First, a thousand thanks to all those who have created all the mod versions over the years and not only kept the game alive but better. Not sure if there is a remedy but when my pc using Scather delivers aoo against the four balors the game freezes/crashes. I can try without but wondering if there is a way to use the sword. Only second fight I've used it in so it is kind of annoying not being able to.
I'm using version 8.1. Was surprised because this version ran much better than the last one I'd used (5.6) and it barely crashed during the whole play through. But I've tried multiple times with the last quest and the aoo keeps triggering it. I'll try without scather after powering up some holy weapons I'd kept but not used.
Temple+ change log says "Fixed Fragarach / Scather AoO hang when attacking fire creatures", so I would suggest installing it. https://www.moddb.com/mods/temple1
All good. Was able to finish game without scather. Never used it much as it's always felt overpowered. Crashed a couple of times more but not in the first round including when soul hammer was dealing final blow to alzoll but in end was able to succeed. Not sure if cuthbert or iuz scenarios are tougher. i'd think so as they are god avatars.
I have to say that I feel like I fixed this bug myself back in the mid noughties by ensuring that I had some fire protection on my character using Scather, figuring that the loop was triggered by Scather triggering an AoO against anyone who injured a CG character wielding it, responding to the Balor inflicting fire damage on the person injuring it, ad infinitum. Having a non - CG character wield Scather, benefiting only from auto-hits but not retributive AoOs, also fixed this.
Yeah, this is one of the most famous bugs. I usually just make sure I don't deal the killing blow with Scather / Fragarach - but Temple+ has by all accounts fixed it.