Stealer of Souls, Hard (or elite)

[Talon_Moonshadow]

This is the lowest level quest I have not done on Elite.
The only quest under level 19, that I have not done on Elite.
One of six, that I have not done on Elite.
One of four that I have not done on Hard.

So, I want to get it done.

And I can't do it alone. I need brave souls..... To help me pull it off.

My LFM will say "taking first five of any class." cause that's how I prefer to do things.

As I am an impatient person, and hate to have LFMs sitting unfilled all day, I would very much like to find intersted people ahead of tiem, andmaybe coordinate the best time to do this.



But...I only have about four completions on SoS. And I definately do not know this quest well.
So I need some advice on the best way to approach this.

Number one: should we kill everything?
I am very much in favor of killing everything...a few at a time. I think at our level that should not be a problem and will make things easier.

But does anything respawn? Or is there another valid reason to not kill things as we go? (can't remember...is there a timer?)



Can the Fire Ellies and Efreeti "See Invisibility?"
And would it be easier to try to avoid them or just take them on as few at a time as possible?

Are there traps that we should(can) disable?
I just remember the air jets and levers....

What CC works good in there?
I think for the giants we are limited to non-enchantment types...mostly debuffs. But Flesh to Stone, Stinking Cloud, and some stunning effects like Greater Shout should work I think.
Can we use Trap the Soul on hard/elite? From spell?

Anything else I should know?



This is mostly for favor, but I'm too proud not to try to take down our favorite undead giant boss.
Everyone one says "bludgeoning"....but isn't it "good and bludgeoning"?




I've already got one masochistic cleric in mind that I will try to recruit if he's on at the time.

I would prefer people who hae at least done it once on normal...
And who have some idea what they are in for, and feel they are up to the task.

There is a reason why I have not done this on elite yet. It's tough.

If you haven't done a bunch of the highest content on something above normal, this is probably not the group for you.

If you are going to be asking for various buffs (especially fire resist) all the time, this is probably not the group for you.

I want friendly people with a "can do" attitude.

We will help each other the best we can, but a difficult quest leaves little room for hand holding.

I'm not a heavy handed leader, nor do I know the quest well.
I like groups that work together and are closer to a democracy than a dictatorship.


Let me know if anyone is intersted, and when would be the best times for you.

Thx.

[petegunn]

[Bunker]

There is a reason why I have not done this on elite yet. It's tough.

If you haven't done a bunch of the highest content on something above normal, this is probably not the group for you.

If you are going to be asking for various buffs (especially fire resist) all the time, this is probably not the group for you.
I want friendly people with a "can do" attitude.

We will help each other the best we can, but a difficult quest leaves little room for hand holding.

I'm not a heavy handed leader, nor do I know the quest well.
I like groups that work together and are closer to a democracy than a dictatorship.

You want groups that work together. Friendly ppl with "can do" attitudes. But can't ask for buffs. I guess that counts out thos hard hitting fighter types. Sorry boys.

[Calebro]

(can't remember...is there a timer?)

60 minutes, if I recall correctly

[Trillea]

This is the lowest level quest I have not done on Elite.
The only quest under level 19, that I have not done on Elite.
One of six, that I have not done on Elite.
One of four that I have not done on Hard.

So, I want to get it done.

And I can't do it alone. I need brave souls..... To help me pull it off.

My LFM will say "taking first five of any class." cause that's how I prefer to do things.

As I am an impatient person, and hate to have LFMs sitting unfilled all day, I would very much like to find intersted people ahead of tiem, andmaybe coordinate the best time to do this.



But...I only have about four completions on SoS. And I definately do not know this quest well.
So I need some advice on the best way to approach this.

Number one: should we kill everything?
I am very much in favor of killing everything...a few at a time. I think at our level that should not be a problem and will make things easier.
Killing things as you come across them yes, but have a good guide that knows where NOT to go like in the 1st part to avoid unnecessary fighting.

But does anything respawn? Or is there another valid reason to not kill things as we go? (can't remember...is there a timer?)
There is a timer, 1 hr if I remember correctly.



