Sommerswerd in New edition

[johntfs]

Regarding the Sommerswerd, I keep it with me through the Kai series (2 - 5) as well as through books 6 - 8 in the Magnakai series. However, in Book 6 I only use it when I'm not in public. The S-swerd is helpful in Castle Death and pretty much critical at the end of Book 8.

In Book 9, with the Darklords on the march, I have it returned to Sommerlund and ask Banedon (offscreen) to bring the Dagger of Vashna in its stead so I can have one nasty (but less recognizable) magic weapon. After I kill the Zakhan with i, I let Banedon take it back to Sommerlund for safekeeping.

In Book 10, I carry no magic weapons, though I do carry a crapload of healing and the Super-Alether from Book 3. I do this in order to deal with Tagazin and Roark without fighting Tagazin directly as well as so I can fight the Chaos-master with the Broadsword. Oddly, I don't use the Super-Alether against him. I save it for the Villains of Sommerlund.

I'm thinking next time I'll take tke S-sword with me through the whole M-kai series and in those places it asks if I have it, I'll add the words "and wish to use it." Assuming you don't choose to use the Sommerswerd, a better bet is the Psychic Ring. If you notice the combat, when you use the Psychic Ring, Kimah is suddenly not immune to Mindblast and Psi-surge.

 

[simkn]

Hint:
You can recover it and your thing just before you arrive in Zahda's throne room.

Explore.

You can recover all of your equipment before meeting Zahda. However, shortly before getting off of Kazan-Oud, you will lose your Backpack and all of its contents, and there is no avoiding this. But at least you get to keep your Special Items (like the Sommerswerd)!

 

[simkn]

Question 2: I also bought (but did not play through) books 13-19 (or 20?). Why? Combat wiped me out. I was WAY overmatched even with the max CS you could roll, Sommerswerd, Circle of "x" bonueses etc. Wondered if anyone else experienced this same step in difficulty...and found some ways to make combat survivable.

I'm with you! I also felt there was a dramatic step up in difficulty in the Grandmaster series. Perhaps a bit too much. No sane Grandmaster Lone Wolf would willingly leave the Sommerswerd in his Vault for any of the Grandmaster missions (books 13-20)...

 

[simkn]

Don't forget to mention that several times in the Magnakai and Grandmaster series you are actually PUNISHED for having the Sommerswerd with you.

In fact, this becomes quite commonplace! Even as early as book 8 the Gnaag Helghast is a full 10 CS more difficult if you have the Sommerswerd than he is without it (compare section 308 -- which you reach instantly by having the Sommerswerd -- to section 47 -- which is reachable only if you don't have the Sommerswerd). Considering the Sommerswerd only adds 8 CS (or 10 at most), then Joe Dever has effectively nullified the Sommerswerd for that combat... and this trend continues virtually through to book 20.

 

[johntfs]

Don't forget to mention that several times in the Magnakai and Grandmaster series you are actually PUNISHED for having the Sommerswerd with you.

In fact, this becomes quite commonplace! Even as early as book 8 the Gnaag Helghast is a full 10 CS more difficult if you have the Sommerswerd than he is without it (compare section 308 -- which you reach instantly by having the Sommerswerd -- to section 47 -- which is reachable only if you don't have the Sommerswerd). Considering the Sommerswerd only adds 8 CS (or 10 at most), then Joe Dever has effectively nullified the Sommerswerd for that combat... and this trend continues virtually through to book 20.

Consider the math again. The Sommerswerd adds +8 CS Having it means the Helghast is +10 CS as well. So, not having only only increases your CS against the Helghast by +2 CS. Which would you rather have, an extra +2 CS or double damage against the Helghast. For my part, I'd much rather have the double damage.

Also, if you have Curing, you can eat the stew, lose -5 EP and then fight the Helghast when he has a 34 CS instead of a 38.

But in terms of Books 13-17, oh yeah, you're suicidal if you go into them with anything less than max stats, full MagnaKai Disciplines and all 1 - 12 Special Items and Book 17 is an utter nightmare at the end. Oddly enough, Books 18 - 20 are relatively easy.

 

[Ningauble]

Some day I have to play through the book using the Sommerswerd in all battles. Until now, I have always used it only when specifically asked to do so (yes, my Lone Wolf lugs an extra sword around with him. Don't ask me why.).

 

[Kojiro]

Hint:
You can recover it and your thing just before you arrive in Zahda's throne room.

Explore.

You can recover all of your equipment before meeting Zahda. However, shortly before getting off of Kazan-Oud, you will lose your Backpack and all of its contents, and there is no avoiding this. But at least you get to keep your Special Items (like the Sommerswerd)!

That kinda made me mad the first time around. Who knew when I could have used that precious Oede Herb again?

 

[simkn]

Consider the math again. The Sommerswerd adds +8 CS Having it means the Helghast is +10 CS as well. So, not having only only increases your CS against the Helghast by +2 CS. Which would you rather have, an extra +2 CS or double damage against the Helghast. For my part, I'd much rather have the double damage.

Point taken... I didn't incorporate the double damage. That is definitely a huge help! But, only because the Helghast is undead...

Also, if you have Curing, you can eat the stew, lose -5 EP and then fight the Helghast when he has a 34 CS instead of a 38.

Yes, there are ways to encounter the Helghast when he has 34 CS even when you DON'T have the Sommerswerd. Ouch! That is one tough enemy. I barely survive that battle every time I read book 8, even with the Sommerswerd. And who was saying the combats are too easy with the Sommerswerd?

Of course that also depends largely on your starting CS (another point that has been discussed at great length over at Project Aon). When fighting a tough enemy the difference between being in the -9 column and being in the -6 column is a huge one, and yet only 3 CS apart.

But in terms of Books 13-17, oh yeah, you're suicidal if you go into them with anything less than max stats, full MagnaKai Disciplines and all 1 - 12 Special Items and Book 17 is an utter nightmare at the end. Oddly enough, Books 18 - 20 are relatively easy.

Agreed!

 

[simkn]

That kinda made me mad the first time around. Who knew when I could have used that precious Oede Herb again?

Exactly! All of those precious herbs and potions you were saving for a critical moment... gone! That irked me too, which is why I decided to start this thread at Project Aon: http://projectaon.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1836

 

[johntfs]

The last time through, I deliberately filled my backpack with everything I could find so I could justify emptying by Belt Pouch and storing the Super-Laumspur in there. It didn't work, though, because I took the wrong path and emptied my Backpack by swimming.

 

[Zipp Dementia]

Hint:
You can recover it and your thing just before you arrive in Zahda's throne room.

Explore.

You can recover all of your equipment before meeting Zahda. However, shortly before getting off of Kazan-Oud, you will lose your Backpack and all of its contents, and there is no avoiding this. But at least you get to keep your Special Items (like the Sommerswerd)!

That kinda made me mad the first time around. Who knew when I could have used that precious Oede Herb again?

Kojiro has a point. Anger abounds at that section. I personally think Dever is just getting back at D and D hoarders.

 

[SnowShadow]

I like losing equipment, providing I can refind it! It helps make the stories realistic and it is great not to just rely on the same weapon each fight (yawn). The end of Bk 7 is very frustrating losing your backpack - there isn't even a chance of keeping it unlike Bk 13 where a similar situation occurs. I'm working on ways of 'buying' LW equipment between adventures where you can choose to have less but more powerful items. Anyway I was going to say that I can remember seriously considering missing out BK7 in my teens just so that I could keep my backpack from bks 1-6 for bk 8+, yes I would be a Rank down but at least I could use the +4CS Alether from Kalte against Kimah, and that Adgana you find in Kazan Oud.