9 replies to this topic

[ryuken]

At the moment I have no idea how I'm supposed to win this fight, the fight with Kharen was challenging but I did it comfortably after a reload, but now I'm well and truely stuck.
My party is: F/C PC, Minsc, Kova, Kiyone, Solafein (F/M) at around 4m exp each.

For some reason I'm stripped of all my buffs, is this supposed to happen? This could be a birpoduct of me having to move Minsc and Sola to a different area to avoid a crash as per here: http://www.shsforums...showtopic=31799

The immediate threat is half a dozen thieves poised to backstab so I can make myself somehwat immune with PfMW and Hardiness, which is by no means perfect since each backstab is still doing 35ish damage. Then there's Edwin who is using some serious cheese with Abi Dalzim's, Wail of the Banshee, and I don't know how many Chain Lightnings with some ridiculously fast casting. Thus my party is devastated.

Now I could use some Contingencies/Spell sequncers with Kova/Sola, I'm thinking SI: Necromancy for Kova and Imp. Invis and SI: Divination with Sola (since he is >90% magic resistant anyway). I havn't tried to see if these are stripped yet but in any case it still leaves me unprotected from Chain Lightnings, and by this time those without PfMW are getting chunked.

[Zyraen]

General Hint
Don't try to kill everyone - just focus on achieving your objective.

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read on if you like - spoiling
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Well here's some things to note

For Edwin
- you can kill Edwin before he shows up for the encounter. Just kill him before talking to Aran
- if Edwin is dead / does not show up, depending on a decision you made earlier, either Cowlies or Shadow Thief Mages will warp in. They're inconsequential since they use default AI
- if you want to keep Edwin busy on his own, just summon enemies near him, the usual trick. this will absorb the brunt of his spells
- Chain Lightning is likely unavoidable
- if Edwin is low level-ed, and you're fast enough, you may see if you can kill him with a Power Word Kill (less than 60 hit points)
In general, Edwin is meant to be me more than avoidable.

For Thieves
- Kova can have immunity to Backstab, due to his robes
- due to default Thief scriptings, everyone will target a Mage (including Kova) whenever possible.
- generally, the Thieves appear at ONE portion of the map
- Disabling/Confusion Spells will work much better than killing them, since they respawn (at random spots on the map). However, confusing them can cause them to wander nearer to other party members who may not have spell protections / immunity to Backstab. Slow is also good as it prevents them from "stripping" a target's say, Stoneskins.
- Quickly Kill / Disable any thieves that are separate from the group that Kova is "tanking"

Normally to deal with them, I send Kova behind alone, the rest rush Seida while Summons hang around Edwin. I like using very high level non-party-damaging AoEs to bring down Seida (so I can still hit him while he is unseen) while ignoring the rest.

For Kova against the Thieves I normally use Protection from (Magic) Weapons (can't remember which one to use), once that expires I use Stone Skin, then do it repeatedly while chugging down potions (for the rare occasions the stoneskin gets pierced). If I am going all out for Seida I don't even let Kova cast any AoE spells to disable/confuse/debuff them as there is generally no need to.

This fight is simple if you understand its not about killing everyone, but just about achieving your objective.

Edited by Zyraen, 02 March 2008 - 09:22 PM.

[ryuken]

Thanks for the quick reply, I'll definately try some of the disabling spells and I think I'll have to kill Edwin beforehand.

Although I have 2 mages the thieves don't appear to have any favourites in deciding who to backstab, Kiyone is usually one of the first to go. If I can survive a little longer to reposition my party hopefully they'll concentrate on Kova and Sola with PfMW.

Also sorry you didn't answer this but are my buffs supposed to disappear or not?

[Zyraen]

Not that I'm aware of, regarding the Buffs,but when I scripted Edwin he does have a variety of removing spells.

