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Buffed and armed to the teeth the party teleported to the throne room to face the luremaster. After he had teleported away the druid cast creeping doom while the others concentrated on the caster appearing in the NE to prevent getting dispelled and succeeded. Since creeping doom takes a full round to cast the thief stayed between the druid and the spectral heroes coming from the west and took some damage, he drank 1 or 2 potions of extra healing but this proved unnecessary. The spectral heroes were slain so fast that the party sometimes had to wait until new ones appeared, accidentally shooting the luremaster instead when he appeared and finished him off before all other spectral heroes were slain.
The luremaster was defeated with 4 characters at full health and the other 2 barely injured.

Then the paladin took the ring from the throne and the door opening sequence started but didn't finish, the screen stayed greyed out, I was unable to do anything but scrolling the message window and listening to the party members complaining about being tired after the haste spell ran out. So I had to exit to windows and do this battle again.

Buffing for the second attempt I cast the haste spell after the (minor) globes of invulnerabilities and even wasted an oil of speed before realizing that the globes made the bard and mage immune to haste and at the start of the battle the cleric got dispelled so I had 3 characters only at half speed, one of them totally debuffed at the battle.
The spectral heroes were all defeated nevertheless without much trouble, only the luremaster remained and forced the party into a long and tiresome hunt which wasn't over when the haste spell ran out and the party got fatigued. Suddenly the upper two character portraits were greyed out, reading revealed the paladin and cleric were killed by a cone of cold, I didn't even realize how they lost HP before (and didn't bother healing) when hunting after the near death creature. A few seconds later the Luremaster was defeated.

So because of the bug the luremaster battle had to be fought again and the flawless victory turned into a flawed one, resulting in character death #10 and #11.

After the battle the druid used a raise dead scroll on the cleric who cast resurrection on the paladin afterwards, the ring was taken from the throne and this time the game didn't hang, destroying my hopes to get a chance for repeating the flawless victory.
Now the party is back in Lonelywood, on their last visit before leaving for the Sea of Moving Ice.
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cbarchuk: @Holylight: No deaths!? Nice job. I don't think I could ever get through a game without somebody getting killed...lol. Grats. By the way, I like the names of your characters. Very cool!
No deaths for the part that I was doing. Heh. Otherwise, I've already lost count on death count. I do know that the most deaths have to go to Akiel or Soren. I'm more or less leaning towards Akiel because hes trying to be all awesome and stuff. Also, thank you! I try to give them names to make it feel like its their story that I'm trying to tell, but so far I've been more or less describing the tactics instead of writing a narrative like I do in the Minimal Reload Challenge on the Bioware Forums.

The names also give them character too. Like, for instance, Kalyinara and Soren are twins. They're also supposed to be elves, but you can't use the multiclass combos that I got for them as an elf. Also, if I could, Soren probably would have been an Paladin, but that class combo isn't allowed in IWD, but it is allowed in IWDII. Heh.

Keep up the good work everyone!

Update Time!

Severed Hand, floor two is partcially cleared.

This floor was rather uneventful except for the ambushes. One ambush was a bunch of wolves, and another was a bunch of goblins. So, I had two use two Chant Scrolls that I was saving on Kalyinara.

Onwards to the Third Floor.

Atalaya - Diviner - 8
Akiel - Fighter/Thief - 7/7
Soren - Fighter/Cleric - 7/7
Kalyinara - Cleric/Ranger - 7/6
Analethene - Druid - 8
Aiko - Thief -> Mage - 8 -> 7

Resurrection Note: Nobody died on this floor either! woot!

Note: Aiko is catching up quite nicely to everyone else. Probably will post some more on The Severed Hand.
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kmonster: Buffed and armed to the teeth the party teleported to the throne room to face the luremaster. After he had teleported away the druid cast creeping doom while the others concentrated on the caster appearing in the NE to prevent getting dispelled and succeeded. Since creeping doom takes a full round to cast the thief stayed between the druid and the spectral heroes coming from the west and took some damage, he drank 1 or 2 potions of extra healing but this proved unnecessary. The spectral heroes were slain so fast that the party sometimes had to wait until new ones appeared, accidentally shooting the luremaster instead when he appeared and finished him off before all other spectral heroes were slain.
The luremaster was defeated with 4 characters at full health and the other 2 barely injured.

