Forum posts to 'Here be spoilers! '

Re: Stuck on Winter's Hill

Alziel — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 00:02:19 +0000

You know, I think I will go ahead and do just that first thing in the morning Mike!

Just completed the 'Menace from the Deep' quest in HoF and I had a blast (quite literally when I finally confronted the queen ant - ;-)). And yes, I'm already enjoying HoF more than LoS which is quite an achievement. Looking forward to what's still to come. I've already decided to take the Warrior path and join forces with the Wicca - my character seems to be naturally heading that way with the gear choices and moral decisions I've made so far (having played a Rogue with '0' armour in LoS I'm appreciating for the first time just how good a high Armour rating can be!).

Thanks again for the fun times

Edit: Review is now up on Amazon (under the same handle of 'Alziel').

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Re: Stuck on Winter's Hill

Da Boss — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 22:05:20 +0000

Wow, thanks for the kind words. I'm glad you enjoyed the first book. I'm sure the second (and third) won't disappoint. They only get better (if I say so myself!).

Would be great if you could review on Amazon if you get time and share your thoughts on Legion. Always great to get more positive reviews to help boost sales! ;)

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Re: Stuck on Winter's Hill

Alziel — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 11:11:47 +0000

Thanks again Mike.

I have just taken on 'Battle of the Bone Fields' and was killed by Baruk (sp?), so I never did find any good rings. I just tried tackling a couple of legendary monsters again and failed horribly both times.

With no other options available and no ability to buy any more gear or equipment, along with the hollow feeling I have of having cheated in the Necro/Skeleton fight, I've decided to throw away this character and consider my first play through to be a loss. I'm going to start from scratch and have another go at LoS; I'd like to complete it without cheating before I move on to HoS.

I did have a quick look at the Hero Builder (nice resource!) but I think I'll do my next run through without using it. I would like to play as a Mage again, but maybe I will plump for the Rogue as you suggest, just so that I can get to the end of the story! Then I can experiment more on future attempts and play with different Mage and even Warrior builds.

Well - I have a fresh, blank Hero Sheet in front of me and I'm ready to turn to the Tithebury map all over again. Wish me luck!

Edit: Well - finally beat LoS using a Rogue (Shadowstalker build - posted in the 'Post your Hero' section). Much easier this time around - breezed through every fight (including the Necro/Skeleton one) until I reached the final enemy. Wow - Lorcan was tough to beat! I had no healing potions or abilities at all and it took me seven attempts (and some lucky dice rolls!) to prevail in the end. Next time I play I will be sure to have my backpack fully stocked with Potions of Healing when I reach him; he was the only encounter that I didn't manage to win on the first attempt!

Again, I'd just like to say how excellent I think this book was. I'm half tempted to go back and try a Warrior or Mage build but I think I'll crack on with HoF first. If that one is anywhere near as good as LoS then I'm in for a treat! Thanks for giving us DestinyQuest, Mike!

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Re: Stuck on Winter's Hill

Da Boss — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 10:37:13 +0000

Outside of the legendary monsters, the best mage headgear is/was found in Waking the dead, sadly. There are a couple of good rings in Battle of the Bone Fields that might help you though.

You may consider it cheating, but the hero builder can be useful in helping you to find items to boost your hero. Perhaps something to keep in mind for a second playthrough? (I recommend rogue if you want an easier ride!)

Hero builder:
http://www.destiny-quest.com/assets/Downloads/Files/The-Legion-of-Shadow-item-sheet.pdf

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Re: Stuck on Winter's Hill

Alziel — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 10:00:06 +0000

Thanks for the response Mike! It's always great to hear from the author themselves so it's very much appreciated.

I did really want to play a Necromancer (and my choices throughout the game had foreshadowed this - I'd played as quite a mercenary character). However, when I had the option and realized that I needed to give up my Tiger's Heart talisman I realized that I couldn't afford the drop in Speed and the loss of a Speed ability ('Cat's Speed'), so I decided against it.

My build had seemed to work fine up until I hit the Necro/Skeleton encounter so I was really given a shock when I tackled that battle. Things have been a little easier since as well and I now have a Speed of 13 - but my Magic has taken a drop to 19. What I really want to do is lose my 4 Brawn points as they seem a bit wasted - so I'm on the lookout for new headgear and a new ring.

