Help with The Master & beyond

[Mushroomhermit]

Taking the Master out as a mage can be pretty tricky. I've found that your best bet is to use Vapor/Inferno and just never let him see you. Don't ever make the decision to try to burn through the last 500 HPs in one go! Just nickel and dime him to death (twice)

[edge2054]

Yeah, 600+ damage between me taking an action was pretty brutal.

I'm getting to the point that I can get to him consistently though with a mage (I beat him with a fighter in beta 2 or 3).

I wanted to experiment a bit so I'm trying an Essence of Speed build. So far everything has been cake, cleared everything except the maze and getting ready to hit up Tol Fallas.

That said, I read DGs last post before starting this run and I've been abusing Illuminate So we'll see if the build holds up.

We'll see how it goes.

[Patryn]

@Illuminate:
I don't use it with the mage right now, but the Sunpala has a similar spell and thats pretty useful.

@edge:
The golden rule is: Never give the Master free turns when you're in LoS. If he does step in the "one-way-corner": stun him and give him your nukes (in addition to the Vapor+Inferno). If a stun resists, don't hesitate, don't take risks - simply phase door *him* away. Far enough so that the skill CDs are ready when he reaches you again.
Don't 'R'est! He will find you and then stand directly infront of you again what forces you to phase him away instantly. Just fill up with 1-2 minor healing/mana pots if necessary and wait patiently on the spot you chose to settle this fight. Depending on stunluck and talentbuild, the pink-Vamp should (finally) drop dead 2-4 phase-door-cycles. Not really hard if you're patient and stick to the tactic but one mistake can mean death.

[edge2054]

Yeah, by resting I meant using King's Gift and eating mana pots.

Assuming I can get down to him with the build I'm using my plan is to dig out a square hallway like this.

...V...
.xxxx.
.xxxx.
.xxxx.
.xxxx.
.......@

And Phase door him onto one side of it, me on the other as shown in the diagram. Essence of Speed, one way corners, and manathrust should do the rest... eventually.

[edge2054]

And that strategy worked really well.

Dig, Phase Door, and Essence of Speed. Phased him into my 4 x 5 square hallway I'd dug out and just stayed ahead of him with Essence. Tagged him as he rounded the corner. Didn't take half as long as I thought it would either. Master never got an attack off.

4 x 4 seems like it'd be the preferred hallway size (3 x 3 block in the middle) since I had to use two hallways on a couple of occasions to keep his line of effect disrupted.

*Flame and Manathrust were my main nukes*

Also it seems like he has one random high resist. Last time I fought him it was Acid (80%), this time it was Lightning(36%). As a mage overspecializing could make this fight really difficult so I suggest you have at least two damage types for whatever strat you use (AoE or Run and Gun with Speed and Nukes).

Was going to make a video but don't know how.

If anyone wants to see the dump I'll be happy to post it.

[bigfoot]

I would be quite interested to see it please.

[edge2054]

Here you go Bigfoot. He's also using Ringil and some sorta dwarven-steel resist shield on his weapon switch that doesn't show up in the dump. Assuming I don't lose him I plan to put another point in Arcane Power and then pick up Ice Storm ASAP for AoE damage because it has a good damage to mana ratio and most of my mana pool gets sucked up by Essence of Speed.

The Master dropped a Charged (Time Prison) Dwarven-Steel Mail Armour of Stability that I put on along with the Choker of Dread but otherwise his gear still looks this way.

Code: Select all

  [Tome 4.00 @ www.te4.org Character Dump]

Sex              : Male         STR:  18
Race             : D??nadan     DEX:  15
Class            : Archmage     MAG:  48
Level            : 20           WIL:  56
Exp              : 44%          CUN:  16
Gold             : 58.07        CON:  16

Attack(Main Hand):   6          Life             :     381/381  Encumbrance      : 48.9/72
Damage(Main Hand):  35                                          Difficulty       : Normal
APR   (Main Hand):   0          Mana             :     58/183
Crit  (Main Hand):   3%         
Speed (Main Hand): 1.00         

Fatigue          : 22%          Spellpower       : 68
Armor            : 6            Spell Crit       : 10.8%
Defense          : 2.75         Spell Speed      : 1
Ranged Defense   : 2.75         

Fire damage      : 4%
Cold damage      : 9%
Blight damage    : 4%
Lightning damage : 4%
Acid damage      : 4%

