Dwarven Defender VS Drizzt, straight up melee. After action report.
valamyr
Member Posts: 130
When I noticed how strong Dwarven Defenders are on paper, it made me ponder whether they could do what I have never done before in BG1; kill Dritz DoUrden without cheesing, pet swarming nor kiting him around. Just kill him in a straight up fight. After all he's immune to magic and has so much HP and such a strong melee offense that this seemed like the biggest challenge I could think of in BG1.
I rolled a dwarven defender with top physical stats and planned ahead who I would recruit for this task. Evil NPCs tend to be a little better, and it seemed more thematically appropriate, so I chose to go Evil with Dorn, DPS with 2her. Kagain, DPS/offtank, axes. Viconia, to spam heals all fight long. Edwin as the haste-bot and improved invis for more AC. These two seemed neccessary but in retrospect Eldoth with scrolls would have done a better job, being able to sing during the fight at least. Then I hesitated between Shar-teel as extra dps or a 2nd healer; Dorn solved the dilemna by swiftly cleaving her in half in Cloakwood, so I got the Shadow druid instead. Good decision for Viconia alone would have had no chance to keep me alive even butt-chugging healing potions plus regeneration.
I leveled the merry bunch as I played through the game rampaging across the sword coast, collecting the best gear and the stat tomes. My Dwarf got to 20 Con after getting the 'Tome of +HP' (CON), resulting in a base HP of 119 at level 7 (further increased by my sole potion of power and Aid spell). Collected all the best potions. I didnt want to wait till I finished all the TOTSC content though, otherwise whats the point of getting his scimitars and chainmail? Around the 90K xp mark in Chapter 6 I decided we were ready to kill a us a goodie-two-shoes drow.
I overbuffed the team as much as spells and potions could allow. Then I realized I had handpicked my team members for silly reasons. Dorn's nice 19 STR didn't seem to matter all that much after he was done drinking his potion of storm giant strength and his potion of heroism
I carefully set up the group in potions that ensured the drow would focus on my dwarf, fired up Defensive stance and started the fight. Despite my carefully min-maxed AC he was hitting me pretty often and the healers chained heals non-stop. My team was mostly missing but now and then we got in a solid hit. Dorn got lucky a few times and landed solid blows.
Drizzt was packing a much bigger punch but he lacked constant healing and support magic. Slowly we began to hurt him, but the fight was taking far longer than anticipated. Oops. Turns out Potions of Power, which I relied on for 20% more HP, only last 40 rounds and though Drizzt was now 'Near death', I was almost out of means of healing and my hardy dwarven defender, after losing this bonus I went to nearly-dead, triggering a morale check that I probably rolled a natural 1 on, and the hardy tank started running around like a little chicken. Couldnt drink healing potions in that state so I assumed the battle was lost. But then I remembered I had a thick stack of Remove Fear scrolls, and fortunately in the nick of time Kagain got the final hit on Drizzt. Rejoice! BUTT KICKING FOR EVIL!
Happy to have confirmed my suspicion that Dwarven Defenders can literally tank anything, I reached to grab my super mithril chainmail and my super -2AC +5 scimitar, well earned rewards! ... Only to notice the armor only had the same AC as full plate, and is even worse after the class modifiers and there's no thief or ranger around who could put it to use. Okay, that's fine. The scimitar will still be a great upgrade. Wait. Can only be used by good hearted characters? ... Ooopsies.
TLDR: Meticulously plan a game around beating Drizzt in Bg1 without cheesy tactics. Narrowly succeeded; dwarven defenders are OP. Forgot evil characters cant use his stuff.
I rolled a dwarven defender with top physical stats and planned ahead who I would recruit for this task. Evil NPCs tend to be a little better, and it seemed more thematically appropriate, so I chose to go Evil with Dorn, DPS with 2her. Kagain, DPS/offtank, axes. Viconia, to spam heals all fight long. Edwin as the haste-bot and improved invis for more AC. These two seemed neccessary but in retrospect Eldoth with scrolls would have done a better job, being able to sing during the fight at least. Then I hesitated between Shar-teel as extra dps or a 2nd healer; Dorn solved the dilemna by swiftly cleaving her in half in Cloakwood, so I got the Shadow druid instead. Good decision for Viconia alone would have had no chance to keep me alive even butt-chugging healing potions plus regeneration.
