway for you, then you can pelt the golems behind them. Use either MMM or the Sling of Everard (purchased from Joluv the Bonus Merchant in the Copper Coronet). Think of them as your blockers...

Huddle..... BREAK!