A Class on Demons
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Faelar stands and asks
In regards to Archers and the Greater Magic Weapon spell…
Would it be best to enchant the piercing arrows or the bow? Or does it really matter?
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Maria lets others chime in and sits, listening and glancing over to people to see if anyone in particular looks shy to voice their concerns or questions
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Shesarai raises her hand.
If I may add a word or two for clerics. I second everything Maria said about use of fire and ice spells not being useful. I use piercing arrows with greater magic weapon cast on the ammunition. That tends to get through to Vrocks and Succubi, although with some subtraction due to their resistance.
Combat with demons is chaotic and those with healing need to watch the rest of the party carefully. But to get close enough to heal a downed friend, you're going to need protection from area spells (Like Spell Resistance). Saving a Greater Sanctuary also is important. It lets you get close enough to cast healing without being specifically targeted (though you still will have to resist area affect spells). Battle Tide and Banishment can be very useful too, and are better than Flame Strike and Ice Storm if facing demons and their summons. I find that divine damage spells like Searing Light work on demons, though only half as well as on undead.
AubreyMaturin
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Leena shifts into person-shape from an unobtrusive mouse into the corner, and raises her hand.
_I just have a couple of things to add, if I may.
For Druids, and their companions, there's a few things to know. Stoneskin not only protects, but if you're shapeshifted while you have that magical stone covering on you, it helps you pierce the demon's tough skin with your claws. It MAY work with other shapes like Umberhulk and the like, I'm not sure, but if you see your Druid friends shift, that's probably why.
Keep in mind, if we go down while we're shifted, it's going to be much harder to save us, so this is used sparingly.
Maria did good to talk about how using things like elemental attributes won't help … but if we encounter undead and SHROUDS like we have been ... dispels are key, and things like Holy Water start tearing them apart, so stock up!_
She bows her head to Maria for allowing the interruption.
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María resumes the class
Well , since it'd seem most of you just want to know how to combat them. I'll simplify it.
Things that you need, and why:
Healing potions: Get as much as you can, so that you can keep going by the using them instead of relying on priestly aid. This way priests can prepare the proper spells to keep the party protected.
Negative Energy spell,/potions, spellcrstals: If you can't get one of these by your own means, then buy healing potions so that as I've just said, priests don't have to use their blessings on healing and can protect you from this.
Succubus drain your very life essence, and if they drain enough, it can kill you. Careful.Protection from elements. Spells, enchanted items, potions. Specially against fire, as that's the type of element they favour.
Forget about arrows with cold, acid, fire, or electric damage. These won't do anything against most of the demons due to their natural resistances. Your best bet is to go with piercing arrows or sonic… or other rarer types of damage such as divine.
Protection from evil spells are a must, as demons like to play with peoples's minds and this will protect you from confusion spells and give you better resistance to other mind affecting spells they might cast on you.
For all but the most powerful demons, second level of enchantment for weapons is enough. But for the tough ones, such as glabrezou and balors, you're going to need -at least- third level of enchantment. This is important to be noticed, as that'll prevent you from uselessly shooting or going into useless melee attempts.
This is, again, another reason to buy healing, so that priests and other casters can focus on providing the essential spells.
Especial for casters, regardless of your ability with spells, know that the powerful demons have spellresistance that can even resit spells of mine. That's why when possible we'll need to have to prepare lesser spellbreaches, 4th circle spell, to lower their natural resistance to spells and be able to pierce it through.
Also for spelcasters, no fire or electric spells are good choices. In fact, no elemental damaging spells are good choices... so try to focus your spells on helping comrades. Greater magic weapons, hastes, strengths....
She clears her throat after the long monologue
Uh.. any questions?
((i speeded this up since we're already into the fighting part with this plot...
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he looks even more abashed
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Take it easy, Vick. She says In order for you all to understand how to act in the battlefield, you first need to know your opponent. I'll give advices on all that later.
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Vick stands during a pause
You mention poisons and most elemental spells and weapons being useless or of diminished value when dealing damage to demons. What of holy items or missiles with holy properties cast upon them?