One thing to note - when Aran takes you to Seida, it will be midnight or so. During this time and the time that you talk to Aran in the Thieves Guild, there is an interval as the clock "fast forwards" - that might result in your Buffs being removed (similar to when you visit the Graveyard to meet Bodhi for the first time, its automatically set to night time)

To check this, simply do the scenario, and take note of the time when the fight Starts. From there, instead of talking to Aran at any time, talk to him about 1 hour before - that will ensure your longer buffs stay on. (Don't do the 1-x rounds buffs, those will probably be gone)

As far as I know though, I never buff up beforehand for this battle. You really don't need to take that much effort, Kova can pull off Prot Magic Weapons and/or Stoneskin quickly enough. Repositioning your party in formation is also good - usually the Thieves (on my comp playing 800x600) show up BEHIND the party (ie away from Seida and Edwin)

Apart from targeting mages, the Thieves also target the closest enemy. That might explain about Kiyone Chunking.

[Zyraen]

PS : Robe of Vecna is a great help If you've got the right spells to Toss. The duration for using the Runes are also affected by Robe of Vecna / anything else that reduces Casting Duration, as far as I know.

[ryuken]

One thing to note - when Aran takes you to Seida, it will be midnight or so. During this time and the time that you talk to Aran in the Thieves Guild, there is an interval as the clock "fast forwards" - that might result in your Buffs being removed (similar to when you visit the Graveyard to meet Bodhi for the first time, its automatically set to night time)

To check this, simply do the scenario, and take note of the time when the fight Starts. From there, instead of talking to Aran at any time, talk to him about 1 hour before - that will ensure your longer buffs stay on. (Don't do the 1-x rounds buffs, those will probably be gone)

I'm afraid this is not the case for me, the game advances a whole day in my game so even long lasting buffs like stoneskin are gone.

if Edwin is dead / does not show up, depending on a decision you made earlier, either Cowlies or Shadow Thief Mages will warp in. They're inconsequential since they use default AI

They are just as bad as Edwin if not worse. Since they spawn straight away they start casting Time Stop which continues in the brief cut scene where the party approaches Seida so as soon as the dialogue finishes the casting is finished. This is followed by Imprisonment followed by a Spell Trigger with Disinigrate, True Sight, and Dispel Magic. So already I'm down at least one party member and my PfMWs are gone.

I tried some disabling spells, with Malison, Slow, Monster summoning in a sequencer but it didn't do much. It's not a case of me concentrating on my objective since I'm dead in 10 seconds.

It's a shame because I think this fight is literally impossible as it stands, and until this fight this one one of the best mods I've played. I'm just going to ctrl+y and ctrl+r my way through it.

[Zyraen]

I will need to fix that to prevent them from spawning before the actual battle there's not much to say at this point I guess. Seems we're playing different games, since I usually use Cheese to beat this battle ^^;;

- Kova hangs around the back, rushes towards the Thieves to tank the Thieves
- Summons hang around Edwin
- My other Mage (with Robe of Vecna) Dragons Breath Seida twice and drops him to very low life, after which I use the Rune on him

The battle for me ends in about 30 seconds or less ^^;; but then again I cheat using Robe of Vecna.

Haven't really found a way to beat this battle yet without using HLA-level abilities, then again I've never been a Tactics person.

Off the side note - whether Cowlies or Shadow Thief Mages spawn in, depends on how you handled something earlier (one can consider it a sub-quest). If you handled it right, I think given that Shadow Thief Mages spawn in, the battle should be quite do-able. (Instead of Time Stop tossing Cowlies ^^;; as I think is in your case)

Edited by Zyraen, 03 March 2008 - 06:36 PM.

[Zyraen]

He's not killable. you have to use the runes on him, but before that, beat him till his life is 1 (Near Death) then he'll fall over, and then use the Rune on him to win the battle.

If you can't get it off quickly enough, once he stands up the Rune has no effect on him.
If you use up all the Runes you have, you lose... (Arkanis shows up)