Then the paladin took the ring from the throne and the door opening sequence started but didn't finish, the screen stayed greyed out, I was unable to do anything but scrolling the message window and listening to the party members complaining about being tired after the haste spell ran out. So I had to exit to windows and do this battle again.

Buffing for the second attempt I cast the haste spell after the (minor) globes of invulnerabilities and even wasted an oil of speed before realizing that the globes made the bard and mage immune to haste and at the start of the battle the cleric got dispelled so I had 3 characters only at half speed, one of them totally debuffed at the battle.
The spectral heroes were all defeated nevertheless without much trouble, only the luremaster remained and forced the party into a long and tiresome hunt which wasn't over when the haste spell ran out and the party got fatigued. Suddenly the upper two character portraits were greyed out, reading revealed the paladin and cleric were killed by a cone of cold, I didn't even realize how they lost HP before (and didn't bother healing) when hunting after the near death creature. A few seconds later the Luremaster was defeated.

So because of the bug the luremaster battle had to be fought again and the flawless victory turned into a flawed one, resulting in character death #10 and #11.

After the battle the druid used a raise dead scroll on the cleric who cast resurrection on the paladin afterwards, the ring was taken from the throne and this time the game didn't hang, destroying my hopes to get a chance for repeating the flawless victory.
Now the party is back in Lonelywood, on their last visit before leaving for the Sea of Moving Ice.
Ah I hate bugs like that. But sometimes you just have to lay the smackdown twice...lol. Nice job K. I always have some trouble with the Luremaster. I may have to try some of your tactics when I get to him cause I hate that fight for some reason. Nicely done bud.



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HolyLight101: No deaths for the part that I was doing. Heh. Otherwise, I've already lost count on death count. I do know that the most deaths have to go to Akiel or Soren. I'm more or less leaning towards Akiel because hes trying to be all awesome and stuff. Also, thank you! I try to give them names to make it feel like its their story that I'm trying to tell, but so far I've been more or less describing the tactics instead of writing a narrative like I do in the Minimal Reload Challenge on the Bioware Forums.
Very cool. I'll have to read some of your narratives on the bioware forums as well. You sound like you're a great story teller!
Post edited October 20, 2011 by cbarchuk
At the sea of moving ice the party had no problem fighting their way down the cave.

Character death #12 was caused by a trap which stoned the rogue. It's a good thing the party bought a stone to flesh scroll just before leaving Lonelywood, so this could be fixed immediately. Afterwards almost death #13 happened when the rogue with 1 HP and without equipment continued running where he was headed before getting stoned, into the room with a water kin elemental, fortunately it targeted another character first.

After 96 days 8 hours, 0 reloads, 12 deaths, XP range from 2,539,859 to 2,548,171 the party is now ready to enter Icasaracht's lair.
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cbarchuk: Very cool. I'll have to read some of your narratives on the bioware forums as well. You sound like you're a great story teller!
Thanks! I've been told that a couple of times. I think the best time that I've actually successfully told a story was Soren's playthrough the BG1 Minimal Reload thread. If I ever get back to that. He'll probably be the second re-do run that I do after Akiel.

Quick update!

Third Floor of Severed Hand is partcially cleared.

This floor was rather uneventful. Except for the bone golems. I hate those things. All I could really do was heal myself through that, and hope that someone makes it. Which usually the party did make it just fine!

Atalaya Brightstar - Diviner - 9
Akiel Blackheart - Fighter/Thief - 7/7
Soren Syriana - Fighter/Cleric - 7/7
Kalyinara Syriana - Cleric/Ranger - 7/6
Analethene the Wise - Druid - 8
Aiko Sykora - Thief -> Mage - 8 -> 7

Resurrection Note: Atalaya was the only one to die on this floor, and she only died once.

