left1000: Yeah, I cast animate dead three times, the dead don't die, but the alchemist just kills someone anyways. No communal, because no mercs.
InEffect: Any cleric at level5 can cast it. If you have animate dead you have communal resistance. And if not you are better off delaying the fight till you do.
Oh I thought you meant community, yeah I've got communal fire resistance, I just stupidly thought animate dead was better than it! I should replay rerest and try that strategy. I did single target fire resistance the unit that intentionally tries to tank the alchemist, but somehow he lives so long he always slays someone else (who would probably live if they had fire resistance also).
left1000: The battle seems very winnable, someone always dies while I'm winning, again, because the alchemist is attacking someone who's already unconscious instead of one of say a dozen skeletons.
InEffect: Use control spells. The rats have pretty abysmal will saves so even linzy can CC them with hideous laughter. Or use hold person with a cleric. Generally even level 2 resistance or a potion is good enough if you send this person to keep alchemist occupied.
I've managed to glitterdust all the rats, but it only lasts 2or3 rounds before the blindness wears off. Although blind isn't as good as hold. The grease on the alchemist gets him down about 30% of the time (with shaken bonus, from manual demoralizing, which I assume is helping, but maybe it's not?)
left1000: I could try a dozen more times, OR I could load the save from one of the battles I won and use up my signed raise dead scroll, which while it's only worth 500gold, it would cost 6000 gold to replace apparently.
InEffect: Save-scumming your way to victory teaches nothing. Use consumables smarter. The game literally bombards you with resistance potions. That's one occasion in the game they are actually useful.
I left most of them at oleg's to save weight because this is the leg of my journey where I explore all the far away places. I should maybe just come back, if time permits, as I'll have more potions then.
left1000: edit: Oh also, I'm doing ratnook before stag lord, because I'm trying to get the duelist's blade. I'm not confident I'll have time to come back to ratnook on a 7th trip out from oleg's. Although I am only 15 days in atm.
InEffect: Don't. Finish literally everything in A1 before ratnook. It's the hardest encounter around by a large margin.
left1000: I could try a dozen more times, OR I could load the save from one of the battles I won and use up my signed raise dead scroll, which while it's only worth 500gold, it would cost 6000 gold to replace apparently.
InEffect: Save-scumming your way to victory teaches nothing. Use consumables smarter. The game literally bombards you with resistance potions. That's one occasion in the game they are actually useful. Best approach the game like a puzzle. If something doesn't work - try other things instead of bashing your head against the wall. Sure the wall might give in time, but there might be sledgehammer laying about for your convenience.
left1000: edit: Oh also, I'm doing ratnook before stag lord, because I'm trying to get the duelist's blade. I'm not confident I'll have time to come back to ratnook on a 7th trip out from oleg's. Although I am only 15 days in atm.
InEffect: Don't. Finish literally everything in A1 before ratnook. It's the hardest encounter around by a large margin.
tl;dr Trying ratnook on my 5th trip out from oleg's with 15 days left to get the 30 day achievement with a party of 4 and not even all my consumables with me, because I needed more weight allowance for camping supplies, was a mistake. (I guess I thought I could get away with all these horrible mistakes because I'm on hard, and I really want that 30 day achievement). I guess after stag lord, I can come back to ratnook, either before handing in the end of chapter 1 or after. Either way.
Of course, knowing what I know about this fight now, I could easily prepare better next time. It's just when going for that 30 day achievement, there really aren't that many "next times". I think though given that I can consistently beat this fight (with a death), coming back later more well prepared will be easier and the right move.
