+++++ Two Handed Swords (Grand Mastery) ++ Two Handed Weapon Style
Guts get 3 Attacks per round with his +2 Two-Handed Sword.
As a back-up he carries a +2 Staff to do blunt damage with. (There are some fights where you need blunt damage...Grand Mastery in Staves would have been easier.)
I didn't use ranged at all during this solo play through but the Fire Protection Ring which has some fire damage spells came in handy fighting slimes and trolls. And during the Ettin / Fire Elemental fight.
I chose to give him the Green Ioun Stone so even though he'd be vulnerable to Crits his THAC0 at level 10 dropped to 1! (-1 with Enrage!) Also the +2 Cloak of Protection stacks with the +1 Full Plate Mail for whatever reason...so he got those...the Death Ward, Ring of Free action for some fights, Boots of Speed (Paws of the Cheetah), the gauntlets of weapon skill and the belt of inertial barrier for basic resistance to magic....I would use the magic helm with bonus to saving throws until the belt and the green stone became available for purchase.
Potions of Speed prior to boots of speed was key...as were Potions of Magic Blocking at the endgame, Pots of Fire protection, Antidotes...tons of healing pots...and pots of immolation (for fire damage against trolls and fission slimes)
During the Spider fight and the Thief trap fight I swapped to the ring of free action.
During the final fight you have to kill everything, you will not be able to take Baeloth down without facing his cronies, the Beholder AND the clay Golems...so take potions of mirror eyes and greater healing in abundance. I had to swap to the staff to win, but pots of magic blocking kept my fat out of the fire with his chromatic spray and magic missiles and my enrage ability kept me from being lost to a confusion spell (which Baeloth casts ALL THE DAMN TIME!)
@Debaser - once you get the Enhanced Cloak of Protection +2, try using it's built-in improved haste instead of speed boots/pots. It should double your attacks instead of just +1.
I did a very similar run yesterday with a Cavalier, and abusing the Enhanced Cloak of Protection +2 combined with the Ring of Protection +2 (they stack) gave great AC and saves.
Had no idea what I was getting into, so I took a risk and went with a smaller party:
Onessa, TN human sorceress Jade, LN half-elf fighter/mage, dual wielding katanas Merrin, TN elf swashbuckler, mostly stayed with a bow Shaw, LE human vanilla fighter, bastard sword/shield
I'm not in the least bit a power gamer, so this was pretty much a crapshoot, and I definitely made some terrible decisions in character building. Figured I'd be crippling myself without a healer, too, but went for it anyway, and I was glad to find out that you auto-heal between rounds.
I'd say the challenge level with this party was pretty much perfect -- lots of close finishes but still able to get through consistently and win (most of) the fights on the first shot.
The final battle was incredibly fun -- ended up with Baeloth and my sorcerer in a Domination-duel over the duergar while the fighters took on whatever else popped up. Once the beholder showed up, chaos ensued -- the swashbuckler got petrified, the sorcerer got cut up by some critter or another, the fighter/mage got outgunned by Baeloth. The surviving fighter looted the Enhanced Cloak of Protection (a life saver, as @Corvino mentioned) off his companion's corpse, hasted, and finished things off from there.
Since he was the only evil one in the party, it seemed only fitting that he then grab the rest of his dead friends' loot and leave them to rot. Looks like I'll be doing a solo run if there's a follow-up DLC...
Sooo... this is my first post on this forum. As well as my first forum-post in a long, long time. Heh. Anyway, I felt the urge to show off my party:
Nymerei du Ignathos, LG human female inquisitor Old One Eye, CE half-orc male berserker Harodrim Murkwood, NG elf archer Gerron Grimforge, LN dwarf male fighter/cleric Momoko, CN human female wild mage Valarian the Despoiled, NE half-elf sorcerer
I actually haven't rolled their stats yet... But here are their bios:
Nymerei du Ignathos
When asked about her past, Nymerei aloofly reveals that she comes from city of Neverwinter. She was but a child when her parents were killed. im her grief she sought comfort in faith and soon her skill and devotion brought her to the attention of the famous paladin Lady Aribeth de Tylmarande. Now Nymerei, like her close friend and mentor Lady Aribeth, is a champion of Tyr herself. She is uncertain as to how she came to the Black Pits.
Old One Eye
When asked about his past, Old One Eye snorts and reveals that he hails from the Spine of the World. He was banished from his tribe due to his overwhelming greed and lust for bloodshed. During his long exile he has served as a skilled, albeit unpredictable and expensive, mercenary. You quickly realize that while he is not very intelligent, Old One Eye’s near-animalistic instincts and sheer martial prowess should not be underestimated. For your own safety, that is. He has no clue how he came to the Black Pits.
Harodrim Blackwood
When asked about his past, Harodrim reveals that he is originally from the city of Silverymoon. In the surrounding wilderness he was taught the ways of the forest – as well as the bow and arrow – by his father, Seherim. Harodrim claims to have wandered for many a year and that he has been witness to many wonderful and terrible things. He then playfully states that this is not his first adventure nor will it be his last. How he came to the Black Pits however he does not know.
Gerron Grimforge
When asked about his past, Gerron surly states that he is a warrior-priest of Berronar Truesilver and that he belongs to the dwarven clan Grimforge. He goes on to say that he was just about to marry the love of his life, the fair maiden Midnarra, before finding himself down here. While he is too stubborn to admit it, he seems to worry a great deal about his “foolish” clan members and darling wife-to-be. Nevertheless, he seems to have no idea how he came to the Black Pits.
