Dranthos Storm Crusader Knight vs Phanthanan Drow Nexus

This was a fun and brutal battle I thought I'd share.

You are Phanthanan, loyal believer in way of Lloth and powers of Faith.

Level 50, 1010 years old (152 hours).

Race: drow  Sex: female  Class: invoker

-edited-

You have 883/883 hit, 1517/1549 mana, 404/488 movement.

-edited-

You are carrying 40/43 items with weight 210/325 pounds.

Str: 18(18)  Int: 24(24)  Wis: 20(20)  Dex: 24(22)  Con: 15(16)

You have scored 617400 exp, and have 78534 gold coins.

Condition: You are in the prime of your health.

Luck: Lady Luck is going your way.

Wimpy set to 2 hit points.

You are standing.

Armor: pierce: -712  bash: -696  slash: -747  magic: -728

Save vs  Spell: -28  Affliction: -7  Malediction: -30  Mental: -25  Breath: -15

You are utterly invincible against piercing.

You are utterly invincible against bashing.

You are utterly invincible against slashing.

You are utterly invincible against magic.

Hitroll: 12  Damroll: 12.

(883/883hp 1420/1549m 464/488mv)  whe

Your spirits don't feel as lifted.

The blood on your hands focuses and invigorates you.

You feel a little better.

(883/883hp 1499/1549m 488/488mv)  (883/883hp 1499/1549m 488/488mv)  The Great Chasm is [KNIGHT] controlled.  Players near you:

  Dranthos                         The Arid Lowlands

  Phanthanan                       A massive rock face

(883/883hp 1499/1549m 488/488mv)  c 'firestorm'

You tap into fate generator's mana pool and reinforce your spell.

You create a vortex of fire, sulfur, and brimstone overhead.

(883/883hp 1480/1549m 488/488mv)  op n

You open the boulder north of you.

(883/883hp 1480/1549m 488/488mv)  clo n

You close the boulder north of you.

(883/883hp 1480/1549m 488/488mv)  af

Without cover Dranthos is peleted with flaming debris!

Dranthos yells 'Help! I've just walked into Phanthanan's firestorm!'

Your Firestorm LACERATES Dranthos! (I was prepared and ready for him.)

Dranthos rides in.

Dranthos has a few scratches. 

Phanthanan: [===|===|===|===]

(883/883hp 1480/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  (883/883hp 1480/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  You are affected by the following:

Spell: Firestorm      : for 1 hours

Spell: mana shield    : for 5 hours

Spell: sanctuary      : for 6 hours

Spell: protective shield: for 3 hours

Spell: drug use       : for 51 hours

Spell: stone skin     : modifies ac by -40 for 17 hours

Spell: fly            : for 19 hours

Spell: mounted        : for 134 hours

Spell: protection     : modifies savingspell by -1 for 12 hours

Spell: flesh armor    : modifies ac by -20 for 8 hours

Spell: shield         : modifies ac by -20 for 20 hours

Spell: armor          : modifies ac by -20 for 20 hours

Spell: bone armor     : modifies ac by -53 for 13 hours

Spell: detect invis   : for 8 hours

Song:  totems canticle: modifies savingspell by -6 for 13 hours

                      : modifies damroll by 3 for 13 hours

                      : modifies hitroll by 6 for 13 hours

Dranthos has a few scratches. 

Phanthanan: [===|===|===|===]

(883/883hp 1480/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  cast 'dispel magic'

You tap into fate generator's mana pool and reinforce your spell.

Dranthos slowly floats to the ground.

The white aura around Dranthos fades. (Yes! Got him on my first try.)

Dranthos's flesh returns to normal.

Ok.

Dranthos has a few scratches. 

Phanthanan: [===|===|===|===]

(883/883hp 1475/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  (883/883hp 1475/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  

Dranthos's slash decimates you!

Dranthos's slash LACERATES you!

Dranthos's slash MUTILATES you!

You parry Dranthos's attack.

'Cleanser' the Bane of Miscreants adorned with a glowing ember sears your flesh with flames.

Dranthos's flaming bite is powerless against you.

You can feel 'Cleanser' the Bane of Miscreants adorned with a glowing ember dig into your body.

Dranthos's wrath hits you.

Your firestorm sends sheets of flame flying all around!

Your Firestorm LACERATES Dranthos!

Dranthos dodges your attack.

Dranthos blocks your attack with his weapon.

Dranthos has a few scratches. 

Phanthanan: [===|===|===|==-]

(756/883hp 1475/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  (756/883hp 1475/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  

Dranthos kicks aside your onhand and strikes at your shoulder, but aims too high.

