Avernum Crystal Souls 25: Endgame

Aha! I finally got the guy. Took about four tries. I was right that the trick was to just ignore the minions and keep whaling at him, but I finally realized that melee damage just didn't do much, so I switched to the wands I had left for my melee fighters, unless they were right next to him already.

Plus, I think I finally got a little bit lucky.

Finally got him

On the Spiderweb Forum they said that he gets stronger as he lives on, so you have to take him out as quickly as possible. He has lots of points, so you need massive attacks on him to do the job. Once he stays alive long enough, he takes your characters out with one blow even if they have invulnerability active. This time he only got Aldous, but he was so close to zero that I just managed to get him with one stomp of Divine Retribution by Cordelia.

So the game is won!

We emerge victorius! But still underground.

For whatever reason the medals the game gives you didn't completely work. I don't have the medal for returning the first crystal soul, although I got all of 'em. Hmm. Also, I never did find out how the game lists the level of spell you have. I ought to have found all the level three spells, but there just isn't anywhere to check that. Plus, I did every quest in the game, I reported back to King Micah, and never got Royal Clearance, despite asking for it. Maybe there's another trick to it? So I don't have that medal. Also, I did not try to slay a dragon, and I don't want to.

One weird thing: I never got to the Lair or Kothos, the dragon who has gone over to the Empire. I must check that out sometime. Everything else appears to be done. I have, as I always like to do, sucked the marrow from the game.

Thoughts: I went back and looked at the original game. Wow, that was way back in the era of wall bumping! The original really did need a tune-up. This one is way more sophisticated. I lost track of the improvements because by the time Jeff got to making Avernum 6, it was pretty much like the model he uses for these new remakes. But the only other version of this one is ancient. Still works though!

I've decided that the next way to go with these games is not to try to get the adrenaline rush battle discipline for my spellcasters. I never made it, and I could have used the spell points better, I think. Next time I'll use some swordmage traits on my priest too, and make two full shamans and archmages. That will give me much more power than just trying to get adrenaline rush. I'll have to put some points into things like hardiness and quick action and resistance, of course, but I'll concentrate on making both spellcasters full dualists. 

I did not play the entire game on normal, although I did play the first incarnation of it on normal. When I switched to humans I played on casual just to get through the demo area. Yet, I did get the medal for completing the game and never setting the difficulty below normal. I actually did do it. I just did it in two parts.

It's a fun fun game. It was more than worth my twenty bucks. 

Now, I'll finally have to go back and finish Baldur's Gate, if I can remember how to play!

Great game.

Avernum Crystal Souls 24: Getting to Garzhad

So just as I was ready to deal with the final quest, killing the evil archmage and Empire baddie, Garzhad, Life intervened and I had to stop for awhile. Had rush Kirkus books, and a dear friend as a houseguest.

But I'm taking some time tonight to do the deed. Except that so far, Garzhad has defeated me. 

Up to that point, however, I was doing well. I went back to Vahnatai lands and found a little area I'd missed--a cave of some nasty undead types south of Mancuso. Of course by this time I'm way stronger than any silly lich, and the whole host went down with one blow. Got a rather nice item from it. Also, I hate to miss anything! So glad I found that.

Back to Avernum and I judiciously used as many wisdom crystals as I needed to get everybody a nice couple of points. Those will be the last. I still have some wisdom crystals should I need them to restore spell points, but it doesn't look as though that's going to be necessary. I have way more energy elixirs than I'll need.

For the longest time I couldn't figure out where Garzhad was hiding. Finally I realized that there was a destination offered by the Tower of Magi main portal, and yup, that's the spot.

Getting to him is a bit of a puzzle, but not too tough.

Garzhad, however, is tough. I really thought I had him. He was down to just a few life points when he killed my spellcasters all at once. What?? Well, I had some return life scrolls, so I used those only to have the same thing happen.

I think I'm going to have to push him into a corner and surround him. Yeah, he can teleport my guys away, but I've just got to keep smashing him. Once Demonslayer gets in one knick, he turns out to be vulnerable to any other kind of attack. Oddly, arcane blow seems to do nicely against him.

I've got some invulnerability potions and I'll spread those around and be sure my guys stay shielded. Also, I think I'll have to concentrate on just him. He gets allies, but I'll just ignore them and keep on bashing him. No doubt once he's dead I'll still have to fight the minions, but that will be a piece 'o cake after he's well and truly slaughtered.

