Experienced Players - What Level Are You When You Finish The Moathouse?

I voted fourth, though I may have actually been 5th after the Big Three Ambush on my last (5.8NC) playthrough. I freely admit I'm an XP hog, I never met a quest I didn't try to complete even at the expense of game balance. (Yes, that means I did both Welkwood and some of the FedEx town quests.) I played with 5 PCs, no NPCs.

 

I have played 5 games of 5.8.0NC with different alignments. All were parties of 4 (no NPCs). Very close but not quite 5th level has been my usual result. Includes Welkwood, Deklo, Terjon's sentimental artifact, and free lodging, but nothing else.

 

Current play, 5.8NC, NG alignment. 5th level with 3PCs, Welkwood, Deklo, FedEx, tiptoe to grab the elven armour from the giant (then leg it), bit of resting for xp farming (usually when I approach leveling up).

 

I voted 4th, but I should say that my normal moathouse adventure includes the first floor, then the zombies, take the secret passage down, kill ghouls, and then for Lareth. I may throw the crayfish in there if I feel strong enough.

So basically I skip the orge, the gnolls, and damned bugbears. I find those encounters a lot more risky than Lareth's goons. I think I am done with Lareth around 4. However, the major problem I have then is doing the ambush at 4 and burdened with tons of loot

The ambush occasionally puts me at 5. I will go to town, and then come back for the other mobs if I am strong enough.

 

I haven't run 5.8 NC yet, but since I like to get Melanie in my group, and there are a LOT of Fed Ex quests up to her joining, AND I will probably do the others out of nostalgia AND the Welkwood Bog, I can forsee a 5th level group after the Moathouse, especially after the Big 3 battle.

That being said, up 'till now, I have averaged 3-4th level. Most often 4th though, because I like to save Amii asap and that involves a lot random encounter exp usually. I voted 4th.

 

I voted 4th.

I usually have 5 party members I rolled, (usually unusual types) and Zax of course if I run into him, (can't remember if I've ever had him before the MH though).
After fed-exing, spider hunting, curing Amii, Welkwood and each and every xp I can milk from the MH I'm usually at 4th close to 5th.

ps ... I leave the giant alone until after the MH, MW weapons just seems to strong for the encounters just yet.

 

Honestly, I can't vote on that... cause I like camping in the wild B-) Mostly when I finish the moathouse I'm between level 5 and 8, depending how big my party is.

Oh, and I never use NPC's, because the only thing I get from them is useless chattering and less loot/XP. Now If the good people of Co8 would make some quests around this lot (as it was in the baldurs gate series) that would certainly change my behaviour vis-a-vis NPC's.

 

Hi
I just checked my saves from 5.8.0 NC. I started off with 5 PCs, completed the "Flirting with Disaster" quest (and all it's subquests) and "revealed" the Agent, Courier, and Traders. That along with Welkwood Bog got my party up to 2nd Level. I then added Meleny to the group and went to the Moathouse. After clearing the upper level everyone (including Meleny) was 3rd Level. I then recruited Elmo and cleaned out the rest of the Moathouse. After clearing the Moathouse (including the ambush) the PCs and Meleny were ready to Level up to 4th Level.
The Royal Canadian

 

I don't start Emridy Meadows or Moathouse until I'm fourth level and Elmo is in the group.

 

I usually play with 5 pc's and Fruella. Get the moathouse quest then use the console to levelup to 3/Fruella 4. Usually 4/5 after the ambush. I use a somewhat protosized Fruella to closely match Elmo, but it does'nt overpower the game or anything.

 

I use to run the game with a party of four to six characters (usually four characters more one or two hired NPCs, but sometimes I dont hire anyone) of good or neutral tendencies - Usually I start with the LG or CN intros, that gives more XP and some gold for the beggining - and its very common to me to make almost all the Hommlet mission before to go on "real" combat situation; usually I marry Meleny, take care of Cavanagh, floor for the church, the miller aprentice conversion and all I need to go on the secound level, then I do the Spies for Bourne and go to the Deklo Groove. After all this, I go on the Moathouse. Of course, all randon encounter I believe I shall handle will be faced.
I clear all the moathouse, allways, by the way - sometimes the rats, giant snake and that small blood suckers on the first floor of the moathouse are lefted alive, but this is VERY rare...
I usually go to the 4th level after the fight against the guards of Lareth, but somethimes, depending of the randon encounters, I up level a little before.

 

I said 4th level. however, it varies ...

I usually roll up a good group of 5 diverse characters. I never solo class a thief, so Furnok usually gets brought along after beating him at his dice game (to get the free room at the inn) since I almost never have a mulit-class thief able to open a treasure chest at this early point of the game. Also, I must say Spugnior the "Sage from Stalmeer" is along on almost every run-through as the main magic-user, and I crank up his skills on the heavy crossbow as I can. He is usually the first crafter, until I can get my rolled cleric/ mage to high enough levels late game. Last playthrough saw me take Ronald, Furnok, and Spugnior as employed henchmen.

Some games I will do the quest for Meleny, but I usually leave her home. The Holy Longsword is a great weapon for my bard, if one is along - I usually make him the "face" character so he needs to be strong enough to stay near the frontline. If I rolled up an ornery Half-Orc character, that unlucky fellow gets to court Fruella - otherwise I leave her be. Occasionally I do all the quests in Hommlet, or sometimes I will console in a level for the 5 original party members to get them started without the hassle.

The new adventures in the Bog are great! They are actually a strategic challenge for level 1-2 parties, especially the end battle and the goblin camp, if approached without a plan.

I don't really camp out unless I get waylaid en-route. At early levels, you never know what might be stalking you ... especially if you rest. But new gear can be forthcoming in this manner.

On to the Moathouse - usually started it by level 2 or 3, I don't clear out the whole place at one go. Hit the spider, ghouls above and below, to ransack the treasure chests, assault the bandits in the courtyard and their lair - usually a frontal assault is better then the "sneak" way in. Snag the magic shield and the chest on the upper level. Beat up the crayfish too, for his chest. Get the magic chest from the ghoul battle in the crypt at the base of the stairs. Helps to loot the rest of the battles! I fight my way to the "outer" entrance then head back to town to rest and recuperate spells, THEN take on Team Lareth and the Big Three Battle after. That leaves half the Moathouse cleared, and me at usually level 4.

Rest up again, and mop up the remainder of the MH occupants (gnolls, bugbears, etc.) ...

I have also found that if you sneak out to where the Rainbow Rock is, you can use a small exploit to loot the cache and save the tough battle with the skeletons for later - loot the rock, then WHILE THE LOOT WINDOW IS STILL OPEN, select to travel back to town. You get the goods, and the battle seems to trigger the next time you approach within range of the rock.

 

My parties are usually 5 PCs (party level x members = challenge ability).

Early is when I generally get help, both because NPCs are better than PCs at first and to soak up attacks (you go first, Zert). Sometimes I feel lucky and take on the gnolls at 2nd level, but this works less than half the time.

Emridy Meadows after (the giant is TOUGH and runs through webs/ entangles too often), then I lose all NPCs except for Meleny. Maybe Zaxis later.