My only real point was that you shouldn't try something like blocking off Danger Muffin where he is. I think Rad wants you to try that so he can warp him into the middle of the action while our units are scattered.

Pageclaim for Lance. His sprite is so cool. =o

Stats post, folks!

The enemy has the initiave for this battle, and so goes first. They start to the right of the bottom wall, and we start to the left.

Character stats

Friendlies
L33tz4n
Attack 3
Movement 3
HP 10
Hypnotise: Control target opponent for one turn. Target opponent can't act next turn
Summon Mythslayer: Summon Mythslayer to target location
Summon Water Elemental: Summon Water Elemental to target location
Summon Enchantresphere: Summon Enchantresphere to target location
Summon A. W. A.: Summon an Accupuncturist to target location

Fawriel
Attack 4
Movement 2
HP 18
Heal: Target restores 10 HP
First-Aid Kit: Target restores 15 HP. Can only be used at melee range, or on Fawriel
Raise: Revive target dead character, and character restores 1/2 of total HP


Friendly summons
Mythslayer
Attack 4
Movement 3
HP 11
Slay: target character loses 1/3 of current HP

Water Elemental
Attack 5
Movement 2
HP 8

Enchantresphere
Attack 4
Movement 2
HP 9
Is immune to magic

Arabian War Accupuncturist
Attack -6 (note that this heals by 6HP each 'attack')
Move 4
HP 8
Needletime: changes AWA's attack to -2, but attacking only takes one movement point (and so can attack multiple times a turn)


Foes
Lance
Attack 4
Movement 2
HP 30
Summon Mythslayer: Summon Mythslayer to target location
2x Push: knock target back one square and stun target

Talon
Attack 4
Movement 2
HP 30
Summon Ice Serpent: Summon Ice Serpent to target location
Summon Danger Muffin: Summon Danger Muffin to target location
Summon Dire Wall: Summon Dire Wall to target location


Unfriendly Summons
Ice Serpent
Attack 2
Movement 1
HP 20
Frostbite: Curse target with "lose 1/4 of current HP each turn"

Mythslayer
Attack 4
Movement 3
HP 11
Slay: target character loses 1/3 of current HP

Danger Muffin
Attack 3
Movement 3
HP 14
Feat: Attacking does not end turn, lasts until end of turn

Dire Wall
Attack n/a
Movement n/a
HP 30
Regeneration: Charm target with +1 HP/turn
Form Steal: Change movement and attack of dire wall to that of target character
Burn: 3 points o' damage wherever you want


Neutrals
Top, left and right walls
HP 20
Immune to magic

Bottom wall
HP 30
Immune to magic


Important battle notes

• Characters take Double damage if they cast a spell that turn.
• Characters take Half damage if they are defending that turn.
• Characters take Normal damage if they both cast a spell and defend in the same turn.
• You can move diagonally. Diagonal moves do not cost extra.
• Dead people obstruct movement.
• We can only cast one spell per turn. Spells may be targeted anywhere and do not require line of sight.
• Attacking counts as a move, and ends movement.
• You can move the same turn you are Raised.
• Raise is not affected by magic immunity.
• Summons cannot cast spells the turn they are summoned.
• You can't cast the spells of someone you hypnotise.

Two things-
1. Lance also has summon mythslayer.
2. People can move on the turn they were raised. Not being able to was a bug, if I remember correctly, which was fixed for the Solstice battle.
Sorry, I misread that point. I thought you said you couldn't.

Darn it! We never got to see the Muffin's cool spells! Feat was not that impressive.
Winning in the first try is so boring, but it at least shows we're learning.

Let's ask Radium for the rest of the spells.

Since it can't hurt for me to tell you now, feat does-
When it targets an ally next to DM, it reverses that character's HP. Like, if they had 2/10 HP they now have 8/10, and if they had 11/20 they now have 9/20.
When it targets an ally far from DM, it doubles that character's defense until DM's next turn.
When it targets an enemy next to DM, it stuns that character, like Push or Hypnosis do.
When it targets an enemy far from DM, it halves that character's defense like disbalance did.
When it targets DM, it gives him the power to temporarily attack by only using 1 move point. You saw this one. It can be powerful.
When it targets a dead ally, DM kills himself to bring that ally back to life. That ally gets the amount of HP DM had before he died. I kept telling Radium, during the testing, that summoning DM near the players was stupid and it would be smarter to let him hang behind and lower the enemy's defense and bring Lance or Talon back when they died. Apparently he never listened.
When it targets an empty square, DM jumps to there. He doesn't use any movement points in the process.

