Ironman: Icewind Dale

[Tigranes]

The fight goes relatively well. The mage went down quickly, but I forgot that only magical weapons can damage the imbued wights: most of my loot was unidentified, due to a low-level numbers (low lore). I equipped some anyway, hoping I didn't miss any cursed, and eventually got them down.

 

The rest of the level is cleared without trouble, and we are now ready for the final level of the tomb... still without ammo, but at least we've got quite a few levels between us now. Monty is a fiersome tank sporting over fourty-something HP, and I rested readying some new spells for our casters. The 3rd level is horrible because there are so many of the undead, and it's really hard to make sure you don't attract more while fighting. I stuck Wals on permanent Turn Undead duty, which mostly involves him making faces at them. Here we have numbers using geometry to his advantage with Aganazzar's Scorcher. Knowledge is power kids.

 

The side areas are trouble, as well. Purkake remains true to his adventuring roots by proceeding to miss a mummy.

 

Then we come to the final fight in the tomb, against several powerful spectral knights, and yet another mage. I rushed in without scouting (again) and had to run back out - we managed to lure some spectral knights away and not the mage, but a well aimed lightning bolt claims our good friend numbers.

 

We get back in there - this time I cast 2 Silences, one from a scroll, but the mage makes the save. Monty decides to take one for the team and rush in, with his superior HP - but he's charmed. To the right you see the rest of the party running away like hell... you'd expect the skellies to take the chance to molest poor Monty and turn his brain into mush, but I guess a friend is a friend, even a temporary one.

 

As charm wears off we rush back in, and just manage to carry the day. Purkake redeems himself (again) with a nice little stab into the undead vitals.

 

Of course, in doing so, he entered the LOS of the final spectral knight - and just before that one falls, it takes out mkreku with a big swing.

 

Thiefless and Swedeless, our battered Obsidianites finally make it to an audience with the haunted storyteller. He does some boo-boos about how his punishment of eternal condemnation has been disturbed by Aurilites. Seriously, you're stuck forever in icewind dale, and you're bothered about the cold? If that's a good plot mechanism I'm looking for my dad, middle aged guy.

 

In any case, we ain't tackling any ice queen till we got some booze in the system. The resurrection fees have jumped with the levels, but I suppose our recently deceased can join us, too.

 

We finish the day with a lot of shopping and resting and identifying. Purk picks up a nice ring which adds to his stealth and gives non-detection, increasing his recon capabilities. The yeti armour is a disappointment in terms of AC and surely not worth the 2.5k - after a lengthy debate the party votes to present it to Purkake, arguing that yeti fur is an essential part of stealth in the Dale.

 

To finish off here are the combat stats so far:

• Monte Carlo: 157 kills (39%), strongest: Mummy
  
• Volourn: 107 kills (26%), strongest: Imbued Wight. Favourite spell: Lay on Hands.
  
• Mkreku: 74 kills (18%), strongest: Ghast.
  
• Walsingham: 23 kills (5%), strongest: Yeti.
  
• Purkake: 31 kills (7%), strongest: Spectral Guard.
  
• Numbers: 7 kills (1%), strongest: Carrion Crawler.
  

[Monte Carlo]

Mwuahahahaha. I am the most tunnel-fightiest tunnel fighter evar.

[Tigranes]

Gentlemen, I am sorely disappointed. An LP monkey lives on the scraps of attention thrown his way by kindly onlookers. Nevertheless, we continue. Let's get to p5 for next one, or it'll really stretch the page.

 

All replenished and finally with ammo, we make it back to the Vale for the Aurilite. We positioned for a classic Purkstab opening, but due to a classic 4 in attack roll it doesn't go as planned, and not even numbers' magic missile can disrupt her. So we turn to...

 

Walsingham's latest spell slot, but perhaps Smite Evil is not the best of choices for this particular party. (Wait, so what are Yetis, True Neutral?)

 

Then it's all the freaking way back to Kresselack, only to hear he doesn't know crap. If this were a real hardcore RPG like Mass Effect we'd have a renegade option to grab this bastard by the balls and shake him down for credits, but here we're forced to leave him alone. Bah.

 

There's nothing like being paid for a botched job... paid in XP, that is.

 

We are next pointed to some decrepit temple or other, to recover the Heartstone Gem. It strikes me that if they know who took it, and where it's been taken, and how powerful and important it is, they might have made an effort to get it back BEFORE the fate of the world depends on it. You know, proactive resource management and all that.

 

To be fair, the place is full of Verbeeg(?)s. I don't remember them being so difficult but they really pack a punch.

 

This one was difficult, the sounds of combat drew enemies from other side of the level and in the end we have to resort to some careful kiting to keep everyone alive.

