22 Jul 2005 at 02:08 - 8
Quote:
If it gets boring, minimize Guild Wars and write a post about how the last mission in the game is easier with henchmen while your party is busy healing itself, and then go kill some more stuff.
Hahahaha... so true. Henchies > all. Every mission of the game now that they're infused.
23 Jul 2005 at 20:32 - 9
I joined a random group with my monk. We had one other monk. 3 warriors. A ranger. And two eles.
One warrior kept dying so much he had 60DP. The leader of the party decided to ghost us so we could complete the mission. The ranger just took off. Of course, our remaining competent warrior went AFK to eat dinner around the time we got to the portals.. So all I did was lead the hands and fists over one by one, and let them attack the AFK. I cast healing seed and we slowly killed everything there. We moved on to Rurik, and since the ghoster got teleported to us, we used him to tank. Rurik died quickly. The lich was pathetic.
23 Jul 2005 at 20:50 - 10
No. It's not really worth the effort. But after doing all the pain in the ass missions to get to it, you might as well see the end of the story, right?
... I wouldn't do it twice unless you needed an elite skill along the way or something.
23 Jul 2005 at 21:00 - 11
I agree that the final "Fire" missions were not really fun. I don't know why, maybe the the oppressing surroundings, the henchmen that keep standing in the lava, my pet dieing every 5 seconds, the confused story-line, no new types of challenges (just a lot of monsters to kill) ...
Anyway, completing these missions was more a chore to be able to "complete" the game, than a fun experience.
23 Jul 2005 at 21:38 - 12
I finished Thunderhead Keep after many many tries. That mission took all the winds out of my sails when i finally beat it. The remaining 3 missions now became a pure chore to do [whether they are easier/harder makes no diff] , as monk i captured the elites i wanted alreadyt [i.e. spellbreaker] and having to repeat the frustration of Thunderhead 3 more times just don't seem worth the effort. I rather go GRIND in UW or something. [ironic isn't it?] :P
24 Jul 2005 at 01:52 - 13
As long as you can keep everyone from leaving, this mission can easily be grinded through by even bad groups as long as at least one player survives each encounter to resurrect the party. I like to help parties on this mission with my monk and I have gotten into a ton of bad parties. However despite people aggroing several mobs at once and dieing constantly, as long as I ran away at the right moments I just revived everyone and we always eventually won. As long as people stay, piece of cake.
24 Jul 2005 at 03:35 - 14
hells precipice is doable with henchies. Im a W/E and I did it pretty easily. Just take it slow. Dont agro monsters. Pull and lure and kill 1 by 1 if possible. And as for just doing the mission, its so worth it. You get the feeling of self-admiration by finishing the game, theres good drops, AND theres a lot of nice elite skills located in this mission.
24 Jul 2005 at 04:26 - 15
Indeed, the henchies attack what you call out so you can actually kill the burning titan, then the hulks, then hand/fists.
For some reason, real ppl dont listen to the way of the target even if you tell them beforehand....
24 Jul 2005 at 05:05 - 16
The long cut-scene / end game is really good  and hints about possible future plot point  (no spoilers from me).
But it took 5 attempts of random pug's before I found a group that could get through it. The closing the titan gates is usually a good gage at your party, I personally think that's the hardest part and most of the groups will fail if you don't work togehter there. This mission you have to take it slow, any rushing will get you killed.
25 Jul 2005 at 15:39 - 17
I did it with henchers only with both my r/e and e/mo. Was much easier with my r/e because of winter I would imagine. But when I did it with the ranger I didn't have a single ele skill in, the henches are more efficient than most live players. I imagine even more so with the supposed new AI (which I have some difficulty actually seeing) but some seem to think they are better.
So give the henes a chance, they are better than 80% of the people out there. Might not be the intent of the makers to have you hench all the time, but unless you are a monk primary most builds don't get a lot of action, and then you have to wait while the leaders spam "looking for monk" rather than taking two henches. And then you usually end up dying or have people quit on you. Henches neverquit, and they are nice meat shields for the most part.
