Victory is (finally) mine!

[yendi]

When I last posted about Kingdom of Loathing, I'd just had the easiest run through the Hedge Maze I'd ever experienced.

I only managed to kill the Sorceress today.

Sure, that was partially because I've only been casually playing, but even then, I'd tried no fewer than twenty times, all without success.

Why?

Because hardcore Moxie runs suck. None of my perm skills were much help, and I simply didn't have access to enough useful equipment. I tried Furry Suit combos, as well as Fire/Astronaut Pants, with no luck. I went with ten different familiars. I tried Plot Holes, Eye-Pokes, what-have-you. Nothing. I almost considered quitting hardcore.

I finally beat her with a my NZPR as my familiar and using a barrage of flare guns, of all things.

No, not ascending anytime soon. I'm waiting out the Crimbo stuff (which will be easier since I have access to my stuff), and will probably ascend for a hardcore AT run (shoot me now) in January.

Comments

[envoy.livejournal.com]

What does fire and Astronaut Pants do?

[yendi]

Fire adds +7 hot damage to melee attacks (and is only obtainable during Crimbo, so get one now if you have two sticks), and Astronaut Pants (also Crimbo-specific) are just a hella-good pair of pants. !75 power and +30 to MP/HP.

Other good Crimbo items include the Toy Ray Gun (1-handed, 175 power, bonus hot and critical, and can be dual-equipped if you've got the skill), the MagiMechTech NanoMechaMec (the nano version of the familiar; it's an accessory, and does tinier attacks, all of which are great against the NS), and the Toy Helmet (175 power helment that actually makes accurate assessments of the enemy)

[envoy.livejournal.com]

I got lucky in timing with my main, and was in perfect position not just to farm but hopefully make it to level 30 before Crimbo. Cannelloni Cocoon is my friend...

[bassfingers.livejournal.com]

Now wait a minute. You're the second person I've seen say that Toy Ray Guns can be dual-equipped, yet the description clearly says "NOTE: You may not equip more than one of this item at a time." What gives?

[unwilly.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you kept at it.

Well done.

[ldy.livejournal.com]

Sometimes, the RNG just hates.

What skills have you got so far?

Feel free to poke if I'm online next time you're fighting her-- I can usually get her in one turn, even as a moxie class. :)

[drooling-ferret.livejournal.com]

Just did the same thing (killed off my first HC no-path DB run, moxie-sign, and am waiting out Crimbo to Ascend), and had the same problem. After failing about 10 times to kill the NS, I levelled for funkslinging and farmed for a bunch of red potions and high damage combat items, then tore through her on my first try with those by tossing in a face stab or two to keep her weakened. I really don't know of any better way to do it, for a DB with none of the better NS-killing skills permed from other classes.

The first time I Ascended I was a level 27 DB with completely equal mainstats and a boatload of items, and it still took me 4 tries. I've only had 3-4 (memory fails ATM and I take months for each one) ascensions since, all HC no-path Sauceror, and the last few I've been able to knock her out within 5 tries at level 11, with no attacks permed.

I really haven't found a consistently great strategy for dropping the NS with any class. I'm not much of a strategic player, though.