NetNews Usenet Archive 1993 #3/NN_1993_3.iso/spool/comp/sys/amiga/games/18292

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From: [e-mail]
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.games
Subject: EYE OF THE BEHOLDER STRATEGY
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 21 Jan 93 10:44:31 GMT
Organization: Dundee Institute of Technology
Lines: 1944

                                 STRATEGY



Many elements make up the strategies the party will use in EYE OF THE

BEHOLDER These elements include: the characters that make up the party,

the mechanics and tactics of combat, the equipment and spells used by the

party the NPCs that support the party the monsters the party fights, and

the techniques used to solve puzzles.



The Characters



There are many strategies for putting together an effective party of

characters. Certain combinations of character classes and race are

more effective than others.



Single-Class vs. Multi-Class



Non-human characters can be multi-classed characters, but that does not

mean that they must be multi-class characters. Single-class characters

have a number of advantages over multi-classed characters with the same

amount of EXP.



Single-class fighters have several advantages. With the same amount of

EXP, they will average many more HP and have a better chance to hit than

multi-class fighter combinations.



Single-class clerics and mages will gain higher level spells much sooner

than multi-class cleric or mage combinations. Spell casters become much

more useful when they reach 5th level and can cast the 3rd level spells

Fireball and Create Food.



Characters can more effectively specialize in EOB than in other AD&D

computer role playing games. With careful play, rear rank characters

will seldom get into melee combat. This makes a single-class mage a

viable character by reducing the effect of his limited abilities in

melee. Also, the real time nature of EOB means that a character can only

do one thing at a time; a character's ability to do many different

things is often not as important as the ability to do one thing very

well.



The advantages of multi-classed characters are obvious, they combine

the abilities of several different classes of character in one. Thus,

fighter/mage can both melee effectively and cast spells, though he can

do neither as well as a single-class fighter or mage with the same

amount of EXP. Multi-classed characters are often useful to add an

additional capability to a party, such as thieving skills or additional

clerical healing spells.



Racial Advantages



Because of the monsters and situations in EOB, certain race/class

combinations are very effective. The following are some specific types

of characters and their advantages.



Dwarven Fighter: A dwarven fighter with a high constitution has a high

resistance to poison, which makes it much easier to fight giant spiders.

A dwarf fighter can also have a Constitution of 19, which can further

increase his HP. A dwarf also allows the party to read the writing on the

wall in the dwarvish levels of the game.



Human Paladin: Only humans can he paladins. Paladins can fight as well

as any fighter, plus they have the ability to heal by laying on hands

and, they have the ability to cast some low level clerical healing

spells when they reach ninth level.



Elven Mage: A single-class mage gains levels swiftly and will quickly

gain the ability to cast useful spells like Fireball. An elven mage

with a high dexterity has a high AC, which makes it easier to survive

stray thrown weapons. As a mage, an elf's maximum constitution of 17

does not limit his HP and his maximum dexterity of 19 can increase his

AC. As mages cannot wear armor to increase their AC, a high dexterity

is essential to a mage. An elf also allows the party to read the writing

on the wall in the drow levels of the game.



Human, Half Elven, or Elven Cleric: A single-class cleric swiftly gains

levels and the ability to cast useful spells like Create Food. Humans,

Half Elves and Elves can all have a maximum wisdom of 18 (thus gaining

the maximum bonus spells) and have no level restrictions in this game.



Half Elven Fighter/Mage/Cleric: This is the character with the most

diverse talents in the game. This character can use almost every item in

the game (excluding lockpicks), and has a limited ability to fight, can

cast offensive spells, and heal. Unfortunately, a half elven fighter/mage/

cleric will go up levels extremely slowly, and will have very few HP for

most of the game.



Elven Fighter/Mage/Thief: The thiefly counterpart to the half elven jack

of all trades listed before. This character can use literally every

item in the game and can pick locks as well. Unfortunately, an elven

fighter/mage/thief will also go up levels extremely slowly, and will

have very few HP for most of the game.



Gnome Cleric/Thief: A gnomish cleric/thief makes a good character to

fill out a party that already has a single-class cleric. The cleric/

thief gives the party additional clerical healing spells plus the

thieving ability of picking locks.



The Party



A party should include a good mix of classes and races to deal with the

many honors in EOB. The player will need to decide upon his overall party

strategy before making the characters in his party.



In general, a party should have at least two characters who can fight

well for the front rank, a character who can cast mage spells, and at

least one character who can cast clerical healing spells.