25 Jul 2005 at 19:38 - 18
i didn't find the final mission hard at all. i guess i was lucky with the pugs. Did it twice and finished it twice with the same necro but made different builds for testing on survivability in pve (this mission had tough monsters so i liked it). The second time was fun, we had a monk and just Lina the henchie. first the monk in the group disconnects or leaves, then after the leader dies he says there's no hope and leaves. I was thinking oh boy now it gets interesting! everyone started to play cautiously cause there's no real healer on board anymore and I always carry a longbow just in case so i could do some pulling. Finished the game without a dangerous moment at all! totally rocked them! too bad those two missed out on the finish.
26 Jul 2005 at 00:32 - 19
wow, lucky you. i've tried it about 10 times now, and i've died each time. the first time i tried it, i got lucky with a beautiful and efficient group. the one problem was that we didn't kill the lich on the bloodstone. so, we all got killed by the hands and fists that were floating around.
bad luck, i guess. i never found such a group till my 7th group, where i lagged out right after we killed rurik. i felt like screaming....
26 Jul 2005 at 02:28 - 20
Hell's Precipice was easy for me.
I did it with a full team of henchies. I find them so much more reliable than humans.
26 Jul 2005 at 07:54 - 21
I wasn't too terribly satisfied for the ending, honestly. It seemed too... quick. But just the experience of killing the final boss is what makes it worth it, I think.
Just hang in there, and remember henchmen aren't all that bad
26 Jul 2005 at 09:32 - 22
I can help you.
We just need a team who listens to me 100%.
The mission is after all very easy.
Cecilia Blanka
26 Jul 2005 at 10:32 - 23
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cecilia Blanka
I can help you.
We just need a team who listens to me 100%.
The mission is after all very easy.
Cecilia Blanka
That would be very nice
Only thing is: I just gave up the decent healing mo/wa build I had to change it to the smiter monk build mentioned in the UW solo threat in this section. Its far from perfect though I can solo mobs that dont dispell, counter or poison easily. However when I die 2 times my lifepoints are reduced to... 1. Did not try the final mission with this build but I remember some nasty magic using crowds. And than this build is completely useless. Can't change back however, since I dont have the money to get new gear without the -75 health penalties (could not access UW since Europe did not have the favour until now, and even if I could, I dont know the way there lol, it will probably cost me my last gold just to explore).
So I dont know, I would give it a try with partymembers who know and understand my build and don't get angry when I"m suddenly useless with only 1 lifepoint This means its better not to try it with PUG's right now.
26 Jul 2005 at 13:45 - 24
After reading your post, Pandora's Box, I sympathize seriously. I guess it has to do with patience, and the lack thereof for many players it seems. I personally will not stop on a mission or a run until I make it, and that usually means i am at 60% on my death-penalty. But I always make it bygod.
People need to realize that being at 60% doesn't really make or break a mission, it has to do with how you manage your equips and your timing on skills.
*sigh*
Sorry for your frustration. I bet you can make it to the end and feel it was worth it, if you play through with people you know well, who can keep their pants on long enough to succeed. It is all about perception, and some people never sink into that below ankle level 
26 Jul 2005 at 15:54 - 25
The mission is not hard. It have been doing it about once or twice a week now, since I am looking for the LICH BOW which is another topic. The PUGs have been getting worse for some reason maybe its because they are used to being ran from town to town and dont even want to actually play the game. Also, with the hate for rangers it has taken me over an hour to get on with any PUG at all. Its funny when I see elite rangers who own these missions and who have done everything in the game snobed by loser noobs, but back on track I will run the last mission at least 50 or more times while I look for the Lich Bow catch me online and I will gladly run it with you.
<------------IGN
26 Jul 2005 at 16:04 - 26
I'd be happy to help you as well. My in game name is either Sehrune Magus or Mr Tony Shalub. The most efficient way to beat this mission is have no more than 2 warriors, one monk, one mhenlo (or a second monk, but mhenlo is doable), and the rest are ele's. Slam down winter and nuke the hell out of them. They go down rediculously easy with winter.
