1st Tactics game. (Full of spoilers)

[Kyrvias]

Originally posted by Cam_H: No... Fallen Planetars have a bucket more spells and a much wider range of spells, albeit they don't get the Fallen Deva's 'Cure Critical Wounds'. Generally their spell selection is considerably better. The Fallen Planetar gets an extra 5% magic resistance (75% compared to 70%) and fights with a Silver Sword (vorpal hit chance) as compared with the Fallen Deva's Improved Mace of Disruption (counts as +5 enchantment).

I stand corrected.

[Cam_H]

No need - you were just asking a question, not making a statement.

(btw - with the IMoD, the Fallen Deva gets Negative Plane Protection and can insta-slay Undead too of course).

[Ilyich]

A small update on my progress. I've beaten Kangaxx, and killed all the Ritual Guardians and the Skulls. I also killed the Golems, but the Priestess died. (not that I'm bothered, she never told me what the Ritual does, apart from turn her into a Mustard Jelly) I'm currently outside Trademeet, where I will rest and restock, before heading back to Watcher's Keep.

I continued on from this point to see what "Pontifex" would do to me, his true self killed Amschat quickly, using amongst other things, Time Stop in a Chain Contingency, which shouldn't be allowed, given CC only allows Level 8 spells, but enough moaning, I'm enjoying Tactics a lot. I also encountered the Red Badge, who let me go for whatever reason. All my party have at least 1 HLA now, so they should be beatable.

[Kyrvias]

Kudos man, good louck with that

[Ilyich]

I've managed to defeat Ira'kiou'dneg and his Sand Golems. There isn't much to say about the Sand Golems, because Amschat has Crom Faeyr, which kills them on hit. Ira'kiou'dneg's initial Chain Contingency was largely nullified by my very cowardly tactic of running to hide up the stairs of Watcher's Keep, and relying on him constantly trying to Dimension Door to Amschat, who he couldn't reach. Edwin summoned a Fallen Planetar, who as far as I could tell, did no damage, so I then had Edwin cast Ruby Ray, before fleeing to the stairs.

Following this I had Amschat distract him so I could use my Sequencers on him. Edwin's Spell Trigger had 1 Breach + 2 Lower Resistances, which was followed by Jan's Spell Sequencer, containing 1 Greater Malison + 2 Melf's Acid Arrows. Imoen then used her Minor Sequencer containing 2 Magic Missiles, which the Dragon was immune to, perhaps because of weapon type resistances. Imoen followed with a Comet spell which did decent damage. I then used Acid Arrows on him with all 3 Mages, which weakened him steadily.

A Scorching Sand Dragon Breath and Dragon Fear followed, almost killing Amschat, so he fled further up the stairs under the effects of the Fear, which was removed by Viconia. Imoen then used her 2 Abi Dalzim's Horrid Wilting spells, dealing around 85 damage. The remainder of my Acid Arrow spells followed, before I used Melf's Minute Meteors with Edwin. The Dragon then used at least one of his potions, then became panicked, something I never thought I would see. This is what gave me my victory. I gang-rushed him and summoned Kitthix as an extra damage dealer. He was still taking damage from the Acid Arrows I had used (close to 15 in all) before Amschat caught up with him and hit him, Korgan hit him next for the killing blow.

I thought that the Ritual and Ira'kiou'dneg were both excellent fights, although the Ritual guardians were easily beatable by Amschat alone, he would have died without Viconia on hand to use Lesser Restoration. Of all the Dragon fights I have had so far, Ira'kiou'dneg is easily the most difficult, even including the exploit of using the stairs to keep him from your party. Although overall Adalon came closest to killing my party, they were at a lower level at that point and would have been absolutely pulverised by Ira'kiou'dneg.

[Cam_H]

Congratulations! Looks as though you fought him pretty fairly too.

"so he fled further up the stairs under the effects of the Fear" [img]graemlins/laughsaywhat.gif[/img]

I've only done the fight once myself, and relied a lot on certain high level Illusion spells, the Quick Item slots, and casting off scrolls to ensure no spell casting interruption.