Said slaughtering, however, will have to wait for tomorrow. I don't really want to try it again right now.

It was fun getting to him though! 

So, tomorrow for the big finish. Glad I left him for the last quest, because he is the toughest.

Next Entry

Avernum Crystal Souls 23: Smashing the Portal

And I have completed the second of the three great quests: I have destroyed the Empire Portal, which, had I not been so intrepid, eventually would have teleported thousands of Empire troops down to Avernum to crush all my friends and neighbors.

It turned out that the next two gates were just puzzles. One had a couple of doomguards, but those are much easier in this game than in previous ones. It was just a matter of finding switches to throw. The third gate was more of a puzzler. If you did it wrong you got to fight endless enemies. But, notice that there is a clear path from the front of a trapped room to the back, and you can completely avoid that fight. I fought a few but then reverted to a saved game and got through easily.

Even the actual fight at the portal itself wasn't all that bad. The enemies come in clumps and they're really not that tough until you get to the control room on the second floor. Just systematically take 'em all down, collecting loot along the way, of course, and then you're faced with another puzzle. But it's fairly easy to just bulldog your way through that one. I kept wondering where the Onyx Scepter was going to come in, but follow all the clues and smash what you can smash, and it eventually becomes fairly obvious what to do.

The Empire Portal Explodes!

Now then. I've still got massive numbers of wisdom crystals, and probably have enough herbs to make more. So the next trip will be to Patrick's Tower, where the gardner can craft the things. Then I will gulp 'em all down and see if I can get my spellcasters up to Adrenaline Rush in the battle skills: that gives you three rounds of action per turn. It's really difficult to get to that with the spellcasters however. I think next time I'll forgo trying to do that and just choose the Swordmage trait for my cleric and try to get 'em both up to full strength in Priest and Mage skills. (I have found it useful to give one point of Priest skill to everybody, including my two fighters. Sometimes it's helpful for them to cast minor heal.) Really I think getting both spellcasters up to full wizard/priest status would be more useful than Adrenaline Rush.

After that I've got to visit every trainer in the game to be sure I've used up all the possible skills. 

And then, it will be time to chase down Garzhad, the game's final quest. 

Sigh.

Next Entry

Avernum Crystal Souls 22: BOOM!!

So that was a fight! I have completed one of the three game-winning quests of Avernum 2: I have returned all three Crystal Souls to the Vahnatai. 

First, I went back to Pyrog's cave and slaughtered all the Empire troops there. Got some nice loot. I must say, Jeff made the Empire troops fairly tough, and I know they'll get tougher. But it was good to clean that place out completely.

Also, I found Sulfras the dragon and got the Onyx Scepter, which I will need to destroy the Empire Portal, the second game-winning quest. I think I'll do that one next, and leave killing Garzhad for last.

But the fortress where they had the last Crystal Soul was quite a battle. First, you're thrown into an arena, where you have to fight wave after wave of monsters. The worst are the eyebeasts, and if you don't get 'em fairly quickly they will heal up the other enemies and prolong the fight.

I had to protect my spellcasters with invulnerability potions and armor potions. Nice to use those. Then I made sure I was at battle frenzy the whole time. I had some battle crystals (still have one) that came in useful. On the forum, folks were complaining mightily about that arena fight, and I don't blame 'em. I think there are about five waves of enemies. Every time you think you're done and can loot the place, another batch appears. Goes from hellhounds to the eyebeasts to ghosts to constructs (with a demon) and then to altered giants. 

However, I have massive amounts of energy elixirs, and one of those fully restores all spell points. Plus, I've still got those wisdom crystals, and I used a few of those to replenish my spell points. Have plenty more. Mycroft is now at level 35!

After the arena you deal with separate groups of major enemies, but none of them are too tough. The last one is the lich, who indeed was the toughest. It turns out that you don't have to fight her. I had already found the key I needed. However, I went ahead and took her on and got a Robe of the Magi out of it! Wow! I put that on Cordelia, because Mycroft already had a really good robe. 

The interesting part of this was that in order to save the Crystal Soul, you have to break a Phoenix Egg and start quickfire. Then, of course, you can't get to the chest with the Soul. Plus, the quickfire doesn't burn out while you stay in the fortress. You actually have to figure out how to leave the fortress and then come back in order to get the Crystal Soul. After that things are fairly easy. 

