NPC ratings (spoilers)

[Cerek the Barbaric]

I have a thread detailing the exploits of my bard on his solo adventure. I'll resurrect it so that this thread doesn't get derailed any further than it already has.

[Imrahil]

The problem here, I think, is that people get bogged down in the whole "how would X NPC fare in Y battle" when the comparison needs to be made in light of the whole game (on Core/Normal - higher difficulties are largely irrelevant).

The point is not so much in focusing on how would Korgan/Haer/whoever do against a Red Dragon, but how would they do against....

...some Gnolls, some Werewolves, some Ankhegs, some Orcs, some more Orcs, some (possibly) Ogrillons, some Vampire Wraiths, some Kamikaze Kobolds + a Rakshasa, some Orcs firing Fire Arrows, some Golems, some more Orcs, some Hobgoblins + a Troll, an Otyugh, some more Orcs, some Vampires + Mummies, some Wraiths, several Djinn, a Director Beholder, a semi-invisible Fire Elemental, a party of adventurers, some Orogs, an Air Elemental, some Werewolves, a Troll/Hobgoblin/Werewolf trio, some Golems, some more Golems, some more Orogs, Tazok + Digdag + Orcs, a Wizard, plus *finally* a Red Dragon.

In this gauntlet, Korgan's perseverence is better than Haer's ability to tank in the last battle, when Korgan can also be party-buffed.

It's not so much "how uber can I make any-given-NPC in one battle?" as much as it's "how useful is this NPC in all situations?", which is why Korgan kicks Haer's butt in most (Core) situations. IMO, of course.

- Imrahil

EDIT: I forgot some Golems

2nd EDIT: lol, good call, Illumina [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 07-17-2004, 12:57 PM: Message edited by: Imrahil ]

[Illumina Drathiran'ar]

::raises hand:: You also forgot the beholder.

[Dundee Slaytern]

To obtain the Boots of Speed, you will need to initiate the basement quest in the inn that resides in the Bridge District. The er... Five Flagon's Inn, if my memory is right. One early tip for your pre-buffing, get your Fire Resistance to 100%+.

There are many ways to fight Mencar & Co. It all depends on whether you prefer to roleplay or powergame. The following tactic assumes roleplay, and that your Skald is not some sort of psychotic sadist.

Go to the inn-lady and cast Stoneskin. Memorise Greater Malison and Emotion:Hopelessness.

Wake up to another glorious day and go upstairs. Stand outside the room and let Mencar taunt you and throw down the gauntlet. Proceed to insult him into turning hostile. The Thief will now turn invisible, so you got to act fast. Cast the Moose at the room's entrance and back away to the right of the staircase so that the Mage and Pooky cannot see you.

Cast Greater Malison as soon as possible, followed by the Emotion spell. If all goes well, it will knock out the Thief and Orcslicer. If you aimed it properly, you may even knock out the Mage and Pooky as well. Casting the spells at the center of the room works well.

Greater Malison also serves a secondary purpose, in that it greatly aids the Nymphs' spell efficiency. A successful Hold Monster and it will be all but game over for Mencar.

[SweatyUsedArmor Plus 100]

This might be *really* inconsequential, but...

Originally posted by Cerek the Barbaric: She can also get Gnasher and Blackblood by the time you finish Trademeet. These two clubs can then be taken to Cromwell and combined to make Pitchwife +5, does extra acid damage and sends slivers into the opponent (3/round for 4 rounds), and grants 25% Acid Resistance.

Pitchwife is only if Item Upgrade.