A6 -Playing Singleton: Resisting Freezing by Basilisks

[Samael]

Hi Folks

 

I am play A6 for the second time as a singleton. In a group, freezing is not a big deal for the most part. As a singleton, like stun, freezing is lethal. You lose the ability to move and just watch yourself die. Very frustrating.

 

My question is, is there anything that helps you resist freezing out there, like an item, that I should be on the look for. Also, any other strategies for combating basilisks would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

[Randomizer]

The best strategy to deal with basilisks and other things that cause you to lose AP or a turn is buff fully before the fight and summon 2 creatures to assist. If there is more than one than a control foe on the nearest one to act as a buffer. Charm several and let them fight amongst themselves while you can pick off the weaker ones.

 

Cold resistance items seem to help I think. There is definitely a resistance check to avoid the freeze.

[Lilith]

Ward of Elements also gives you a chance to avoid being frozen.

[VCH]

At least basalisks don't outright kill your characters anymore.

[Student of Trinity]

Ward of Elements helps, and summons are also handy, but if you charm some of a group of basilisks you can watch basilisks freeze basilisks. Turns out basilisks themselves have quite low resistance to being frozen.

 

You can imagine that it evolved as a submission cue behavior, where the alpha basilisk establishes his status without having to kill any other basilisks. Instead of lowering their gaze, closing their mouths, and tucking their tails under to acknowledge him as alpha, they freeze solid.

[ĐªгŦĦ Єяŋϊε]

its interesting how earlier basiliks turned you to stone and now they turn you to ice

[Silver Shadow]

Getting instantly killed was kind of a downer, though. It does make sense why Jeff would change it.

[Vicheron]

But there used to be items and spells that rendered you immune to petrification.

[Randomizer]

Jeff down graded them to chance of success. He removed them from the later games when petrification just became frozen for a few rounds. No more crystal items.

[VCH]

I used to be damn scared of Basalisks. But the ice version kinda sucks now.

[Student of Trinity]

Originally Posted By: VCH

I used to be damn scared of Basilisks. But the ice version kinda sucks now.

Canadians are just blasé about freezing solid. Happens all the time, and as long as you don't get that boot to the head with a frozen mukluk while you're vulnerable, you'll thaw out by spring, no prob. But for a lot of folks south of the border, it's scary.

[Jerakeen]

It's not mukluks we need to worry about, it's moose.

[Student of Trinity]

Myah, but frozen mukluks booting you in the head are pretty bad, too, you know. One of those hits you while you happen to be frozen solid, and it's like that scene from Terminator 2. Smash. It can take forever to get yourself back together, and the odds of getting a few toes mixed up are entirely too high.

[madrigan]

Yet when you encounter basilisks, you often find stone statues that were once alive. I guess our characters are too tough to be turned to stone.

[Lilith]

I seem to recall that A5 has a handwave to explain that: if a basilisk stares at you for a little while, you're frozen. If it stares at you for a long, long time, you turn to stone.

[Jerakeen]

It makes me wonder: how does this benefit the basilisk? Frozen dinner has nutritional value, but stone is a little rough on the digestive tract, not to mention the teeth.

 

Maybe they just like having a little statuary to brighten up the lair.

[madrigan]

Originally Posted By: The Turtle Moves

It makes me wonder: how does this benefit the basilisk? Frozen dinner has nutritional value, but stone is a little rough on the digestive tract, not to mention the teeth.

Maybe they can also reverse the process. In that case it would be a way of preserving food.

[Randomizer]

I think one game mentions tooth marks on a statue implying that the basilisk can eat the victim in stone form.

[Alorael at Large]

Basilisks don't eat adventurers. Well, not primarily, anyway. However, they are not the apex predators of their environment, and must thus defend themselves from slimes, bigger lizards, the odd dragon, and so on. Thus, a deterrent that keeps on deterring.

 

—Alorael, who figures it doubles as protective coloration. Nobody messes with your nest when the last twelve messers are highly visible decorative statuary.

[VCH]

Originally Posted By: Student of Trinity

Originally Posted By: VCH

I used to be damn scared of Basilisks. But the ice version kinda sucks now.

Canadians are just blasé about freezing solid. Happens all the time, and as long as you don't get that boot to the head with a frozen mukluk while you're vulnerable, you'll thaw out by spring, no prob. But for a lot of folks south of the border, it's scary.

Actually January is crazy warm this year, everything is melting at +3C.