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Did BG1:EE change it so that you can't learn protection from petrification?

What spells are the Iron Throne mages casting on you? Well, it doesn't really matter. Since your characters know that big danger lies up those stairs, you should be buffing yourself before going up. We're talking protection from evil 10', chant, resist fear, those sorts of things. They'll boost your saving throws, which you'll need to avoid confusion and fear. Your gear is also important. Everyone should have a ring/amulet/cloak of protection, even if it means foregoing enchanted armour in this battle. You need the saving throws. There are also various other items like helmets that can improve your saving throws.

As for spells, since you have two mages and a druid, the RNG won't affect the outcome of this battle. See, a solo mage can lose to a lucky 4th level confusion spell. But with 3 casters, you can build in redundancy. If one mage is charmed, you can have another mage charm her back. Have everyone memorise at least one dispel magic, resist fear, detect invisibility and charm. Aim for four or more dispel magics total, especially on your druid.

Your biggest obstacles are confusion, charm, fear and invisibility. One or two of your party will probably get charmed or confused, and it will probably be a fighter. Confusion isn't that bad, especially with careful manoeuvring. In a pinch, you've got dispel magic, but that makes the target susceptible to fear. But you've got backup resist fears. I'm pretty sure Jaheira can wear the helm of charm protection, so you will always be able to dispel charm. Resist fear protects you against fear. And detect invisibility protects you against invisibility. So that's all the scary stuff.

Alternatively, you could use protection from magic scrolls, but it's good to learn how to handle these fights without relying on a crutch because mages will only get stronger.
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ForgottenTrope: Did BG1:EE change it so that you can't learn protection from petrification?
Neither Imoen nor Dynaheir can. I haven't checked to see if Main (Cleric/Ranger) or Jaheira can. In any case, I feel kinda silly as when I loaded the most recent saved game I had defeated the Basilisk already, heh.
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ForgottenTrope: What spells are the Iron Throne mages casting on you? Well, it doesn't really matter. Since your characters know that big danger lies up those stairs, you should be buffing yourself before going up. We're talking protection from evil 10', chant, resist fear, those sorts of things. They'll boost your saving throws, which you'll need to avoid confusion and fear. Your gear is also important. Everyone should have a ring/amulet/cloak of protection, even if it means foregoing enchanted armour in this battle. You need the saving throws. There are also various other items like helmets that can improve your saving throws.

As for spells, since you have two mages and a druid, the RNG won't affect the outcome of this battle. See, a solo mage can lose to a lucky 4th level confusion spell. But with 3 casters, you can build in redundancy. If one mage is charmed, you can have another mage charm her back. Have everyone memorise at least one dispel magic, resist fear, detect invisibility and charm. Aim for four or more dispel magics total, especially on your druid.

Your biggest obstacles are confusion, charm, fear and invisibility.
Sorry, had to chuckle here. Reminds me of the Monty Python "Spanish Inquisition" sketch. "Our chief weapon is Fear! Fear and Surprise! Our two chief weapons..." =)
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ForgottenTrope: Alternatively, you could use protection from magic scrolls, but it's good to learn how to handle these fights without relying on a crutch because mages will only get stronger.
I think I've figured out how I can beat this fight with what my party has now.

Before going up the stairs, I turn off the AI and split the party into two groups - Minsc, Imoen and Jaheira in one group and Main, Dynaheir and Khalid in the second group. Imoen has a Wand of Monster Summoning, so have her summon one or more monsters to help Minsc keep potential enemies occupied. Main has three Animate Dead spell's, which he will cast to help on his side of the stairs.

Use a Protection from Magic scroll on Main and send him up the stairs. Use him to kill the two dopplegangers and let the mages waste their spells on him. After that, send Main back down the stairs. When the bad guys follow, have Dynaheir and Imoen cast Web on any groups on their respective sides (may not be needed with summons to help). Minsc has Spider's Bane +2, so he's not affected, and Main has Protection from Magic, so he's not affected. Then mop up the immobile mages. Any that aren't affected by Web will be priority targets.

I don't know exactly what everyone has at the moment (I'm at work), but I do know what most are armed with. Main has The Stupifier and a Mace +1, Minsc has Spider's Bane +2, Khalid has Composite Long Bow +1 and a stack of Fire Arrows +2 and two stacks of Arrows +1, Imoen and Jaheira each have Sling +1 and two full stacks of Bullets +2, and Dynaheir has a normal Sling with two stacks of Bullets +2.

Everyone has at least a Protection +1 item, Main is wearing Ankheg Plate, Jaheira and Minsc are each wearing Full Plate. I don't remember what armor Khalid is wearing off the top of my head, but it's pretty decent. Imoen and Dynaheir are both wearing good robes (Imoen has one of the Archmage robes from the shop in High Hedge) and Bracers AC 7 each.