Can the Fire Ellies and Efreeti "See Invisibility?"
Ellies yes they see invis, efreet not sure.
And would it be easier to try to avoid them or just take them on as few at a time as possible?

Are there traps that we should(can) disable?
I just remember the air jets and levers....
Yes the air jets are the only thing, with the levers.

What CC works good in there?
WoE and Web, Energy Drain and FtS
I think for the giants we are limited to non-enchantment types...mostly debuffs. But Flesh to Stone, Stinking Cloud, and some stunning effects like Greater Shout should work I think.
Can we use Trap the Soul on hard/elite? From spell?
Not sure on this one.

Anything else I should know?
In the fire caves have the healer healing and the caster refreshing mass prot/elements.



This is mostly for favor, but I'm too proud not to try to take down our favorite undead giant boss.
Everyone one says "bludgeoning"....but isn't it "good and bludgeoning"?
Technically it's Magic and Bludgeoning, but good and holy work very well.




I've already got one masochistic cleric in mind that I will try to recruit if he's on at the time.

I would prefer people who hae at least done it once on normal...
And who have some idea what they are in for, and feel they are up to the task.

There is a reason why I have not done this on elite yet. It's tough.

If you haven't done a bunch of the highest content on something above normal, this is probably not the group for you.

If you are going to be asking for various buffs (especially fire resist) all the time, this is probably not the group for you.

I want friendly people with a "can do" attitude.

We will help each other the best we can, but a difficult quest leaves little room for hand holding.

I'm not a heavy handed leader, nor do I know the quest well.
I like groups that work together and are closer to a democracy than a dictatorship.


Let me know if anyone is intersted, and when would be the best times for you.

Thx.

Good luck, I will be home probably too late to join you (11 pm EDT.)

[sultanica]

usually get it done in 30-40min

[Duke-H-]

I love SoS, I'll run with you when i get my characters ported from Devourer

[MrCow]

But does anything respawn?

Earth Section - The only respawns are stone giants at the final fight.
Ice Section - Ice Flensers respawn from the summoning circles until Jala goes down.
Fire Section - The only respawns are effreti at the final fight.
Air Section - The only respawns are air elementals at the final fight.

Can the Fire Ellies and Efreeti "See Invisibility?"
And would it be easier to try to avoid them or just take them on as few at a time as possible?

The Fire Elementals can be avoided (and left completely dormant if you have the Move Silently to not awaken them), but the Efreeti in this section were gifted with Tremorsense. You are better off just tagging a small amount of things at a time unless you know how to avoid them by swimming in the lava (which for most groups is not recommended ).

Can we use Trap the Soul on hard/elite? From spell?

It'd be expensive as they'd require the 30 HD components.

[Talon_Moonshadow]

Thx for the replies.

I probably will wait till the weekend for this one.

I was debating whether to just go do it today or not. But might have better luck on Saturday....say around noon EST. Not a firm commitment yet....wife might make other plans for me.

[incineration]

another thing i tend to find useful is a dark monk (he can run on lava) w/ a good move silently skill, to pull the efreets back and not pop the fire elementals

[Talon_Moonshadow]

You want groups that work together. Friendly ppl with "can do" attitudes. But can't ask for buffs. I guess that counts out thos hard hitting fighter types. Sorry boys.

We will of course work together...including passing out buffs.

But IMO Fire damage is so common, especially in one part of this quest, that I think people should equip an item. Not saying I won't hand it out...

But, the type of players that I think are really ready to do real difficult quests, take care of themselves are are not very needy.


IMO that is the key to success. Coming into dungeon prepared for the challenges without requiring anything specific from someone else to get it done.



There is a certain kind of player that I have had good success with. There are self sufficient. Well prepared. But also freely help others anyway they can.

It's that ability to adapt and take care of themselves, that allows a group to succeed without any specific party make-up.


I'm perfectly willing to do this without a cleric....and if I get five other people with that attitude, we will will succeed.

