The warrior challenge.
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His Mighty Tentacle
Member # 627
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written Saturday, May 12 2007 05:31
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After having played through the game a couple of times now, and having a bit of extra time, I have decided to take up a challenge. I am going to run a warrior through. He will be pro-shaper. He will never use canisters. Unfortunately, he will be forced to use the geneforge... Which is why he will be anti canister and pro-shaper. I have not decided if he will betray the shapers in the end for another sect. :cool: He will play with honour, roleplayed as a sort of knight errant. Battle magic will be disdained. Icy crystals, spray crystals, wands, everything like that, full of bad juju. Swords and batons will be his main weapons, typically swords. Shaping will be allowed, although he will never add to his own shaping skills. Blessing magic will be limited, achieved though items, to allow him to give 'commands' to his army. Captain's Shiv and other items will be hoarded to this end. I will be full clearing as much as possible. While I intend to have high mechanics and leadership, and I might work around some nasty areas, I will go back and clear that area of rogues eventually. Everything must be slain with thorns and steel. One on one brutal toe to toe combat. With no battle magic or canned battle magic. And this will be on torment. Healing magic will be completely unrestricted. A good leader and a wise knight is well versed in medicine and anatomy... And I fully intend to care for my charges with the best care available. While I plan to be pro-shaper, any creation in my care will not die from neglect or poor treatment on the battlefield. I plan to experiment with vampiric items, and the first ethereal bindings I get will go in to the oozing sword. Oh, and that is the last finishing twist. Every named sword in the game, from the Stunning Blade to Tek's Spectral Dirk, every special unique sword that I find will be hoarded, not sold. And at first chance, will be escorted to an anvil, where I will place an enchantment of my choosing in to the blade, and then that blade will be used in a duel with a worthy foe... Hopefully a tough somewhat unique creation or enemy. For example, the maddened dryak in the early part of the game could be killed with the Stunning Blade after I find something to upgrade it with. Then there is Krazo. There is no shortage of worthy foes to test my mettle against. -------------------- If I could make just one wish, I would want a tasty vlish. Geneforge IV. Still no tasty vlish. Posts: 1104 | Registered: Tuesday, February 12 2002 08:00 |
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Councilor
Member # 6600
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written Saturday, May 12 2007 07:45
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Hooray! Dikiyoba will watch this thread with great interest. Posts: 4346 | Registered: Friday, December 23 2005 08:00 |
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Warrior
Member # 7638
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written Saturday, May 12 2007 08:14
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Do items that add to shaping count? Otherwise no wingbolts or drakons And it's on torment, right? [ Saturday, May 12, 2007 08:18: Message edited by: Leftover Sauerkraut ] -------------------- "640K ought to be enough for anybody." -- Bill Gates, 1981 The wheel is turning but the hamster is dead. Posts: 152 | Registered: Monday, November 6 2006 08:00 |
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His Mighty Tentacle
Member # 627
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written Saturday, May 12 2007 08:16
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First order of business was to get Mechanics up to 12, and also crank leadership. A couple of odd spare points were placed in melee skills. Javelins have been my friend so far. With no icy crystals, I needed a hard hitting ranged weapon for some targets, and I don't yet have a venom baton. I learned right off the bat that three fyoras will kill me. Three worms can finish me off. I hit very hard in melee already with a bronze sword, but I am not quite one shot killing my targets... So far, I spend a lot of time trying to run away and pelting things with javelins and thorns, and finishing off weakened foes with running melee jabs. Keeper Tycho under most circumstances is pretty easy, just whittle him down with icy crystals. I didn't have that option. Shortly after finishing off those two first areas, I had 12 mechanics and I went and retrieved the girdle to boost my int. Had just enough to make a cryoa, which I named Coldclaw. Coldclaw does more damage than I do... Which means that when he blasts something with icy breath, the enemy focuses on him, not me. It has been tricky keeping Coldclaw alive. I tend to run around in combat mode, using my self as bait, tagging something with a thorn, running away around a corner, and leading that something back to my chilly little friend. The Thahds around Keeper Tycho were very nearly the death of me. I went down to 1 hit point from that battle, and parried a blow that would have killed me. Not having daze is proving to be very challenging. Yes, I will use items that boost shaping... I will not spend precious skill points though. Pretty much everything will go in to melee skills and physical stats. [ Saturday, May 12, 2007 08:18: Message edited by: Delicious Vlish ] -------------------- If I could make just one wish, I would want a tasty vlish. Geneforge IV. Still no tasty vlish. Posts: 1104 | Registered: Tuesday, February 12 2002 08:00 |
