TOPIC: Solo Nightmare BHM Combat Results

Please forgive me in advance this post is very lengthy because I didn't want to forget anything.

I decided to do a Nightmare Solo run at Gen Con. I knew that Lazlo had done one as a Barbarian, and I believe it was Quip who did it as Monk. I figured I would try one as a Druid - specifically a Polymorph Druid.

First I want to thank all the volunteers they did a great job on my run and made the experience very enjoyable!

My choice was Behold Her Majesty Combat and hindsight being 20/20 I probably would have picked Into The Deeperdark. Anyway Friday 9:26AM arrived and I had my party card ready to go. I picked up the Prestige class figuring it couldn't hurt. Had a few rule clarity questions that Druegar deftly answered and a some token verification and I was ready to go.

The training room was naturally uneventful but it did give the volunteer and nice 12 minute break. I apologize if these rooms are out of order or I miss something - I don't have the module so doing this from memory.

Room 1 - Password Puzzle
I had only seen this puzzle once before and our PUG group did not get it right. Needless to say I didn't get it (yes I feel embarrassed because I now know the answer). I will say the volunteer was great but having run the room later we did get a clue of "you feel electricity" that I didn't get on Friday which would have helped. Regardless, I am a healer - heal that 15 points of push damage with a Cure Minor Wounds.

Room 2 - Thrall Cloning Device
Since I did not have any other party members a "ghost" had to activate my machine which I then proceeded to damage the machine. Combat lasted only about 6 minutes and I took about 30 points of damage (time to heal).

Room 3 - Succubus Love
This was a ranged fight so I used a Potion of Leaping Attack and proceeded to pound her from below. Was saving my spells for the last fight but again this room didn't take long and she didn't scratch me.

Room 4 - Pull My Rope
I had seen this puzzle before and had an idea so it wasn't difficult until I realized it was 6 items and I only knew 5. Yes I had the code word but forgot the last item. Wish I had a knock spell. Oh, well guess I have to use another Cure Minor Wounds.

Room 5 - Fallen Angel
The Fallen Angel fight was the most out of balance only because the combat board was perfect for me. I slid about 20 times and had about 16 criticals on the slides. Now those that know this fight might say, "Wait that is going to be over 1,000 pts of damage!" True, it would have been but the DM was only doubling the base weapon damage and not all the modifiers. I didn't believe that was right but since I was sliding so well I wasn't going to stop and argue with them. I still killed it with plenty of time to heal.

I since have clarified that...

DMG, Page 10:
"If a player slides a natural 20 (not when a monster rolls a natural 20), the damage inflicted is doubled. Other than sneak attack damage (see note), any and all forms of additional damage, as well as "vulnerable" damage (e.g., Cold vs. red dragon) is also doubled on a natural 20...."

Room 6 - The Chains Bind You
Well I kind of knew this puzzle (conceptually) but being only one person if I only dropped the chain a couple of times I would likely take more damage than just eating the push damage. I chose the push damage and just chatted with the volunteer for 12 minutes - yes another puzzle DM 12 break!

Room 7 - Behold Her Majesty
The last room was an impressive fight! I immediate summoned a Bear so I could slide it and still cast spells. One of the clarifications I got was the Anti-Magic wouldn't dispel the summoned creature. When I wasn't under Anti-Magic I dazed the Eye, then cast my big damage spells all the while sliding the bear. Although the Eye couldn't hit me really well I did have to make saves. When I blew a save I had to heal. Time was getting the better of me and the Eye was looking very bloodshot. The horn went off and I slid, the DM rolled, I slid, the DM rolled. I was at 13 health and if the DM hit or I failed my save it was over. DM said, "OK, last slide." I slide legendary Baton of Focus (spells were out and I had dismissed my Bear) and it landed on a 20. DM said, you have defeated her! A small yelp and an ungainly victory dance while I gathered my belongings and headed for the epilogue room.

It was a great feeling to defeat such a worthy foe and to finally join the Nightmare Solo club. I don't know if I am the first Druid or Polymorph Druid but regardless it was a fun experience and I would do it again.

Thanks for everyone who signed my player card - I really appreciate it. I will keep it as a memento of a memorable run.

A couple of improvements on my play could have been: use Psychic heal, use Pixie Shield. Other then that I used all my spells except Resistance and had 1 heal left.

Ed

I was your DM for room 6... thanks for the break and nice talk. Glad to hear you succeeded in your quest.

Well done Ed!

I very much await the riddle reveal for that first puzzle. We also missed the 6 part puzzle by 1. I think it was Push Blue we missed =/

Glad to hear the run went well (and thanks for the break in coaching, it was definitely a memorable party card )

MetaphoricDragon wrote: Well done Ed!

