Final thoughts on the Priest of Talos. Possible Spoilers.

[Butterfingers]

I thought I would share my experiences with my ultra evil Halfing Stormlord, so maybe if somebody has questions, they can search and find this [img]smile.gif[/img]

First off, Halflings have incredible saves.

Secondly, a Stormlord of Talos can become immune to nearly anything thrown at him. With Stormshield, the right helm, (Helm of Defense, all those resistances) and a few decent items, any sort of elemental damage will only heal him. Wearing the Red Dragon Plate, using the Shield of Harmony, Rings, and the Helm, he had a -12 AC, even higher when he self buffed with DUHM. Casting Armor of Faith made him into the virtue of the supreme tank.

The Lightning Bolt seems bugged, or, perhaps just the way it should be. It does not, at least in my game, cap off at 10d6 damage. I had damage well into the hundreds at high levels. It was my number one damage dealing spell. Using Viccy as a mirror with the Cloak of Reflection (Reflects all electrical damage) I learned how to aim bolts for maximum effect, I could wipe out entire mobs with just one well placed bolt.

Notable highlights. Warning, possible spoilers.

Wiped out entire Drow city. Done this with a party, was a little tough, but, not to bad. Did it with a 2 person party (Halfling and Viccy) was entirely to easy. The poor Drow never knew what hit them.

After killing Bhodi for the second time, went through and killed every single living thing in Athkatla. Including the Shadow Thieves. Found a way to avoid Arkanis Gath, but, I'll never tell. No cheating, legit tactics, but, all were powerless before me.

Killed off all of Trademeet before going to Underdark. Was upset because the Mayor gave me some lip for solving his Druid Problem in the most evil way possible. I bought everything I wanted or needed before hand though. One well placed Lightning Bolt must have killed close to twenty townfolk or so. Not bad for one shot. Murdered everybody in the Umar Hills. After I did all the quests of course. After solving quests, I killed all the elves as well.

Total kill count at end of game. A staggering 2114 kills. Most of them probably Paladins and Cowled Ones. I was hounded every single place I went.

The fight with Jonny Boy went well. I met him head on with four gated pit fiends of my own. While titanic battle of demons raged, I wore him down. The killing spell, was fittingly, Lightning Bolt. (At least I think that's what killed him)

Final couple of dragon battles went quickly. Doom, Finger of Death, gated pit fiend, Harm, Slay Living. Threw what ever I had at them till something worked.

As soon as I can get ToB for the Mac, I think I will continue his reign of terror and will probably choose to become a God.

The Stormlord is a very powerful class with many options available to blow your enemies' virtual giblets all over the battlefield. I recommend it highly. For those of you who doubt that Clerics can't kick butt, you are incorrect. Garreth Sourbelch was nearly indestructable for most of the whole game. It's all in the spells really. Chaotic Commands, Death Ward, Stormshield, various buffs, it becomes ridiculously easy. When nothing can hurt you, nothing can kill you.

[Pyrenk]

Very nice post. Helped a lot.

[Alson]

Heh... If you think that the Divine spells are powerful, play a Mage (or a Sorcerer if you're experienced enough).
It's all in the spells really. Project Image, Mislead, Spell Immunity, Abi Dalzim's Horrid Wilting and Time Stop and it becomes ridiculously easy. When no one is alive after the first round, no one can hurt you.

Most Arcane spells are considerably better than most Divine spells - better summons (Skeleton Warriors & Mordies trump Skeleton Warriors & Elementals), better defense (Mislead, Stoneskin and Spell Immunity usually trump Armor of Faith, Chaotic Command and Death Ward) and much better offense. No need for examples here, methinks.

I'm not saying that Mages are superior to Clerics - i'm just saying that Mages have better spells.

[Bardan the Slayer]

But if summoning is your thing, go for clerics. They get the pit fiend a few levels before mages do. However, by the time you're high enough a level (with all equipment) to summon a pit fiend, you should be more terrifying than any denizen of Baator.

I like clerics. Evil clerics in solo/dual games attain fantastic levels and can use undead to their advantage (and good clerics simply blast everything undead to death )

I can never resist the temptation to be a berserker --> cleric, though. I just love weapon specialisation [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Alson]

Originally posted by Bardan the Slayer: But if summoning is your thing, go for clerics.

Why? Mages' summons are better, and Mages also have better spells to buff them.

[Bardan the Slayer]

Missing word alert.

Correction : If summoning demons is your thing ...

[Butterfingers]

Don't get me wrong. I like mages. They are great fun.

However, that said, I don't like mages.