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Law Bringer
Member # 6785
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written Saturday, May 12 2007 11:16
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I would have held off on mechanics of 12 until after the Cairns gate. Since you are so high in mechanics I assumed that you hit the Boiling Mudpits for the easy experience. High mechanics really hurts in the early part of the game except for the extra experience and being able to save living tools. It will be interesting to see how you do in Sandros Mines. Daze is really useful in the early game to keep from getting swarmed. It's harder to edge up and just get one at a time from most of those groups. Posts: 4643 | Registered: Friday, February 10 2006 08:00 |
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His Mighty Tentacle
Member # 627
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written Saturday, May 12 2007 14:22
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The Mudpits are next on my list of things to do. I needed a cryoa ASAP. Rather than waste points in int, I dropped those points in to mechanics. I don't plan to add anything to int... Just items. Having my little blue buddy so far has been the key to actually winning most battles. My fyoras proved to be, well, worthless. Everything kept killing them in one hit. I'd make one, it'd be around level 5ish I think, and then a worm, or a thahd, or something would hit it, and it would die. The loss of firepower and a meat shield was usually enough to tip the battle away from my favour, forcing me to beat a hasty retreat. Coldclaw can take two or three hits before he will die. He connects more with his targets than the previous fyoras did, making his damage more consistant. I lost my first fyora while in the tutorial section actually... The rogue fyora you meet in there did him in, along with one of those worms. Not only does the belt allow me to make a cryoa, I also have enough essence left over to cast minor heal a couple of times, which has been a life saver. I have carefully traveled all the way to the shaper camp, where I got a much needed necklace to keep me from getting stunned so easily. I already have around 30 living tools... The high mechanics means everything I touch either opens straight away or opens with a single tool. I need to carefully work my way up to the point where I can augment my self and increase my hit points. Once I get there, I should be a bit more sturdy. Once I get a venom baton, I should be able to do more hit and run tactics. Poison would also be helpful against creature regen... Some times monsters heal more in a round than the damage I inflict. Which is... Annoying. The venom baton will allow me to run and gun, and once I can do that, I know I will be ok. Not having daze is really weird. I have grown so dependant on it. If this were a melee servile, this would have been a cakewalk thus far. But the challenge is fun. -------------------- If I could make just one wish, I would want a tasty vlish. Geneforge IV. Still no tasty vlish. Posts: 1104 | Registered: Tuesday, February 12 2002 08:00 |
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Warrior
Member # 7638
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written Saturday, May 12 2007 16:42
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Tell me if I'm wrong, but in the Sandros mine, instead of talking to the shade that makes everyone hostile, can't you skip the dialog option and attack the shade directly? I did this on my second time through and no other shades turned hostile. -------------------- "640K ought to be enough for anybody." -- Bill Gates, 1981 The wheel is turning but the hamster is dead. Posts: 152 | Registered: Monday, November 6 2006 08:00 |
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His Mighty Tentacle
Member # 627
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written Saturday, May 12 2007 16:59
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With enough leadership you can make the shade leave you alone. I just finished the boiling mudpits, which along with everything else I have done, places me at level 10. Leadership is 7, mechanics is 12. I had to add a point to strength, as my armor was starting to slow me down, which meant certain death. Still have not reached the venom baton. Stun resist is over 60 now with the necklace from the shaper camp. The point placed in strength means I can now chunk most things in one hit with my sword. Turrets are a PAIN with out icy crystals. Coldclaw is supremely valuable for ranged attacks. Javelins must have a decent multiplier, because damage is ramping up nicely so far. That roamer in the boiling mudpits very nearly took me out. I have completely forgot how damaging and dangerous stuff really is. Not having daze is forcing me to reconsider how I play the game. I am most definately mortal, and it sort of feels good to be playing as such. -------------------- If I could make just one wish, I would want a tasty vlish. Geneforge IV. Still no tasty vlish. Posts: 1104 | Registered: Tuesday, February 12 2002 08:00 |
