Fathom the Depths - non-epic Red Fens, Slomnuc & mage battle

[EnjoyTheJourney]

I tried soloing Fathom the Depths today. It was a fun run and it went well until the fight with the mage and Slomnuc. My rogue got level-drained repeatedly, could barely move at all to get the last one or two hits in that were needed to finish the mage, and ended up dead.

And so, I'll need to do the mission over again. But, I'm still not certain what happened in the last fight before taking on the treasure guardian because I can't tell if the mage was level draining me, Slomnuc, or traps. I don't know if there's a visual cue ahead of a level drain attack, like with wraiths, so I can sidestep, or if I just need to focus on the level drainer to try to bring it down as quickly as possible. I'm also not certain how my rogue's movement was brought down to almost zero, which means I'm not certain of how to counter it. I do have an anti-paralysis item and a negative absorbing silver flame thingamabob from Necro 1 (upgraded), but I don't know if it will work or not.

Failing once is fine. Going all the way through only to fail twice would start to be frustrating. Suggestions for how to approach the Slomnuc / mage battle would be helpful, and appreciated.

[MattiG]

Im sorry I don't have more specific advice as I have only ever solo'd this on a caster, but in general, any time I'm in a quest where I get neg leveled, I like to have the ability to use restore scrolls (cleric dilletante or UMD), or a pocket cleric waiting at the entrance. Greater restore, even better.

I'm not sure whether or not the mage dispells buffs--seems like the sort of thing an evil walking fish would do, but if not, then a deathward scroll or clickie should prevent the level drain while while a deathblock item should not (unless it has charges left, a la Mantle or Silver Flame necky).

[Ukenburger]

Wyr Mr, The pink-skinned Sahaugin Arcane, was using Enervation (http://compendium.ddo.com/wiki/Spell:Enervation) to cause negative levels. As a ray spell it is also possible to dodge (the tell is that Wyr Mr has purple-black coloring near his hands when casting). The Death Ward (http://compendium.ddo.com/wiki/Spell:Death_Ward) spell is the counter to it, completely blocking it (but at this level there are not many sources for a rogue your level, which would be Visors of the Flesh Render Guard (http://compendium.ddo.com/wiki/Item:Visor_of_the_Flesh_Render_Guards) from Tangleroot or Dolurrh Jelly Cake (http://compendium.ddo.com/wiki/Item:Dolurrh%2C_the_Realm_of_the_Dead_Jelly_Cake)) . The Silver Flame Amulet (http://compendium.ddo.com/wiki/Item:Silver_Flame_Amulet) you mentioned you have would negate one use of Enervation on you while worn (which may be enough to get through the fight).

Slomnuc can use Grease (http://compendium.ddo.com/wiki/Spell:Grease), which causes the floor to be slippery and limiting your mobility (no jumping, sluggish movement). Freedom of Movement (http://compendium.ddo.com/wiki/Spell:Freedom_of_Movement), or an item with Immunity to Slippery Surfaces is the counter to a slippery floor.

It is possible to face them one-on-one if needed by sneaking into the room, waiting for Wyr Mr to do his speech, bluffing Wyr Mr, sneak back to a partly secluded area of the room, and taking him down. Then you can concentrate on Slomnuc.

[EnjoyTheJourney]

Thank you for some excellent feedback. This really helps.

That's a potentially very rough combination for a mid-level melee rogue, especially the first time around. The mage can level drain a level 9 character to death in at little as three castings of enervation, while a big melee blob casts grease to make your character both more vulnerable to level drain and unable to chase down the elusive mage. Plus, because the blob is big, it can interfere with your ability to chase the mage by blocking your view.

I can't help wondering if I can overcome the movement penalty from grease by tumbling my rogue through the grease AOE. That would also help with dodging enervation.

[Ukenburger]

I can't help wondering if I can overcome the movement penalty from grease by tumbling my rogue through the grease AOE. That would also help with dodging enervation.

Slippery surfaces block the ability to tumble (although I agree it would be a very nice boon to tumble if you could).