Note: Added the character's last names cause I wanted to do something new! May or may not do some more Severed Hand tonight. Also, Atalaya managed to get ahead of everyone in levels.
The final HoW battle with the white dragon went surprisingly easy. The paladin rushed into melee while the others shot from the distance. When her sahuagin helpers arrived they were greeted by 2 fireballs from the mage and one from the bard, shortly thereafter the dragon was defeated and what was left of the helpers didn't last more then a few seconds. When I remembered that I originally had planned to have the druid to summon creeping doom the battle was almost over but the swarms were a least a good target for the soul gem which was defeated and went down the same way as the dragon, just a little faster.

After the return to Kuldahar the party didn't bother resting, they visited a few shops and traveled trough Dorn's Deep to face the false priest, got teleported to Easthaven and fought the cyclopes there. In the temple Pomab was defeated and the party rested for the last time in the game.

After 100 days and 6 hours, 12 deaths and 0 reloads the party (XP range from 2,756,764 to 2,765,098) is ready to face the demon in the final battle.
Update time again.

Cleared all the floors by using the elevator, and the ramp for the third floor.

Fought some more ghostly goblins, bone golems, and those Shattered Soul guys. I hate the bone golems and the Shattered Soul guys. Otherwise it was rather uneventful, except for getting a piece to...something.

Then, the group went up to the fourth floor, and found that it was filled with friendly ghosts. So the group restocked on supplies, and rested.

Now its time to go clear those towers.

Atalaya Brightstar - Diviner - 9
Akiel Blackheart - Fighter/Thief - 7/8
Soren Syriana - Fighter/Cleric - 7/7
Kalyinara Syriana - Cleric/Ranger - 7/6
Analethene the Wise - Druid - 8
Aiko Sykora - Thief -> Mage - 8 -> 7

Resurrection Note: Analethene died this time, and that was only once. She tried to tank a bunch of bone golems. Haha.

Note: With all the bone golems and Shattered Soul guys. I was kind of happy that Kalyinara's Racial enemy was Spectral Undead, but at the same time somewhat disappointed because Bone Golems aren't spectral undead. May, or may not post some more today because I'm kind of getting into IWDII again. Heh.
The party has now beaten the end boss and proven that a it's possible to beat the game and both expansions with 6 of the pregenerated single class characters without max HP at level up enabled and without reloads.

Thanks to magic resistance (cleric level 5 spell) and globes of invulnerability only the thief (who drank an oil of speed afterwards) got debuffed at the start of the battle.
The druid cast creeping doom, but those summons were unnecessary.
With 25 str, longsword of action +4, gauntlets of weapon expertise, buffed by both emotion spells and hasted the paladin had 7 attacks per round for about 30 damage each, she killed the western iron golem faster than I could look, she had finished it off before the priest I sent to support her arrived. The rest of the party sang (bard), shot at the cornugons or attacked the other iron golem which went down next.
The cornugons and the demon walked towards the paladin, the cornugons were attacked and killed first and Behilfet didn't last much longer, the whole battle didn't last more than 4-5 rounds.
Post edited October 21, 2011 by kmonster
A Big ConGratz out to kmonster. Good job to all. You guys get to play way more than I do ;-( I really enjoy reading through the thread.

Update:

I was able to finish of Kresselack's Tomb and put the Auril Priestess (Lysan) to rest. I am really wishing for a Cleric - too late now. The siblings are doing fine, no death's - just moving slowly and packing potions. Ranged weapons are a MUST with only two toons to work with. I am finding it enjoyable and surprisingly not as hard as I thought it would be. I am in Kuldhar re-stocking and plan to pay a visit to Arundel and Whitcomb before running off to The Temple of the Forgotten God.

Azaghal-Kain Fighter/Mage - Currently 6/6
Azabeth-Kain Fighter/Thief - Currently 6/7

Quick Update - I finished off The Temple of the Forsaken God. It is becoming very evident that a Cleric would have really been a good choice (Buffing - Healing - Turning Undead) - That little gmome in Kuldahar (Oswald Fiddlebender) better keep his potions stocked. Its back to Kuldhar for re-stocking and then Dragon's Eye. I have decide to throw caution to the wind in Dragon's Eye and abandon the fighter armor and go with Robes of Enfusing (Azaghal) and Reinforces Leather +1 (Azabeth) and use potions to keep my AC low. This will make it easier for trap diffusion / backstabbing - and spell casting. I hope to get a chance to give it a go tonite.
Post edited October 22, 2011 by Lou
Nice job Kmonster. Very nice. So how was the overall experience using less than optimized single class characters?