Physical Save    : 15.5
Spell Save       : 33
Mental Save      : 25

Cold Resist:  45%
Nature Resist:  20%
Acid Resist:  10%

Number of NPC killed: 902
Most killed NPC: snow giant (77)

  [Talents Chart]

 - Technique / Combat training        (mastery 1.00)
    Heavy Armour Training (class)     1/5
    Massive Armour Training (class)   0/5
    Health (class)                    0/5
    Weapon Combat (class)             0/10
    Sword Mastery (class)             0/10
    Axe Mastery (class)               0/10
    Mace Mastery (class)              0/10
    Knife Mastery (class)             0/10
 - Spell / Arcane                     (mastery 1.30)
    Arcane Power (class)              3/5
    Manathrust (class)                5/5
    Manaflow (class)                  1/5
    Disruption Shield (class)         0/5
 - Spell / Fire                       (mastery 1.30)
    Flame (class)                     5/5
    Flameshock (class)                0/5
    Fireflash (class)                 0/5
    Inferno (class)                   0/5
 - Spell / Earth                      (mastery 1.30)
    Stone Skin (class)                1/5
    Dig (class)                       1/5
    Strike (class)                    0/5
    Stone Wall (class)                0/5
 - Spell / Water                      (mastery 1.30)
    Corrosive Vapour (class)          1/5
    Freeze (class)                    1/5
    Tidal Wave (class)                0/5
    Ice Storm (class)                 0/5
 - Spell / Air                        (mastery 1.30)
    Lightning (class)                 1/5
    Chain Lightning (class)           0/5
    Feather Wind (class)              0/5
    Thunderstorm (class)              0/5
 - Spell / Conveyance                 (mastery 1.30)
    Phase Door (class)                5/5
    Teleport (class)                  1/5
    Displacement Shield (class)       0/5
    Probability Travel (class)        0/5
 - Spell / Nature                     (mastery 1.30)
    Regeneration (class)              0/5
    Heal (class)                      0/5
    Restoration (class)               0/5
    Nature's Call (class)             0/5
 - Spell / Meta                       (mastery 1.30)
    Disperse Magic (class)            0/5
    Spell Shaping (class)             0/5
    Quicken Spells (class)            0/5
    Metaflow (class)                  0/5
 - Spell / Divination                 (mastery 1.30)
    Sense (class)                     5/5
    Identify (class)                  1/5
    Vision (class)                    5/5
    Telepathy (class)                 0/5
 - Spell / Temporal                   (mastery 1.30)
    Time Prison (class)               1/5
    Congeal Time (class)              1/5
    Essence of Speed (class)          5/5
    Time Shield (class)               0/5
 - Spell / Phantasm                   (mastery 1.30)
    Illuminate (class)                3/5
    Blur Sight (class)                0/5
    Phantasmal Shield (class)         0/5
    Invisibility (class)              0/5

  [Current Effects]

- Essence of Speed
- Arcane Power

  [Completed Quests]

 -- The Island of Dread
You have heard that in the bay of Belfalas, far to the south of Bree, lies the ruined tower of Tol Falas.
There are disturbing rumors of greater undeads and nobody who reached it ever returned.
Prehaps you should explore it and find the truth, and the treasures, for yourself!
 -- Into the darkness
It is time to explore some new places dark, forgotten and dangerous ones.
The Old Forest is just south-west of the town of Bree.
The Maze is west of Bree.
The Sandworm is to the far west of Bree, near the sea.
Carn D?»m is to the north of Amon S?»l.
   * You have explored the Old Forest and vanquished the Old Man Willow.   
   * You have explored the Maze and vanquished the Minotaur.   
   * You have explored the Sandworm Lair and vanquished their Queen.   
   * You have explored Carn D?»m and vanquished the Dragon.   
 -- Of trolls and damp caves
Explore the caves below the tower of Amon S?»l and the trollshaws in search of treasure and glory!

   * You have explored Amon S?»l and vanquished the Shade of Angmar.   
   * You have explored the Trollshaws and vanquished the Bill the Stone Troll.   

