Playing a 20th level conjurer, I'm being gored by the minotaurs in the 2nd level of the dungeon in High Garendall. Am I nuts to even consider going this far before gaining more levels? Or am I not figuring out the correct combinations of spells, armor, and weapons??

char stats, in case it makes a difference:
str 19, dex 20, vit 26, spd 13, mks 13, luck 18 (which should I increase next?)
have croyam's crown, elven robe of protection, quicksilver ring, conjurer staff, boots of lightning
life=165, armor=92

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Yelled at the almost-dead monsters:
Hey! Come back here with my experience points!

Quote

Originally posted by Axe:
**Playing a 20th level conjurer, I'm being gored by the minotaurs in the 2nd level of the dungeon in High Garendall. Am I nuts to even consider going this far before gaining more levels? Or am I not figuring out the correct combinations of spells, armor, and weapons??

char stats, in case it makes a difference:
str 19, dex 20, vit 26, spd 13, mks 13, luck 18 (which should I increase next?)
have croyam's crown, elven robe of protection, quicksilver ring, conjurer staff, boots of lightning
life=165, armor=92
**

Hi Axe, you would do best to get your strength up at this pount. The conjurer's staff has a damage value of 15 - 30, your character has a natural damage value of 1 -3 added to that, and you have 4 points more for being over 15 strength. All of that adds up to a damage range of 20 - 37 with each successful blow. Minotaurs are hardy beasts with an HP of 135. It's taking you 4 - 7 solid hits to kill each one and in the meantime they are dealing out more damage than most of the creatures you've met so far. If you increased your strength by 8, it would take only 3 - 5 hits per beast to do them in.

There are, however, some other ways to emerge victorious. Use your conjurer's talents to slow them down and they become easier to hit. Or go in with a stock of health potions (the 80 pt. variety) and gulp one every time your health drops to about 85.

A combination of the above makes you a sure winner. As a side note, do not bother with increasing your marksmanship because that effects ranged weapons (i.e. bows) which the conjurer cannot use.

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My Doctor said I was having too much wine, women, and song - so I gave up singing because 2 out of 3 is not so bad.
The (url="http://"http://www.evula.org/rduck/")Kingdom of Garendall(/url) sectional map is easily printed from gif format pages.
Find those areas you missed the first time around. You'll want to explore those hidden areas now made accessible with Spells Expander.

Thanks. I finally got past enough of them to get the object by hitting them with a couple of enfeeble spells each. That slowed them down enough that they weren't hitting me nearly as often as I was swinging at them.

This approach required lots of mana potions as well as lots of health potions... when I got down to about 50 points, I'd gulp a filter and let the excess points absorb a couple more blows, if I was facing a still-healthy minotaur. Otherwise, I'd use the potions.

I did have one very close call -- I was down to one hit point (!) when I went up to 21st level.

The other thing I suggest for this character class before advancing to minotaurs is taking the time to go through that cave in the north wall of the map -- the one north and west of the Wyrm Valley. Also hit the cave at the northern end of the cyclops range -- the one north of the tunnel entrance and near the ocean. You can't use one of the two major goodies you can get, but sell it off in the right place and you have enough cash for several strength elixir. Even some of the "minor" goodies will give you enough cash for an elixir. I did that and boosted my stats to the following:
str 27, dex 26, vit 26, spd 13, mks 13, luck 26
It makes a huge difference -- I can now sometimes kill a cyclops before it hits me. 'Course, if it does connect, it still hurts pretty badly.

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Yelled at the almost-dead monsters:
Hey! Come back here with my experience points!

(This message has been edited by Axe (edited 03-05-2003).)

Quote

Originally posted by Axe:
Thanks. I finally got past enough of them to get the object by hitting them with a couple of enfeeble spells each. That slowed them down enough that they weren't hitting me nearly as often as I was swinging at them.

Congratulations, Axe, you're getting the hang of it.

Quote

Originally posted by Axe:
I did have one very close call -- I was down to one hit point (!) when I went up to 21st level.

And we call this fun! Not good for a weak heart.