I leveled the merry bunch as I played through the game rampaging across the sword coast, collecting the best gear and the stat tomes. My Dwarf got to 20 Con after getting the 'Tome of +HP' (CON), resulting in a base HP of 119 at level 7 (further increased by my sole potion of power and Aid spell). Collected all the best potions. I didnt want to wait till I finished all the TOTSC content though, otherwise whats the point of getting his scimitars and chainmail? Around the 90K xp mark in Chapter 6 I decided we were ready to kill a us a goodie-two-shoes drow.
I overbuffed the team as much as spells and potions could allow. Then I realized I had handpicked my team members for silly reasons. Dorn's nice 19 STR didn't seem to matter all that much after he was done drinking his potion of storm giant strength and his potion of heroism
I carefully set up the group in potions that ensured the drow would focus on my dwarf, fired up Defensive stance and started the fight. Despite my carefully min-maxed AC he was hitting me pretty often and the healers chained heals non-stop. My team was mostly missing but now and then we got in a solid hit. Dorn got lucky a few times and landed solid blows. Drizzt was packing a much bigger punch but he lacked constant healing and support magic. Slowly we began to hurt him, but the fight was taking far longer than anticipated. Oops. Turns out Potions of Power, which I relied on for 20% more HP, only last 40 rounds and though Drizzt was now 'Near death', I was almost out of means of healing and my hardy dwarven defender, after losing this bonus I went to nearly-dead, triggering a morale check that I probably rolled a natural 1 on, and the hardy tank started running around like a little chicken. Couldnt drink healing potions in that state so I assumed the battle was lost. But then I remembered I had a thick stack of Remove Fear scrolls, and fortunately in the nick of time Kagain got the final hit on Drizzt. Rejoice! BUTT KICKING FOR EVIL!
Happy to have confirmed my suspicion that Dwarven Defenders can literally tank anything, I reached to grab my super mithril chainmail and my super -2AC +5 scimitar, well earned rewards! ... Only to notice the armor only had the same AC as full plate, and is even worse after the class modifiers and there's no thief or ranger around who could put it to use. Okay, that's fine. The scimitar will still be a great upgrade. Wait. Can only be used by good hearted characters? ... Ooopsies.
TLDR: Meticulously plan a game around beating Drizzt in Bg1 without cheesy tactics. Narrowly succeeded; dwarven defenders are OP. Forgot evil characters cant use his stuff.
25
Comments
I mean, keep up trying and getting hit, nevertheless slowly winning. Leave all those "Mirror Image+Blur+Haste+Stoneskin+FireShield(Red)+FireShield(Blue)=Drizzt is gone in 20 seconds" things to elven and half-elven wizards.
You're a dwarf, and this is your way!
Potion of giant strength with Bhaalspawn draw upon holy might. Potion of speed. Get the best gear in the game (ie: golden armor from Durlag's tower, cloak and helm of balduran, etc)
Walk up, attack and defensive stance. Easy solo.
Am I the only one who doesn't murder him?
Note: The rings and helm give 100% fire resistance. Not so great against Drizzt, but it lets you drop fire filled explosions at your feet without fear. Throw in potions and you end up with a str25 dwarven powerhouse who is immune to magic and all but immune to hand-to-hand attacks. It is easier to solo with a dwarven defender than it is to have a party! Well..in BG1 at least.
Why is your Max HP so low at level 8 (for a DD)?
Anyone killed Drizzt in SCS mod before?
NOTE: 7 normal thief traps usually kills him quick and easy. lol
Also, I always wondered why +4 mithril doesn't allow arcane spell casting ability? I mean it's obviously lighter and more manageable then non-magical elven chain, so... I case could be made for game balance but IT'S CHEESE IT'S THERE TO ENTICE RPers TO MESS WITH THE GAME BALANCE! lol Besides you can't even stack ring/cloak/amulets of protection with it.
I agree that his mithril chain should be wearable by spellcasters without distrupting magic. But eh.
Even if I had no use for the loot after all, it was enjoyable enough.
I think your AC would be better with non-magical full plate and ring of prot +2.
Should sell Elfs Bane and wear Golden Girdle instead (but still keep destroyer of hills).
Can't quite see but looks like you're wearing a helmet that doesn't grant +1 AC?
A second ring that you could wear is the Claw of Kazgaroth for another -1 AC though it costs you a few HP, I'd be interested to see your saves with it equipped though.
With Scimitar proficiency and good alignment you could have -2 AC from Drizzts Scim.
Finally, max AC from Dexterity comes at a score of 24 which you can get with a potion of mind focusing for a total of -6 AC over what you currently have. Even Sarevok won't hit you then (especially with the +3 from Golden Girdle and whatever extra from Full Plate).