26 Jul 2005 at 16:48 - 27
I can solo the last mission pretty darn fast with all henchies. Its almost rediculous how simple it is. Get every henchie except the Archer, and be a warder with every ward. Put Water, Fire, and Energy storage at 11,10,10. Alternate between Ward against Harm and Ward of Melee+Elements. Use Melee when the hand and fist of the titans spawn. All you do is lead and put up wards, and do nothing else. Its that simple. Can anyone say half damage due to wards?
27 Jul 2005 at 08:47 - 28
Henchies do seem to be a lot easier but, me being a sentimental bastard, it just doesn't feel right. I mean, I like the feeling of beating a hard (well, its not exactly hard, but its the last one) mission with a group of loyal compatriots. A little group loyalty goes a long way. If you stop suspecting every member of PUGs are out to get you, although there often is a player trying to screw you up, maybe everything will be more fun.
Its just a great feeling when your group works together and accomplishes something. IMHO it makes groups with idiots -who tend to grow less idiotic if you're friendly with them and "offer kind suggestions" rather than spamming what to do in caps. Even as an experienced player, I get confused when people are spamming in caps and multiple people are messing with the compassmap. I doubt I've just gotten lucky with PUGs through my three chars; I think treating everyone as if they can be valuable, no matter how bad they are, makes for a much productive group. Hell, I battled a group to HoH (well, just UW, burial, and broken tower) after having spammed that I was looking for terrible people (my spam went somewhere along the lines of "If you think you really suck, message me for an invite") by treating everyone respectfully -after the spam- yet being firm on stupid suggestions. Group loyalty and respect is a lot more efficient than a triad team for anything.
27 Jul 2005 at 09:05 - 29
hmm i dont see the use for a ranger to complete the mission, you dont get any reward, only an elite skill witch to me i never use (fire spirit) no such thing as an reward, lol you just get teleported back to forge? i just hope that in the new expansion there would be new missions/quests areas for those who HAS completed the last mission.
27 Jul 2005 at 09:56 - 30
Quote:
Originally Posted by ktadie
hmm i dont see the use for a ranger to complete the mission, you dont get any reward, only an elite skill witch to me i never use (fire spirit) no such thing as an reward, lol you just get teleported back to forge? i just hope that in the new expansion there would be new missions/quests areas for those who HAS completed the last mission.
In fact, the ranger elite in the last mission (Greater Conflagration) is a great elite. Together with the appropriate armor, it raises your Armor Level against physical damage from 70 to 115, more than cutting in half the damage you take.
Also for a ranger this mission is pretty easy: Take along Winter, and some elemetalists, and you'll be doing amazing damage against all the monsters in that mission. In fact, this is one of the few missions where groups will be asking explicitly for a ranger.
28 Jul 2005 at 18:03 - 31
I finished it on three characters. If you get a decent group it takes 30 minutes and well worth the 1 skill point (worth 20K exp).
Not only do you get a skill point and the 1K exp, you get the satisfaction of knowing you did every mission (unless you got run to the ring of fire like an idiot)
30 Jul 2005 at 20:51 - 32
I found the mission far too easy personally, was hoping for a bit of a challenge. Somewhat anti-climactic imho, Thunderhead is worse, and not in a good way.
09 Aug 2005 at 05:44 - 33
I did it w/ 7 people. We had ranger call all targets and cast winter. A monk. A warrior. A nuker. 2 necros. (myself included) another ele and another ranger.
Final boss was a total pushover.
09 Aug 2005 at 09:35 - 34
I was lucky. I finished it along with the bonus, with a great PUG who discussed good tactics before going into it, progressed carefully, followed targets, drew properly, allowed breathers, and worked well.
One of the first things I was told to do was to bring Winter. I'm not a spirit Ranger, but I conceded, and there is a notable difference in damage dealing. Obviously, warriors leaving their Firey Dragon swords at home, and Elementalists switching to cold damage attacks are also a boon.
The only time we struggled on the entire mission was after the cinematic where "All is revealed" and we had to face a powerful warrior boss and several "Ash minions" (I won't put spoilers here, but you'll know what I mean when you get there. Even then, nobody in the group panicked or rushed, and by the time we got to the Lich lord, we all knew what to do.