Anyway, I would like to reiterate that this is proving to be an excellent game with a great story. As I draw closer to the endgame I am feeling torn between starting LoS again with a new character or having a go at HoS.

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Re: Stuck on Winter's Hill

Da Boss — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 09:14:22 +0000

Hi Alziel - welcome to the forums and thanks for sharing your experiences. Yes, Legion is pitched on the challenging side. I did want to tweak a few things in Act 3 for the latest edition but my publisher wouldn't let me sadly! Ran out of time.

Vood is correct that you don't have to complete Winter's Hill to progress (or indeed, Against all odds and Battle of the Bone Fields) - although, obviously you want to progress as far as you can through them.

As an alchemist you are at a disadvantage because you are losing two offensive abilities. The bonus for alchemists is that they can have a speed talisman (whereas the other mage careers don't). Therefore, technically you can have much higher speed. A speed of 13 or 14, as Vood states, is where you want to be aiming for in those early quests.

Itemisation is much improved (in my opinion!) in HoF and EoWF. Legion was very much a learning curve!

Hope your mage goes on to triumph. Sounds like you are back in the fight!

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Re: Stuck on Winter's Hill

Alziel — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 01:00:18 +0000

Well - I finally finished Winter's Hill - but I did it by cheating, so it feels hollow.

I had almost achieved a genuine victory as the Skeletons had 2 Health remaining and I had 17 remaining but they got in two successful and heavy blows which would have killed me. I had no potions left, no abilities and only 7GC - so I decided to re-use 'Command' figuring that the battle had been dragging on long enough for the ability to recharge. Well - that's my justification.

Anyway, the next two battles were fairly straightforward and I won both legitimately although it came very close with Rottaghast. Again - the Necro/Skeleton fight seemed to stick out like a sore thumb in terms of difficulty.

I acknowledge that I could do with more Speed and I now do intend to change my headgear as soon as I get a chance - I had held on to it because the 'Command' ability had proved so useful and the extra Magic was nice.

It does seem a bit of a shame that I came undone towards the end of the game because my Speed was a point or so too low - the importance of that one stat seems to limit customization more than I would like.

Having said all this, I think the game is excellent and I'm having great fun with it. I just wish I could have progressed to the end without resorting to a cheat. I'll place a much higher priority on 'Speed' items in my next run through I suppose. I do hope 'Heart of Fire' is a little more balanced in this respect.

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Re: Stuck on Winter's Hill

Tisamon — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 23:43:44 +0000

Cos your speed is too low. Lose crown of command and get something better. It has no speed.

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Re: Stuck on Winter's Hill

Alziel — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 18:59:30 +0000

Mmm - interesting. Mine is the latest edition and it also says 'participated...'. I think I'll take that as a green light to go ahead and play 'Against all Odds' then - doesn't feel much like cheating. Hopefully the narrative will make sense!

I can come back to Winter's Hill when I've grown in strength.

Thanks for the help, Vood!

Update: Just completed 'Against all Odds' and I breezed through it (although all four allied defenders were killed). I switched my left hand weapon to Grasping Grimm, gaining 1 Speed (taking me to 12 Speed) and losing 'Shackle' but gaining 'Rake'. I also gained 130 GC (100 from completing the mission and 30 from Midas Touch), so I can now buy potions again.

I am now convinced that the Necro/Skeleton fight in 'Winter's Hill' is too tough for an orange quest encounter - it's a much tougher fight than any that I encountered in 'Against all Odds' and that's supposed to be one difficulty level higher.

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Re: Stuck on Winter's Hill

Vood — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 18:53:28 +0000

I looked back at my copy. It is the first hardback so may have got changed. Text for Against All Odds says you must have participated in the quest Winters Hill. It doesn't say you must have completed it. Failing it was ok. I think.....

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Re: Stuck on Winter's Hill

Alziel — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 18:49:40 +0000

Thanks for the response, Vood.

The three Charm items (Gloves, Traveller's Band and Funeral Gown) all carry +1 Speed as well and every replacement that I've come across so far doesn't have that bonus, so if I swapped them then my Speed would drop even lower which I really can't afford.