Quote

Originally posted by Axe:
**... I suggest ..snip.... I did that and boosted my stats to the following:
str 27, dex 26, vit 26, spd 13, mks 13, luck 26. It makes a huge difference -- **

Your suggestions are all good ones, and your stats look a lot better now. And for your next question, Sea Giants can deal somewhere around 250 damage points in one blow, so if you want those pelts hanging from your belt, start building up the strength AND the life points. A higher vitality rating will increase life points, but only takes effect when leveling up.

I'm glad you got the Tome of Elixirs for Orobas. He'll next ask you to get him some magical herbs. When you find them, don't go rushing back to him right away. Do a little research on the boards here and in Stark Bledfast's Walkthrough and Compendium for "awakening the Spirit of Nature." There's a nice little Easter egg to be found if you have the magical herbs in hand. ~RD

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My Doctor said I was having too much wine, women, and song - so I gave up singing because 2 out of 3 is not so bad.
The (url="http://"http://www.evula.org/rduck/")Kingdom of Garendall(/url) sectional map is easily printed from gif format pages.
Find those areas you missed the first time around. You'll want to explore those hidden areas now made accessible with Spells Expander.

At ~250 points per blow, I'm not gonna try the sea giants again any time soon. I went from completely healthy to dead when I stepped onto the wrong map board and right into the face of a giant.

Next trip: another run up to High Garendall.

At this point, I think I have all the equipment goodies I want... so everything gets sold to the highest bidder and funds get put towards elixirs.

I've done the exercise regime at the Pink Termite and woken the spirit of nature... anything else I can do to get more stamina points besides go up levels? A few hundred thousand xps to go up a level is gonna get old...

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Yelled at the almost-dead monsters:
Hey! Come back here with my experience points!

Quote

Originally posted by Axe:
I've done the exercise regime at the Pink Termite and woken the spirit of nature... anything else I can do to get more stamina points besides go up levels? A few hundred thousand xps to go up a level is gonna get old...

Head back to Reefs Island and run around there for a bit. The liliths aren't terribly hard, they give a good amount of XP, and an excellent quality treasure that you can take and sell and purchase potions with.

Reefs Island I've dubbed the training grounds.

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Quote

Originally posted by Axe:
.... I went from completely healthy to dead when I stepped onto the wrong map board and right into the face of a giant.

Hehe, I had exactly the same experience the very first time I met one. It happened so fast I didn't know what hit me.

Quote

Originally posted by Axe:
....anything else I can do to get more stamina points besides go up levels? A few hundred thousand xps to go up a level is gonna get old...

I see from your equipment that you are using Spells Expander. You undoubtedly have one spell already which will get you in and out of Sea Giant country unscathed, and there is another to be had by solving SE's final puzzle. This will also yield a most awesome piece of equipment in addition to the killer spell. Sea Giants give you 2000 XP each time they fall, but more importantly drop goodies which can boost all stats (except speed). Certain items which the jolly green giants drop can be sold in the right places for 30000 gold each, which helps buy more of Kalixa's precious fluids.

Getting up to level 25 or 26 will get your life points to a comfortable point, and with strength of under 400 you can knock the big guys down in five hits. That's actually not as hard as it sounds. Good luck. ~RD

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My Doctor said I was having too much wine, women, and song - so I gave up singing because 2 out of 3 is not so bad.
The (url="http://"http://www.evula.org/rduck/")Kingdom of Garendall(/url) sectional map is easily printed from gif format pages.
Find those areas you missed the first time around. You'll want to explore those hidden areas now made accessible with Spells Expander.

Quote

Originally posted by Rubber Ducky:
there is another to be had by solving SE's final puzzle. This will also yield a most awesome piece of equipment in addition to the killer spell.

Uh... :confusion: ..."final puzzle"?? I have never seen any text in the SE quest book...not even when I figured there should have been text there. I have both of the fifth level spells, but none of the sixth level spells.

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Yelled at the almost-dead monsters:
Hey! Come back here with my experience points!

Quote

Originally posted by Axe:
Uh... ..."final puzzle"?? I have never seen any text in the SE quest book...not even when I figured there should have been text there. I have both of the fifth level spells, but none of the sixth level spells.