Dranthos's shoulder strike misses you. (And he lags himself.)

Dranthos has a few scratches. 

Phanthanan: [===|===|===|==-]

(756/883hp 1475/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  c 'hellstream'

You tap into fate generator's mana pool and reinforce your spell.

You bow your head as you call forth the full power of the arcane.

The ground erupts as Dranthos is caught in a searing beam of arcane light.

Your hellstream *** OBLITERATES *** Dranthos! (typical damage when I'm unlucky.)

Dranthos has some small wounds and bruises. 

Phanthanan: [===|===|===|==-]

(756/883hp 1460/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  c 'hellstream'

Dranthos's slash LACERATES you!

Dranthos's slash misses you.

Dranthos's slash maims you!

Dranthos's slash LACERATES you!

Your Firestorm decimates Dranthos!

Dranthos dodges your attack.

Dranthos has some small wounds and bruises. 

Phanthanan: [===|===|===|---]

(631/883hp 1460/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  (631/883hp 1460/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  

Dranthos holds a glimmering white staff in his hand. 

Dranthos has some small wounds and bruises. 

Phanthanan: [===|===|===|---]

(631/883hp 1460/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  (631/883hp 1460/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  

Dranthos brandishes a glimmering white staff.

Dranthos is surrounded by a white aura.

You tap into fate generator's mana pool and reinforce your spell.

You bow your head as you call forth the full power of the arcane.

The ground erupts as Dranthos is caught in a searing beam of arcane light.

Your hellstream MANGLES Dranthos! (barely missed, darn. Thought I'd go for another dispel to take advantage of the lag.)

Dranthos has quite a few wounds. 

Phanthanan: [===|===|===|---]

(631/883hp 1445/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  (631/883hp 1445/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  

Dranthos's slash maims you!

Dranthos's slash LACERATES you!

Your Firestorm hits Dranthos.

Dranthos parries your attack.

Dranthos dodges your attack.

Dranthos has quite a few wounds. 

Phanthanan: [===|===|==-|---]

(553/883hp 1445/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  cast 'dispel magic'

You tap into fate generator's mana pool and reinforce your spell.

You failed.

Dranthos has quite a few wounds. 

Phanthanan: [===|===|==-|---]

(553/883hp 1440/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  (553/883hp 1440/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  

Dranthos's slash maims you!

Dranthos's slash MUTILATES you!

Your firestorm sends sheets of flame flying all around!

Your Firestorm decimates Dranthos!

Dranthos dodges your attack.

Dranthos has quite a few wounds. 

Phanthanan: [===|===|=--|---]

(477/883hp 1440/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  !

Dranthos stops using a glimmering white staff.

Dranthos has quite a few wounds. 

Phanthanan: [===|===|=--|---]

(477/883hp 1440/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  (477/883hp 1440/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  

Dranthos's strike hits you.

Dranthos has quite a few wounds. 

Phanthanan: [===|===|=--|---]

(465/883hp 1440/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  (465/883hp 1440/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  You tap into fate generator's mana pool and reinforce your spell.

You failed. (Not good, taking me too many tries. Lvl 52 mental.)

Dranthos has quite a few wounds. 

Phanthanan: [===|===|=--|---]

(465/883hp 1435/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  !

Dranthos's slash MUTILATES you!

Dranthos's slash maims you!

Dranthos's slash LACERATES you!

Dranthos's slash LACERATES you!

Your Firestorm hits Dranthos.

Dranthos parries your attack.

Dranthos blocks your attack with his weapon.

Dranthos has quite a few wounds. 

Phanthanan: [===|==-|---|---]

(304/883hp 1435/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  (304/883hp 1435/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  You tap into fate generator's mana pool and reinforce your spell.

The white aura around Dranthos fades. (Is it too late?)

Ok.

Dranthos has quite a few wounds. 

Phanthanan: [===|==-|---|---]

(304/883hp 1430/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  c 'hellstream'

You tap into fate generator's mana pool and reinforce your spell.

You bow your head as you call forth the full power of the arcane.

The ground erupts as Dranthos is caught in a searing beam of arcane light.

Your hellstream >>> ANNIHILATES <<< Dranthos! (Figured I'd risk it since this is the damage I was hoping for. Afterall I still have 300hp, what could go wrong?) :) 

Dranthos has some big nasty wounds and scratches. 

Phanthanan: [===|==-|---|---]

(304/883hp 1415/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  (304/883hp 1415/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  Dranthos fakes a swing and rams the hilt of 'Cleanser' the Bane of Miscreants adorned with a glowing ember into your stomach!

You are starving.