You do need to complete Winter's Hill - if you try to start 'Against all Odds' there is a note at the very beginning stating that you must have finished 'Winter's Hill' before starting the quest.

Well, I just failed my 26th attempt to kill the Necro and Skeleton Horde. I still have my Speed Elixirs as I know that if I use them and lose the battle again I won't be able to buy any more potions.

PS. The rod set-up that is suggested in the post that you linked me to above is exactly how I have my rods set up (Rending is North, Slowing is East and Enfeeblement is West). But it's not really helping - if I lose a round (which I nearly always do) I get hammered by 2 dice + 20 Magic minus my very low Armour (2 per blow), and I only have my one Heal ability. So it doesn't really help when I only have 50 Health. I'm seriously considering cheating which I really don't want to do.

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Re: Stuck on Winter's Hill

Vood — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 18:48:43 +0000

Found this old post - http://www.destiny-quest.com/forums/here-be-spoilers/show/839#post839

I think rod of enfeeblement is right way to go.

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Re: Stuck on Winter's Hill

Vood — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 18:42:44 +0000

I'm no real expert but I did complete LOS and HOF with mage characeters. I'm going mostly on memory but I'm fairly sure you should be 13/14 speed by the blue quest. Your gear looks okay. I don't personally consider charm is of any use in the later acts so I would have swapped those for better stuff. I know others prefer to have a rereoll.

Wait. Can't you fail winter's hill any way? You don't have to complete it. I need to recheck.

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Stuck on Winter's Hill

Alziel — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 14:05:29 +0000

Hi all,

New to these forums and loving Destiny Quest so far!

However, I've hit a brick wall in Act 3 and can't seem to get past it. I'm hoping for advice here.

The sticking point is the battle against the Necromancers and Skeleton Horde on Winter's Hill. I cannot beat this encounter at all or come anywhere close!

I've completed 'The Warning' and 'Waking the Dead' and I have 37 GC to my name (as I've been buying potions from Lansbury constantly in an effort to get past the Necro encounter). So I don't really have anywhere else to go unless I risk skipping ahead to the blue quest.

Here's my current set up:

Mage - Alchemist
Speed: 11, Brawn: 4, Magic: 22, Armour: 2, Health: 50

Mantle of Spirit (Curse)
Crown of Command (Command)
Rune Clothed Gloves (Charm)
Illumanti Rod (Overload)
Funeral Gown (Charm)
Chains of Binding (Shackle)
Tiger's Heart (Cat's Speed)
Velvet Slippers (Haste)
Silver Cross (Heal)
Wrath of Ages (Rust)
Traveller's Band (Charm)

I have 'Good Taste' and 'Midas Touch' as my Alchemist abilities, neither of which help me here.

I have four Elixirs of Speed (+4SP for one round) and 1 Oil Flask (2 uses of 2 dice damage ignoring armour in lieu of a standard damage roll).

Despite trying everything, I am being trounced. By the time I've wiped the Necros I'm usually low on Health and facing Skeletons with 130+ Health and most of my abilities/potions have been used. I obviously have no further options available for getting any more potions or gear with money.

Oh - the rod that is set up here is the Rod of Enfeeblement (-2 Magic to the enemies).

Any pointers would be appreciated but to me this battle seems way too powerful for an orange quest - I've not had any issues with any other fights until this point.

Thanks in advance!

PS. Since posting this, I had a go at tackling each of the legendary monsters for Act 3 (Chillblain, The Blob, Gorgis, Malcontent and Flay) - I was soundly defeated by each of them (unsurprisingly). So I have just two options left - either keep trying to defeat the Necros and Skeleton Horde or move on to the blue quest and hope for the best. I think I'll try the latter and see how that goes.

PPS. OK - so now I'm really stuck. I can't tackle the blue quest ('Against all Odds') until I've completed 'Winter's Hill' - so it looks like I'm done for.

This doesn't seem right to me - the Necro/Skeleton Horde battle appears to be way too difficult for an orange quest, particularly as I breezed through the other orange quest and particularly as I've had no real problems with any enemies previous to this. Is there an error with the stats for this encounter or am I just doing something wrong?

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