TOPIC: Fighting an Archmage...

Well seeing as GenCon is right around the corner I thought I'd get peoples' mind stirring with a simple question, your party is going up against a powerful Archmage...<br /><br />What do you bring to the fight?<br /><br /><br />I don't know about tactics, but some token thoughts are:<br /><br />Extra: Violet Prism (duh) - hopefully gives you three rounds to act if the spells are 3rd level or lower (we won't be that lucky); side question, token says spells that target wearer, so would it absorb a web spell?<br />Extra: Faceted Amber - for when your Violet Prism runs out of charges<br />Extra: Questor's Charm of Luck - I have a feeling we will be rolling a few saves<br />Extra: Potion - See Invisibility<br />Extra: Bone Scroll Case - Fireballs = Bad<br />Extra: Alchemist Pouch - Fireballs = Bad<br />Extra: Dwarven Ale<br />Extra: Skunkweed - *shrugs* why not<br /><br />Head: Helm of Clear Thought - again, probably rolling a few saves, maybe something useful to attack if you can't wear this<br />Neck: Amulet of Greyhawk - protection from Flesh to Stone mostly<br />Back: +2 Cloak - again, probably rolling a few saves<br />Body: does it matter? Something with AC in case they summon?<br />Waist: Belt of Retrieval - gives options, I like options<br />Arms: does it matter? whatever is most useful I guess<br />Hands: Gloves of Deflection - do they prevent ranged touch attacks? If not get ac w/ Body and Arm slots, and replace hands with whatever is most useful<br />Ring 1: Ring of Shock Resistance - Chain Lightning = Bad<br />Ring 2: Ring of Evasion, Ring of Fire Elemental Control, or something to boost saves<br />Feet: Boots of Free Action - immunities sound nice, Boots of Warmth are probably a close second<br />Mainhand: something to smack the the scrawny Archmage with<br />Offhand: forgo shield to use two handed weapon or second weapon?<br />Ranged: ?<br /><br />Alternate: If you can wear dragonscale, the -10 to fire damage is probably worth it in this fight<br /><br />Heh, well have fun question.

C4 and a few claymores.

As a mage myself, I don't wish to give away our secrets, but I'd skip the skunkweed and simply toss a skunk at the wizard.  The poor old hoot will be holding his nose, running like crazy, and holding his breath - soe he can't use his hands for somantec components or his vocal cords for vocal components.  He also obviously won't be in a possition to go digging through his pouches for material components.<br /><br />Wizard defeated.<br /><br />

um, a Cleric with SILENCE spell...  done!

Because I'm sure no archmage has ever considered that possibility.<br /><br />Maybe stuffing a kitten full of high explosives with an internal remote detonator would work. The mage goes to snuggle the kitten and boom.<br /><br />Most people don't see exploding cats coming.

I think I found my sig.

skull o' doom, orb of pelor, shuriken crossbow / bow w/masterwork bolts / sleep arrows.<br /><br />Scroll of silence<br />Dust of appearance<br />scroll (s) chain lightning<br />(the oft disputed boots of elvekind ->sneak with the skull trick MAY work)<br /><br />(pity there's not a wand of dispel magic)

A Holy Hand Grenade?  (As long as you count exactly to three). 

In DnD (pre 4th ed) the best ways to deal with an Archmage were to<br />1) Always get the drop on him<br />-Suprise him/ ambush him. If he goes before you you're toast.<br />2) Bring your own Anti-magic field.<br />- either the spell or just rods of abosorption and counter spells and dispells<br />3) *and most effective when combined with #1*  One shot him<br />- its a mage it can't have too many HP, just kill him in 1 go.<br /><br /><br />Now, how to translate those into TD terms.<br />um, suprise him and kill him in 1 round. Slide well and do a truckload of damage.  Normally Archmages are protected by lackies and the foresite of someone comming, if you can avoid those then you should be ok right?...<br />

In dnd, pre-4th, there should be no way to kill an archmage unless your DM was stupid. The way the magic/spell creation rules worked, they had nothing better to do all day but create counters (see elminster's evasion contingency for instance). It's like how no one should be able to kill a magic using dragon. Have you ever seen some of the spells in the 2nd ed dragonomicon? They're insane. Insta-death no save.

Remove his keystone?  =D<br />

<br />Most people don't see exploding cats coming.<br />

<br /><br />So... the exploding kitten would be one of the chief weapons of the Spanish Inquisition?