High Peak prepping (solved)

[achoice]

Im looking for tips/spoils regarding entering the high peak.
http://te4.org/wiki/zones-high-peak gave nothing... forum searches some info...

So I got this little archmage going http://te4.org/characters/19211/tome/a9 ... c464d9b9b0.. lvl 41 and in the slime tunnels. I've previously lost 2 characters in the peak - one at the final battle...

Is it recommended to level up to 50 first - via far portals? I surely could use some more cool gear... The horror stories I read - and my previous experience scare me... Seriously...
Some breeze through the final - others die immediately. It seems that the final fight is unique - requiring different tactics/strategy - perhaps different gear/setup - than all game prior to it? Hence I almost feel I need to bring several chars up to the summit - to get wacked - to learn how to do it properly? (no escape up there..)

I got all three Talos stuff - should I go for the cool staff - sacrificing a prodigy?
Im also at a loss how to spend the final points to manage the peak...

regards & thanx for a great game & challange.

[nate]

You don't necessarily need to level to 50-- you'll gain some levels on the way, and some people prefer to get a level-up hp fill from the end guys. But I would say that the easiest way to do it is to level up to 50 first. Level 41 is too low to make it all the way to 50 from High Peak xp. Getting better gear is always nice, but I didn't find that I needed a special set for the final duo.

The high peak levels can be very bad, with high powered random bosses. Elites, rares, bosses should be inspected before engagement. You shouldn't feel the need to kill every boss. If you can't handle it, get it off the stairway and continue, leaving it behind.

In my experience, the final battle isn't too different from earlier battles, but my experience is with melee. The biggest difference for me was that I couldn't stair-camp, or escape to a different level if things went poorly. (Actually, on the way to my first success, I did escape-- turns out you can run through those walls with Quick As Lightning prodigy )

You might as well make a decision at the beginning of the fight whether to attempt to close the portals or not. With good mobility, you can get all four closed before Aeryn dies, but with poor mobility, you might not. If things aren't going well for you, Aeryn's croaked, and you're getting swamped in Forge Giants, you might as well take a detour to close the portals.

I've never played an arch-mage, so this might not apply to you. Just offering it in case it's useful.

If you want to get a hang for it, you could always enable cheats, then try to do it legitimately afterwards.

[Hachem_Muche]

You certainly don't need to be level 50 for the final fight. Archmage is one of the best classes for the fight because of all the ranged and AOE capabilities. Looking at your character, I think your health is a bit low (rule of thumb for a ranged character with decent resistances is to have about 1200 health at level 50, so you're about 200 low) to survive burst damage. You should level up Phase Door to level 5 (specify both target and destination) as a priority, to help with the critical tactical positioning needed in the fight. Also, you've invested a category point in earth magic. You probably want to put at least 1 point in stone wall -- very useful to give yourself (or Aeryn) a breather, which you will probably need at least once in the fight.

[Pigslayer]

- Run past the stair guardians in the High Peak.
- Shut off all the portals in the final battle. The fastest way to do that is with movement infusions and controlled phase door.
- Try to fight one boss at a time.
- Your health is a bit low. 300-400 extra HP makes a difference.
- Max out your defensive options - phase door, stone wall, aegis tree, etc.
- Wear the unflinching eye and glory of the pride for 100% blindness and confusion immunity.

[achoice]

Thanks guys - exactly that I needed to hear.
Yes - up untill the wizards I've always been able to stair scumm & long-trange-tele.
I hear LOS-blocking and defense is good up there. Stone wall - good tip.
Ill follow your tips - and report back.