 

We are more careful with the next group, Purk doing the recon job...

 

Then opening with a Stinking Cloud (finally), which knocks out the acolytes and a verbeeg. We finally have the spells and abilities that allow for extremely complex, intellectually demanding strategies such as these.

 

Sadly, we are screwed by the DM again, and the dungeon is empty - we've played for hours and we haven't seen a single Macguffin. At least Monty is happy.

[Tigranes]

This Arundel fellow, he really knows a lot of places. I guess he looks them up and puts together a little pamphlet for us while we're gone.

 

The lizardfolk are fairly powerful, but with a more powerful party it's actually fairly routine: numbers can now cast 3rd-level spells and Haste is really a game winner in AD&D.

 

We line up another intricate, old-fashioned strategy against the lizard with the Big Phallic Object (BPO) & friends:

 

Fearless Purkake strides in and lobs a flaming oil...

 

And gulps our only invisibility potion just as the angry horny lizards converge...

 

And boom, with an oil of fiery burning. Purkake even managed to get out of the way, as a bonus.

 

It's still a difficult fight, though. I thought I'd quickly knock down the wounded lizards and ignore the king till last, but he deals a ton of damage and we were forced to run around aimlessly. Mkreku is caught in the narrow corridor and cops it, while only the roll of the dice keep Volourn and Wals from joining the freight train to hell.

 

Finally, everything dies except us, just the way we like it.

 

Since there's a lot of Dragon's Eye to go, we nip back to town for a resurrect and then rescue the villagers for some nice XP boost. I think that's something like 3 deaths for mkreku, or 2, and nobody else? That's what you get for being a fightermage I guess.

[Oner]

Go Obsidianites, go!

[Pidesco]

I'm enjoying this in a lurky fashion.

[WorstUsernameEver]

I'm enjoying this in a lurky fashion.

 

Me too. Don't get depressed Tigranes, go on! GO ON!

[Gorth]

Wait, so what are Yetis, True Neutral?

Hungry?

 

And gulps our only invisibility potion just as the angry horny lizards converge...

I guess he just saved his butt there...

[Flouride]

Mkreku sure likes dying, but that's no surprise.... weakling swedes. That party clearly needs a Finn to make it more awesome, I mean Finland is the greatest country in the world (ty Newsweek).

[Rosbjerg]

awesome idea Tigs..

 

Flouride: Finns would've handled these situations barehanded and without deaths. too easy..

[mkreku]

I'm beginning to think Tigranes created this thread just to watch virtual me die.. over and over again.

[Nepenthe]

Wait, so what are Yetis, True Neutral?

Hungry?

 

 

Mmh, unintelligent creatures default to true neutral. So, yeah.

 

Lurky enjoyment here, too.

[Hassat Hunter]

Another lurker enjoying the deaths of Mkrek... eh, the LP...

[Nightshape]

I'm beginning to think Tigranes created this thread just to watch virtual me die.. over and over again.

 

Its why I'm following it

[Monte Carlo]

My character is nails. Take off his armour Tigs, just do it, he's so Tunnel-Fightier it won't make any difference.

 

And arm him with a club. A non-magical one.

 

Mwuahahahahahaaaa.

[Nepenthe]

My character is nails. Take off his armour Tigs, just do it, he's so Tunnel-Fightier it won't make any difference.

 

And arm him with a club. A non-magical one.

 

Mwuahahahahahaaaa.

 

No naked Monte Carlos, please. Some of us plan on eating before we die.

[Slowtrain]

Tig, this is a fab LP thread. EVen if I don't post, I'm reading. I know it's hard to keep going (my last LP Jag 2 thread petered out after a bit) but you're doing great.

 

You're almost inspiring me to start an XCOM LP, but eh, the key word is almost.

 

ANyway, this is great. Keep going!

[HoonDing]

I'm looking forward to Yxunomei chunking mkreku.

[Nightshape]

I'm certainly inspired to give this a shot myself, could be fun.

 

So, if tig don't mind, I think I might.

 

Infact, I will go so far as to let the obsidianites choose. I was thinking IWD 2 or ToEE?

 

Edit: I'm also willing to old school, something like Wizardry or the M&M's.

Edited August 23, 2010 by Nightshape

[Oner]

I vote ToEE, mainly because I haven't played it.

[Monte Carlo]

IWD2, honestly, just to keep the theme going and for the returning frost dart lulz.

[Oner]

BTW Tigranes, what screencap program are you using?

[WorstUsernameEver]

Looks like FRAPS to me.

[Oner]

Thanks.

[mr insomniac]

The adventurers may not be, but I'm looking forward to the Severed Hand. That in particular felt like one long tough fight for every bit of progress.