Fighters



The party has many choices for the two front rank characters who can

fight well. Most races make reasonable fighters, and fighter, paladin,

and ranger class characters can all fight well. Even single-class cleric

and dual class fighter/cleric characters can be effective front rank

characters in the beginning levels of the game. Also, most of the NPC

characters the party meets later in the game can fight well and could be

used in the front rank.



Spell Casters



The choice of the various spell casters is also important to the

strategy of the party. One character who can cast mage spells is

normally sufficient for most parties. Mages must find their higher

level spells on scrolls; the supply of scrolls is limited, so it is not

efficient to divide those spells among several mages in a party.



It is often useful to have two characters who can cast clerical healing

spells. It is important not to get caught after a battle without a

conscious cleric. A conscious cleric with a few Cure Light Wounds spells

can heal as many HP in hours, as a party without a conscious cleric

could heal in many days of rest.



Party Makeup



One strategy is to create a party of specialists who go up in levels

with the fewest number of EXP This party works well so long as the

warriors in the front rank never let the spell casters in the rear rank

get into melee.



Specialist Party: Dwarven Fighter, Human Paladin, Elven Mage, and Half

Elven Cleric.



Another strategy is to create a party of generalists who are multi-

classed characters. This party should always have some character

with the appropriate skill for a situation. But, such a diverse party

will take a lot of EXP to get to higher levels.



Generalist Party: Dwarven Fighter/Thief, Half Elven Fighter/Cleric,

Elven Fighter/Mage, Half Elven Cleric/Mage



A further strategy is to have a mixed party with specialist warriors in

the front rank and generalist spell casters in the rear rank. This

strategy makes sure that the fighters gain levels (and HP) as quickly as

possible, but that the spell casters will have a wide variety of spells

available.



Mixed Party: Dwarven Fighter, Human Paladin, Half Elven Cleric/Mage,

Gnome Cleric/Thief.



Combat Mechanics



Understanding the combat mechanics used in EYE OF THE BEHOLDER allows

the party to use the most effective weapons and tactics in different

situations. Each character's ability in combat is defined by his AC,

THAC0, and damage.



AC



A character or monster's difficulty to be hit is represented by his

Armor Class or AC. The lower the target's AC, the harder it is to hit

the target. AC is based on armor and a dexterity bonus. Some magic

items also help a character's AC.



THAC0



A character's THAC0 represents his ability to hit enemies. THAC0 stands

for To Hit Armor Class 0. This is the number a character must `roll'

equal to or greater than to do damage on a target with an AC of 0.

The lower the attacker's THAC0, the better his chance to hit the target.

A character's THAC0 is based on his class and level.



  Note: the generation of a random number is often referred to as a

  `roll'. In determining if an attack hit, the number generated is from

  1 through 20. The base roll is modified by the character's ability

  scores and any magic weapons.



An attack is successful if the roll is greater than or equal to the

attacker's THAC0 minus the target's AC.



  Example: A fighter with a THAC0 of 15 attacking a monster with an

  AC of 3 would need to roll: (THAC0 15) - (AC 3) = 12+. But to hit a

  monster with an AC of -2 he would need to roll: (THAC0 15) - (AC -2) =

  17+



Damage



When a hit is scored, the attacker does damage. Damage is the range of

HP loss the attacker inflicts when he hits an opponent in combat, and it

depends on the attacker's strength and weapon type. The damage each

weapon can do is summarized in the Weapons List.



Some monsters take only partial or no damage from certain weapon types.

Skeletons, for example, take only half damage from sharp or edged

weapons.



Attacking



Characters generally engage in melee combat, which is face-to-face

fighting with weapons such as swords and maces. Characters also

have other options, such as casting spells and ranged combat, with bows

and slings.



In general, a character attacks the enemy in the front rank on his side

of the screen. When there is only one enemy left in a battle, it

moves to the center of the square and characters from both sides can

attack it.



Combat Strategies



To succeed in combat, a skilled player deploys his party well, casts

effective spells before and during combat, maneuvers his characters

into advantageous positions, and attacks using his most powerful

characters and weapons.



Deploying the Party



Keep the heavily-armored fighters in the front rank and the vulnerable

mages and thieves in the rear ranks.



Equipping the Party



Equip characters in the front rank with the most powerful melee weapons

you can find. See the Weapons Table to see how much damage each type of

melee weapon can do. As soon as you find enough weapons, warriors should

carry a one handed weapon in their primary hand and a short sword in

their secondary hand.