My favourite classes are, in this order, Bards, Druids, and Clerics. You see, I like being able to cast spells and be a holy (Or unholy) terror in combat, something that mages are unable to do. Multiclass mages are fine when I am in the mood to slowly plod through levels.

Clerics kick butt period. Most people have a very poor understanding of what clerical divine type spells do in the first place, so, they either overlook or dismiss them as being "weak" when the truth is, a well decked out cleric could wipe the floor with pretty much any other class in the game. There is nothing a cleric can not only nullify, but, also kill in some fashion. Silence, Miscast Magic, various blights and curses, all this plus the ability to be nearly unstoppable in combat makes them oh so very dangerous. Where a Blade could easily take out any single class combo (Multi and dual changes the dynamic considerably) a cleric could wipe out pretty much any multi or dual combo.

A well built cleric is like a sorcerer, only a lot more dangerous, at least in the hands of a skilled player. He needs to learn no spells, just grow in power and select the right spell for the right moment. Not to mention grow in power faster. Cleric summons are generally better then anything a mage could produce. With spells like Wonderous Recall, they can select and learn new spells on the fly with out resting at all, which gives them a HUGE avantage. Want to switch those Holy Smites to Summon Undead, well, select, cast Recall, and, BAM! You are good to go, even in the middle of battle.

But, I will let folks think what they will. It all comes down to the playstyle really, and, what works best for you.

[Alson]

Originally posted by Bardan the Slayer: Missing word alert. Correction : If summoning demons is your thing ...

That's better.

[ 01-08-2003, 02:05 PM: Message edited by: Alson ]

[Pyrenk]

Stop tempting me with your unholy clerics!

Im having a hard enough time choosing between Blade, Kensai, and dual K/T...Priest of Talos is for another game...ARGH

[Alson]

Originally posted by Butterfingers: Don't get me wrong. I like mages. They are great fun. However, that said, I don't like mages.

LOL!

My favourite classes are, in this order, Bards, Druids, and Clerics. You see, I like being able to cast spells and be a holy (Or unholy) terror in combat, something that mages are unable to do.

Oh, rest assured, Mages can cast spells and be a terror on combat.
The holy thing is still debatable.

Clerics kick butt period. Most people have a very poor understanding of what clerical divine type spells do in the first place, so, they either overlook or dismiss them as being "weak" when the truth is, a well decked out cleric could wipe the floor with pretty much any other class in the game.

Just a little bit of trivia - a Wizard can cast Time Stop while staying invisible. After that, it's game over. Elemental damage be damned - besides potions, the Cleric have no defense against pure Magical damage, a la Abi Dalzim's Horrid Wilting. You do know that area-of-effect spells bypass spell protections, right?

There is nothing a cleric can not only nullify, but, also kill in some fashion.

I would be interested to know how a solo Cleric can kill Kangaxx. Sure, you can hit him once or twice a round with Crom for 2-4 damage, but he'll regenerate before you'll have enough time to say your god's name. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

And yes, i consider the use of the Mace of Disruption too cheesy and not legitimate. Call me purist.

Silence, Miscast Magic, various blights and curses,

All are saveable spells. Without having access to Greater Malison, saveable spells become a joke at high levels - most dangerous enemies have save vs. spells of about ~4.

Where a Blade could easily take out any single class combo (Multi and dual changes the dynamic considerably) a cleric could wipe out pretty much any multi or dual combo.

How would you "wipe out" an invisible Sorcerer with Spell Immunity : Divination who decides to cast Time Stop?

A well built cleric is like a sorcerer, only a lot more dangerous, at least in the hands of a skilled player.

You must be one amazing Cleric player and a not experienced Sorcerer player to say that. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

He needs to learn no spells, just grow in power and select the right spell for the right moment. Not to mention grow in power faster. Cleric summons are generally better then anything a mage could produce.

Huh? Both can summon Skeleton Warriors and Put Fiends, but the Mordies and the Spiders give the Mage the slight edge. In addition, no divine spell can ever buff your summons like Haste and Mass Invisibility.

Don't even get me started about Project Image and Mislead again...

With spells like Wonderous Recall, they can select and learn new spells on the fly with out resting at all, which gives them a HUGE avantage. Want to switch those Holy Smites to Summon Undead, well, select, cast Recall, and, BAM! You are good to go, even in the middle of battle.

Wonderous Recall gives you a net one spell. Mages, on the other hand, can achieve Endless Spells(TM), which is a TAD better.
Click here if you wanna learn more about how to do it.

But, I will let folks think what they will. It all comes down to the playstyle really, and, what works best for you.

Well said. I wholly agree. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 01-08-2003, 02:32 PM: Message edited by: Alson ]