Hey,

so I have my party around lvl12 (not too hard with repetetive grinds through set encounters in the catacombs) and like 80k gold, mostly mithril items. But: I can't beat the dragon statue in front of Harkyn's yet.

I havn't actually "finished" either sewers or catacombs. As far as I know, the sewers contain nothing of interest, even though the "official solution from Interplay" claims that there is "one item of importance for later in the game" in the lowest level.

Same page also claims, that there's a similarly important item in the bottom catacombs, but I can't find a trace of that anywhere.

So, all in all, I'm not sure what do to other than grind my way to spell level 7 on my casters in the catacombs...

Any pointers?

The castle is, indeed, the next place you need to go.

What's the problem you're having with the dragon? If you're having trouble hitting, try playing The Seeker's Ballad. If you keep being torched by the dragon breath, try Lucklaran (assuming it works in the version you're playing; it doesn't work in the DOS version). If you are playing the remaster, you only need to kill that dragon once (it should stay dead); in the Apple 2GS version, I believe it remains dead until you reboot the game (so you can use save states to avoid rebooting).

The Catacombs does, indeed, have an item you need to go to the dungeon following the castle (you need it at the end of the castle); only after you complete *that* dungeon is it actually necessary to explore the bottom of the Sewers (the thing you need there is not an item).

Also, once you reach spell level 7, your Conjurer will learn Apport Arcane (very handy), and your Magician will learn Restoration (no more need to cast dozens of healing spells to remain at full health).

The Fire Horn is as strong as the Repel Dead spell.

The combination of Dragon Breath and Shock Sphere, I believe, is also just as strong.

(Also, how do you know the player's party consists of guys? I hear the remaster lets you create female characters.)

"Guys" was meant in the generic sense, so allow me to rephrase that - "If you are still having issues, get through some more of the grindy fights in the Catacombs to level your characters up."

You're right that the remaster allows male and female characters. I've got several female characters in my party this time around. My main party has a female Paladin, Bard and one of the Archmages. My second-string has a female Monk and Warrior.

Thanks for the answers, people.

So, my problems with the dragon seem to be borne largely of bad luck. I tried him for like 5 or so times back around levels 9 / 10 and each time he appeared at 20' and used his breath weapon to kill most of my party in turn 1. I just tried him again and same thing, wiped my casters out before they even got to doing anything (at 20', so nothing my melees could do). I reloaded and this time around the dragon appeared at melee range AND only swiped at my bard (no kill) so it was clean killin' after that.

So, I can now do Harkyn's, and that's great :)

As for party, I'm playing with a male bard and an otherwise all-female party. I started out with Monk, Paladin, Hunter, Magician and Conjurer. A few levels in I droped the Huntress for a Rogue to disarm traps. Around lvl 10 I droped the Rogue (TRZP is not THAT expensive, and really, having to hide before criting isn't that useful) for another Magician. My initial casters have just switched classes, so I now have a Magician / Conjurer, a Conjurer / Sorcerer and my younger Magician.

Off to storm the castle!