Equip characters in the rear ranks with the most powerful ranged

weapons you can find. See the Weapons Table to see how much damage each

type of ranged weapon can do. Spell casters should have their holy

symbols and spell books in-hand, ready to cast spells.



Characters who use thrown weapons should carry weapons both in-hand and

in their belt pouch for quick reloading. Front rank characters who use

thrown weapons may wish to carry a shield or short sword at the top

of their belt pouch. This shield or short sword will be readied

automatically after they attack with the last of their thrown weapons.



Be sure to recover your ranged weapons after each battle and to collect

all of the ranged weapons you can find. Ranged weapons get used up

quickly in battle, and they may have special uses later in the game.



Wounded Characters



Characters who are seriously wounded should be moved out of the front

rank if possible. It is much easier to heal a wounded character than

it is to bring a dead character back to life.



Moving and Fighting



If you are exploring an area, move with the compass on the screen to

facilitate mapping. If you are moving through an explored area,

move with a spell menu on the screen and an attack spell showing.

Always move with the Adventure Screen up, you can't fight from the

Equipment or Character Screens.



With both the adventure screen and spell menu up you are prepared for

battle. Prepare for battle before you open any door, climb or descend

stairs, or push a button that could open a door or secret wall. Monsters

often lurk behind closed doors or secret walls, and monsters are always

ready for combat.



Remember that you can move and fight at the same time. You can move

backwards to dodge an enemy melee attack. You can move sideways to dodge

an enemy ranged attack. You can even run away and close a door behind

you to get away from a particularly nasty fight.



Fighting from the Keyboard



Fighting from the keyboard takes a little more planning than fighting

with a mouse. To fight effectively, quickly choose the item you want

to attack with and press the U key to Use it.



There are two ways to move the item high-light and choose the item you

want to attack with: the A, S, W and Z item cursor keys, and the F1 - F6

character selection keys. The party's equipment should be set up to take

maximum advantage of the way you move the item highlight.



If you use the A, S, Wand Z, item cursor keys to move the item highlight,

place the six weapons the party uses most in the primary and secondary

hands of the front rank characters and in the primary hands of the

first two rear rank characters. Before a battle, start the item

highlight on the primary hand of the character in the upper right hand

comer. Practice quickly moving the item highlight in a circle through

these six items, Using each item in turn. By the time the cursor gets

back to the first item, that item should be ready to Use again.



If you use the F1- F6 character selection keys to move the item

highlight, place the four to six weapons the party uses most in the

primary hands of each of the characters. Before a battle, start the item

highlight on the primary hand of the character in the upper right hand

corner. Practice using the F1 - F6 keys to quickly moving the item

highlight in a circle through these four to six items, Using each item in

turn. By the time the cursor gets back to the first item, that item should

be ready to Use again.



Once you can move the item highlight and use weapons quickly, add moving

and casting mage spells to the combat rhythm. In general, if the combat

situation requires that the party move, then interrupt your combat

rhythm and move! To cast spells effectively in combat, take the first

spare instant to Use a mage's spell book and open the spell menu. Resume

attacking with weapons until you have another spare instant, then choose

the spell level, the spell within that level, and then cast the spell.

You can eliminate choosing the spell within a level if you memorize only

the attack spells Magic Missile, Melf's Acid Arrow, Fireball, Ice Storm,

and Cone of Cold.



With a little planning and practice, you can fight as effectively with

the keyboard as you can with the mouse. While the party's attacks may

sacrifice some flexibility, they will gain in consistency and rhythm.



Tactics



The monsters on the first several levels are each designed to require a

different combat strategy for maximum effectiveness. The player should

try to learn different combat strategies to fight each type of monster

most effectively.



Level 1



The monsters on level 1 do not have special abilities or weaknesses. It

only requires that the party learn to melee effectively to survive.



Level 2



The monsters on level 2 are undead. The party should learn that these

monsters can be turned by a cleric who has his holy symbol ready and

in-hand.



Level 3



The kuo-toa have ranged attacks. The party should learn to dodge the

ranged attacks before closing with the monster to melee.



Level 4 & 5



The giant spiders have a poisonous bite. The party should learn `shoot

and scoot' tactics to keep out of melee. These tactics consist of

learning to move backwards while attacking with ranged weapons and spells.