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His Mighty Tentacle
Member # 627
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written Saturday, May 12 2007 19:14
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I have discovered an interesting use for the stunning blade. It is useful for missile users. I have found that I can run up to a hard hitter, like one of those battle alphas on the bridge, stab it, and run away, all the while shooting when I get to my last action point. The alpha on the other hand, has had some action points leached away by the stunning blade, keeping it just out of reach. This also worked wonders on the shaper patrol in Spirefield. Getting the fyora fang charm was nightmarish... I don't remember it ever being that hard. One of those fire puffs hit me for about 40 to 50 damage. Ouch! Coldclaw is turning out to be an amazing asset. I think I might actually do some upgrading and keep him for a very long time. I'll have no way of getting a cryodryak, and I have found cold damage to be very consistant through out the whole game, especially against wingbolts and end game enemies. I have a venom baton now. Which rocks. When teamed with the action point leaching of the stunning blade, I can wear down almost anything in relative safety, provided that something does not have a ranged attack. And then I am up chocolate creek with out a popcicle stick. I bought two points of spellcraft. Hey, it'll help my healing skills. -------------------- If I could make just one wish, I would want a tasty vlish. Geneforge IV. Still no tasty vlish. Posts: 1104 | Registered: Tuesday, February 12 2002 08:00 |
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Raven v. Writing Desk
Member # 261
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written Saturday, May 12 2007 19:27
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Yeah, Cryoa are the new Vlish, in some ways anyway. -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central Posts: 3560 | Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00 |
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Law Bringer
Member # 6785
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written Saturday, May 12 2007 20:10
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Cryoa even work with undead if you don't mind that they have to bite them. You really need to raise endurance as soon as you can. I found that you can wander through the dumping pit's poisonous atmosphere and shrug off the damage except for that box in the corner. Posts: 4643 | Registered: Friday, February 10 2006 08:00 |
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Infiltrator
Member # 2245
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written Sunday, May 13 2007 04:42
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DV: quote:In the Windows version, you can't move once you have attacked... -------------------- VIVE LA TAKERS! VIVE LA REBELLION! VIVE LA GHALDRING! Posts: 522 | Registered: Friday, November 15 2002 08:00 |
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...b10010b...
Member # 869
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written Sunday, May 13 2007 05:10
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Can't do it in the Mac version either, unless there's a conveniently-placed pot or other searchable object available. Of course, due to the changes to the AP system, running away to avoid being attacked is less effective than in previous GF games anyway. -------------------- The Empire Always Loses: This Time For Sure! Posts: 9973 | Registered: Saturday, March 30 2002 08:00 |
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His Mighty Tentacle
Member # 627
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written Sunday, May 13 2007 05:32
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My apologies... To make it clear, since nobody has figured it out yet, and the fact that I only have 8 ap because there is no speed spell, is that I attack and run away the next round. The next couple of rounds are spent running willy nilly. The poison pit was nasty. The thahds nearly did me in. I woke up all three at once by accident. The artillas were exceptionally unfriendly and very nearly killed Coldclaw. The thorn bushes were bad. I'd run forward to stab one, only to have others join in and shoot me. I didn't want to waste precious venom thorns shooting those topiaries of torment. Shalia was taken care of and reunited with Greenfang. The roamer and artilla ambush at the docks was very nearly fatal with out daze. I have a couple of shaped lances I am saving. I think I'll wind up using those on a certain dryak when the time comes. I think I will have enough essence soon to make a vlish, once I gain the ability. Coldclaw has been upgraded a bit, and is doing about 60 to 80 damage a shot with icy breath, a bit more if blessed. Endurance has been raised, and so has dexterity. This improved my missile damage will give me an edge in combat. I am all done raising leadership and mechanics, so from here on out I am free to do anything with my stats. Just need to escort the caravan to their doom. -------------------- If I could make just one wish, I would want a tasty vlish. Geneforge IV. Still no tasty vlish. Posts: 1104 | Registered: Tuesday, February 12 2002 08:00 |