I do not want to get ahead of you here but you also mentioned many can poison you when they attack. What might be useful in dealing with these, other than staggering toward a cleric or healer who may already be overwhelmed?
I know this class is on the variety of the foes we are facing but when the final planning comes down there may be a number of us with odd items that may help in lesser ways. Once we garner the knowledge you are offering, those in charge may want to look outside of the front liners and see what odd gifts those of us with little to offer on the front might bring.
takes a deep breath, then releases it and shrugs and sits down, looking slightly abashed
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Laerune steps in after getting a bit lost and takes a seat with scroll case open and papers ready to be written on. She offers a small wave and appologetic smile. She'd lift her hand then after a while and ask " is there a way to ward them without… You know, ditect confrontation? Maybe bribing them with something so they leave? "
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María resumes her class
Well, seen that, and before we go one by one onto the most common demons, I'd like to stop and their general attributes of relevance that are common amongst them all.
The use of poison is futile against demon. They all have a natural immunity to them, regardless of their power.
The same can be applied to the element of electricity. Because of their nature, all demons are not affected by this element, regardless of how powerful your spell is.
For other elements, like cold, acid and fire, their natural resistance is lesser, their skins can only absorb a small amount this before suffering damage. But this does mean arrows of cold won't be useful against them, for example.
Along with all these elemental defenses, they have spell resistance. The most powerful demons sometimes hard to get with spells even by me.And lastly, many demons have draining or poisoning abilities. Poisons are not too deadly in this case, but will make the fight harder for sure.
She pauses for people to take note on these important demon traits
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Sapeh has wandered in as well, after getting slightly lost and already turning up late and a little flustered; her first time within Spellweaver Keep itself. She gives a respectful nod Maria's way as she sets down near the back, keeping quiet but for the sounds of her moving around. Once settled, her attention is rapt and her expression determined. Her tattoos, especially those of an angry succubus on one arm and a nalfeshnee on the other, are plain to see.
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visibly whithers under he glare
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María glances at them… and gives Vick a glare
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Actually I am in his will, so a coma would work also. grins
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Akseli enter the area, waiting to see if Maria needs him to speak at some point. He then remarks to Vick:
"I think you mean comma, friend. Coma is entirely different matter."
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Vick looks over Z's shoulder I think that should be a semi-colon and not a colon and you need a coma on that next sentence.
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The whole Dermin enters the room late just to sit in one of the farthest seats and take note with a hardened ink and a really old quill pen
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María waits for people to gather, waiting a few extra for those who always are late. A student offers everyone some water to drink and some pastries to make the class more bareable
((OOC: I'll write without her lisp to make it bareable for you to read. Trust me, it'd be a nightmare
"Let's begin then.
Demons are tough bitches. That much we all know. There's different levels of demons, and it's important to know of this so that we can smartly engage… or retreat when needed.
So then, let's start with this, we'll put demons in 4 different groups: The easy group, the managable group, and the better-get-out-of-here group.
Before I enter into detail of which creatures belong to which group. I'll elaborate on the circumstances for each of these groups and how to behave in the scenario that you find a creature that belongs to one of them.
For the easy group, there's not much to say. These can fought without fear or taking any special meassures, as they will pose no real threat, they are just the "leftovers" and "expendables". They are meant to do naught but annoy and test the forces of the enemy.
The managable group has creatures that can be dealt with but that will require proper tactics to minize the damage on the group. Even if you are caught off guard, you can still succeed without much trouble, but do not get carried away, because they are in this group because they have or may have at least one ability that can be specially annoying.
The be careful group has creatures that will pose a threat to any seasoned adventurer, specially if unprepared. These creatures -can- kill you, and do not need great numbers to be dangerous.
The last group, as you can imagine, is the type of creature that you MUST run away on sight to plan a proper way of attacking it... if possible."
She pauses to let people assimilate all this
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Hannibal quietly takes a spot in the middle of the room.
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Faelar comes in and takes a seat next to Ting.
