Thomas quest for Ascension - Page 8

Link · 03-02-2004, 05:27 AM

I think a blade can handle himself quite well in High Levels. How's the last part going, Rataxes?

Rataxes · 03-02-2004, 07:49 PM

Final report is not here, but here!

Thomas VS Ascension

Couldn't find any place to upload the new images, and since there are quite a few (page is 1.6Mb) in this part, I thought it easier to just put it up as an HTML document.

My after-thoughts will be posted here though!

The reason I went about taking this cleric through the game was just to see if it could be done. The class often come up in discussions about the "worst class" and "hardest solo" no matter which BG2 community you visit, and I know our very own dear mod has been very skeptical towards the cleric's ability to solo SoA-ToB in intense conversations with Butterfingers

While I failed my own premise (solo on Insane) in the end, I still think it was a largely successful solo adventure. Maybe my choice of spells and tactics didn't really reflect on what mainly defines a cleric, but anything that the class itself has access to is go for me.

Spells Top 5, The Eessentials

1. Energy Blades. I wouldn't have gotten anywhere in ToB and late-game SoA without this, quite simply. One of the most universally useful spells I dare say.
2. Seeking Sword. The sword was absolutely vital in the early game, found slightly less uses in the late game portion of SoA, but made a comeback in ToB. Like Energy Blades, there were definitely parts of ToB that I could not have managed without it. Demogorgon and Abazigal springs to mind.
3. Fire Storm. The best AoE damage spell in the game? I wouldn't hesitate to say it's a strong contender. Absolutely smokes anything that isn't immune or very heavily resistant to fire, even more so than Dragon's Breath. If I had ever gotten the chance to cast it (ie, had I been a C/M), I reckon this spell could've won the Ascension Final Battle almost by itself, and it's not even a ToB ability!
4. Dispel Magic. Why I couldn't have done without this spell should be fairly obvious. The only manner of protection spell removal that the Cleric has, and they need it as badly as everyone else.
5. Summon Deva. Like everything else on this list, it was absolutely vital in some parts of the game. SoA Beholders would've been out of the question to tackle if it hadn't been for Summon Deva for instance.

Tactics Top 3

1. Hit and run. Used this with Energy Blades against 90% of the big baddies in ToB and late SoA, and I doubt it could've been any other way.
2. Get down and dirty with the sword. As useful as they are, Energy Blades sometimes, and this was especially true in ToB, don't have enough hit-power to cut it against the bigger bosses. Combined with Improved Haste, the Seeking Sword turned the Priest of Helm into a tool of destruction that could rival any true fighter.
3. Rain holy hell. Fire Storm, Storm of Vengeance, and Holy Smite. Clerics are far from bad at at causing mass AoE destruction with their spells.

Well, with that I'll conclude this report. Thanks for reading!

Leslie · 03-03-2004, 03:28 AM

"Me bows" to great master ...

JrKASperov · 03-03-2004, 04:07 AM

I think a thief is less doable than a cleric actually. Clerics(and druids for that matter) can cast buffs like there is no tomorrow...

Black Baron · 03-03-2004, 09:09 AM

I did not understand-can you act when someone else casted timestop??

Link · 03-03-2004, 10:14 AM

That's an ability in the Ascension mod, called Focus. It makes you immune to the effects of Time Stop [img]smile.gif[/img]

Daniel_M · 03-03-2004, 12:02 PM

Very nice solo gaming there, well done! And this ahs inspired me to write a solo story myself

shamrock_uk · 03-03-2004, 12:45 PM

Congratulations, made for a fantastic read - thanks for sharing

Xen · 03-03-2004, 02:38 PM

CONGRATULATIONS oh great Rataxes!

Neomi · 03-24-2004, 04:46 PM

Wow, that was inspiring. Thanks to the tale of Thomas and the Chronicles of Faldorn (SOA thread), I've finally decided to undertake a few solo runs myself.

Not meant as an insult, Rataxes, but are you somewhat obsessive/compulsive? It took a great deal of perserverence to get through as much as you did. I tend to get bored or frustrated easily and I'd have probably started and prematurely stopped a dozen solo adventures with all the challenges you faced.

Anyway, thanks for a great story. You definitely have a knack for narrative.

