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Black Pits - Hogarl - Help!

SolarisSolaris Member Posts: 3
in Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition
I'm doing the Black Pits solo as a Half-Orc Fighter, and am stuck at Hogarl. So far, I've tediously been running circles around him and his gang while hasted, shooting arrows of ice at him. But every once in a while the room shakes somehow, and I randomly become unconscious, which equals dead as they pounce on me. The chat box doesn't indicate what exactly happens when the room shakes (no text before saying I'm unconscious - is this a bug?), so I don't know how to prepare for or avoid it. Anyone have any insight on this, killing Hogarl, and his gang of elementals?

Thanks - S

Comments

  • bleusteelbleusteel Member Posts: 523
    I believe the screen shake is indicating that he has some sort of earthquake ability. I think it's a save vs death to avoid unconsciousness. Items or potions that increase your saves will help.

    Potions or rings of fire resistance are also very useful.
  • ArtonaArtona Member Posts: 1,077
    I managed to kill him pretty easily with Polymorph Other. But maybe I was just lucky, because on that run I managed to hold Baeloth with my first spell. Poor guy couldn't even summon beholder...
  • iNtuiNtu Member Posts: 37
    edited June 2016
    I think I had around ~120 fire res, so fire healed me actually, and I just cut him in half with my hasted two-handed sword :p (went for him straight away)
  • Wise_GrimwaldWise_Grimwald Member Posts: 3,885
    Solaris wrote: »
    I'm doing the Black Pits solo as a Half-Orc Fighter, and am stuck at Hogarl. So far, I've tediously been running circles around him and his gang while hasted, shooting arrows of ice at him. But every once in a while the room shakes somehow, and I randomly become unconscious, which equals dead as they pounce on me. The chat box doesn't indicate what exactly happens when the room shakes (no text before saying I'm unconscious - is this a bug?), so I don't know how to prepare for or avoid it. Anyone have any insight on this, killing Hogarl, and his gang of elementals?

    Thanks - S

    Arrows of ice are ineffectual against the fire elementals. :/
  • Wise_GrimwaldWise_Grimwald Member Posts: 3,885
    Artona wrote: »
    I managed to kill him pretty easily with Polymorph Other. But maybe I was just lucky, because on that run I managed to hold Baeloth with my first spell. Poor guy couldn't even summon beholder...

    Polymorph Other didn't work against Hogarl when I used it. I'm wondering if lower MR, Breach and the like would have helped. I DID defeat them, but only just, and don't think that my tactics were the best.

    Roll on the final battle, but as I've used up all of my potions etc on this one, I'll have to return to the ice salamanders several times to gain gold.
  • jmerryjmerry Member Posts: 4,188
    No, Hogarl does not have any magic resistances or defenses you can take down. Lower Resistance and Breach have no use in this fight. If you want that Polymorph Other spell to have a better chance, try Doom and Greater Malison.

    The fire elementals are basically the same as the 12-HD ones you can summon. Simple melee attackers with 1 APR, pretty bulky, immune to weapons below +2.

    Stats for Hogarl:
    Level 20 fighter, 257 HP. AC -2 (with full plate). Effective THAC0 -8. Damage 2d12+12 slashing and 1d12 fire. 3.5 APR.
    Saves 0 vs death/wand/spell, 4 vs petrification/polymorph, always fail vs breath.
    Immune to fire, sleep, crits. No other immunities or resistances. Is a Giant Humanoid. Regenerates 2 HP/round.

    One use of berserker Enrage, which he uses at 60% health.
    Five uses of an unnamed quake spell, which shakes the screen and knocks people unconscious (8 sec) on a failed save vs death at -2. Usable every four rounds until he runs out.
    Two extra healing potions and two fire breath potions, but his script is bugged so he doesn't use the healing.

    About that breath save weakness? Here's a list of everything you might have access to that can exploit it:
    - Druid spell "Summon Insects". (Always hits)
    - Druid spell "Insect Swarm". (Always panics for the first round)
    - Ammo "Bolt of Lightning". (Always deals the full lightning damage if it hits)
    - Mustard jelly attack. (Always slows him if it hits)

    Not the most impressive list, but there's some value there.
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