Miyuki
When asked about her past, Miyuki reveals that she hails from the mysterious Kara-Tur in the east. She is the youngest daughter of the kensei Hiro, who was greatly ashamed to learn of Miyuki's lack of mastery over the arcane. The otherwise so jovial girl turns wistful as she continues. Apparently she left her home behind in order to travel the world and learn how to master not only her art but also herself. She has no idea how she came to the Black Pits.
Varandis the Despoiled
When asked about his past, Varandis theatrically reveals that he hails from the High Forest. He was taken away from his family at a young age by the satyr Andoran, who had fallen in love with the child. As Varandis grew older, Andoran did unspeakable things to him but also taught him, in a manner if speaking, how he could wield the arcane magic bound to his will. He ultimately “repaid” the satyr by destroying him utterly, leaving nothing behind but ashes. Now Varandis claims to enjoy nothing more than to destroy all things beautiful... especially with fire. How he came to the Black Pits however he does not know.
I apologize beforehand for any spelling mistakes: English ain't my first language. ^^ Now how do I post their portraits? I can't seem to remember.
Edit: Just checking if I can get the pictures to show properly... Edit2: Aaannnddd I can't. What a shock. Oh well. ^^
Comments
Guts - Level 10 Human Berserker
+++++ Two Handed Swords (Grand Mastery)
++ Two Handed Weapon Style
Guts get 3 Attacks per round with his +2 Two-Handed Sword.
As a back-up he carries a +2 Staff to do blunt damage with. (There are some fights where you need blunt damage...Grand Mastery in Staves would have been easier.)
I didn't use ranged at all during this solo play through but the Fire Protection Ring which has some fire damage spells came in handy fighting slimes and trolls. And during the Ettin / Fire Elemental fight.
I chose to give him the Green Ioun Stone so even though he'd be vulnerable to Crits his THAC0 at level 10 dropped to 1! (-1 with Enrage!) Also the +2 Cloak of Protection stacks with the +1 Full Plate Mail for whatever reason...so he got those...the Death Ward, Ring of Free action for some fights, Boots of Speed (Paws of the Cheetah), the gauntlets of weapon skill and the belt of inertial barrier for basic resistance to magic....I would use the magic helm with bonus to saving throws until the belt and the green stone became available for purchase.
Potions of Speed prior to boots of speed was key...as were Potions of Magic Blocking at the endgame, Pots of Fire protection, Antidotes...tons of healing pots...and pots of immolation (for fire damage against trolls and fission slimes)
During the Spider fight and the Thief trap fight I swapped to the ring of free action.
During the final fight you have to kill everything, you will not be able to take Baeloth down without facing his cronies, the Beholder AND the clay Golems...so take potions of mirror eyes and greater healing in abundance. I had to swap to the staff to win, but pots of magic blocking kept my fat out of the fire with his chromatic spray and magic missiles and my enrage ability kept me from being lost to a confusion spell (which Baeloth casts ALL THE DAMN TIME!)
I did a very similar run yesterday with a Cavalier, and abusing the Enhanced Cloak of Protection +2 combined with the Ring of Protection +2 (they stack) gave great AC and saves.
Onessa, TN human sorceress
Jade, LN half-elf fighter/mage, dual wielding katanas
Merrin, TN elf swashbuckler, mostly stayed with a bow
Shaw, LE human vanilla fighter, bastard sword/shield
I'm not in the least bit a power gamer, so this was pretty much a crapshoot, and I definitely made some terrible decisions in character building. Figured I'd be crippling myself without a healer, too, but went for it anyway, and I was glad to find out that you auto-heal between rounds.
I'd say the challenge level with this party was pretty much perfect -- lots of close finishes but still able to get through consistently and win (most of) the fights on the first shot.
The final battle was incredibly fun -- ended up with Baeloth and my sorcerer in a Domination-duel over the duergar while the fighters took on whatever else popped up. Once the beholder showed up, chaos ensued -- the swashbuckler got petrified, the sorcerer got cut up by some critter or another, the fighter/mage got outgunned by Baeloth. The surviving fighter looted the Enhanced Cloak of Protection (a life saver, as @Corvino mentioned) off his companion's corpse, hasted, and finished things off from there.
Since he was the only evil one in the party, it seemed only fitting that he then grab the rest of his dead friends' loot and leave them to rot. Looks like I'll be doing a solo run if there's a follow-up DLC...
Nymerei du Ignathos, LG human female inquisitor
Old One Eye, CE half-orc male berserker
Harodrim Murkwood, NG elf archer
Gerron Grimforge, LN dwarf male fighter/cleric
Momoko, CN human female wild mage
Valarian the Despoiled, NE half-elf sorcerer
I actually haven't rolled their stats yet... But here are their bios:
Nymerei du Ignathos
Old One Eye
Harodrim Blackwood
Gerron Grimforge
Miyuki
Varandis the Despoiled
I apologize beforehand for any spelling mistakes: English ain't my first language. ^^ Now how do I post their portraits? I can't seem to remember.
Edit: Just checking if I can get the pictures to show properly...
Edit2: Aaannnddd I can't. What a shock. Oh well. ^^