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More info?)
VelvetElvis <reallyNO@spam4me.xyz> wrote:
> Went to try the start of a game and same thing. Five people creamed by
> a bear and a couple of idgets.
That bear next to the giant in the mumble meadows is actually quite
difficult for a first-level party.
Here's some metagame information that you should consider.
Mages and sorcerers are much weaker in ToEE than they are in
pencil-and-paper D&D because ToEE is continuous combat without the
possibility of creative thinking (e.g., using spells like alter self or
levitation or whatnot to change the odds). As you've noticed, your fighter
can swing forever while your wizard is limited to a few spells per day. The
nature of the CRPG format makes most spellcasters weak.
Solution: don't play with wizards. You can get away without any in this
game. Have one if you must. Have a priest or two instead. They can actually
fight. If you must have a wizard or sorcerer (and you probably want the
sorcerer), be an Elf or take Martial Weapon: Bow or somesuch so that you
can actually do something useful in combat.
ToEE doesn't implement D&D reach weapons (and, arguably, moving through
threatened areas) "by the book", with the result that longspears (and
whatnot) are strongly overpowered. You can attack people far away *and*
people right next to you. The "munchkin" fighter build in ToEE involves a
fighter with max STR and DEX plus Combat Reflexes. Work your way up to
Cleave. Basically, all of the enemies will die walking towards or around
you. Give every fighter in your party a polearm in the early game if you
possibly can. The yellow "threat circle" around you fighter will get bigger
when you've done this correctly. You'll find a fight or two in the
gatehouse where it's not unreasonable to kill a dozen opponents in one
round with six party members (e.g., because in ToEE you can cleave off of
every attack of opporunity that downs a foe -- this is the best way of
getting multiple attacks per round before sixth level).
The strongest party build (up to the first half of the Temple, say) would
involve five warriors with polearms (as above) and one guy with dodge and
expertise (on max) and a big shield and the elven chainmail out front to
give the enemies somthing to swing at uselessly. With such a build you
should easily be able to clear the moathouse and the bandit town and
the swamp and the meadows and the first level of the temple without
reloading. Take some levels in Barbarian or whatnot so that you don't lose
your DEX bonus to AC. Low on the roleplaying, but if you wanted that you'd
be playing BG2 or PST. You don't actually need a rogue.
The other really big hint is the "charge" command. Loosely, this allows you
to make an attack on someone that is more than half of your maximum
movement away. It also gives you a bonus to hit. You should be able to win
all early combats by having your defense guy walk/charge up to the enemies
and then having the polearm guys charge the enemies. They'll end their
charge a step or two behind the defense guy, so they'll never get attacked.
Enemies that try to walk around the defense will get killed by attacks of
opportunity from all of your polearm guys who threaten the entire area.
Enemies that foolishly try to attack you with ranged weapons (e.g.,
crossbows) because you aren't actually standing next to them will take
attacks of opportunity from the longspears. Never walk if you can charge or
five-foot step -- the bonus to hit from charging is key at low-levels.
Also, don't turn on Power Attack. The way the numbers work out, early game
opponents have low hit points but decent AC.
> I obviously don't get the breakdown of the turn itself. I'll attack with
> the warrior or shoot off a spell and end the turn. Not much reason to do
> anything else except walk toward someone now and then.
Don't bother with the mage. The only combat options you should really need
to understand are "full attack", "charge", "five foot step", "turn
undead" and "rapid shot".
> Still, it's clunky for me and they're dead in a matter of seconds.
ToEE is clunky for everyone.
> Apparently I ain't the sharpest knife in the drawer and the design of
> this game capitalizes on that fact.
It's not just you.
- Wes
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