Level 6



The kenku have multiple ranged attacks, travels in groups, and can

surround a slow moving party. The party should learn to keep dodging

until the flock has expended all of its ranged attacks. The party also

needs to learn to use area effect damage spells, like Fireball, to

clear out the flocks quickly and to move swiftly so as not to get

trapped in a corridor with foes both in front and behind.



There is a wizard on level 6 that has many area effect spells. Here the

party needs to learn `hit and run' tactics. These tactics are to dodge

back around a corner, strike at their foe as he presents his flank, and

then dodge back again as he turns to face the party. The object of this

tactic is to always avoid the enemy's devastating fire power.



Level 7



The drow have weapons coated with a paralyzing poison and have a

significant resistance to magic. The party should learn to rely on

missile fire and maneuver instead of magic and melee, to defeat their

foes. Once the party has learned all of these tactics, they have a

chance against any of the monsters in the game. All the party has to

do then is decide which tactic is most effective in each situation.



Ability Scores and Other Characteristics



Strength



The Strength Chart lists the modifiers to melee hit probability and the

damage adjustment based on the character's Strength.



Strength Chart



Ability      Melee Hit     Damage

Score        Probability   Adjustment

3             -3            -1

4-5           -2            -1

6-7           -1            none

8-15          normal        none

16            normal        +1

17            +1            +1

18            +1            +2

18/01-50*     +1            +3

18/51-75*     +2            +3

18/76-90*     +2            +4

18/91-99*     +2            +5

18/00*        +3            +6

19#           +3            +7

20#           +3            +8

21#           +4            +9

22#           +4            +10



* These bonuses are available only to fighters, paladins, and rangers.

# These scores are only possible in this game through magic.



Dexterity



The Dexterity Chart lists the modifiers to missile hit probability and

the AC adjustment based on the character's Dexterity.



Dexterity Chart



Ability      Missile Hit  AC

Score        Probability  Adjustment

3            -3           +4

4            -2           +3

5            -1           +2

6             0           +1

7-14          0            0

15            0           -1

16           +1           -2

17           +2           -3

18           +2           -4

19           +3           -4



Constitution



The Constitution Chart lists the Hit Point Adjustment that a character

gets every level.



Constitution Chart



Ability           Hit Point

Score             Adjustment

3                 -2

4-6               -1

7-14               0

15                +1

16                +2

17           +2 (+3)*

18           +2 (+4)*

19           +2 (+5)*



*  These bonuses are available only to fighters, paladins, and rangers;

for all other classes the maximum hit point adjustment for constitution

is +2



THAC0 (Also known as THWAAKO! HAHA! Mict*!)



THAC0 is not an ability score, but it is an important characteristic. The

THAC0 Chart lists a character's base THAC0 for his class and level.



THAC0 Chart



          Character Level

Class     1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11

Cleric    20 20 20 18 18 18 16 16 16 14  14

Fighter   20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11  10

Mage      20 20 20 19 19 19 18 18 18 17  17

Paladin   20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11  10

Ranger    20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11  10



Weapons and Armor



Weapons



Weapons are divided into 3 classes: melee, thrown, and fired. Melee

weapons are used only in close combat, while thrown and fired weapons

are used at range. Characters in the front rank can use melee and

ranged weapons. Characters in the rear ranks can only use ranged

weapons. Note the Classes sections starting on page 23 in the rules

that limit some character classes to certain weapons.



The Weapons Chart lists the weapons with their range of hit point

damage versus small, medium, and large-sized creatures. The damage done

by a melee weapon is adjusted by the attacking character's strength and

any magical bonus the weapon may have.



Weapons Chart



            Damage vs.      Damage vs.

            Small & Medium  Large



Melee Weapons:

Staff*         1-6          1-6

Mace           2-7          1-6

Short Sword    1-6          1-8

Flail          2-7          2-8

Axe            1-8          1-8

Long Sword     1-8          1-12

Halberd*       1-10         2-12

Thrown Weapons:

Rock           1-2          1-2

Dart           1-3          1-2

Dagger         1-4          1-3

Spear          1-6          1-8

Ranged Weapons:

Sling&Rocks*   14           1-4

Bow&Arrows*    1-6          1-6



* These two-handed weapons must be used from the primaryhand.



Armor



Armor provides a character a base AC. The lower the character's AC, the

harder it is for an attack to hit. AC is based on the character's

armor and his dexterity bonus. Some magic items also help a character's AC.