03-02-2004, 07:49 PM	#72
Rataxes Symbol of Cyric Join Date: November 17, 2002 Location: Sweden Age: 39 Posts: 1,359	Final report is not here, but here! Thomas VS Ascension Couldn't find any place to upload the new images, and since there are quite a few (page is 1.6Mb) in this part, I thought it easier to just put it up as an HTML document. My after-thoughts will be posted here though! The reason I went about taking this cleric through the game was just to see if it could be done. The class often come up in discussions about the "worst class" and "hardest solo" no matter which BG2 community you visit, and I know our very own dear mod has been very skeptical towards the cleric's ability to solo SoA-ToB in intense conversations with Butterfingers While I failed my own premise (solo on Insane) in the end, I still think it was a largely successful solo adventure. Maybe my choice of spells and tactics didn't really reflect on what mainly defines a cleric, but anything that the class itself has access to is go for me. Spells Top 5, The Eessentials 1. Energy Blades. I wouldn't have gotten anywhere in ToB and late-game SoA without this, quite simply. One of the most universally useful spells I dare say. 2. Seeking Sword. The sword was absolutely vital in the early game, found slightly less uses in the late game portion of SoA, but made a comeback in ToB. Like Energy Blades, there were definitely parts of ToB that I could not have managed without it. Demogorgon and Abazigal springs to mind. 3. Fire Storm. The best AoE damage spell in the game? I wouldn't hesitate to say it's a strong contender. Absolutely smokes anything that isn't immune or very heavily resistant to fire, even more so than Dragon's Breath. If I had ever gotten the chance to cast it (ie, had I been a C/M), I reckon this spell could've won the Ascension Final Battle almost by itself, and it's not even a ToB ability! 4. Dispel Magic. Why I couldn't have done without this spell should be fairly obvious. The only manner of protection spell removal that the Cleric has, and they need it as badly as everyone else. 5. Summon Deva. Like everything else on this list, it was absolutely vital in some parts of the game. SoA Beholders would've been out of the question to tackle if it hadn't been for Summon Deva for instance. Tactics Top 3 1. Hit and run. Used this with Energy Blades against 90% of the big baddies in ToB and late SoA, and I doubt it could've been any other way. 2. Get down and dirty with the sword. As useful as they are, Energy Blades sometimes, and this was especially true in ToB, don't have enough hit-power to cut it against the bigger bosses. Combined with Improved Haste, the Seeking Sword turned the Priest of Helm into a tool of destruction that could rival any true fighter. 3. Rain holy hell. Fire Storm, Storm of Vengeance, and Holy Smite. Clerics are far from bad at at causing mass AoE destruction with their spells. Well, with that I'll conclude this report. Thanks for reading! __________________ [img]\"http://atlas.walagata.com/w/rataxes/ymca3.jpg\" alt=\" - \" /><br />I want <b>YOU!</b>

03-03-2004, 03:28 AM	#73
Leslie Baaz Draconian Join Date: February 28, 2003 Location: SLO Age: 53 Posts: 737	"Me bows" to great master ... __________________ I grow tired of shouting battle cries when fighting this mage. Boo will finish his eyeballs once and for all, so he does not rise again. Evil, meet my sword! SWORD, MEET EVIL!<br />- Minsc

03-03-2004, 04:07 AM	#74
JrKASperov Fzoul Chembryl Join Date: July 16, 2003 Location: Wa\'eni\'n Age: 39 Posts: 1,701	I think a thief is less doable than a cleric actually. Clerics(and druids for that matter) can cast buffs like there is no tomorrow... __________________ God is in the rain.

03-03-2004, 09:09 AM	#75
Black Baron Red Wizard of Thay Join Date: September 7, 2003 Location: Israel Age: 40 Posts: 877	I did not understand-can you act when someone else casted timestop?? __________________ Case from my reservist service: Kids attention, I have brought you something... Don't pull that ring private!!

03-03-2004, 12:02 PM	#77
Daniel_M Elminster Join Date: October 17, 2001 Location: London, England Age: 41 Posts: 480	Very nice solo gaming there, well done! And this ahs inspired me to write a solo story myself __________________ \"Sarcasm is a sign of genius.\"<br /><br />[url]\"http://www.hellspawnonline.tk\" target=\"_blank\">Hellspawn-Online.tk</a>

03-02-2004, 05:27 AM	#71
Link Jack Burton Join Date: May 15, 2001 Location: The Netherlands Age: 40 Posts: 5,888	I think a blade can handle himself quite well in High Levels. How's the last part going, Rataxes?

03-03-2004, 10:14 AM	#76
Link Jack Burton Join Date: May 15, 2001 Location: The Netherlands Age: 40 Posts: 5,888	That's an ability in the Ascension mod, called Focus. It makes you immune to the effects of Time Stop [img]smile.gif[/img]

03-03-2004, 12:45 PM	#78
shamrock_uk Dracolich Join Date: January 24, 2004 Location: UK Age: 42 Posts: 3,092	Congratulations, made for a fantastic read - thanks for sharing

03-03-2004, 02:38 PM	#79
Xen Symbol of Moradin Join Date: June 5, 2002 Location: Slovenia,Ljubljana Age: 37 Posts: 8,554	CONGRATULATIONS oh great Rataxes!

03-24-2004, 04:46 PM	#80
Neomi Zhentarim Guard Join Date: January 28, 2004 Location: Houston, TX Age: 53 Posts: 312	Wow, that was inspiring. Thanks to the tale of Thomas and the Chronicles of Faldorn (SOA thread), I've finally decided to undertake a few solo runs myself. Not meant as an insult, Rataxes, but are you somewhat obsessive/compulsive? It took a great deal of perserverence to get through as much as you did. I tend to get bored or frustrated easily and I'd have probably started and prematurely stopped a dozen solo adventures with all the challenges you faced. Anyway, thanks for a great story. You definitely have a knack for narrative. __________________ \"Though we name the things we know, we do not necessarily know the things we name.\" -Homer W. Smith

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