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His Mighty Tentacle
Member # 627
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written Sunday, May 13 2007 10:30
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Update. I have access to an anvil. A very long and ugly fight. I endured. Shades had a hard time hitting me actually. Was wearing a steel breastplate I stole. Coldclaw was joined by a Vlish named Vlindaloo. Vlindaloo has been a huge boon and has pulled both my warrior and my cryoa out of a few tough spots. I launched an absolutely brutal assault on the circle of the dryak. I wanted the charm to boost healing skills. And I wanted all of the loot too. I have found that the thirsting blade with an enchantment that makes it drip acid is actually a pretty good weapon. I was getting back upwards of 20 life on a really good hit, but only 5 to 10 on a really poor hit. Double strikes would noticeably move my hit point bar. Between the vampiric touch and me constantly casting regeneration on my self, I'd survive prolonged combat with many powerful enemies. Serviles with batons do a lot more damage than I remember... Usually they just stand there motionless waiting for me to kill them. Not the case here. Upgraded the stunning blade with cold essence. Against some foes, the cold essence can do upwards of 50 damage, which is actually pretty good. Have the Lodestone greaves... Which has made a big impact on how much damage I do. I can now chunk many foes on first contact, provided that I get a second swing from quick action. Battle with the swamp bandits was an ugly afair. Jadetree provided a blistering offense which caused me to retreat a bit and catch my breath. But yeah. I chunked them. Vlindaloo really saved our bacon. I have never really noticed the vlish cursing ability before to be honest. I knew they did it, but never really noticed the effect because stuff was motionless or died fast. Once Vlindaloo blasts something, that something has a really hard time connecting a hit. Monsters drop down in to the 20 to 30 percent hit range after a vlish bolt. Also, my hits connect more frequently. Cursed stuff takes more damage. All in all, a good effect. Need to go after the heart of the kiln and then get my hands on an acid baton, both of which are going to be rough. Yes, I plan to kill everything on my way to getting the gemstone. No daze, and all those vlish... Oooh. Ugh. -------------------- If I could make just one wish, I would want a tasty vlish. Geneforge IV. Still no tasty vlish. Posts: 1104 | Registered: Tuesday, February 12 2002 08:00 |
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Raven v. Writing Desk
Member # 261
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written Sunday, May 13 2007 11:09
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20-30% hit after a curse? What difficulty level is this? -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central Posts: 3560 | Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00 |
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His Mighty Tentacle
Member # 627
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written Sunday, May 13 2007 11:29
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Torment. A the curse cuts their chance to hit in half or so. It should be noted I am wearing a LOT of armor. Shaped gloves, breastplate, stuff like that, and that I tend to run around with protection cast. Edit. I should also mention that I have some blessing stones stuffed in my armor and my shield. With protection cast, most things have about a 50/50 chance to hit me. A little more, a little less, depending on what is attacking. I am nearly level 25 now. Another edit. Ilya West Road area. The massive thahd had a 52% chance to hit me with just protection cast. No vlish bolt. One of the clawbug patrols had a displayed 28% chance to hit with protection cast after a vlish bolt. The displayed numbers could in fact, be wrong. Patrol thahds hit so hard... Dang. [ Sunday, May 13, 2007 11:53: Message edited by: Delicious Vlish ] -------------------- If I could make just one wish, I would want a tasty vlish. Geneforge IV. Still no tasty vlish. Posts: 1104 | Registered: Tuesday, February 12 2002 08:00 |
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His Mighty Tentacle
Member # 627
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written Sunday, May 13 2007 13:02