In summary, take your time, get a good Ranger with Winter in his skill slot, and always make sure that there's a "Winter" spirit before engaging. You'll have the final mission sussed.
09 Aug 2005 at 14:20 - 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by BrokenSymmetry
In fact, the ranger elite in the last mission (Greater Conflagration) is a great elite. Together with the appropriate armor, it raises your Armor Level against physical damage from 70 to 115, more than cutting in half the damage you take.
Also for a ranger this mission is pretty easy: Take along Winter, and some elemetalists, and you'll be doing amazing damage against all the monsters in that mission. In fact, this is one of the few missions where groups will be asking explicitly for a ranger.
I was helping a friend complete this mission last night and decided to bring along Greater Conflagration and see what happens when it's combined with Winter. Sure enough, all elemental AND physical attacks were dealing cold damage. It was definitely noticable, especially when the Winter spirit died first. -_- If you're going to use this combo, make sure the spirits are laid far back and Greater Conflagration is summoned first and Winter second. Greater Conflagration is also nice to have out when fighting the Lich, since he appears to have a weakness to fire. With Ignite Arrows, the total damage of just one of my attacks was 120.
09 Aug 2005 at 14:56 - 36
Finished it on our first try on my N/W with my R/E friend and henchmen. Key skills were Winter with his elemental bow and Shadow of Fear/Feast of Corruption. Shadow of Fear really cut down on the damage from the Fists. Much easier than Thunderhead.
10 Aug 2005 at 01:29 - 37
Finished it and bonus with my monk and henchies 
10 Aug 2005 at 05:27 - 38
I think you had one monk too many (to the OP). It took me 3 tries with the same PUG. The final time I was the only player monk, plus we had Mehnlo. Before that we had 2 monks + Mehnlo and kept dieing. We replaced one monk with a necro and I never once ran low on energy.
10 Aug 2005 at 07:31 - 39
Quote:
Originally Posted by Martyr of Divinity
I found the mission far too easy personally, was hoping for a bit of a challenge. Somewhat anti-climactic imho, Thunderhead is worse, and not in a good way.
Slightly off topic...
Why do people find Thunderhead so difficult? I have done that misson no less than 8 times and have yet to fail it. But today when I did it helping a guy out it waslike these people were seeing the Second Coming.
All you need to do is bunch up at the top and let them come to you. Why people can't understand that I have no idea. We even had 3 dead member crying for rezes today ( I was playing the monk along with mhenlo), and we finsished with out them(one left the game pissed). But it is simple, leave the heal area fend for yourself. If the king dies we fail. So I don't leave the king, if I am a monk or an ele or my ranger. There is only one bad group and if you aren't running around one of them stops and let's you kill of the boss group before coming in.
The hardest one (before I tried it with all henches) was Elonas. But when done right is very easy as well, especially now they have added Lina in that area. Before her it was doable, now you can do it and the mission and have 4-5 minutes to spare with a full hench group.
Basically PUG games stink more andm ore, too many new platers getting run t areas, and not playing the game. I think an account should have to finish the came before they are allowed to be run anywhere. Isn't hard to do, they made it impossible for unascended players to enther UW/FOW, have all new accounts not be able to enter Lornars. I mean what good is it for these guys to getrun there when they have 150 gold in their banks?
You see guys begging for money all over that place now. That m,entality just carries over into the PUGs.
10 Aug 2005 at 07:55 - 40
Quote:
Originally Posted by wiz12268
Slightly off topic...
Why do people find Thunderhead so difficult? I have done that misson no less than 8 times and have yet to fail it. But today when I did it helping a guy out it waslike these people were seeing the Second Coming.
Because it's a bloody long mission and it ends prematurely if the King dies, and he dies rather easily especially to dot since the henchy monks dont seem to be able to keep him alive sometimes.
I found the 2nd boss(mursaat) in the keep the hardest part of the mission as he's often accompanied by other mursaat like Jades. Once he goes down, the mission is as good as won. This was my experience doing the mission+bonus with henchies.
To be sure, with a good PUG the mission is really easy.
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