A fight's Chronicle.

[Derfel Cadarn]

'ello. This topic is in Misnc's memory.
I must start this chronicle with a minute of silence in honor of brave-fun-overly-huge-juggernaut known as Misnc.
Well, so I'm playing with my: Sagramor(archer/PC), Valygar (dual wielding katanas), Jaheira, Yoshi, Edwin and brave Misnc, party.

It has been nearly 80 days since we escaped the dungeon of a crazy wizard. We went in the five flagons Inn had a few ale's and decided to, in the next day, go check out some rumours about a Lich and a few companions that were doing some nasty stuff in the lower part of the Bridge District.
We came to it, disarmed a few traps and ,after entering the building, Yoshi insisted in setting up a few traps. After that I went scouting and suddenly what seemed to be a very ancient Lich was talking to me. I said "well this is clearly a mistake, we'll be leaving now", but he did not want to let us go.
Yoshi's traps turned out quite handy for they killed the lich. I think I may stop saying "that IS enough, Yoshi", while he is setting his 7° around after that.
After that I went scouting again and found a Beholder(!) I thought "God damn! stupid fu***in Keldorn got the shield-that-spit-on-beholders! And he is with family damnit!", right after that I saw a vampire and thought to myself "What the hell that silly thing is doing here??!".
Well that silly thing turned out to be quite tough in combat. Jaheira, Misnc and Valygar decided to take on the basterd. Me, Yoshi and Edwin went to take the Beholder. We were doing just fine, the Beholder started shooting at Minsc while Sagramor and Yoshi kept firing towards him. But suddenly something awfull happened. The Beholder held Misnc and that "silly" vampire began to chop misnc to lil' pieces, Valygar ad Jaheira tried to do something but it was too late, when Valygar's last blow hit the vampire, Misnc got chunkified! Sagramor screamed and got charmed by the Beholder! The chubby eye-ball killed Jaheira with a Death Spell, and we were reduced to Yoshi, Valygar, Edwin and a charmed Sagramor that simply stood quietly in a corner. We were doomed!
But then Edwin noticed he could be the next and decided that finding a "cure" for his sexual problems could wait a bit longer. The beholder started shooting at him, Yoshi grabbed his bow and shot the Elder orb, and Valygar wanted revenge! Celestial Fury came as a bolt of lightning from the skies and ripped the monster right between his eye. We were saved.
Everyone waited a few more moments and finally Sagramor came back from his numbness. He ressurected Jaheira with a Rod they found a long time ago with a nasty wizard.
Everyone was sad for the loss of theirs best friend Misnc. But the mourning had to be postponed, for they heard the laughing of a mage. There was a wizard standing to the far end of the room, Sagramor went to take him out, but he brought a Demon from the dephts of the Earth. Sagramor retreated and waited a few momments; when he went back to see what happened, for his surprise, the demon was laying dead on the ground.
The entire party came raging to the mage and he did not stand a chance against a party of hardened adventurers with a sweet thirst for revenge.
Once they finally found a way out, they went back into the Five Flagons Inn, without saying a single word regarding anything that happened inside that evil building.
The next morning they were all still very sad about the loss of Misnc, but Sagramor knew, as a leader, that they should strive on, Misnc would like that way. So the next step would be to choose a replacement, but who could replace Misnc with both honor and devotion?

Haeer Dalis, the one Misnc helped saving?
Mazzy Fentam, rescued from the dephts of a Ruined Temple?
Anomen, a warrior of the light, that can be found in the Copper Coronet?
Cernd, a Druid that now lives with his child in a Grove?
Keldorn, a old warrior that wishes only to have his family back?
Jan, a "merchant" in the Government District?

accepting suggestions [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Neomi]

No one can truly "replace" Minsc, as you already know. However, as it appears that your party is in need of both a tank and some entertainment, consider the following:

Mazzy is a great fighter and, with proper equipment, she can tank quite well or snipe effectively from the back row. Plus, she'll have some funny banter with Valygar. For a good-aligned party she would fit right in and is my first choice.

Keldorn is an excellent (though a bit overly pious) warrior who gives you a pair of hands that can wield one of the most over-powered weapons in the game. Not a bad choice at all.

Anomen is also a good tank, with all his cleric buffs. However, IMHO his personality leaves quite a bit to be desired, and for that reason I would probably grade him down as a viable party member.

You can't really include Haer Dalis, Cernd, or Jan as a "tank" but you could include them for their banter. Jan could back up Edwin, but you don't need a back up mage for Edwin. In my experience, Haer Dalis dies A LOT, but I'm probably just not using him effectively. Cernd = boring. As I have said in a previous post, I just never take him with my party.

[ 08-18-2004, 11:27 PM: Message edited by: Neomi ]

[Derfel Cadarn]

Yes, thanks fer your suggestion Neomi, but if you do not mind me asking fer it once more, what do you think would be better?
Keldorn with Carso or Valygar with Celestial?
Keldorn has a few more feats than Valygar, specially disrupting wizards.. but in the other hand they are both quite boring.. doubts, doubts....

[Neomi]

I think it really comes down to your taste in NPCs and your playing style. Keldorn's holier-than-thou attitude can get on my nerves, but sometimes it's worth putting up with so that you can have Carsomyr on the front line.

Valygar's attitude isn't quite as obnoxious, just a little darker. But with the automatic 2* in dual wielding, Valygar was my main tank one time through. Dual katanas or CF + Crom, it's hard to beat.

Take them both!

[Froberg]

Cernd is a very nasty fighter when shapeshifted into greater warewolf..

I'd recommend him for sure!
Albeit him being annoying.

If you buff him up on healing spells he can help heal your party when not shapeshifted, and additionally have a few summons.
He is better than anomen at any rate.

[Neo the Warrior Cat]

Watch out for conflicting alignments. Paladins and Red Wizards do not mix well...

But about backup mages, even Edwin doesn't have infinite spell slots. Against tough opponents you are very likely to use aroun 25-50% of your spellbook depending on playing style, spell selection, etc. Then there are regular fights and you might only use 1 or 2 spells, maybe more if you have a high concentration of Arcane/Divine spellcasters. So always have more than one person to take on the magical load.

[Xen]

Hear`Dalis is the best Tank in the game, just behind Jaheira. With Stoneskin, Mirror Image, Mislead, Tenser`s Transformation, (Improved) Haste and some Cleric buffs he`s pretty unstoppable.