Avernum 1, black shades?

[Tango]

Worst mob ever. Black Shade. Is there an easy way to kill them? I can't target them with spells or so it seems, so that apparently leaves pure melee to handle them.

[Dikiyoba]

Unfortunately, your options are melee or cloud of blades on a nearby enemy, and Dikiyoba isn't entirely sure that the cloud of blades spell exists in the first game.

[Randomizer]

Exile games had area effect spells, but Avernum is down to Cloud of Blades and that has to be cast on a monster or party member. So I found that I had to summon monsters and cast it on them.

[Ishad Nha]

I mass Haste the party then try to see where the spells are coming from. Then the PCs do a search pattern in that area. I especially look for a message like "Black Shade attacks (PC Name) and misses.) When the thing summons monsters they are usually placed near it, that is a place to look.

[Tango]

Nice. I've been using Ishad's method since I don't have a toon capable of cloud of blades.

[Earth]

then you have reached them too early.

[Ishad Nha]

In my copy of Avernum 1 there is no Cloud of Blades spell. That spell is only introduced in A2.

[The Mystic]

Originally Posted By: Tango

Worst mob ever. Black Shade. Is there an easy way to kill them? I can't target them with spells or so it seems, so that apparently leaves pure melee to handle them.

Wait until you hit a pack of Guardians; they're also invisible, but with a melee attack.

Originally Posted By: Ishad Nha

I mass Haste the party then try to see where the spells are coming from. Then the PCs do a search pattern in that area. I especially look for a message like "Black Shade attacks (PC Name) and misses.) When the thing summons monsters they are usually placed near it, that is a place to look.

I do that too. Also, another good thing to watch out for is when they cast spells at you; the ones that show up as beams will show you where the Black Shade is.