The Vahnatai are Happy

One interesting note: I thought I had finished a minor quest of getting something for the "barbaric sliths" at the entrance to the Waterfall Warren. However, the quest is still showing in my list. Maybe they want a series of things. They're building houses. I already gave them a hammer. Perhaps they need more things, like a saw and some planks, or whatever else I can find. I'll start with that next time! Update: Yes, I had done the quest, but apparently I reverted to a different saved game just afterward. So, I did it again, and this time it's off the list.

Then I have to fight my way through some gates to get to the Empire Portal. I've already done the first one and it was a major battle. Tough enemies. Even the archers don't go down easily. So that's ahead, but not tonight!

Next Entry

Avernum Crystal Souls 21: The Laugh's on Me

Stoopy hooman. So I thought the game had a bug and wouldn't let me get the third Giant statue? I posted a thread asking about it on the Spiderweb Forum, and nobody replied. That just does not happen on that forum. 

So today, just to check, I went back to the Giant Fort, and I checked all the areas where there was an exclamation point on the automap of it. I went to one section, and clicked on a thingy there. I thought I'd lost it eternally because I destroyed the altar, but the statue wasn't at the altar, it was somewhere else.

I had just missed it. I also missed a secret button in a nearby area. I'll bet it was because I was in a fight, so I just moved on with the fight.

But it would have been a real problem that would have ruined this quest for many players. You don't place a quest item where a player can inadvertently destroy it, and Jeff didn't do that.

I just missed it. My bad. The laugh's on me! Got a very nice reward for finally finishing the quest, too. Could'a used that earlier!

Well I really am approaching the final part of the game now. I am over Level 30, and will only receive points every five levels from now on. I still have a ton of wisdom crystals, which turn out to be plentiful in this game, because you can get the gardner in Patrick's Tower to craft them for you.

I have been to the Northern Isles and found two black drake fangs. Turns out there there is another one somewhere, so there is no delimna about who to give the fangs to. We can satisfy all three quests. 

I have started to get into the main fort in the Northern Isles where I'm pretty sure the third Crystal Soul is, but pulled back after conquering the first gate into it. And that really was a pretty tough fight! I was never in any actual danger of getting killed, but I really did have to use my spells, and they didn't just devastate all the enemies in one blow. These guys are much tougher. As I recall, there are more gates to get through.

I have Demonslayer, but so far I'm only using it on demons. The fire and ice swords are nice to use on various hot or cold enemies. Last night I spent time finally getting the "Find Sixus" quest done. I had missed his first tower and found my self unable to get into one that turned out to be the second tower. Luckily, I chose the right conversation item when I talked to him and he survived.  However, the fight through the first tower was simple easy. Clearly, it was a quest meant to be completed much earlier in the game.

So now I have to go back to Motrax's cave and talk to a couple of wizards there. I also have to fetch the Onxy Scepter from Sulfras's cave. Haven't gone there yet. I don't think I've visited Pyrog's cave either.

So those things need to be done before I can then set out on the three major quests: Find the last Crystal Soul, destroy the Empire portal, and kill Garzhad. 

I always do all three. I want to find everything in these games, and also, stretch out my fun playing time!

It will probably take me several more days to do all of this, so that's good. But alas, the endgame looms before me. Sigh.

Next Entry

Avernum Crystal Souls 20: Taking Charge!

Well I am taking charge of the game now. Sadly, I fear that means I'm way more than half done. I've now got the Blessed Athame, and the Orb of Thralni, which is coming in quite useful. I have just returned my second Crystal Soul, so I have earned Demonslayer. I left off in the middle of fetching that.

I trekked up to Empire lands, and visited Harston. Along the way I slew Elderan in his tower, which was kinda fun. Bit of a puzzle there but not too difficult. Found Harston and spent the night there, then, because I was so close, I explored further.

Found a nice boat to get me to the Northern Islands and into the Empire Records Archive. I remember this from the earlier incarnation of the game. You have quite a few fights, but eventually you get around into the whole area. So now I have the information I need to destroy the Empire Portal, which is one of the three major quests of the game. I will need to get the Onyx Scepter for that, however. It's the only major item I don't have yet.

But before I get into endgame stuff, I want to clear out my quest list. Plus, I have one more Crystal Soul to save.

I have discovered a bug. There is a quest to fetch three statues from the giants. I know for certain that I got all three, but the game is only giving me credit for two. I went to the Spiderweb Forum and looked it up, and yup, I got all of 'em. Sadly, I also destroyed all the altars. So, apparently, I won't be able to get the reward for that quest. I think I'll mention it on the Forum. When I grabbed the last statue it was during a fight, and somehow the thing just didn't register.