@Lou: Way to go brotha! Looking forward to reading more of the brother/sister duo. I may have to try a duo out myself. Sounds like a blast.
Post edited October 22, 2011 by cbarchuk
UPDATE: Severed Hand

I got through the initial 4 levels of the Severed Hand without any real issues. Had a few close calls here and there but otherwise it was business as usual. I'm mainly going to describe each of the towers. I started with the 'Priests' Tower.

1st level: We came across a priestess named Denaini who wanted our help in laying her comrades to rest. We said "sure!"

2nd level: Came across some kind of a gathering with an Elven Cleric shouting some nonsense at his Elven Acolyte Bretheren. They didn't attack us at first. So we just quietly buffed ourselves. I had Valahir Darkfang hit the shadows and strut on over to one of the acolytes and introduce himself...THWACK!!!!

-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind026.jpg

After that, they were aware of our presence. Fully buffed and hasted we charged into the fray and laid the smackdown on everyone in our path.

-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind027.jpg

3rd level: We stumbled upon another meeting of the minds led my an Elven Priest. I'm sure you know what happens next...yep...THWACK!!!!

-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind028.jpg

My Fighter/Thief switch to his Messenger of Sseth bow and, while hasted, was attacking 4 a times around with acid arrows while the rest of the group played bowling ball against the helpless elves. Beanbag the Mighty finally got himself a set of Elven Chainmail. He was thoroughly ecstatic about this.

So with a mirror image, blur, and helm of the trusted defender he had a nice AC of -14. Cause of this he earned himself a new rank: Tank

-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind030.jpg

4th level: I had Valahir THWACK the cleric and then had him run away. His pursuers lost track of him only to be standing toe to toe with Mr. -14 himself, Beanbag the Mighty, full dressed in mirror image and blur.

-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind031.jpg
-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind032.jpg

5th level: I did exactly the same thing. Beanbag hates when people pick on helpless thieves! He yells: "Pick on somebody your own size...er...wait..."

-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind033.jpg
-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind034.jpg

Done. We headed back to Denaini and let her know we laid everyone to rest. We also returned the holy elven water to her as well. We said farewell and continued on....
Post edited October 23, 2011 by cbarchuk
UPDATE: Arboretum Tower

Level 1: Arrived on landing with a door to our north. We opened the door but kept back. The plan was to have my druid in booring beetle form, with the bone marrow belt for 100% slash resistance, and position her right in the doorway to create a bottleneck where the enemies can't get by her. Had Valahir Nightfang stealth on it and greet the speaker of the group with a hardy THWACK!!!

-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind035.jpg

At that point my thief's adversaries were closing in on him. He was surrounded...uh oh...would this be the end...of course not. He restealthed just in time.

-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind036.jpg

Once this happened, the remaining enemies headed toward my booring beetle druid not knowing she would be completely immune to their long swords...muuuaaaahhhaaa!!!! She greeted them and my mage, Tyrianna, said hello with a fireball.

-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind037.jpg

The rest of the elves continued to attack my druid with no effect while the rest of my group continued drop to them like a bad habit.

-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind038.jpg

Level 2 War Room: Basically did the same thing here. I had Beanbag cast Emotion: Courage to protect from fear. I then had Valahir backstab that pesky Elven Wizard...

-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind039.jpg

and then that annoying Cleric who was trying to heal one of her own. Well Valahir had something to say about that:

-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind040.jpg

With the 2 major threats out of the way, my party concentrated on the remaining saps who pointlessly attacking my druid or Mr. -14, Beanbag, while the rest of my group put them down.

-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind041.jpg

Level 3: Not much here except a few folks to kill.

-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind043.jpg

This poor guy is wondering why he can't hurt this stinkin' beetle!!!