I very much await the riddle reveal for that first puzzle. We also missed the 6 part puzzle by 1. I think it was Push Blue we missed =/

Thanks - PM sent and it has spoilers

Ed

Chris Von Wahlde wrote: I was your DM for room 6... thanks for the break and nice talk. Glad to hear you succeeded in your quest.

Thanks Chris - I was so thinking about Room 7 I wasn't putting a face to a forum member.

Ed

Picc wrote: Glad to hear the run went well (and thanks for the break in coaching, it was definitely a memorable party card )

You are very welcome Picc - you guys need every break we can give you. Thanks for volunteering on a very tough position.

Ed

MasterED wrote:

Chris Von Wahlde wrote: I was your DM for room 6... thanks for the break and nice talk. Glad to hear you succeeded in your quest.

Thanks Chris - I was so thinking about Room 7 I wasn't putting a face to a forum member.

Ed

Lol... I definitely understand.

Grats on the accomplishment, Druids are the bomb.

MasterED wrote: Please forgive me in advance this post is very lengthy because I didn't want to forget anything.

I decided to do a Nightmare Solo run at Gen Con. I knew that Lazlo had done one as a Barbarian, and I believe it was Quip who did it as Monk. I figured I would try one as a Druid - specifically a Polymorph Druid.

....

It was a great feeling to defeat such a worthy foe and to finally join the Nightmare Solo club. I don't know if I am the first Druid or Polymorph Druid but regardless it was a fun experience and I would do it again.

For shame Ed!

Think of all those player slots that could have gone to new players to experience the dungeon but instead they sat on the waitlist unsuccessfully without a chance to play just so you could toot your own horn for the sake of vanity! You could have at least gotten 9 people to come along as torchbearers or cheerleaders - at least they could have seen the dungeon!

My choice was Behold Her Majesty Combat and hindsight being 20/20 I probably would have picked Into The Deeperdark.

No, you shouldn't have. Into the Deeperdark was scarcer than Behold Her Majesty so more people got blocked from playing that one.

I since have clarified that...

DMG, Page 10:
"If a player slides a natural 20 (not when a monster rolls a natural 20), the damage inflicted is doubled. Other than sneak attack damage (see note), any and all forms of additional damage, as well as "vulnerable" damage (e.g., Cold vs. red dragon) is also doubled on a natural 20...."

Please be more accurate!

YOU didn't clarify that. *I* went and looked that up for you, so *I* clarified it!!!

Room 6 - The Chains Bind You
Well I kind of knew this puzzle (conceptually) but being only one person if I only dropped the chain a couple of times I would likely take more damage than just eating the push damage. I chose the push damage and just chatted with the volunteer for 12 minutes - yes another puzzle DM 12 break!

Uh, maybe it is different for a puzzle DM, but I consider a break to be a chance to sit down AND a chance to save my voice and not speak. So being forced to chat for 12 minutes wouldn't be exactly a break!

A couple of improvements on my play could have been: use Psychic heal, use Pixie Shield. Other then that I used all my spells except Resistance and had 1 heal left.

What did you use Detect Poison for?

Nice job Ed! Glad it worked and you used a great class for it.

Congrats, Ed!

Should mention Raven was the first to do a solo run back in 2009 at True Realm.

Incognito wrote: Think of all those player slots that could have gone to new players to experience the dungeon but instead they sat on the waitlist unsuccessfully without a chance to play just so you could toot your own horn for the sake of vanity! You could have at least gotten 9 people to come along as torchbearers or cheerleaders - at least they could have seen the dungeon!

Into the Deeperdark was scarcer than Behold Her Majesty so more people got blocked from playing that one.

Secondary to GenCon cracking down on what TD could do with the wait list, I don't know how effective the wait list was for filling spots, since people looking to fill empty spots in their schedule were turned away unless they were looking for a run immediately, and those of us with spots open couldn't have our spots listed until 15 minutes before the event.

From what I've seen on forums, there were a fair amount of tickets being dumped back into the GenCon system during the convention.
I hope GenCon changes their stance on TD running a more comprehensive wait list, since unused tickets hurts TD and GenCon.

That said, many thanks to Incognito, who pointed out to a group that I had extra Grind tickets I had been unable to fill on the forum.
Had a blast running with them, Eldar, and Cary Friday at 4pm!

Regarding scarcity of IDD vs BHM,
I found the opposite to be true, and filled an IDD run with less than an hour before start time on Saturday. Very hectic in the coaching room that way, trying to get builds sorted out. My apologies to the coach, and thanks for his patience.