Note the Classes sections starting on page 23 in the rules that limit some

character classes to certain types of armor. The Armor Chart lists the

types of armor in E0B and the base AC they provide a character.



Armor Chart

Armor Type      Base AC

Robe            10

Shield*          9

Leather Armor    B

Scale Mail       7

Chain Mail       5

Banded Armor     4

Plate Mail       3



* A shield subtracts 1 AC from any armor it is used with. Boots, helmets,

and non-magical bracers may look like armor, but they do not modify a

characters AC. They can safely be left as weights on pressure plates.

Magical bracers, however, can modify a characters AC.



Spells



Spells are an important part of a party's capabilities. The spells that

the party's spell casters memorize will have an important effect on the

party's tactics.



In the following section, the spells have been divided into types:

Offensive Spells, Defensive Spells, and Other Spells. There are specific

hints on when each type of spell is most effective. Spells that are

available only to clerics are marked with an *.



Offensive  Spells



Burning Hands, *Cause Light Wounds, Shocking Grasp, *Flame Blade,

Vampiric Touch, *Cause Serious Wounds and *Cause Critical Wounds: These

are hand to hand magical attacks. The spell caster must be in the front

rank to attack with them. Because of the time it takes to cast these

spells and the vulnerability of many spell casters, they are normally

the offensive spells of last resort.



Magic Missile, Melf's Acid Arrow and Flame Arrow: These are ranged

magical attacks that affect only one monster at a time. They allow the

spell caster to attack from the safety of the rear ranks. They are the

favorite offensive spells of lower level mages.



Hold Person, Fireball, Lightning Bolt, Fear, Ice Storm, Cone of Cold,

*Flame Strike and Hold Monster: These are ranged magical attacks that

can affect several monsters in an area. Because of the damage they can

do, they are often the preferred offensive spells of higher level spell

casters.



These area effect spells are especially effective when fighting many

monsters. Look closely at the area of effect of the various spells. The

spells that affect several squares are more effective against monsters

that cannot attack in groups. The spells that effect a single square

are most effective against monsters that attack in groups.



Two of these spells take special care when they are used. If the target

of an Ice Storm spell is within melee range of the party, the party will

also take damage from the spell. The Hold Person spell only affects

kobolds, dwarves, and drow.



Defensive Spells



Armor, *Protection from Evil, Shield, *Magical Vestment, *Protection

from Evil 10' Radius and Stoneskin: These spells mainly provide

protection against physical attacks. Cast these spells on your front

rank characters just before dangerous battles. Stoneskin is often the

preferred physical defensive spell of higher level spell casters.



*Bless and *Prayer: These spells mainly provide protection against

magical attacks. Cast these spells on your front rank characters

just before dangerous battles.



Healing Spells



*Cure Light Wounds, *Aid, *Cure Serious Wounds, and *Cure Critical

Wounds: These spells replace a character's lost HP. The Aid spell

can increase a character's HP over his normal maximum value, but only

increases HP temporarily. Cleric class characters should always have a

few Cure Light Wounds spells memorized to quickly heal the party while

resting.



*Slow Poison, *Remove Paralysis, *Neutralize Poison: These spells slow

or remove the effects of poison or paralysis. Keep a number of these

spells memorized whenever the party is anywhere near a monster who can

poison or paralyze the party.



*Raise Dead: This spell will bring a character back from the dead. Keep

one of these spells memorized once your cleric gets to a high enough

level.



Other Spells



Detect Magic: This spell is very useful in evaluating the items the

party picks up during the game. The spell causes all magical items

carried by the party to glow blue.



Invisibility and Invisibility 10' Radius: Invisibility is a useful

defense for a character in the rear ranks who avoids attacking.

Invisibility 10' Radius is useful to hide the entire party from mystic

sensors and prying eyes.



Even when the party is invisible, most monsters will sense the party's

general location, though the monsters get big penalties on attacks

against invisible targets.



*Create Food & Water: This spell is very useful in the lower levels of the

dungeon where food is scarce. Be sure to memorize this spell before

the party begins starving not after!



Haste: This spell is especially useful when fighting monsters who are

very fast. The Haste spell allows a party to make melee attacks much

faster. Cast this spell on your party just before dangerous battles.



Non-Player Characters



There are nine non-player characters that can join the party throughout

the adventure. Some are found as bones that can be resurrected.



The NPC list shows the character's class, alignment, race/gender, ability

scores, and maximum hit points. The list also shows the location where

you find the NPC, his initial status, and any equipment the NPC has

on-hand or nearby.