There are two 6th level spells. One involves using the conjurers native talent, i.e. the art of deception, to take on another quest which has as its possible payoff a very valuable tome. The other spell is eluded to in the mage tower rumors. It can only be cast once and speaks of dire consequences if cast. However, it can lead to a most awesome piece of equipment.

To say any more than that on this web board is to incur the wrath of those who would keep some aspects of the game out of the realm of mere gimmies. When Stark Bledfast feels it is time to release the information, it will possibly appear in the Walkthrough & Compendium. If I have totally annoyed you with this cryptic response, I am willing to send a hint by e-mail. Please put "PoG spells hint" in the subject line to avoid getting trashed with the spam. E-mail link is above. ~RD

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My Doctor said I was having too much wine, women, and song - so I gave up singing because 2 out of 3 is not so bad.
The (url="http://"http://www.evula.org/rduck/")Kingdom of Garendall(/url) sectional map is easily printed from gif format pages.
Find those areas you missed the first time around. You'll want to explore those hidden areas now made accessible with Spells Expander.

I might take you up on that. I remember seeing the fabled tome mentioned... right after I was LMAO over the first rumor (nice touch, Stark). Right now I'm running around the plains with a plugin-free character... see the other thread for details.

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Yelled at the almost-dead monsters:
Hey! Come back here with my experience points!

Quote

Originally posted by Rubber Ducky:
**Sea Giants give you 2000 XP each time they fall, but more importantly drop goodies which can boost all stats (except speed). Certain items which the jolly green giants drop can be sold in the right places for 30000 gold each, which helps buy more of Kalixa's precious fluids.
**

Okay, I am majorly bummed. I killed TWO of the blasted things, and neither of them dropped ANYTHING except gold. Total of 192 gold for both of them.

Took me two or three fire web spells on each one, strengthen, a few firey arrow spells... twelve or sixteen mana potions, a couple of filters of healing, several potions of healing... and str 41, dex 36, vit 29....

EDIT: Level 22, thanks to Training Camp Island.

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Yelled at the almost-dead monsters:
Hey! Come back here with my experience points!

(This message has been edited by Axe (edited 03-07-2003).)

Quote

Originally posted by Axe:
Okay, I am majorly bummed. I killed TWO of the blasted things, and neither of them dropped ANYTHING except gold. Total of 192 gold for both of them.
~snip~

Hey, it can happen. Try your Wizard of War spell and consider an increase to your luck at some point in the near future. But look at the bright side. You have the taste of their blood and are no longer afraid of them. ~RD

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My Doctor said I was having too much wine, women, and song - so I gave up singing because 2 out of 3 is not so bad.
The (url="http://"http://www.evula.org/rduck/")Kingdom of Garendall(/url) sectional map is easily printed from gif format pages.
Find those areas you missed the first time around. You'll want to explore those hidden areas now made accessible with Spells Expander.

Quote

Originally posted by Axe:
right after I was LMAO over the first rumor (nice touch, Stark).

Which rumor was that? They load randomly so "the first rumor" doesn't help me much...

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RD: What wizard of war spell? Don't have it yet (22nd level). Luck is at 29.
Stark: The credits... that's one of the more creative/amusing ways I've seen of doing them.

Analysis of training options: the dark spirits are easier to kill than lilliths, since they don't hit for as much damage -- but their drops are not as good as the lilliths. The lilliths are fairly easy to kill, but when they hit they can do a lot of damage -- but their drops are better than the dark spirits. Minotaurs are now three-hit kills, but, except for in High Garendall, tend to be accompanied by giants. Death knights are the favorite -- quite easy to kill, semi-decent drops, more xps than any of the above... almost as much as giants, which are FAR more difficult to kill. I did manage to kill one without getting hit, which is the only way to do it -- one hit and I go from healthy to dead. :frown:

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Yelled at the almost-dead monsters:
Hey! Come back here with my experience points!

Quote

Originally posted by Axe:
RD: What wizard of war spell? Don't have it yet (22nd level).

