Curse

huh · Oct 07, 2005, 12:29 PM // 12:29

Haahhaa same here, first ever try with only henchies.
I'm a N/Me.
I wanted to play with only henchies to get the feel of the area since I read so many times that this is a tough mission and to find a group for first-timer like me will be impossible.
I guess I was just lucky, or maybe Thunderhead Keep was dumbed down.

Sister Rosette · Oct 07, 2005, 12:32 PM // 12:32

God's sake it's not that hard.

2 non-vital players (re: not monks) on the walls firing off the
ballistae nonstop.

Everyone else in the middle. Move from side to side as necessary.

Do it right and 'ZOMG S74Y WI7H T3H KINGZZZSS!!11' never becomes
an issue.

KaPe · Oct 07, 2005, 12:50 PM // 12:50

One thing : You don't even need to touch ballista once. Actually, that hurts more than it helps, since you split team that way.

coolsti · Oct 07, 2005, 12:53 PM // 12:53

I don't know how useful the ballista are, actually. There is a large group standing on one at the west side at the very beginning, and you can kill these using the ballista, even before you get the boss in the middle. Then there is one more group at the same site which can be killled (the minions of the monk boss). But it seems that all other groups pass by the ballista targets too quickly to get off more than one shot at them, and this is not enough to kill them.

Da Mad M00 · Oct 07, 2005, 01:31 PM // 13:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by KaPe

One thing : You don't even need to touch ballista once. Actually, that hurts more than it helps, since you split team that way.

I don't agree with that.

You don't have to split up your team for using the ballista's. All you have to do is having 1 guy on each site firing them. As soon as someone gets inside the castle you both of those guys just move back to the place where the rest of the group is waiting (near the king).

You can kill many enemies with the ballista's before they get into thet castle. It is especially usefull on the moment that the boss arrives. Cause you always target a boss last. When the lower level guys are death you can start on the boss earlier so there is a chance that you will be done before next group arrives. If not then there is no problem. Just take out the guy with the lowest level again and keep on going till everyone is dead so you can focus on the boss again.

ozz · Oct 07, 2005, 01:40 PM // 13:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessy

Oh no, another Thunderhead Keep thread. Of course you know the common strategies ... man the doors, stay in the center, use the catapults, stay with the king. I am writing to raise one more aspect that I feel has not been covered to the extent it deserves.

At the beginning of the mission, your team is given 3 extra warriors, the dwarfen soldiers accompanying the king. Typically, teams let them die within the first minutes of the mission. I put mending on each of them, and subsequently was able to use their services for the duration of the entire mission. This approach works for both PUGs and henchie teams. You need to keep an eye on the mending when you fight the mesmer elephants (I think they are spelled Heratics), they strip enchantments.

Obviously, you stay with the king after the animated sequence as that is where your 3 extra fighters hang out. Let your opponents rush in, and you are all set.

I found that double-clicking the king in between battles was helpful as he did not always return to "his spot".

<-- My successful henchie team. I am No. 5 from the left.

Hey don't forget the easiest part of it all -- knock knock ... Hmm I am all alone to face these Undead badies ... Uh Ohh ... OWNED!

Upon entering the Keep, descend the nearest stairwell, attack the enemy Boss of the Keep, attack all the "arena" Doylaks and the Dwarves, then proceed straight ahead to the set of catapults to the left where you will find the cut scene Giants waiting to pound the door down and stomp some heads.

Get someone on the catapult, mow them down where they stand, and, when the cut scene with the Vizier enters, You will see the lone Giant get stomped by the Undead. Makes the job of securing the Keep easier from the onset.

Da Mad M00 · Oct 07, 2005, 01:42 PM // 13:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by KaPe

One thing : You don't even need to touch ballista once. Actually, that hurts more than it helps, since you split team that way.

I don't agree with that.

You don't have to split up your team for using the ballista's. All you have to do is having 1 guy on each site firing them. As soon as someone gets inside the castle you both of those guys just move back to the place where the rest of the group is waiting (near the king).

You can kill many enemies with the ballista's before they get into thet castle. It is especially usefull on the moment that the boss arrives. Cause you always target a boss last. When the lower level guys are death you can start on the boss earlier so there is a chance that you will be done before next group arrives. If not then there is no problem. Just take out the guy with the lowest level again and keep on going till everyone is dead so you can focus on the boss again.

KaPe · Oct 07, 2005, 01:47 PM // 13:47

My expierience with ballistae is negative, I just prefer to sit near king and late them come. Mursaat/Jades approach in pairs, so that means you might be facing 4 of them at most, with 1 boss - hardly something that 8ppl party can't handle.

HunterZ · Oct 07, 2005, 02:46 PM // 14:46

Didn't have much luck with ballistas/ballistae on any attempt - I think it takes some practice to get the timing right.

Tried playing twice with random groups of players and died in the fort.

Then, I decided I wasn't going to waste time on a group unless they were serious/crazy enough that they wanted to try for the bonus (since I had done every mission and bonus in the game up to TK when I got there). Finally found a group, although we had to hire a monk (there're never enough around! There are selfish W/Mo tanks everywhere but never enough monk players available for most missions). We beat the bonus the first try (I think):

When attempting the bonus it helped a lot to stay close to the king instead of running back and forth between the gates. The only side effect is that you have to have a good healer because things get pretty crazy at times with mobs coming in 4 ways. Also, it lets the monsters get closer to the king, so you have to be really careful that none get through.

I'd also recommend bringing a cap sig as there are several bosses with elite skills.

huh · Oct 07, 2005, 02:48 PM // 14:48

You can use ballistae for this mission??
Never knew that...
Might have made my mission easier, not that it was tough in the first place

What KaPe said is true, all I did was just camp King Jalis and you never have to battle more than a few of them at one time.