Ban on Magic

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When in Athlatika, the cowled wizards tell you that you cant use magic. Does the ban refer to just Arcane magic, or does it include the use of devine magic as well?

 

No, Let cleric fire at will!!

 

ok, ecause whenever i got into a fight in the city,I always turned AI off. I only have one mage, so i think i can keep him from casting any spells.

How much is it to buy a liscense?

 

about 2000 gp i think

 

no it's 5000. but do you really want to pay off the buttheads that kidnapped Imoen? They are a piece of cake to kill, if you have Jaheira, or maybe another priest, not sure, but I know Jaheira can take them.

 

If you don't pay up, first time you get a warning (*wince*), then about five attacks (they have nice spell scrolls and sometimes Laeral Tear Necklaces - 1800 gp each !), and last time Zellanora and friends appear. They almost always drop 8-9 level spell scrolls.
After you kill them (fast melee, spells, whatnot, just kill Zellanora (elf) first, she casts Imprisonment), you can use magic at your leisure.

 

You can also use magic inside buildings or during the "You have been waylaid by enemies..." ambushes without triggering a visit from the Cowled Wizards.

 

Clerics and Druids are exempt from the rules. They don't mind if your cleric gates in a demon, but they attack you if your mage casts friends.

Zallanora also has an infinite supply of Monster Summoning 3 too. So you can't really wait it out, and be prepared to be surrounded by Ogre Berserkers and Ettercaps.

 

I found it's best to position your mage in the centre of the pentagram, with your party members at every angle.
Then the mage casts the spell, and Cowlies vs Zellanora appear. Two or three party members kill her straight away, others are easier.

I've also found this bug: if a mage is invisible, the party is away from the mage and mage runs away from Cowlies, as well, they begin to attack each other. Cat-fight, so to say.

 

Haha, I'd never seen that.. I'll have to try it out

 

No, that's very creative of them, they only do that if you approach them invisible. I think they need someone to target their spell (although greater malison and chaos don't need to target - but maybe the computer is too stupid that they can't target a random postion ), I usually play with them when I got the staff of magi, sometime they cast power word silence on the other (then fight, that's it )

 

Just use Jaheira's summon swarm. They won't be able to cast any spells, though one or two may get away from the swarm, they won't pose much threat, and you can dismember them at your leisure.

 

When fighting the wizard's little SWAT team, I usually use the following:

If I have a thief with good set snares, I leave a few on the ground where I'll be casting.

Clear the rest of the party out of sight, and have a mage/bard cast invisibilty.

Listen to the "You have been warned . . ." speech, make rude and offensive gestures in their direction.

Move just out of sight, and begin pounding them with area of effect attacks. Cloudkill is great, Ice Storm is pretty good too. Fireball is a good finisher.

Needless to say, do this in an area without bystanders. I like the NE corner of the Promanade map.

 

What about magical items, eg. spider figurine, wands etc? - do these get you in trouble with the Cowled Wizards?

 

Wands ? No
Figurine ? No
Bhaal abilities ? No
Item's abilities ? No
Scrolls ? yes
Keldorn sword ? Yes

 

There's a fix at Baldurdash that allows player to have Keldorn in the party with his sword and Cowled ones won't appear if the sword deals magical damage. Very convenient

 

Everybody agrees this Keldorn thing is a bug? (I do)

If so, it's a shame it was overlooked. It's obvious the first minutes you play Keldorn.

 

Same thing happens when you use Kelsey's cloak ability. That was kind of irritating when it happened, especially since I'd already been warned at the time.

Two strikes and you're out in Amn.

 

You still can cast spells indoors. Most of the main battles that require spell assistance are indoors. So besides wimpy thugs or slavers on the streets you shouldn't be fighting that much outdoors in Athkatla.

 

The fallen paladins and gith come to mind. Though I have never really felt the use for arcane spells really. Jaheira casts call lightening and insect swarm and everyone falls down. Iirc Keldron's sword bug is fixed in either fixpack.