Your hunger decimates you!

You are parched.

Your thirst devastates you!

Dranthos's gut smash mauls you.

You feel scared for a second.

Dranthos's slash LACERATES you!

You sure are BLEEDING!

Dranthos's slash MUTILATES you!

You sure are BLEEDING!

Dranthos's slash MUTILATES you!

You sure are BLEEDING!

'Cleanser' the Bane of Miscreants adorned with a glowing ember sears your flesh with flames.

Dranthos's flaming bite is powerless against you.

You can feel 'Cleanser' the Bane of Miscreants adorned with a glowing ember dig into your body.

Dranthos's wrath wounds you.

You sure are BLEEDING!

Your firestorm spews forth a cloud of fiery brimstone!

Your Firestorm MASSACRES Dranthos!

Dranthos blocks your attack with his weapon.

Dranthos has some big nasty wounds and scratches. 

Phanthanan: [=--|---|---|---]

(77/883hp 1415/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  (77/883hp 1415/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  

You are parched.

Your thirst hits you.

You sure are BLEEDING!

You are starving.

Your hunger mauls you.

You sure are BLEEDING!

Dranthos has some big nasty wounds and scratches. 

Phanthanan: [=--|---|---|---]

(46/883hp 1431/1549m 488/488mv) Phanthanan:  cast 'word of recall'

Dranthos's slash devastates you!

You sure are BLEEDING!

Dranthos's slash LACERATES you!

You have been KILLED!! (brutal!)

Anonymous poster hash: ac37a...f11

How's your call lightning damage vs him?

I had some HS Storm sadders, say they couldn't stand vs a drow Reaver Invoker lightning.

Despite your AC he landed 18 melee hits over 6 rounds, the last round we do not know how many he would have landed so I did not count it.

So avg of 3 attacks per round of out a possible 4. He missed 1 attack, and you parried once in the whole exchange.

Slash is your best AC to boot. On the bright side he cant dual wield 😆

2 hours ago, mya said:

How's your call lightning damage vs him?

I had some HS Storm sadders, say they couldn't stand vs a drow Reaver Invoker lightning.

Tried it once and didn't find it effective so I stopped using it, at least until I can use a certain cabal skill. 

Phanthanan: [===|===|=--|---]

(515/893hp 1521/1494m 381/513mv)

You tap into Phanthanan's Dominferis adorned with a jade figurine's mana pool and reinforce your spell.

Deep thunder rolls and sheets of lightning strike your foes!

Sparks arc around Dranthos's armor!

Your lightning bolt MASSACRES Dranthos!

Dranthos has a few scratches. 

Phanthanan: [===|===|=--|---]

(515/893hp 1516/1494m 381/513mv) 

You flee from combat!

Anonymous poster hash: ac37a...f11

1 hour ago, Manual Labour said:

Despite your AC he landed 18 melee hits over 6 rounds, the last round we do not know how many he would have landed so I did not count it.

So avg of 3 attacks per round of out a possible 4. He missed 1 attack, and you parried once in the whole exchange.

Slash is your best AC to boot. On the bright side he cant dual wield 😆

After stating this I looked over all my other battles vs Dranthos and did a search for "You parry Dranthos's attack." I was dumbfounded when I found a total of only 7 results. :O 

Anonymous poster hash: ac37a...f11

Just now, Anonymous said:

After stating this I looked over all my other battles vs Dranthos and did a search for "You parry Dranthos's attack." I was dumbfounded when I found a total of only 7 results. Which included the 1 from this battle. :O 

Anonymous poster hash: ac37a...f11

 

Anonymous poster hash: ac37a...f11

2 hours ago, Anonymous said:

Tried it once and didn't find it effective so I stopped using it, at least until I can use a certain cabal skill. 

Phanthanan: [===|===|=--|---]

(515/893hp 1521/1494m 381/513mv)

You tap into Phanthanan's Dominferis adorned with a jade figurine's mana pool and reinforce your spell.

Deep thunder rolls and sheets of lightning strike your foes!

Sparks arc around Dranthos's armor!

Your lightning bolt MASSACRES Dranthos!

Dranthos has a few scratches.

 

6 hours ago, Anonymous said:

You tap into fate generator's mana pool and reinforce your spell.

You bow your head as you call forth the full power of the arcane.

The ground erupts as Dranthos is caught in a searing beam of arcane light.

Your hellstream MANGLES Dranthos! (barely missed, darn. Thought I'd go for another dispel to take advantage of the lag.)

Dranthos has quite a few wounds.

You can cast two call lightnings in the time you cast one hellstream. Try switching to call lightning and using an elemental shield instead of mana shield and the results might surprise you.

