Combat Tricks

[Talon_Moonshadow]

I’ve started posts about various tactics before.
This post might not contain anything new to most, but I’m going to discuss a few tactics I use to turn the tide of battles that are going against you, and how to possibly survive a party wipe.

When outmatched in combat you need to find a way to limit the damage you are taking.

I find that using the dungeon terrain to my benefit is one of the easiest ways to gain an advantage.

Back up, retreat to a defensible position. Hopefully out of range of some of the baddies that just killed half your party.

Use doorways, and corners to protect your self from archers and casters. Many times you can let them see you, but get partial cover from something in the environment to protect you from many of their long range attacks.

Doing Kobold Assault on Elite at lvl 2, after a wipe, I came back in and ran for the small side entrance. I was able to partially block the door, but be blocked form lightning bolts and kobold throwers. I was also out of sight of the majority of the Kobolds moving back and forth near the entrance to the keep. They eventually stepped through to opening to get a better shot at me, but did so one or two at a time. I was able to take them out without a whole bunch of them damaging me at once. I also moved back and forth through the opening to use the corners again when several stepped through to my side.

The goal is to find a position, where the ranged attackers think they can hurt you, but you are blocked from most of their attacks.

I’ve done something similar in Butcher’s Path at the chest ambush. By dropping to stealth mode right before the zerging newbie opened the chest, I then moved to an alcove near the gate toward the shrine. I was able to take on a few Kobolds at a time this way.
Eventually, some of their friends heard the battle and came to help. But I was able to use the walls of the alcove, or move to another one, and partially protect myself.

Shield Blocking and potion and/or wand healing.
I can usually put my back into a corner and shield block, at the same time that I drink potions and/or use wands to get my HP back up to a comfortable lvl.
Shield blocking really does add some nice DR, and protection from some special attacks.
Works much better when not fighting caster and arrow using archers though.

Using the back in the corner method can hold off an army of melee opponents quite well.
Add a paralyser for great results.
My Wizard held off an army of Ogres in Ghola Fan this way without SP.
And in an Elite Tor run recently that saw a near party wipe when we came upon a bunch of lions when the three casters were just about out of SP….I fired off two hypnos, jumped into a corner and alternated paralyser, banisher, blocking and potion drinking……fired off my res ring on the cleric, and turned a party wipe into a victory. This is all with a low HP Wizard with almost no SP.

If you can find a place to jump to, or maybe a hole or water to jump into, you can possibly be free of attacks from your enemies who cannot follow.
You can jump and range or cast spells if needed to get a clear shot.
Also jump out of water and drink potions.

Retreating as far as you need to, to find a defensible position helps quite a bit.
Monster sometimes get stuck at narrow openings, or at least slowed down enough that you can limit the number actually attacking you.

If you don’t have agro at all, you can approach a mob slowly…inch forward and try to let only the closest guy to you actually see you. He will usually run toward you without his friends.
Again retreat backwards to a defensible position far enough from his friends that they will not agro on you while you dispatch him.

You can use Invisibility to walk near him and let him hear you…and follow you away from his friends.
Or throw a missile weapon near him (not at him) and let him follow the sound till he sees you, but his friends do not.

If you are not alone, you can let the monsters see a more sturdy companion, or a summoned pet first….then pounce on the monster from behind.
This way you can contribute to a fight no matter how squishy you are, and not get hurt.
I’ve racked up kills with 1 HP before and stayed a live through several battles this way.

If two manning, using STK type tactics can go a very long way.
One person block and another range. Works best against single opponents but allows you to take down big hard hitting foes with little or no damage.

Oh well…that’s enough for now.
I’ll add more if this post actually takes off and gets some responses.

[Talon_Moonshadow]

Or, you could just blame everyone else....leave group....

Or reroll with more Con.

[rimble]

On my upcoming 9 Wizard/2 Monk I've been using Acid stuff alot...if there's one opponent throw that Acid Arrow and run/hide. If there are multiple opponents hit them with Acid Rain then run/hide. Acid Rain isn't a persistent AoE...so you hit them with it and the damage ticks away on them regardless of where they go. They don't need to stay in the AoE like Acid Fog or Wall of Fire. Never knew that before.

[Talon_Moonshadow]

On my upcoming 9 Wizard/2 Monk I've been using Acid stuff alot...if there's one opponent throw that Acid Arrow and run/hide. If there are multiple opponents hit them with Acid Rain then run/hide. Acid Rain isn't a persistent AoE...so you hit them with it and the damage ticks away on them regardless of where they go. They don't need to stay in the AoE like Acid Fog or Wall of Fire. Never knew that before.

I use to see suggestions about Acid Arrow scrolls for soloing casters at low lvl.

I tried Acid Arrow and Acid Rain on the Litany Beholder, but it seemed that his dispelling eye was dispelling the persistant damage from himself as well.

Anyway, good suggestion.

[spifflove]

I use to see suggestions about Acid Arrow scrolls for soloing casters at low lvl.

I tried Acid Arrow and Acid Rain on the Litany Beholder, but it seemed that his dispelling eye was dispelling the persistant damage from himself as well.

Anyway, good suggestion.

The Meldwood staff is best item in ww imho, usable by ANY class.