  [Character Equipment]

 In main hand
a) Angmar's Fall (10-12 power, 0 apr, acid damage)
   Type: weapon / staff
    10 Power [Range 1.20] (+110% Magic), 0 Attack, 0 Armor Penetration, Crit 1%
    Damage type: acid
    
    Increases damage type: 4% fire,4% cold,4% blight,4% lightning,4% acid.
    Spellpower 7, Spell Crit 8%
    See invisible: 2
   Dropped by The Shade of Angmar
 In off hand
 On fingers
b) Ring of Ulmo
   Type: jewelry / ring
    Increases stats: 4 Willpower,3 Constitution.
    Increases resistances: 25% cold,10% nature.
    Maximum mana 20
    Maximum stamina 20
    It can be used to summon a tidal wave, costing 60 power out of 60/60.
c) gold ring of regeneration (+1.10/turn)
   Type: jewelry / ring
    Regenerates 1.10 hitpoints each turn.
 Around neck
d) gold amulet of willpower (+4)
   Type: jewelry / amulet
    Increases stats: 4 Willpower.
 Light source
e) charged(sense) brass lantern of clear sight
   Type: lite / lite
    Increases blindness immunity: 50%.
    Light radius 2
    It can be used to activate talent: Sense (level 1), costing 1 power out of 3/3.
   Dropped by Old Man Willow
 Main armor
f) linen robe of acid resistance (0 def, 0 armor)
   Type: armor / cloth
    Increases resistances: 10% acid.
 On head
g) Steel Helm of Hammerhand (0 def, 4 armor)
   Type: armor / head
    Armor 4, Defense 0
    Fatigue 8%
    Increases stats: 3 Strength,3 Constitution,4 Willpower.
    Increases physical save: 7.
    Increases spell save: 7.
    Increases mental save: 7.
   Dropped by Minotaur of the Labyrinth
 On hands
 On feet
h) Frost Treads (1 def, 2 armor)
   Type: armor / feet
    Armor 2, Defense 1
    Fatigue 14%
    Increases stats: 4 Strength,4 Dexterity,4 Cunning.
    Increases resistances: 20% cold,10% nature.
    Increases damage type: 5% cold.
    Light radius 1
   Dropped by Rantha the Worm
 Tool
 Quiver

  [Player Achievments]

Level 20 Was Achieved for Got a character to level 20. At 2010-08-18 14:04:08
Level 10 Was Achieved for Got a character to level 10. At 2010-08-17 22:26:00
Vampire crusher Was Achieved for Destroyed the Master in its lair of Tol Falas. At 2010-08-18 15:23:29

  [Character Inventory]

a) acid-proof potion of cure disease
   Type: potion / potion
    It can be used to cure poison.
b) acid-proof potion of cure poison
   Type: potion / potion
    It can be used to cure poison.
c) acid-proof potion of invisibility
   Type: potion / potion
    It can be used to become invisible for a while.
d) acid-proof potion of lesser healing
   Type: potion / potion
    It can be used to heal some life.
e) acid-proof potion of lesser mana
   Type: potion / potion
    It can be used to restore some mana.
   Dropped by Sandworm Queen
f) 3 acid-proof potion of see invisible
   Type: potion / potion
    It can be used to sense invisible for a while.
   Dropped by Sandworm Queen
g) giant potion of healing
   Type: potion / potion
    It can be used to heal a good part of your life.
   Dropped by Rantha the Worm
h) giant potion of lesser mana
   Type: potion / potion
    It can be used to restore some mana.
i) 2 giant potion of mana
   Type: potion / potion
    It can be used to restore a good part of your mana.
   Dropped by Sandworm Queen
j) potion of cure disease
   Type: potion / potion
    It can be used to cure poison.
   Dropped by skeleton mage
k) 7 potion of cure poison
   Type: potion / potion
    It can be used to cure poison.
l) 4 potion of healing
   Type: potion / potion
    It can be used to heal a good part of your life.
m) 3 potion of invisibility
   Type: potion / potion
    It can be used to become invisible for a while.
n) 17 potion of lesser healing
   Type: potion / potion
    It can be used to heal some life.
o) 10 potion of lesser mana
   Type: potion / potion
    It can be used to restore some mana.
p) 5 potion of mana
   Type: potion / potion
    It can be used to restore a good part of your mana.
q) 3 potion of see invisible
   Type: potion / potion
    It can be used to sense invisible for a while.
r) potion of speed
   Type: potion / potion
    It can be used to increase your speed for a while.
s) 2 fire-proof scroll of phase door
   Type: scroll / scroll
    It can be used to teleport you randomly over a short distance.
   Dropped by The Shade of Angmar
t) 2 scroll of light
   Type: scroll / scroll
    It can be used to light up the surrounding area.
u) 4 scroll of phase door
   Type: scroll / scroll
    It can be used to teleport you randomly over a short distance.
v) 4 scroll of shielding
   Type: scroll / scroll
    It can be used to create a temporary shield that absorbs damage.
w) 4 scroll of teleportation
   Type: scroll / scroll
    It can be used to teleport you anywhere on the level, randomly.
x) charged(sense) steel amulet
   Type: jewelry / amulet
    It can be used to activate talent: Sense (level 1), costing 1 power out of 3/3.
   Dropped by ghoulking
y) gold ring of lightning resistance (+24%)
   Type: jewelry / ring
    Increases resistances: 24% lightning.
z) gold ring of strength (+7)
   Type: jewelry / ring
    Increases stats: 7 Strength.
{) steel ring of dexterity (+4)
   Type: jewelry / ring
    Increases stats: 4 Dexterity.
|) ash staff (7-8.4 power, 3 apr, blight damage)
   Type: weapon / staff
    7 Power [Range 1.20] (+100% Magic), 0 Attack, 3 Armor Penetration, Crit 3%
    Damage type: blight
    