Tod Uphill



Class:            Level 5 Thief

Alignment         Chaotic-Neutral

Race/Gender:      Halfling Male

Ability Scores:   Str: 17 Int: 11

                  Wis: 14 Dex: 19

                  Con: 18 Cha: 16

Hit Points:       32

Location          Level 1, location 2

Status            Dead (bones)

Equipment         Lockpicks



Anya



Class:            Level 4 Fighter

Alignment:        Chaotic-Good

Race/Gender:      Human Female

Ability Scores:   Str: 18/59 Int: 5

                  Wis: 11    Dex:14

                  Con: 16    Cha: 9

Hit Points:       45

Location:         Level 3, location 40

Status:           Dead (bones)

Equipment:        Leather Armor, Long Sword, Spear



Taghor



Class:            Level 5 Fighter

Alignment:        Chaotic-Good

Race/Gender:      Dwarf Male

Ability Scores:   Str: 17  Int: 11

                  Con: 19  Cha: 9

Hit Points        45

Location          Level 4, location 39

Status:           Injured

Equipment:        Dwarf Helmet, Chain Mail, Axe



Dorhum



Class:            Level 3 Fighter

Alignment:        Lawful-Good

Race/Gender:      Dwarf Male

Ability Scores:   Str: 18/29  Int: 13

                  Wis: 11     Dex: 16

                  Con: 17     Cha: 14

Hit Points:       28

Location:         Level 5, location 27

Status:           Okay

Equipment:        Dwarf Helmet, Chain Mail, Axe, 2 Rations, Potion of

                  Healing



Ileria



Class:            Level 6 Cleric

Alignment         Lawful-Good

Race/Gender:      Half Elf Female

Ability Scores:   Str: 10 Int: 12 Wis: 9

                  Dex: 15 Con: 17

Hit Points:       52

Location:         Level 7, location 19A

Status:           Dead (bones)

Equipment:        Holy Symbol



Beohram



Class:            Level 7 Fighter

Alignment:        Lawful-Good

Race/Gender:      Human Male

Ability Scores:   Str: 17  Int: 9  Wis: 15

                  Dex: 13 Con: 18

                  Cha:17

Hit Points:       55

Location:         Level 9, location 57

Status:           Dead (bones)

Equipment:        Helmet, Holy Symbol, Plate Mail, +5 Long Sword called

                  `Severious," Shield, Dagger



Keirgar



Class             Level 5 Fighter

Alignment:        Neutral-Good

Race/Gender:      Dwarf Male

Ability Scores:   Str: 18/92 Int: 15

                  Wis:15  Dex:12

                  Con: 19  Cha: 17

Hit Points:       45

Location:         Level 10, location 15

Status:           Injured (captive)

Equipment:        None



Tyrra



Class:            Level6Ranger

Alignment:        Chaotic-Good

Race/Gender       Elf Male

Ability Scores:   Str: 16 Int: 14

                  Wis: 16 Dex: 18

                  Con: 17 Cha: 7

Hit Points:       45

Location:         level 10, location 36

Status:           Dead (bones)

Equipment:        Skull Key



Kirath



Class             Level 7 Mage

Race/Gender:      Half-Elf Male

Alignment:        Neutral

Ability Scores:   Str: 11 Int: 17

                  Wis: 13 Dex: 18

                  Con: 8 Cha: 12

Hit Points:       21

Location:         Level 11, location 60

Status:           Dead (bones)

Equipment:        +2 Bracers of Defense, +5 Dagger, +2 Ring of Protection,

                  Robe +5, Spell Book



[There were pictures of each of the NPC's here but I didn't include

them! BLOW ME!]



Monsters



Level 1



Kobold: These creatures are weak alone, but they can be dangerous when

they attack in packs. All types of weapons are effective against these

creatures. The clerical spell Hold Person is especially effective against

Kobolds.



Leech, Giant: These creatures are slow and can only attack one at a time,

but they are much tougher than kobolds and can do a lot more damage when

they hit. All types of weapons are effective against these creatures,

but a novice party might want to keep their distance and attack leeches

with ranged weapons and spells.



Level 2



Skeleton: These creatures attack quickly and can pack together to

attack as a mob. The best defense against a group of skeletons is to

turn them by readying the holy symbol of the party's highest level

cleric. Skeletons take half damage from piercing and slashing weapons

like swords and daggers.