So, as you see, the only thing feat doesn't affect are dead enemies. This skill even ignores magic immunity.

Originally Posted by Risp_old

So, as you see, the only thing feat doesn't affect are dead enemies.

They could vanish like they do after Burial is cast on those.

Burial just doesn't seem to fit the feat lineup. I can't think of any witty one-liners you can say after neatly burying a corpse under the ground, or any dramatic ways you could do it. Besides, in action movies the only people the hero is likely to bury are allies.

oh.. right. I forgot about the cliched oneliners.

Ulysses S. Grant says:
I was thinking it could act like Animate Dead. "The enemy suddenly jolts back to life, with his last ounce of strength saying "I suddenly see things in a new light! I will help you!'"

Ok I am reviving this so we can get past the ice puzzle.

Note that we can try anything crazy in ToU because Radium will not let us die so far away from a save point.

You don't know Radium well enough.

No, you can't. He will kill you. He just asked me for a map of the Birdclaw mansion.

Don't jump off the edge of the platform. D=

..what's the point of using the strategy thread for puzzles? ;|

Originally Posted by Risp_old

Burial just doesn't seem to fit the feat lineup. I can't think of any witty one-liners you can say after neatly burying a corpse under the ground, or any dramatic ways you could do it. Besides, in action movies the only people the hero is likely to bury are allies.

How about "Rest in Pieces"?

Hello, peoples. Just bumping this as you will probably soon need it.

Ok people, let's think- What would be the best initial battle position we should get ourselves into?

In past battles it's been best to defend the first turn so we don't lose half our fighters right from the start. I suggest we use Haste on Faw/Uberbob and defend with everybody.

Also, I found out the biggest twist in this battle, but Stijn won't let me post it because it's a spoiler D=

Stats post, folks! I'll keep this updated as the battle goes on.

We start in a cluster at the bottom. They start one on each of the other three sides, with Abydos at the top.

Character stats
Note that the details of foes is incomplete. I'll try to update it as we find out more about them. Unknown details are in italics


Friendlies
Araches/L33tz4n
Attack 4
Movement 3
HP 20
Lightning: 10 points o' damage to whatever you want
Haste: Charm target with "+2 movement", starting next turm
Biohazard: Curse target with "lose 2 HP per turn"
Hypnotise: Control target opponent for one turn. They can't act next turn
Summon Mythslayer: Summon Mythslayer to target location
Summon Water Elemental: Summon Water Elemental to target location
Summon Enchantresphere: Summon Enchantresphere to target location
Summon A. W. A.: Summon Accupuncturist to target location

Faw/Uberbob
Attack 6
Movement 2
HP 24
Disbalance: Deals 3 damage to target and halves their defence for this turn
Anti Magic: Disenchant target and make them immune to magic
Defender: Charm target with "max HP +10", and they recover 10 HP
Heal: Target restores 10 HP
Raise: Revive target dead character with 1/2 of total HP
Animate dead: Revive target dead character with 1/2 of total HP and place them under your control. They die at end of turn
First Aid Kit: recover 15 health. Meele range only, ignores magic immunity

Shuriken
Attack 5
Movement 4
HP 17
Feat: The all-purpose uber-spell, that even ignores magic immunity
Ninja speed: +2 movement to Shuriken until end of turn. If used at end of turn, allows a second attack
Foshzzle: Attack based on damge Shuriken has taken

Fooruman
Attack 5
Movement 2
HP 20
Dispell: Negate spell effects on target character
Heal: Target character restores 15 HP
Raise: Revive target dead character, and character restores 1/2 of total HP
Foshzzle: Attack based on damge Fooruman has taken
Quantum Squaredance: Swap Fooruman's and target character's location
Custard's Last Stand: Gives Fooruman +2 movement and attacking only takes 1 movement point. Fooruman dies at start of next turn