I don't think I would consider Protection from Magic a crutch. It has a pretty strong downside as the recipient (Main) can't cast any spells while under its effects (no healing, protection from evil, entangle, etc.). So he is wholly reliant on his melee skills, armor and healing potions for the next two game hours. Given that this is the first time I've played this area of the game, I think its a pretty viable strategy for getting past this very difficult fight. =)

Flynn
Post edited February 24, 2015 by FlynnArrowstarr
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FlynnArrowstarr: Neither Imoen nor Dynaheir can. I haven't checked to see if Main (Cleric/Ranger) or Jaheira can. In any case, I feel kinda silly as when I loaded the most recent saved game I had defeated the Basilisk already, heh.
I guess it's a moot point now, but it's important to note that there are two types of scrolls: protection scrolls and spell scrolls. The former are green, and you can only cast them from the scroll. The latter are red, blue, or white, and those are the ones you can learn as spells. Protection from Petrification comes in both types (the spell scroll is blue in this case), and the magic store in Baldur's Gate probably has it. It might still be worth picking up a copy, as I think there are a couple of Greater Basilisks in the caves as you escape from Candlekeep, and there are some at Durlag's Tower as well. (EDIT: I just realized the question was more about whether it was possible to learn the spell in EE. I have no idea about this).

Returning to the OP, I just beat Firkraag last night. He's a true bastard all right, both as a character and as a combatant. Dragon fights are fun for the challenge though.
Post edited February 24, 2015 by NotJabba
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NotJabba: I guess it's a moot point now, but it's important to note that there are two types of scrolls: protection scrolls and spell scrolls. The former are green, and you can only cast them from the scroll. The latter are red, blue, or white, and those are the ones you can learn as spells. Protection from Petrification comes in both types (the spell scroll is blue in this case), and the magic store in Baldur's Gate probably has it. It might still be worth picking up a copy, as I think there are a couple of Greater Basilisks in the caves as you escape from Candlekeep, and there are some at Durlag's Tower as well. (EDIT: I realized the question was more about whether it was possible to learn the spell in EE. I have no idea about this).
I'll have to check when I get home, but I'm betting they are the green variety. I did pick them up from Sorcerer's Sundries in BG, along with the Protection from Magic scroll. Can't wait for the day to get over with so I can try my hand at the fight in Iron Throne again. I'm hoping my strategy above (or some variant) will result in victory, heh.

Flynn
In BG1, Sorcerous Sundries sells the blue scrolls, as does High Hedge. If you got green scrolls from there, it would seem that BG1:EE changed them to prevent characters from learning the spell.

You can't wear the Ankheg Plate with a protection item, unless they've also changed that in BG1:EE. I guess it doesn't matter since your character will be using protection from magic anyway.
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ForgottenTrope: In BG1, Sorcerous Sundries sells the blue scrolls, as does High Hedge. If you got green scrolls from there, it would seem that BG1:EE changed them to prevent characters from learning the spell.

You can't wear the Ankheg Plate with a protection item, unless they've also changed that in BG1:EE. I guess it doesn't matter since your character will be using protection from magic anyway.
Yeah, it's possible that is a change. The scrolls looked blue to me, but neither Imoen nor Dynaheir could scribe them. I'm sitting far enough away from my screen that it's a little difficult to tell for sure, but I'll try transferring the save to my laptop where it's easier to get a closer view. Main is wearing Ankheg Plate with Ring of Protection +1 (called Ring of Princes, I think).

My strategy worked and we annihilated the baddies. It was a glorious battle. Party is now standing outside the gates of Candlekeep, ready to begin Chapter Six. =)

Flynn
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ForgottenTrope: In BG1, Sorcerous Sundries sells the blue scrolls, as does High Hedge. If you got green scrolls from there, it would seem that BG1:EE changed them to prevent characters from learning the spell.

You can't wear the Ankheg Plate with a protection item, unless they've also changed that in BG1:EE. I guess it doesn't matter since your character will be using protection from magic anyway.
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FlynnArrowstarr: Yeah, it's possible that is a change. The scrolls looked blue to me, but neither Imoen nor Dynaheir could scribe them. I'm sitting far enough away from my screen that it's a little difficult to tell for sure, but I'll try transferring the save to my laptop where it's easier to get a closer view. Main is wearing Ankheg Plate with Ring of Protection +1 (called Ring of Princes, I think).

My strategy worked and we annihilated the baddies. It was a glorious battle. Party is now standing outside the gates of Candlekeep, ready to begin Chapter Six. =)

Flynn
Man I hated that fight. I really just exploited tangle, web, wands and fireballs to AOE kill every enemy. Didn't even know about stinking cloud :(
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kmey659: Man I hated that fight. I really just exploited tangle, web, wands and fireballs to AOE kill every enemy. Didn't even know about stinking cloud :(
I didn't want to use Stinking Cloud as I had Minsc up close to the baddies. Didn't want him and Boo caught up in it. Though, I could have cast in on the group fighting Main since he had Protection from Magic. Still, the strategy worked, and Web mired up pretty much all of the baddies. Minsc and Main made pretty short work of them after that.

Flynn