-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind044.jpg

Had Valahir scout ahead to next room. I forgot there was still two dudes left. I blinded one with my rogues cowl while taking care of his buddy.

-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind045.jpg

He then restealthed right in front of the guy and whispered in his ear...THWACK!!!!

-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind046.jpg

We then reached the Arboretum and told the caretaker we help him and vowed the return with the necessary items.
Post edited October 22, 2011 by cbarchuk
UPDATE: Last Tower of Severed Hand

Level 1: Met Kaylessa who wants us to kill her former troops. We were happy to oblige.

Level 2: Not really much to this. We stayed back using ranged weapons while my mage went pew pew pew.

-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind047.jpg
-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind048.jpg

Level 3. Same type of thing here. Had my ranger/cleric and fighter/illusionist wade into melee with the oncoming attackers. My thief sat back peppering the area with his bow while mage and druid got nasty with AoE's.

-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind050.jpg

Level 4: Well everything looks clear up here...

-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind051.jpg

Spiders. Why did it have to be spiders?!

-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind052.jpg

The Blurred Twins are droppin' smackdowns left and right

-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind053.jpg

Once we finished. We returned back to Kaylessa who wanted us to kill her too. Oh well, if I must.

-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind054.jpg

Alright we made it to the bridge next. This was a bit tough and a few things didn't go as planned but we persevered.

-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind056.jpg

Alright, almost to Larrel. Came into a room and all of sudden the doors swung open. AMBUSH!!! I quickly positioned my druid in the doorway. There was a mage and a cleric in the center area along with a few other goofballs. The wizard started casting and Valahir quickly peppered him with acid arrows.

-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind057.jpg

I had Valahir stealth and move into the center area where the lone cleric was. At this point another mage appeared from another room and several other elven swordsman were engaging my druid along with Beanbag and my ranger/cleric. Mr. Cleric, see yaaaa!!!!

-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind058.jpg

Valahir immediately switched to his bow and acid arrows and attacked the lone mage followed by another! They were coming out of thin air I tell you!

-http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j414/cbarchuk/Icewind%20Dale/iwind059.jpg

We finally mopped up the stragglers and found Larrel and he used the heartstone to tell us what we needed to know and where we needed to go next...Dorn's Deep. He also gave us some insight on what the hell happened there at the Severed Hand so long ago. He teleported us to Kulduhar where we restocked and threw back some brew hahas.

Okey dokey. Dorn's Deep is next. Stay tuned boys and girls.

-
Post edited October 22, 2011 by cbarchuk
Finished up Dragon's Eye - Lizard Man Caverns (Level One) - Had a close call with Azaghal at the end (see attached). This is due to his wearing robes and not armor. Using Skull Trap and Web have been very useful on this level. Web makes for some nice ranged weapon killing as those Lizard Men get stuck and pile up in heaps of dead carcases. The Shamans have allowed me to restock Flaming Oil. I have freed the Kuldahar Villagers and killed Lizard King Lisssepin and his cohorts. Heading back to Kuldahar to rest and restock before tackling Level two.

Azaghal-Kain Fighter/Mage - Currently 7/8
Azabeth-Kain Fighter/Thief - Currently 7/8

Nice job cbarchuk on finishing up The Severed Hand.
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Post edited October 23, 2011 by Lou
Finished up Dragon's Eye - Caverns of Talona (Level Two) - The level went fairly smooth using similar tactics as before. I was able to use stealth and sneak in behind the Talona Priest and one shot backstab him for quadruple damage (see attached) Had a close call finishing off the battle that ensued - but I did live through it (see attached). I freed Mother Egenia and the Kuldahar Villagers. I now have a place to rest and heal if needed as I finish off the other levels of Dragon's Eye. Heading back to Kuldahar to check on Conlan and Sheemish - also to rest and restock before tackling Level three.

Azaghal-Kain Fighter/Mage - Currently 8/9
Azabeth-Kain Fighter/Thief - Currently 8/9
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fight.jpg (81 Kb)
Post edited October 23, 2011 by Lou