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I like to call this picture "Fools Rush In."  Because that is what happened here. After a couple of failures and reloads trying to lure out a few at a time, I just went all out and went in swinging. I used some shielding pods, some speed pods, and cast blessing. What you don't see in the picture are vlish. I killed those with javelins and thorns, and icy breath from Coldclaw. There are bloodstains everywhere. Many foes had already fallen. You can see that I am at half health... I had just healed a little bit from stabbing something the previous round. And you can see, I am heavily armored and well protected once Vlindaloo curses something. Try as I might, I couldn't chunk anything down here in one hit. Nope. There was much hacking and slashing, as well as wailing and gnashing of teeth. I almost died the round or two after this shot was taken. Stunning blade is still incredibly useful for many encounters. Captain's Shiv is nice for when I need to give orders, and the assorted missiles in my belt come in handy. Game is getting impossibly hard in some spots though. -------------------- If I could make just one wish, I would want a tasty vlish. Geneforge IV. Still no tasty vlish. Posts: 1104 | Registered: Tuesday, February 12 2002 08:00 |
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Law Bringer
Member # 6785
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written Sunday, May 13 2007 13:24
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You went in through the kiln side!!! No wonder you had trouble after facing the hell hounds and then the vlish. It's marginally easier from the entrance side. Maybe you should try the Electrified Fields for some easy experience. I'm surprised that you are lasting this long without crystals. You have all those roamer packs to fight in Rocky Point that are going to be a problem. Posts: 4643 | Registered: Friday, February 10 2006 08:00 |
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His Mighty Tentacle
Member # 627
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written Sunday, May 13 2007 13:33
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I already did the electrified field. Oh. And for the record, I don't recommend anybody try this whole anti magic slay everything with steel and thorns type hero. And yes, I came in from the kiln side. The reason being... Most of the vlish are in a neat little cluster in the center of the room. Come in fast and hard enough, and you can take them out with out to much fuss... Sort of sneaking up behind them. Most of the other creations are way on the other side of the room, sort of leaving the vlish unprotected. It takes a round or two before everything swarms you. Rocky Point roamers... Ugh. I really don't have a plan for those just yet. I don't have any multi target attacks. I'll figure something out. Might even post a picture. I am also worried about the shaper attack. I think I am in for a rough time. Heck, the fyora guarding the workshop darn near killed me. Edit. You can see the vlish corpses in that picture... They are the blobs of goo between the cart and the stone spire. Really, they are easier to ambush this way, as they are totally unprotected, pretty much all of the melee critters are at the other end of the room, typically where most people enter. All I can say is, try it your self. [ Sunday, May 13, 2007 13:36: Message edited by: Delicious Vlish ] -------------------- If I could make just one wish, I would want a tasty vlish. Geneforge IV. Still no tasty vlish. Posts: 1104 | Registered: Tuesday, February 12 2002 08:00 |
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Infiltrator
Member # 2245
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written Sunday, May 13 2007 19:35
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DV: quote:That doesn't even make sense in theory. Logic tells me that the Stun effect would wear off pretty quickly, and then your foe would chase you down and whip your thorn baton toting ass. Perhaps you could post a video on Youtube showing your 'Stun Blade + Missile' tactic in action? quote:I'd say that winning that fight would be nigh on impossible. Probably as difficult as using a Wizardslayer to escape Irenicus's chateau (BG2) with the Tactics mod installed. quote:Yeah, I always disagreed with the mainstream assessment that the Vlish was merely 'a former shadow' of its cousins from the previous Geneforges. It's still the most powerful, and useful, second tier creation. The curse ability is darn useful. I've noticed a damage increase of approximately 15-20 when my Vlishy attacks a second time. It also approximately halves the chance of the enemy to hit. Added to which, Vlish seem to be very good at dodging. For example, my Vlish had a 50%-75% chance to dodge non-cursed clawbug attacks. Add to that the innate physical resist, and you have a winner. I still am making Vlish at the very end of the game. [ Sunday, May 13, 2007 19:46: Message edited by: Suspicious Vlish ] -------------------- VIVE LA TAKERS! VIVE LA REBELLION! VIVE LA GHALDRING! Posts: 522 | Registered: Friday, November 15 2002 08:00 |
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Law Bringer
