The final boss is a buggy mess. (Honor Mode and Spoilers)

[Giganx]

For context, my first complete playthrough of the game was Honor Mode and I went into Act 3 semi-blind; I read some guides for certain boss fights, but honestly most of them sucked and probably did more harm than good.

Anyways, the final fight with the Netherbrain my only ranged damage dealer was a Spear Thrower Barb with Nyrulna. Well, apparently Throwing weapons just flat out don't work against the Netherbrain. Maybe it's because there's no floor under it, but throwing a weapon at the Netherbrain is basically throwing it into the void. Can't have possibly been intentional, but that screwed me over immediately.

Now, since I didn't really know the fight most of my party was out of position when I opened the portal, so I wasted a couple rounds of my 5 round time limit just getting my melee's to the Netherbrain. I will say thank god for my Open Hand Monk, because it was the only reason I even had a prayer, but after 3 rounds all of the melee platforms were primed to explode.

Now I used Globe of Invulnerability to save 1 melee platform so I could still fight, and it sort of worked but also bugged out as well. It saved the platform and my characters on it were still alive, but the game didn't recognize the platform still existed. I couldn't reposition any of my characters on the platform so some were stuck out of attack range; any time I'd click on the platform to move them it would react like there was no platform and I was clicking on nothing.

Anyways, I obviously wasn't going to let this BS cost me the run, so I did some manipulating the save files so I could experiment with scrolls/bombs and find a way to win without losing Honour Mode.

I still love the game even though it forced me to limp and cheat my way across the finish line, but I also agree with everyone that says Act 3 has a lot of problems.

[seeker1]

Yeah, it's interesting, I found this too. You can't throw weapons at the Netherbrain's "inner brain". Presumably because it's just floating there in space? I get the death icon when I try and throw a grenade at it, which makes me wonder if my char will die on the attempt (although I think it really just means it won't work). It's too bad because I had some saved up concussion grenades saved just for it.

Always found it a weird fight. The only way it retaliates is by essentially summoning orbs that melt the platforms you're standing on (but BTW it often seems to be any of the other platforms connected to them too) ... and sending you plunging to your death.

I wouldn't think globe of invulnerabilty would work ... maybe by your description it does in an unintended way. Also, that a character with intrinsic flight could survive ... but nope.

[northernwater]

The disappearing platforms is a dumb gimmick. The fight outside the brain land is pretty meaningless. The ending is the most disappointing part of this game, IMO.
1) Camera whiplash was horrible in this battle.
2) A giant brain was the absolute. Gimme a break, that is worse than a cheesy old 50s sci fi movies. They could not have come up with some thing more creative and awe inspiring?
3) The battle was a gimmick fight where the battle outside brain land was of no real consequence. This made all your allies meaningless.

[kbiz]

Originally posted by Giganx:

Anyways, I obviously wasn't going to let this BS cost me the run, so I did some manipulating the save files so I could experiment with scrolls/bombs and find a way to win without losing Honour Mode.

I wonder what percentage game Honor Mode the same way. All games have bugs. Bugs are a part of any Ironman run. I never ran into a problem during my three playthroughs.

[RamboRusina]

While I love the game I agree that 3rd act is a utter mess. It feels very disjointed and not cohesive at all as whole. Final assault and battle was the worst one in game. None of it is challenging, doesn't require showing you really understand mechanics or anything. It's just waiting billion AI do nothing worthwhile with camera jumping around to most worthless angles. And yes, that floor looks very cool, thanks camera! You see more from of the final assault and battles from combat log than you do from camera itself

[Giganx]

Originally posted by seeker1:

Yeah, it's interesting, I found this too. You can't throw weapons at the Netherbrain's "inner brain". Presumably because it's just floating there in space? I get the death icon when I try and throw a grenade at it, which makes me wonder if my char will die on the attempt (although I think it really just means it won't work). It's too bad because I had some saved up concussion grenades saved just for it.

Always found it a weird fight. The only way it retaliates is by essentially summoning orbs that melt the platforms you're standing on (but BTW it often seems to be any of the other platforms connected to them too) ... and sending you plunging to your death.

I wouldn't think globe of invulnerabilty would work ... maybe by your description it does in an unintended way. Also, that a character with intrinsic flight could survive ... but nope.

I got grenades to work mainly by aiming for the platform right next to the brain; the AoE splash would still do damage. And yea, the globe of invulnerability was weird; not sure if the platform being made invulnerable was an intended reaction or not.

[Giganx]

Originally posted by kbiz:

Originally posted by Giganx:

Anyways, I obviously wasn't going to let this BS cost me the run, so I did some manipulating the save files so I could experiment with scrolls/bombs and find a way to win without losing Honour Mode.

I wonder what percentage game Honor Mode the same way. All games have bugs. Bugs are a part of any Ironman run. I never ran into a problem during my three playthroughs.

I don't really view bugs as game features/obstacles, so I consider my clear to be legitimate.

If throwing weapons worked on the brain like they're supposed to I would've cleared the fight no issue. Hell, even if the platform hadn't bugged out I would've just barely made it.

[kbiz]

Originally posted by Giganx:

Originally posted by kbiz:

I wonder what percentage game Honor Mode the same way. All games have bugs. Bugs are a part of any Ironman run. I never ran into a problem during my three playthroughs.