Even though you are playing around renown disarm, you'll get better results using a charged staff over a stave as far as mana charge is concerned so if you're using a fully charged staff and using call lightnings you'll only ever lag yourself for 1/2 a round at a time which is plenty of time to rewield your staff.

How were call voids? You could spam those until you hit a dispel and switch to a heavy hitter (sometimes two call lightnings are better than one saved hellstream mind you).

I'd use ice shield and ice storm over hellstream spams.   Damage would be higher and I highly doubtful he has an ice weapon.  You're rarely going to beat him in straight up combat.   Try baiting him.   Run to heal.  Set up storm and hit him with an ice storm, flee rinse and repeat.  When you get people on the chase they often forget critical skills/spells that may wear off.

I actually primarily use ice storm. I only use hellstream when I get dispels and worry they may start moving around. I used to used fire/ice shield but was worried High Sight would consider that an vuln. Maybe I'll post a previous log of me testing it and hopefully we can deduce that I was mistaken.

Because of renown disarm and flameblind, I had to sacrifice HP/AC in my later battles for saves. And after noticing how little I parry (105 btw) I'd say my logs are prime example of why its probably better to ditch the skill altogether. Unless I'm missing something, isn't it better to gain the greater AC values from using a shield and wielding a charged stave so a disarm won't kill my offense? @Chesta6384

@Wade Tested call voids against Keshan. The damage is too low and the dispels don't seem to work the same as regular dispels. But I only tested a few rounds, maybe i'll try giving it a longer go.

Anonymous poster hash: ac37a...f11

are we not going to address what he is reporting on parry, that is unreal.

It's not uncommon for that path of sader to bypass parry.   That being said, the only way he can exploit your shields vuln is by using the same.   Even then, switching between shields is very effective.   He comes at u with mundane, swap to ice, he has a magic, swap back to Mana.  I would suggest using the 1h staff from falen Dara.   I had a cursed one as Lejarak but there happened to be a Necro around.   It's not a bad idea to have two or three of those fully charged.   Then you can wield that and a shield for the boosted ac.   If you'd like help on equipment send me a PM.   I don't play anymore so you will remain anonymous.

It's an axe so it's high offense and a weapon type you don't know.  Two hand is 110 with 104 axe prof.  I've been preped with a secondary suit since I saw two invoker's leveling so I can bump my saves and drop my ac without losing much hit/dam.  You do pretty well with the dispels but it's just a matter of luck a lot if I lag myself or your dispels fail or not.    I can hit ice but not fire but I won't go into qclass specifics.  Rotating shields would definitely hinder that but you'll also be sacrificing something important that you haven't seen yet in doing so.  I can rotate 2 dmg nouns at will and rotate a third with a qskill but it's on timer.  BTW a fully charged staff serves more than just faster casting.

-Dranthos

Anonymous poster hash: 1fbac...ed0

@Chesta6384 I'm actually one of your greatest protege's ;) way back then, you've told me all your secrets so I'm aware and using some of the tricks you're mentioning now. If you notice I'm actually wearing alot of the eq Lejarak had. Though I would disagree that using elemental shields would be effective. As Dranthos is hinting at, I'd be sacrificing something important by doing so and the dmg doesn't seem very worthwhile. I've played a powerful invoker and powerful saders in the past. But I find myself in a more challenging spot than I remember. Here's an example of me using fire shield in one of our earlier battles. I thought the obscene damage he was doing took advantage of it so I was afraid of using them afterward lol. @Dranthos thanks for the tips about not hitting fire easily. A tip I have for you is that I can't outdamage you normally, so i'm forced to always go the dispel route. Why risk using any skills and lagging yourself at all? You'll always win just by doing nothing. Just always be ready to get your sanctuary back up, you can even set triggers for it.

 

Dranthos parries your attack.

A winged lightning dragon breathes forth a bolt of lightning!

Your lightning bolt grazes Dranthos.

Dranthos's slash LACERATES you!

Dranthos's slash MUTILATES you!

'Cleanser' the Bane of Miscreants adorned with a glowing ember sears your flesh with flames.

Dranthos's flaming bite injures you.

You can feel 'Cleanser' the Bane of Miscreants adorned with a glowing ember dig into your body.

Dranthos's wrath hits you.

Your fire shield injures Dranthos.

Dranthos looks pretty hurt. 

 

Dranthos parries your attack.

Dranthos's slash LACERATES you!

You sure are BLEEDING!

Dranthos's slash devastates you!

You sure are BLEEDING!

Dranthos's slash MUTILATES you!

You sure are BLEEDING!

