Final battle with Sarevok

[DavidW]

What do people think about the various traps (web, stinking cloud etc.) and Battle Horrors dotted around the final battle? They're leftovers from vanilla BG1 and I'm wondering about removing them - are they an interesting extra detail or just a nuisance?

[Salk]

Personal opinion: just a nuisance.

[Lemernis]

I'd remove them and place the emphasis on scripting Sarevok, Angelo, Tazok, and Semaj to be really difficult to defeat.

 

If these were a custom evil party you made, how would you use them against the standard 'enemy' party of say, Fighter (Abdel Adrian), Jaheira, Khalid, Minsc, Dynaheir, and Imoen? (The assumed party for BG2).

[Freedan the Eternal]

I would definitely like for them to be taken out, mainly because I hated them since the first time I played BG1.

 

This is the part where Sarevok has nowhere left to run, only his most loyal followers still at his side, and the PC knows that he/she has him cornered, and should have the option to walk straight up to him and lay the smack down on his booty, yet instead I find myself stalking around that circle in the middle while also trying to stay away from the edges.

 

But that's just me.

 

I'd say put it in a separate component by itself, so we can still have a choice of with/without whether we use the improved final battle or not.

[Ieldra]

If I recall this correctly, the traps reset themselves after being triggered. I found that aspect particularly annoying from the very first BG game I played. Having traps there makes some sense, since Sarevok and his party have had time to prepare. This includes the Battle Horrors. But I would like the traps to be non-resetting.

 

Having said that, the style of battle I would *prefer* would be just against Sarevok and his cronies, particularly if they're acting intelligently. If SCS had two options for the improved final battle, one with the traps and Battle Horrors, one without them, I would install the latter every single time.

[cmorgan]

I think that a DavidW-powered AI on the toughest dudes found in BG1 is plenty - I hate the traps, and the forced at-range nature of trying to lure one down at a time. I play long, long, no experience point cap games, and am usually well past the expected level when I get to this point, and still can batrely make it through, though, so my 2p comes with the caveat that I am nto the best BG2 engine tactician...

[DavidW]

Okay, I'm hearing a pretty strong consensus that we should just get rid of them. (Wow, look at me modding a game easier...)

[cmorgan]

heh... so *you* say. Sorry, DavidW, your version of "easier" is the equivalent of the War College saying

 

"now then, we are going to make this scenario much easier. You are restricted from using theater level nuclear munitions; small tactical nukes only. But don't worry - we have made sure that the adversaries are much more realistic, so remember that they are probably established in populated zones; beware of collateral damage. And we have enabled a political consequence mode in the AI, so be sure you keep that in mind. Oh, did we tell you that you are nw facing well trained adversaries who are trained in combined forces deployment and coordination, and use your own tactics back at you?"

 

easier.

 

 

sure.

 

 

 

[Lemernis]

Too bad Sarevok can't be converted into a Fighter-Deathstalker (specialty priest of Bhaal), but then there'd be continuity issues with using him as a NPC in BG2. Unless an option is made available to similarly change his kit for BG2.

 

I think a dual classed Fighter from level 7 or 9 would present more of a challenge. Cleric buffs and spells, summoning fallen devas and whatnot.

[DavidW]

I think a dual classed Fighter from level 7 or 9 would present more of a challenge. Cleric buffs and spells, summoning fallen devas and whatnot.

 

To be honest, I kind of feel that battle is hard enough as it is! - but if people are breezing through it I don't mind reconsidering, particularly once the traps are taken out.

[berelinde]

Don't know about you guys, but by the time I get to Sarevok, all I really want is to see the closing movie. I'd make the ball-room battle tougher, and let folks watch Sarevok turn into a dustcloud, already.

[Lemernis]

To a great extent, I share the sentiment that at that point I desire for the game to be finished. But David if you ever feel inspired, I know I'd enjoy facing a tougher Sarevok who has more up his sleeve. Tutu gives you more to work with offensively, so it should still be balanced. Anyway, for a possible revised Sarevok as dualed Fighter-Deathstalker, definitely no traps or battle horrors!

 

You could make it very tough without Sarevok having cleric skills, that's for sure. Also, on a technical note I'm not sure how Bhaal's former priests could get their spells with their deity having died. Though some of Bhaal's essence evidently still resides inthe Winding Water river, so maybe from there.

 

Regardless, I'd consider having one of the mages summon one of the BG2 level monsters.