I don't really view bugs as game features/obstacles, so I consider my clear to be legitimate.

If throwing weapons worked on the brain like they're supposed to I would've cleared the fight no issue. Hell, even if the platform hadn't bugged out I would've just barely made it.

Okay. I used to do it that way too. Now I just go in with overwhelming force. No need for if's.

[Giganx]

Yea, overwhelming force is how I'd handled most of the game.

The Netherbrain and it's numerous bugs and anti-melee elements is just one of those situations where you can auto-lose by just not knowing what parts of the fight are broken.

Obviously I wouldn't go into that fight with a spear barb at all next time, let alone as my only ranged DD.

[seeker1]

On the fight right before the final assault on the inner brain ...

Essentially, if you DO side with the Emperor, it's you fighting a red dragon and 4 dream guardians but they are not identified as such, before the 4 mind flayers protecting the site of the crown. And if you don't, it's the same fight, except now the Emperor TELLS you they are dream guardians taken from your dreams, and you ALSO fighting him. It's the only thing that changes. Because I have always found him to be a manipulative douchebag, I focus on taking him out first. Concussion grenades work nicely.

I noticed one other thing seemed to change over the patch cycle. The spawning tentacles used to have only 1 HP but were indestructible. Now they can be killed. Including of course by and from nautiloid bombardment. Why do the four mindflayers at the top shoot magic missiles at you? They should be throwing void bulbs or something. They of course use psionic blast once you get closer.

All in all, the red dragon is the toughest problem, but it can't move. I mean yes, it does "move" by sorta "flying" from one spot to the other, if you can call that "movement". JMHO: arrows of dragon slaying can only basically be used twice in this game, and they are underwhelming. I thought they might force the creature to make a saving throw or die. Nah, just do 2d6 additional damage.

On the "gather your allies" business - something I couldn't figure out - if you summon Zlorb the strange ox/shapeshifter - he eventually goes hostile against you too? - now I avoid that. Dunno if this is intended or a bug. The fierce Dame Aylin doesn't fly very far and dies very quickly with her 85 HP. (although of course she doesn't "die" but stays at 1 HP.) I'll just leave it at that. Also, I've never understood this, Mizora says she will agree to help me at the end, but has never actually honored that commitment, never trust a bloody devil. (I guess she doesn't mean it if Wyll breaks the pact, but then why make the offer?) Of all the "gather your allies" I honestly find Zevlor & his hellriders to be the most useful.

If Rolan takes over Ramazith Tower, you do get a one time use of one of the best AoE spells in the game, so there's that.

[Giganx]

I wasn't really familiar with the fight for this playthrough, but now that I've seen it I feel like the best strategy is to summon helpers to distract the dragon and then rush your whole party right to the portal. I'd just give each a scroll of Misty Step to get them onto the platform, kill the illithids and go straight to the Netherbrain.

It definitely feels like one of those gimmick fights that's only difficult if you're not already familiar with the gimmicks, and any associated bugs.

[Kapitein Gnapmans]

Originally posted by kbiz:

Originally posted by Giganx:

Anyways, I obviously wasn't going to let this BS cost me the run, so I did some manipulating the save files so I could experiment with scrolls/bombs and find a way to win without losing Honour Mode.

I wonder what percentage game Honor Mode the same way. All games have bugs. Bugs are a part of any Ironman run. I never ran into a problem during my three playthroughs.

You were just being so starry eyed that you missed all of the bugs.

[Kaisha]

Yeah, I feel you. The netherbrain was a bit buggy on my honor mode run as well, but not quite so bad. All the ladders between the platforms disappeared (I assume that's a bug, there were ladders on tactician) and Karlach got stuck and couldn't get down, but I couldn't port her either and couldn't throw anything either. Fortunately (much like you) my ascended Asterion OH monk did like 400 dmg in a single turn and that was pretty much it.

There's really a lot of bugs still :(

[myxlmynx]

Thanks for the info, was just thinking whether to start a new Honor mode run with a Throwing Barb, hehe.

[Giganx]

Originally posted by Kaisha:

Yeah, I feel you. The netherbrain was a bit buggy on my honor mode run as well, but not quite so bad. All the ladders between the platforms disappeared (I assume that's a bug, there were ladders on tactician) and Karlach got stuck and couldn't get down, but I couldn't port her either and couldn't throw anything either. Fortunately (much like you) my ascended Asterion OH monk did like 400 dmg in a single turn and that was pretty much it.

There's really a lot of bugs still :(

I remember in another thread you're the one who mentioned to me that Globe of Invulnerability can save the platforms, so I owe you for that one. Even though it didn't work out as well as I was hoping, it did get my melee exclusive team through the fight.

Originally posted by myxlmynx:

Thanks for the info, was just thinking whether to start a new Honor mode run with a Throwing Barb, hehe.

Throwing Barb was actually pretty badass for 99% of the run, but yea DEFINITELY spec out of it before the final boss.

[kbiz]

Originally posted by lankaras:

Originally posted by kbiz:

I wonder what percentage game Honor Mode the same way. All games have bugs. Bugs are a part of any Ironman run. I never ran into a problem during my three playthroughs.

You were just being so starry eyed that you missed all of the bugs.

I would have remembered if any bug stopped me on any of my three (3) playthroughs. And I gave Larian 100's of of hours to try. We're talking about edge cases here.