Usually I find clerics who are willing to join me, so it's not an issue. But I don't like waiting, nor do I want to have to give up if no cleric will join us.

Plus I just know what works best for me anyway....and that is people who have that same attitude...

[Angelus_dead]

But IMO Fire damage is so common, especially in one part of this quest, that I think people should equip an item.

That's illogical: asking people to sacrifice an entire body slot to save 10 spellpoints from the Ranger.

[Calebro]

That's illogical: asking people to sacrifice an entire body slot to save 10 spellpoints from the Ranger.

Just because you don't agree with it doesn't make it illogical, Dr Spock.

[Talon_Moonshadow]

That's illogical: asking people to sacrifice an entire body slot to save 10 spellpoints from the Ranger.

I don't know how to clarify what I mean exactly....


I will give Fire Resist if needed.
And if someone asked me for it, so they did not have to sacrifice a slot I understand it.

But recently I did "In the Demon's Den" on elite....and every buff was dispelled, over and over again.

If someone comes into that quest without a fire resist item, they are in for a world of hurt.




Lets take Tempest Spine. Plenty of shrines. So no worrying about SP.
But honestly, the type of people I want in my groups took the time to go to house P before the quest and got at least....a fire resist cast on them.

Or put on a cloak to get through the fire trap.



I'm talking about people who depend on other people for basic needs to complete a quest.

The people I want, do not do that.....they come prepared.


But if they don't....the rest of us will be. And we will do our best to take care of them.






(my perfect group is six Rgrs btw)

[Scarecrow9]

tho any evasion types are of tremendous help in here i find monks to be particualrily useful. dark for the extra dmg yes but this is one of the few quests that shintao monks can shine nicely in. good dmg all round tho especially want monks with +10 stunning wraps, but the banishing strike is very helpful on the earth/air eles (fire immune to insta death). yes casters can do a decent job on the eles too but the shintaos banish is a will save that uses full monk lvl rather then half in the dc, making it almost never resisted. that on top of the evasion, stunning for giants and efreeties, and high base dmg for sorjek...id reccommend takin one or two if u can find them

[Angelus_dead]

Just because you don't agree with it doesn't make it illogical, Dr Spock.

If it wasn't illogical I would not have written that it is illogical.

[Calebro]

If it wasn't illogical I would not have written that it is illogical.

Asking someone to come prepared is never illogical.
Your response however, which basically amounts to "because I said so"....

[begbie]

I'm in on any toon.

For Elite, the best option is 1-2 healers, a fire sorc and 3-4 evasion toons. Traps are non-existent.. and depending on the right group it can be done in 22 minutes (not including Sorjek) to 50 minutes. If you want this for favour.. then skip the idea of xp and go maxed as possible. In which case I'd be happy to run a sorc (does not need favour), or a capped Kensai (has Firegreaves and more) or a FVS (straight power in healing and nuke).. if you wnat xp then I have a monk, a ranger, a cleric and a barbarian available. I won't bring my wizzie... nor my bard.. just not worth the repair bill (+they are finished).

Now, choosing skilled players will definitely make this easier. Newer folkes will make this expensive and uncomfortable (like in the back of a vw bug way) but hey it's up to you.

If you need a hand ask someone in AA if Scars is on.

Otherwise.. just put an lfm up and be picky.. take folkes you know, and guilds you know.

BTW.. if you just want favour, skip Sorjek... he can be a big pain.

[ayspam]

Gimme a shout, I ll get heals for you on this one.

[begbie]

That's illogical: asking people to sacrifice an entire body slot to save 10 spellpoints from the Ranger.

lol.. no it's not.


Seriously.. my barb has 11 guards.. is heavily weaponed.. and wears at all times greater acid, fire and lightning (can get sonic but it costs me a guard)... to think that someone has to buff you so you can survive is irresonsible and well.. counter-power gamer.. but if you like requiring others to cover your survival thats cool.. don't be surprised when you hear a gamer say no to your request.

It's your fault that you haven't gotten the things you need to succeed.