Changes to epic Snitch post update

[der_kluge]

Whoa - ran epic snitch last night with my FvS and Garos was WAY harder than previous runs. He was COMMANDING people and was throwing tons of cometfalls. We very nearly wiped 2/3rds of the way through with like 4 people dead. We managed to recover and complete. This was a party of fully experience people - no 1st timers, and solid DPS, and a well-balanced group. I went in with full mana, and had to drink two pots just to complete this fight.

Anyone else noticed the changes here?

[TheDearLeader]

Whoa - ran epic snitch last night with my FvS and Garos was WAY harder than previous runs. He was COMMANDING people and was throwing tons of cometfalls. We very nearly wiped 2/3rds of the way through with like 4 people dead. We managed to recover and complete. This was a party of fully experience people - no 1st timers, and solid DPS, and a well-balanced group. I went in with full mana, and had to drink two pots just to complete this fight.

Anyone else noticed the changes here?

Magic Circle Against Evil does, theoretically, protect against Command. Sounds like someone forgot to cast it?

[Sarisa]

I've noticed him using Flesh to Stone a bit more in the 5-6 times I've run it since u10p1, but no other changes. That could have just been people failing their saves more, or just the luck of his randomizer.

Magic Circle or Holy Aura are essential.

[der_kluge]

If there wasn't a circle of protection, it was probably because people all ran off. I seem to recall shrining last, and then joining the rest, and then the combat started pretty much immediately thereafter.

That's a good thing to keep in mind for next time. Usually I'm more concerned about getting Deathward off, than Prot. from evil, as I don't consider it that critical, but apparently I stand corrected on that. Though, I usually always do both.

[sirgog]

Garos has a few tricks up his sleeve, he always has.

I nearly wiped there once a while back when Warchanter 2 was new, and we didn't realise that the GH song did not grant fear immunity.

[Corwinsky]

Regarding command, protection from evil doesn't protect against it; it just adds bonuses to save against it but not necessarily enough for all builds so you also need holy aura cast on the party.
I haven't done this quest in a long time but I do remember the flesh to stone, the mass holds, etc that could wipe a party of newbies that think short buffs are useless.
Another thing I remember being told is not to buff the group next to Garos himself before the start of the fight as it would benefit from it. Not sure if it's true or not as I've never tested it.
Maybe that's what happened to your group and why it was so much stronger than usual.

[TheDearLeader]

Regarding command, protection from evil doesn't protect against it;

Then the Wiki is wrong. But.. it's not.

[shadow_419]

Regarding command, protection from evil doesn't protect against it; ...

The Airship Silver Flame guy's protection from evil will not stop command, or greater command. The spell cast from arcane or divine caster will though.

[badbob117]

It can be a nightmare fight if players lack certain buffs. Greater heroism for the fear immunity, Freedom of movement, Fire, Acid, electric, Magic Circle against evil and deathward. these are pretty common buffs mind you. No real reason to not ask the divine and arcane for them at the shrine right before the fight.. The deadly spell that no one wants to get cast on them is his Flesh to stone. This can suck.

Still solo him every other night on my fvs though. Good trick for avoiding the flesh to stone spell is the shield of reflecting. It will absorb up to 5 of his stoner spells. The shield can be a real lifesaver, Regardless of if you are soloing or in a group keeping every one up. It really helps. Even solo he rarely throws more then 5 flesh to stones before i take him down.

I once sang iron skin song on my bard when we were right beside him awaiting the fight. Everyone was scratching their head wondering why we could not break his dr with our Dr breakers. . He still can be buffed with our spells before the fight. So be careful . A new bard can make this fight so much harder then it has to be by singing all his songs and not realizing it buffs the bad guy as well. Buff at shrine then go fight him.