I have reached Level 30. I'm not getting any more training points, but I do believe that another task will be to go to all the trainers and spend my cash on trying to get my spellcasters more battle disciplines. Plus, I've got a stash of wisdom crystals I haven't used yet. Probably silly of me, but they would only have hastened my arrival at Level 30, and I really didn't need 'em. However, I did notice that Aldous is at Level 31. I think what might happen is that you still can accumulate points, but only every five levels or so.

I've got both my fighters up to all the battle disciplines, and those can be quite useful. 

So I'm pretty strong now. I cleared out several drake areas in the Islands and I have two black drake fangs. However, I have three characters who want them, so I'm going to have to choose. Jeff likes to give players little dilemmas like that.

Anyway, sadly, although I'm having massive amounts of fun, I fear it will end soon. This really is the best game of the six, I think. The humor keeps up all the way through, and the puzzles are nifty.

Till next time!

Next Entry

Avernum Crystal Souls 19: Finally, a Tough Fight!

I've finally found a fight I'm going to have serious trouble winning.

First, I did the Lava Dome quest in Vahnatai lands. That got me a Phoenix Egg from the main Vahnatai mage, and plus, it was the most fun quest so far in the game. Mostly humor. But you need the Dispel Barrier spell to do it.

Then I went back and slaughtered all the mages in the Ziggaurat. By this time it was easy peasy. At the time I was at about level 28-29, and I've been finding some really nice gear. The stuff that sparkles is the best. And finally, when I find something better than a good thing I already have, I'm selling the weaker object. Lotsa cash in those things.

I also got the demented crystal soul at the entrance to the volcanic lands in the Vahnatai area. That was a fun kinda puzzle fight. 

And plus, I did a few of the more minor quests. I found Thompson, and that one about made me quit the game, until I realized that it was just a fight. You have to step on some runes to open a gate, but absolutely no matter how you step on 'em it doesn't work. Finally I realized that the runes were changing to colored squares. Once you got all four stepped on, you were surrounded by spore beasts. However, I did notice that the gate opened! So, it wasn't a puzzle per se, just a fight. Beat the spore beasts and you're in.

Also, I'm tracking down the spy in Blosk. I know who it is, but I'll have to find some way to read a burned paper before I can prove it.

I went to the Scree Pits and the half-finished fort and nabbed the blue pass. Now I have all three. Used that to get to Kothar, where the Orb of Thralni is stored.

And this turns out to be the toughest fight of the game so far. I'm at level 30. I'm stronger than overcooked lizard meat. I've beaten everybody in that fort, including a lich and all the Empire wizards, who are fond of charming my stupider meat shield characters.

But I have found the chamber that holds the Orb. As far as I can tell, there is no way to get to it without triggering a fight so massive that it really seems impossible to beat.

Which means . . . there must be another way in. I found clues in books, things like "press the right eye of the gargoyle," and so far I haven't found any gargoyles. 

That means there's another way in. OK! (thinking as I type, here). Next time I will continue to search the fort, observe the map, and try to find the secret.

One good thing: I have gathered up some fabulous loot in this place! And of course, you need the Orb, which lets your party fly for short distances, to get to otherwise inaccessible places.

So now I've got the Blessed Athame. I'm gonna figure out how to get the Orb. Then I need to rescue one more Crystal Soul and I'll get Demonslayer. 

Yep! There's still a lotta game left to play! WooHoo!

Update:  Ha ha. OK, there is no other way in, but when I was trying to exit, I finally triggered that gargoyle eye. All that did was keep me from falling into a pit--something I'd avoided earlier by using Move Mountains. I thought that would turn off the defenses in the Orb chamber, but no. However, I defeated it pretty easily. The trick is to not try to defeat the defenses, just run in, grab the orb and run out while your meat shields keep the golems and eyebeasts away from  the door. I gave Mycroft an invulnerability elixir and hasted him and went into combat mode before I entered the chamber. Aldous kicked off the defenses, but I was able to run in and grab the orb, and got outta there before I got killed. (Well, Max got killed, but I used Return Life so that was no problem.) And I've already used the Orb, and it works!

(Another way to do this that ought to work: just shield and haste one character and get him to where he can take the Orb. Everybody else stays outside. If he gets killed, no matter. Just Return Life and he ought to have the merchandise in his inventory.)

Ha ha.

Next Entry