Friendly summons
Mythslayer
Attack 4
Movement 3
HP 11
Slay: target character loses 1/3 of current HP

Water Elemental
Attack 5
Movement 2
HP 8

Enchantresphere
Attack 4
Movement 2
HP 9
Immune to magic

Arabian War Accupuncturist
Attack -6 (note that this heals by 6HP each 'attack')
Move 4
HP 8
Needletime: changes AWA's attack to -2, but attacking only takes one movement point (and so can attack multiple times a turn)


Foes
Abydos
Attack 6
Movement (none)
HP 40
Immune to magic
Abydos can still attack even though it has no movement
Abydos can target itself with its spells
Freeze: Stun character
Summon Abyss Monster: Summon the Servant to target location
Summon Abyss Monster: Summon Carl to target location
2xLife Drain: Target character is cursed with "lose 1/4 of max HP each turn to Abydos"
Frost Armor: Double defense (not a charm or curse)
Snow Skin: Heal 10 HP, and 4x defense for one turn
Abyss Sacrafice: Fully heal target character and Abydos takes damage equal to amount healed



the Lurker
Attack 5
Movement 2
HP 30
Can float above pits
Last Breath: Charm target with "temporary invulnerability", but they go down to 10% health and lose 1HP each turn
Heal: Target character restores 10 HP

the Drudge
Attack 5
Movement 2
HP 30
Can float above pits
Last Breath: Charm target with "temporary invulnerability", but they go down to 10% health and lose 1HP each turn
Heal: Target character restores 10 HP


Enemy summons
the Servant
Attack 5
Movement 2
HP 30
Can float above pits
Last Breath: Charm target with "temporary invulnerability", but they go down to 10% health and lose 1HP each turn
Heal: Target character restores 10 HP

Carl
Attack 5
Movement 2
HP 30
Can float above pits
Last Breath: Charm target with "temporary invulnerability", but they go down to 10% health and lose 1HP each turn
Heal: Target character restores 10 HP


Important battle notes
Again, subject to change as more information is known

• Characters take Double damage if they cast a spell that turn.
• Characters take Half damage if they are defending that turn.
• Characters take Normal damage if they both cast a spell and defend in the same turn.
• You can move diagonally. Diagonal moves do not cost extra.
• Dead people obstruct movement.
• We can only cast one spell per turn. Spells may be targeted anywhere and do not require line of sight.
• Magic immunity does not prevent the use of items (e.g. First Aid Kit).
• Grouped characters (e.g. A/L) attack together and take damage together.
• Attacking counts as a move, and ends movement.
• You cannot defend and move in the same turn.
• Spells that reduce the movement points required for attacking allow you to attack more than once.
• You can move the same turn you are Raised.
• Raise, Animate Dead, Feat and the First Aid Kit are not affected by magic immunity.
• Summons cannot cast spells the turn they are summoned.
• You can't cast the spells of someone you've hypnotised.
• Antimagic can't be dispelled.
• The dark squares on the side of the map are bottomless pits

The battlefield changes in size during the battle as follows:
Turn 1: stay at 5 tiles wide
Turn 2: shrink to 3 tiles wide
Turn 3: shrink to 1 tile wide
Turn 4: grow to 3 tiles wide
Turn 5: grow to 5 tiles wide
Turn 6: shrink to 3 tiles wide
Turn 7: shrink to 1 tile wide
Turn 8: grow to 3 tiles wide
Turn 9: grow to 5 tiles wide
... and so on
This happens at the end of each turn.

Right, I think that's all. Feel free to correct me if I've missed something out or made a mistake.

I'm 99% sure we will lose this first try. Could I hastily make a few turns so that we could get some initial information?

Originally Posted by Cooba

I'm 99% sure we will lose this first try. Could I hastily make a few turns so that we could get some initial information?

If you do, just don't storm into battle. Try to last a long as possible so we see more of what Abydos is capable of. In other words, think defensively.

Like I said, I know his biggest trick fairly well, so I'll try to keep this sane

Um, we have a shrinking battlefield. This cannot be good.

And my l33t powers of number-changing have revealed that it's going to shrink once more, to a bridge one tile wide.