Member # 6785
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written Sunday, May 13 2007 20:39
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This might work at Rocky Point. Stay near the entrance and wait for the roving roamer patrol to go past. I forget if there are three or four of those that split into worms. Go for the last one each time as they circle so you don't have to deal with the rest. On speed spores you should be able to kill half of them before the worms get to move. Hopefully you don't have to fight the lashing roamers at the same time. The rescue of the Rebels isn't too bad if you don't mind losing some experience losing some Rebels. Speed spores and let them help even up the odd. Posts: 4643 | Registered: Friday, February 10 2006 08:00 |
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His Mighty Tentacle
Member # 627
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written Sunday, May 13 2007 20:45
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The stunning blade lasts for several rounds, and drains action points. I can tell when it is wearing off by how close something gets to me before it stops. Starting off, it has about half of its normal movement, and that increases slightly each round. It works better than one might think, especially if you have venom thorns. Or acid thorns, as I now have an acid baton. I survived Rocky Point. How did I do it? First, I visited the anvil and popped a skull in to my Captian's Shiv. Then I went to Rocky Point and very quickly before the roamer pack got wind of me, cast augmentation on my self and my pets. Before I could cast bless and protection, here come the wormy roamers. Speed spores, shielding spores, cast bless. The shiv makes a noticeable difference in my creations and how often stuff hits them. Never had a chance to notice before. Soon, the screen is filled with worms, roamers, and more roamers, as some of the other roamers from around the corner guarding the nest decided to come out and play. I kept protection and bless up, and tried to keep speed going. And I was chunkin'. I'd blast stuff with a venom baton, switch back to the shiv, and then stab whatever was in melee range with my second attack. Vlindaloo was kicking roamer behind. Blasting, cursing, fiesty tentacle slaps of pain, he was doing better in the thick of combat than Coldclaw was. And then, somehow, it was over. Every roamer, every worm, all dead. I went over and claimed my hard won acid baton from the off the path grove. Then I dealt with the shaper attack on the rebels. There was much chunking. Cursing power from sword and vlish was an unstoppable combo... The mage got both acid and venom thorns right in the kisser for nearly killing Coldclaw with magic. I also almost lost Vlindaloo to the clawbugs, who just wouldn't leave the poor vlish alone. Both Coldclaw and Vlindaloo ran out of energy in the battle... Which caused some awkward moments let me tell you. I bought the venom chainmail and other goods from the merchant. And now, a picture.  WHAT A FIGHT!!! As you can see, he's cursed. Heavily so. Vlish bolts and the power of the skull embedded in the shiv. He's having a hard time connecting as you can see. He went from auto-connect to swiping at air. As you can see I have barely made a dent in his hit points, and he kept regenerating more hit points in a round than the damage done to him. I had to keep him cursed, and then try to pop off a shot of acid or venom to stop his regen. I got Krazo down to a 10% chance to hit eventually. It took a while, but I laid him low. As long as I kept him cursed, and kept reapplying the curse to keep him severely cursed, he was manageable. I spent a long long time hacking at the vlish in the ruins... Needless to say, I haven't won. Yet. But I will. Somehow. I have ideas. None of which will probably work. I think I need another Vlish. -------------------- If I could make just one wish, I would want a tasty vlish. Geneforge IV. Still no tasty vlish. Posts: 1104 | Registered: Tuesday, February 12 2002 08:00 |
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Infiltrator
Member # 2245
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written Sunday, May 13 2007 20:59
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DV: quote:*shrugs* Post a video on youtube, and I'll believe you. Try using this: http://www.fraps.com/ quote:How many times did you have to reload? quote:Why?! The 10 damage reflection just isn't worth it, IMHO. quote:That's one point on which we agreed. Augmenting a weapon with the Ivory Skull for a melee character. -------------------- VIVE LA TAKERS! VIVE LA REBELLION! VIVE LA GHALDRING! Posts: 522 | Registered: Friday, November 15 2002 08:00 |
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Councilor
Member # 6600
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written Sunday, May 13 2007 21:01
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Hmm. After reading this, I think I'll experiment with the stunning blade some more. I've never had a chance to use it for very long before switching over to the steel broadsword. Dikiyoba. Posts: 4346 | Registered: Friday, December 23 2005 08:00 |