Aahh! It sounds like you have not yet met Bernard. One of those mage tower rumors aludes to a retired researcher who is living near a water wheel in Fantrima. You need to see that rumor first, then go to Fantrima and talk to those who might know him. Bernard lives on an island and likes his privacy. Someone knows how to get you to see him. But he's a grumpy old man (like me ) and since you came uninvited, he'll kick you off his property. Now your task is to find someone who might put in a good word for you with Bernard. Does anyone who might know him owe you a favor? I've probably gone on long enough here, grab the baton and run with it. ~RD

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My Doctor said I was having too much wine, women, and song - so I gave up singing because 2 out of 3 is not so bad.
The (url="http://"http://www.evula.org/rduck/")Kingdom of Garendall(/url) sectional map is easily printed from gif format pages.
Find those areas you missed the first time around. You'll want to explore those hidden areas now made accessible with Spells Expander.

Thanks, that was enough of a hint once I let my subconscious work on it. I'd actually been back in search of favor repayment before but didn't get the info needed. And I did get some very amusing screen shots trying to get to Bernard (via blink, since I don't have the spell that would make it easy).

And the WoW spell lasts a decently long time. Schweet.

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Yelled at the almost-dead monsters:
Hey! Come back here with my experience points!

But there is something better than WoW...

(Official hint: go somewhwere you would not normally be allowed. A Conjurers art is deception, use it).

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CI-I@()s
(url="http://"http://www.evula.org/world-of-cha0s/")The Homepage of Cha0s(/url)

Quote

Originally posted by CI-Ia0s:
But there is something better than WoW...

CHa0s, read the whole thread. We've been there already. ~RD

Quote

Originally posted by Axe:
... trying to get to Bernard (via blink, since I don't have the spell that would make it easy).

It's a long shot, and might cause a crash or two (but you know about those already) but Blink might work to get that spell which you don't have. If you'd done it the other way it would be easier. (Ah, blessed hindsight.) The reason I say a crash is that underground map dimensions are usually smaller in number than outdoor maps and the co-ordinates picked at random by blink could send you off the map which PoG can't handle.

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My Doctor said I was having too much wine, women, and song - so I gave up singing because 2 out of 3 is not so bad.
The (url="http://"http://www.evula.org/rduck/")Kingdom of Garendall(/url) sectional map is easily printed from gif format pages.
Find those areas you missed the first time around. You'll want to explore those hidden areas now made accessible with Spells Expander.

(This message has been edited by Rubber Ducky (edited 03-07-2003).)

Quote

Originally posted by Rubber Ducky:
**It's a long shot, and might cause a crash or two (but you know about those already) but Blink might work to get that spell which you don't have. If you'd done it the other way it would be easier. (Ah, blessed hindsight.) The reason I say a crash is that underground map dimensions are usually smaller in number than outdoor maps and the co-ordinates picked at random by blink could send you off the map which PoG can't handle.

**

A. I think he means in the Fantrima. B. I did it. C. It took forever

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CI-I@()s
(url="http://"http://www.evula.org/world-of-cha0s/")The Homepage of Cha0s(/url)

Quote

Originally posted by CI-Ia0s:
**A. I think he means in the Fantrima. B. I did it. C. It took forever:)
**

Hi Cha0s. A.) I know she was blinking in Fantrima to get to Bernard, but she has Portal rather than Relocate and at this point, Blink is the only tool option available without starting a new game. B.) I've done it, too to see if it was possible. C.) I said it was a long shot.

If she had chosen Relocate way back when, the procurement of Portal would be a lot easier. But she's a nice lady, and stealing the second tome may be ethically abhorent anyway (but I doubt it.) Her game has come a long way since the start of this thread, and all that is happening here is picking up some pieces that were missed along the way. You might try to read between the lines here to get a sense of where we are and where we're headed. This lady has a lot more women's intuition than you will ever possess. ~RD

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My Doctor said I was having too much wine, women, and song - so I gave up singing because 2 out of 3 is not so bad.
The (url="http://"http://www.evula.org/rduck/")Kingdom of Garendall(/url) sectional map is easily printed from gif format pages.
Find those areas you missed the first time around. You'll want to explore those hidden areas now made accessible with Spells Expander.