    Spellpower 2, Spell Crit 2%
}) elven-wood staff
   Type: weapon / staff

  [Last Messages]

Radagast hits The Master for    107.86 fire damage   .
The Master is on fire!
Radagast casts Manathrust.
Radagast hits The Master for    162.15 arcane damage   .
Radagast hits The Master for    71.91 fire damage   .
Radagast hits The Master for    71.91 fire damage   .
   Talent Flame is ready to use.
   Talent Manathrust is ready to use.
The Master stops burning.
Radagast casts Flame.
Radagast hits The Master for    107.86 fire damage   .
The Master is on fire!
Radagast casts Manathrust.
Radagast hits The Master for    162.15 arcane damage   .
Radagast hits The Master for    35.95 fire damage   .
Radagast hits The Master for    35.95 fire damage   .
   Talent Flame is ready to use.
   Talent Manathrust is ready to use.
Radagast casts Flame.
Radagast hits The Master for    107.86 fire damage   .
The Master is on fire!
Radagast hits The Master for    35.95 fire damage   .
Radagast hits The Master for    35.95 fire damage   .
   Talent Flame is ready to use.
Radagast casts Manathrust.
Radagast casts Flame.
Radagast hits The Master for    107.86 fire damage   .
The Master is on fire!
Radagast hits The Master for    35.95 fire damage   .
Radagast casts Manathrust.
Radagast hits The Master for    162.15 arcane damage   .
Radagast hits The Master for    35.95 fire damage   .
   Talent Flame is ready to use.
   Talent Manathrust is ready to use.
Radagast casts Flame.
Radagast hits The Master for    161.79 fire damage   .
Radagast killed The Master!
   Personal New Achievement: Vampire crusher!
   Quest 'The Island of Dread' is done!    (Press CTRL+Q to see the
quest log)

[Final Master]

When I play mages I tend to max out the air school with corrosive vapors playing tight pack crowd control. The auto beam of lighting and chain lightning is just pure awesome, and now that the bottom damage has been raised on both they are very very solid attack spells. I like to max out arcane focus and just leave it on all the time. I did finally beat the master, but didn't survive the trip back out. I really love a vault with a lvl5 vapor flowing through it and alternating between chain lightning/lightning/flame. It's cool to see the screen fill with 20 or so little purple kills for a few consecutive turns.

PS

Thunderstorm is AWESOME if you can manage the mana requirement. So much damage all the time...

[Zaive]

Beat The Master, found the staff, lost the staff.... now what?

[edge2054]

Check your Quest log yet?

[Zaive]

Yup. Just says I defeated the master, then got ambushed by orcs who asked about the staff.

[edge2054]

It should send you to speak to the elder in the southern town.

[Zaive]

Minas Tirith or whatever-its-called? looked around everywhere there and I didn't see anything.

[Shoob]

The entrance can seem hidden in graphical mode, it is the "closed" door south of the bunch of doors on the west side, and yes, that town.

[Zaive]

Ahhh, found it.

I've actually been playing in ASCII mode.... and still missed it. ^_^;