LP: Preview of Co8 5.6 + LP Co8 5.8

[Sitra Achara]

The Tower Brigands are next on my list.

The spell casting in the encounter has been improved tremendously relative to Vanilla, as you shall soon see.

First off, the pre-buff routine at work. I think this fight was the first one to be given that treatment.

This opens up a cool new subplot for evil parties in Co8... maybe in another playthrough.

Here we go.
One of the witches casts Silence, and as usual, my casters fail the save.

Ted's down, and ready to kick the bucket.

Tulip demonstrates his new-found strength.

John delivers the killing blow.

I heal Ted with a potion - it starts to look like he'll make it...

And then one of the Brigands hits him while he's down.

The Wizard also casts r00fles on my Cleric, and the fucker fails the save.

Oh yeah, and the other one brigand footman offs Ted. D'oh.

I take Samantha out of the Silenced area, so she can cast spells.

Unfortunately, the archers interrupt her spellcasting and she miscasts. Should've cast protection from arrows on her, or used the Horn of Fog with Ariel...

The Wizard does it again - bastard neutralizes John for 5 rounds.

Tulip takes a cue from Conan and downs one of the Witches.

The other Witch summons a spiritual weapon into the fray, and the Wizard lets loose a few magic missiles on Tulip.

To protect Samantha from the bowmen, I utilize the Horn of Fog.

I neutralize the left flank with a Stinking Cloud. Should be much easier now. (I love that spell)

Tulip lucked out and hit the real Wizard.

The Witch uses her scroll of Create Undead to bring back one of the fallen archers.

Putting the hurt on the right flank.

Well, after that it's pretty much just clean-up. Yee haw!

 

[Sitra Achara]

Back in Hommlet...

Ted is resurrected, and I cast restoration on him to bring his XP up a little. He's still going to lag behind though.

I continue touring the Temple, clearing the first level...

BTW, Wonnilon's hideout has been made actually safe to rest - you won't get encounters there.

Another levelup for the hillbillies.

Look who I found.

I release the Countess and head back to Nulb to LARP some R&R and celebration.

'course, my true intentions are quite different...

 

[Sitra Achara]

We're back at Nulb.

Without prebuffing too much, I enter my house in Nulb (backwards).

Gah! An ambush! This must be what Preston warned me about!


(you'll note I rearranged my party order - it was done so the hardier party members are at the front)

Rannos does as villains do, and his casters prebuff.

They also prebuff Rannos and one of his goons, with Bear's Endurance.

Bah, it seems Samantha isn't making any spellcraft checks because she has no LOS on them.

Anyway, the fight is on.

Ariel gets the initiative and conjures a lamia, using the figurine I found at the Imeryds.

Danger! Furry overload!

John tumbles past the thugs straight for the Enchantress. Who knows what she's up to?

Following that, the hired thugs deliver some nasty blows (they actually use their power attack feat!)

And then, the Priest of Zuggtmoy casts Deafness/Blindness (opting for deafness) on Samantha. Of course she fails her Fortitude saving throw, and there goes her spellcasting ability.

Ariel opens up the next round with another summoned creature - a basidirond. It is summoned so as to flank the thugs.

Tulip smashes through the Enchantress.

I cheat a little by using a wand of Hold Person with Samantha. (sue me)

From then on the battle proceeds well, with the Lamia ending the fight by charming the Thug Leader (having also charmed Rannos earlier).

They are, of course, summarily slaughtered.

Eric goes WWJD on Samantha (otherwise her Deafness would be permanent), and that's the end of that.

In case you were wondering, the Trader getaway and revenge scenarios are new Co8 content. One of Co8's best, or ToEE's for that matter, IMO.

Next up: Yes We Can!

(page 10 plz)

 

[Sitra Achara]

I take it you've had enough?

If not, post until we're at page 10...

If so, this shall be the last update.



------------------------

Chapter [lost count]: The Moathouse Revisited (again)
------------------------------------------------------------------


Now that we're all beefed up, let's tackle the Moathouse Respawn.

Opening a can of whoop on the lycanthropes.

Eric's holyball at work.

Fight went much smoother this time around.

I sneak around and scout out the basilisk. The next room has an ochre jelly too.

Gotta take it out quick if I don't want to get petrified.

I arrange my party to storm the Basilisk as soon as Ariel finishes her sneak attack.

Tulip seals the deal. The Ochre jelly falls easily (using blunt weapons, of course).



Let's scout out the rest of the dungeon with Ariel.

Downstairs, a couple of Crystal Oozes. They have very high DRs and resistance to most magical effects.

The Bugbear chambers are infested with some nasty undead. Bodaks now have death gazes - better cast Death Ward.

Gnolls became skeletons. Fodder at this point
.

Lastly - the Witch - the source of the disturbance.

 

[Sitra Achara]

The Crystal Oozes are defeated, mostly with magic missiles actually...

Preparing for the Bodaks.

Everyone's favourite crowd control spell.

Forunately, all undead can be turned.

This is like that thing Cleve was talking about. (good thing it was only the Lamia)

Turn undead works its charm, the rest is cleanup.

Next.

Heh.

Eat this!

Turn undead takes care of most of what remained.

Zuggtmoy sends her regards.

So does Heironeous.

Victory!

 

[MicoSelva]

Bumping as requested in LP database thread.

 

[Sitra Achara]

Alright, I'll do this one quick and dirty.

Rifling the Witch's corpse, we find some spiffy magical items, and an interesting note.

Following the map markings, we arrive just in time to cause some mayhem.

Ted goes for the jugular...

Unfortunately, it's not enough.

Tulip smashes the rogue, anticipating a mage hunt strategy on his part.

And that's the end of that.
(also, just occured to me that there's more rage in this screenshot than in a typical codex thread)

The damsel in distress imparts one of two magical items, depending on how you treat her.




Back in Hommlet, we try to inquire about more NC adventures...

But in Co8 5.8.0 there aren't any others, yet.

 

[Sitra Achara]

Left with nothing better to do, we embark on a crusade against the Temple.

Temple regroup wasn't in yet, but the casting AI was - Belsornig hits you with an Unholy Blight.

Good luck opening THAT!

Scorpp actually melees you, as opposed to using the crossbow in vanilla.

 

[Sitra Achara]

We encounter a vampire in the bowels of the Temple. Being honorable and just folks, we immediately attack without mercy.

That abomination even stole Prince Thrommel's equipment. Surely the world is a safer place now.

For those still bitching about Cloud's sword... thundercats, ho!

In Co8, you can slam her right there (evil parties can also act on their alignment and attack her anyway).

Picking up the Golden Orb of Death, we experience several bizarre visions...

Later, when we return, both Falrinth and Smigmal are there, waiting for us with reinforcements.

Sorry mate, we're on a crusade here.

Two spectres of the netherrealm appear.

Their favourite dish is Wizardkebab.

Having levelled up, we shall go down a level next.

 

[Sitra Achara]

Temple level 4 features a new controversial trap.

Aside from just entering combat and running past it, there are other alternatives to having a Rogue disarm it.

Some closure for a particular Cartesian NPC.

Entering Wuxia territory.

Everything's a cakewalk at this stage, except maybe taking on Iuz or something like that. Time to end the game.

 

[Sitra Achara]

-fin-




Gotta say, the mod's come a long way in the 1.5 years since that time - Arena of Heroes, an ever expanding Verbobonc, Temple regroup, Moathouse Lareth fight, and soon - War of the Golden Skull.

 

[Crooked Bee]

Heh, that was a quick ending.