'Cleanser' the Bane of Miscreants adorned with a glowing ember sears your flesh with flames.

Dranthos's flaming bite grazes you.

You sure are BLEEDING!

You can feel 'Cleanser' the Bane of Miscreants adorned with a glowing ember dig into your body.

Dranthos's wrath mauls you.

You sure are BLEEDING!

Your fire shield maims Dranthos!

Dranthos is in awful condition. 

 

You yell 'Help! I am being attacked by Dranthos!'

You feel scared for a second.

Dranthos's slash LACERATES you!

You sure are BLEEDING!

Dranthos's slash MUTILATES you!

You sure are BLEEDING!

'Cleanser' the Bane of Miscreants adorned with a glowing ember sears your flesh with flames.

Dranthos's flaming bite wounds you.

You sure are BLEEDING!

You can feel 'Cleanser' the Bane of Miscreants adorned with a glowing ember dig into your body.

Dranthos's wrath hits you.

You sure are BLEEDING!

Your fire shield wounds Dranthos.

Dranthos looks pretty hurt. 

Anonymous poster hash: ac37a...f11

2 hours ago, Anonymous said:

I used to used fire/ice shield but was worried High Sight would consider that an vuln.

You've got a vuln.  Silver/mithril.  It shouldn't matter.

1 hour ago, Anonymous said:

A tip I have for you is that I can't outdamage you normally, so i'm forced to always go the dispel route. Why risk using any skills and lagging yourself at all? You'll always win just by doing nothing. Just always be ready to get your sanctuary back up, you can even set triggers for it.

Please understand, I love dranthos, his rp is awesome.  The way he plays his character great.  This is no way about him.   

 

I find this a summation of the issue here in regards to balancing.   The Crusader just gets to sit there, making damage.  Huge damage.  In one round he takes 25% of her hp.  Now turn that around to the invoker.  One of the highest direct damage casters in the game, second only in my opinion to Kinesis Psions.  In order to do this kind of damage they must be outside with particular weather sometimes, and even with direct spells must land a dispel against saves, then get in the damage before the melee just puts it back up, with only the slightest interruption in output.  In this log Dranthos was lagged, if he had just sat there he could of been waiting to put it up.  He doesn't have to do anything. 

So where is the Crusader's "dispel" Why does he get to put in such significant damage through protections and we must all admit very high AC for the Invoker.   While at the same time taking little himself, all with a larger hp pool. 

The issue here is that parry is already dispelled.  The Invoker has basically no defense.  Then to top it off they are hit with vuln like damage levels, cutting a huge % away from their only, other defense.  They don't even get the hp pool.  They get a hurdle, having to land dispel, and their damage requires lag input.  Though minimized, it still exists. 

Why does the invoker pay this huge price for their offense, while the crusader pays what? Prep time? 

 

I think this is why the balance issue here seems to stick out.  I feel it comes down to the same thing in the Danpher vs Savant equation as well.  HUGE damage, effortless output, no drawbacks.

 

Why did we dispel all the CC's parry? lol.

The drow vuln is only exploitable through throw not highsight.  I lag myself only one round with a Knight skill.  You say sit and do nothing but problematically with my qclass selections I ergod input skills for automatic ones so I don't really have a lot of options if you got a way to block rush lag.  My output takes a bit of prep and has some big timer rotations that most people don't understand or use to their advantage.  I'll give you a hint that it has to do with pslam dancing.

Anonymous poster hash: 1fbac...ed0

Yes but the invoker has even bigger risks.  If that invoker forgets his sanc, or lets it fall he dies in 2 rounds.  If he is TOO aggressive his staff hurts him.  And I understand rotations, and uptimes, and psalms.  Your upkeep is easy and the price of something going down is nothing compared to his.  His protective shield or Sanctuary goes down in battle, it is GAME OVER.  Not, oh I do less damage until I can flee.  Hes dead.

Seems to me that  this invoker will do well to hang in there.

The Sader has time served on his side.

Anyone who has played a sader should not be surprised that the saders enemies ever miss some parries.

HS or not, luck will play a factor, and so will advanced cabal skills.  

Unfortunately, his stave use can hinder your weather control. (interesting the notion that wooden weapons burn a storm giant, but wooden staves do not.)

Edit: I noted that your firestorm did not blind the crusader. I remember a certain drow invoker savant (L) who kept me blind. Seemed to work for him, but I am foolish.

52 minutes ago, Anonymous said:

The drow vuln is only exploitable through throw not highsight.

Might want to reread that help file again, then.

There is no way that is not vuln damage I'm seeing throughout this log. No way. Nope.