I guess you're going to take on that Red Badge Poison brigade next!

Again;

[Ilyich]

A victorious party stands round the corpse of the mighty Yellow Dragon Ira'kiou'dneg.

http://tinyurl.com/7ehf8

The spells I used in the fight are as follows:

2 Magic Missile spells.
16 Melf's Acid Arrow spells.
3 Haste spells.
2 Melf's Acid Arrow spells.
2 Flame Arrow spells.
8 Stoneskin spells.
1 Greater Malison spell.
1 Minor Sequencer.
2 Breach spells.
2 Lower Resistance spells.
2 Ruby Ray of Reversal spells.
1 Spell Sequencer.
1 Spell Trigger.
2 Abi Dalzim's Horrid Wilting spells.
1 Fallen Planetar spell.
1 Comet spell.

Quite a lot of spells for 1 opponent. What I will do now is post screenshots of all my party members inventory screens, to show who is using what equipment, and I will edit afterwards with the names of the equipment my party is using if I am asked.

Amschat B'hal Zoon.
http://tinyurl.com/ctk7p

Korgan.
http://tinyurl.com/c7o2g

Viconia.
http://tinyurl.com/c42nk

Edwin.
http://tinyurl.com/da9ja

Jan.
http://tinyurl.com/9z9be

Imoen.
http://tinyurl.com/a8wml

Edit: - Cam_H, I think I will try to defeat Shangalar to get the Staff of the Magi. Apologies for the length of this post.

[ 12-18-2005, 10:09 AM: Message edited by: Ilyich ]

[Ilyich]

Just a quick update. I beat Shangalar 3 weeks ago, but a hectic Christmas holiday and University exams have put the game on hold for the time being. I should be able to play again within 2 weeks.

[JrKASperov]

I LOVE these kind of screenshots fully showing party set up .

[Ilyich]

A proper update of my progress now, including a more indepth account of my encounter with Shangalar, and details of the 1st level of Watchers Keep.

First, details of Shangalar. I thought that this fight was excellent, and was very difficult. Details are sketchy, as it has now been 6 weeks since I beat him.

The Skull Traps were removed by Viconia while she was wearing all the MR increasing items I had. (She ended with 85% or more MR) I then summoned a Dark Planetar and Kitthix. Shangalar was then lured out, and he and his cronies attacked. The planetar went to deal with him, as I applied buffs to my party. Revanek rushed forward to deal with my mages, but Korgan was on hand to deal with him.

After Revanek's death, Korgan and Kitthix went to deal with Shangalar and the Vampire, whose name I forget. The Vampire was easy prey to my hit squad. Vaxall meanwhile was being dealt with by my Planetar, and Layene had finally arrived to help her boss. Around this point the Planetar was killed, so I summoned a Fallen Deva to replace it. It helped to fight Shangalar, until it turned on me for some reason. Shangalar then died, quickly followed by Vaxall. I was nearly dead by this point, taking lots of damage from Layene and my traitorous Deva. Korgan then killed the Deva, and a timely, if risky Heal from Viconia saved Amschat and Layene was quickly torn apart.

Now for details of Watchers Keep. The first floor was relatively easy, at least compared to what was outside. I will hopefully get attacked by the Red Badge when I leave, so I can see if I can beat them. The hardest fight was the statues, but Improved Haste and Regeneration on a Level 21 Anti-Paladin dual wielding Upgraded Daystar and Crom Faeyr, and the same applied to Korgan (also Level 21, wielding Upgraded Celestial Fury) is the most ridiculously overpowered thing I have seen so far during this playthrough.

Lastly, some curiousness in the Keep.

http://tinyurl.com/9lnf3
This screenshot is just after giving the Slippers to the Priest.

http://tinyurl.com/b4vaf
This screenshot is just after completing the Ritual on the 1st level.

Does anyone have any ideas on what may have caused this, and how to fix it?