Some initial strat stuff I thought up:

• Arazen and Fawbob will have to be the main magic force. They should be moved to the bottom corners of the map where they can stand safely.
• Shuriken, Fooruman and the summons will have to be the melee force used to attack Abydos.
• The summons need to strike first for that they leave no body behind.
• Shuriken and Fooruman are required to be the melee force, for they have Feat and Custard's Last Stand respectively. (Risp told me Rad has a counterstrategy against those attacks though)
• If Shuriken dies in front of Abydos, use Animate Dead (NOT RAISE) to move her out of the way.
• If Fooruman dies, raise him.
• Concentrate on using the attack spells to wipe out the Abyss Monsters. Slay, Lightning, Disbalance, two Foshizzles. Will be enough.

And keep in mind that while Abydos is anti-magic, he can be raised, and I take a bet that the Abyss Monsters do have Raise. That also means that he could be Disbalanced using Feat (I think?), which would be great.

Does anti-magic prevent healing spells, or only harmful spells?
And would Custard's Last Stand remove the Haste buff?

I'm not sure if the system lets us do those things, does anybody know?

Originally Posted by Ae

Does anti-magic prevent healing spells, or only harmful spells?

Both.

Since I don't see anyone doing anything:

Arazen: NW, W, SW.
Fawbob: Anti-Magic Shuriken, E.
Fooruman: E, E.
Shuri: Defend.

Discuss D= Also, I think that we should definitely focus on killing off the Abyss Monsters first.

Killing the abyss monsters should probably be our first goal. Radium deliberately placed those tiles in the left and right lower corners of the battlefield to lure two of our characters there. He'll use the 4 abyss monsters to attack them from both sides and kill our "magic artillery".
I fear, however, that abydos can summon an infinite amount of abyss monsters.

Originally Posted by Xobim

I fear, however, that abydos can summon an infinite amount of abyss monsters.

I doubt that. I'll surprised if he can have more than 4, actually.

Abydos can be targeted with Feat (Rad said so in the first post for this battle).

My thoughts: we take out the Servant as soon as it appears, as it's the most dangerous of the summons (it can heal and make someone invincible). The rest of the summons probably have no abilities, or we'd have most likely seen them by now.

Abydos does have a limited number of spells, and can't actually do that much if we're not standing next to it. We could if we wanted to take out the summons and pit monsters, and just ignore Abydos while the AWA runs round healing everyone (with normal attacks). Get the rest of our summons in, and then attack Abydos. Custard's Last Stand and Ninja Speed would help. We could Animate Dead one of the pit monsters if it leaves a handy corpse, and use that too. Shame we don't have an Unsummon or two.

Originally Posted by Torkell

The rest of the summons probably have no abilities, or we'd have most likely seen them by now.

I wouldn't be so eager to say that, really ;|.

I did say "probably". But we did have a couple of turns with no spells from Abydos and co., so I doubt there's anything nastier than a Heal left.

:gg:

Uhh don't forget that Abydos has frost shield, which will pretty much cancel out Feat and make life a lot harder.

Actually, BR's point is more valid than mine.

Guys, don't forget that a key to winning these battles is keeping your characters alive. Avoid doing things like using a spell and not defending, cause you're inviting that person to an almost instant death.

Originally Posted by Cooba

I wouldn't be so eager to say that, really ;|.

K, so I was wrong. That's yet another Heal, and Snow Skin. Meh to Snow Skin. Abydos still can't use anything nastier than Life Drain at distance (and we have Dispell and Anti Magic).

Defender would make Foshzzle do more damage, right?

It raises your max HP and your current HP by 10. It would give you more HP to use on fo'shizzle, yes, but you'd need to take damage for it to work for that.

Haste-ing the AWA so it gets more use out of Needletime, everybody is out of range of Carl and Abydos and the bridge is still widening. We can heal up and stuff for now, maybe get some more summons and let Abydos use up his other life drain; the one on the AWA will pretty much go to waste and we can anti-magic his second.

Once we have another summon out, preferrably the water elemental, we can hypnotize Carl over to us and everybody can destroy him.

Okay, because it'd be so much of a shame for you to lose for trivial reasons now I'm taking a little mercy on you...
Just a tip. Without the AWA alive it's almost impossible to kill Abydos. Your current move has the entire party besides Araches/L33tz4n falling in the pit and dying.