Zombie: These creatures attack more slowly than skeletons but they too

can pack together to attack as a mob. All types of weapons are

effective against zombies, but the best defense against a group of

zombies is to turn them by readying the holy symbol of the party's

highest level cleric.



Level 3



Kuo-Toa: These creatures are slow and can only attack one at a time, but

they can throw lightning bolts at range. When you spot a kuo-toa,

sidestep its initial lightning bolt, then rush in and kill it in melee

before the creature can get another lightning bolt off. All types of

weapons are effective against these creatures.



Flind: These creatures can only attack one at a time, but are fast and

can do a lot of damage. They have a fondness for ambushes, so be ready

for battle as you open doors, turn corners, and move through areas they

inhabit. All types of weapons are effective against these creatures.



Levels 4 & 5



Spider, Giant: These creatures are extremely dangerous due to the lethal

poison in their bite. These creatures can only attack one at a time, but

are quick and takes several hits to kill.



The best strategy when fighting a spider is to retreat and engage the

spider with ranged weapons and spells. Dwarves with high constitution

scores are resistant to poison and should be in the front rank in case

the spider catches the retreating party. After each battle, be sure to

quickly pick up your ranged weapon ammo and keep an eye out for other

spiders.



Your cleric plays an important role in the party's survival after a

character is poisoned. If a character is poisoned, its is best to cast

a Slow Poison spell on them and look for a Potion of Cure Poison, or a

friendly NPC cleric with a Neutralize Poison spell.



Level 6



Kenku: These creatures can pack together to attack as a group and can

throw two Magic Missile spells at range before they close to melee.

When you spot a flock of kenku, sidestep until they have expended their

Magic Missile spells. All types of weapons are effective against these

creatures, but area effect spells like Fireball are the most effective

way to break up their groups.



There is an entire community of kenku on level 6. Groups of them will

continue to attack the party as long as they are on level 6. Be careful

not to get surrounded, and move swiftly through the level to complete

your objectives before too many of the kenku are alerted.



Level 7



Drow Elf: Most drow, outside of the area covered in EYE OF THE BEHOLDER,

kill strangers on sight. The drow elf community in EOB has a pact with

Xanathar and are used to dealing with non-drow They may even be willing

to bargain with wandering adventurers.



The drow can pack together to attack as a group and have a high

resistance to spells. In melee, they attack with long swords coated

with a short-term paralyzing poison. Use the party's maneuverability to

stay out of melee with the drow and use ranged weapon attacks against

them as long as you can.



Skeletal Lord: These creatures are an elite force of evil warriors

created from the bones of fallen heroes. They can attack quickly, are

very tough, and can pack together to attack as a group. The best

defense against a group of skeletons is to turn them by readying the

holy symbol of the party's highest level cleric. Skeletal lords take

half damage from piercing and slashing weapons like swords and daggers.



Level 8



Drider: These creatures have powerful melee attacks, a high resistance

to spells, and are armed with two spears that they used as ranged

attacks. When you spot a drider, sidestep until he has expended his

spears and then engage with ranged and melee weapons. All types of

weapons are effective against these creatures, but most spells are

ineffective.



Hell Hound: These creatures attack with a powerful bite and by breathing

fire. They are resistant to some spells. They often attack in packs, but

keep sufficiently spread out to avoid area effect spells. Maneuver to

keep from being surrounded All types of weapons are effective against

these creatures.



Level 9



Displacer Beast: These creatures have powerful melee attacks and have

the power to `displace' their image up to three feet from their actual

location. Because of this ability, displacer beasts are difficult to hit

with melee and ranged weapons, so it is best to engage them with spells.



Rust Monster: These creatures have an insatiable appetite for all metal.

When you encounter a rust monster, immediately move characters without

metal armor to the front rank and keep retreating to protect the party's

metal equipment. While retreating, engage the rust monsters with ranged

weapons and spells.



Level 10



Mantis Warrior: These creatures are extremely fast and carry two weapons,

a thrown dagger and a halberd for melee attacks. The halberd is coated

with the mantis warrior's paralyzing saliva. When you spot a mantis

warrior, sidestep until he has expended his dagger retreat to keep out of

melee, and engage with ranged spells.



Level 11



Mind Flayer: These creatures are almost completely resistant to magic

and their invisible psionic attack can paralyze the entire party. When

a mind flayer turns to face the party, sidestep quickly to avoid its

psionic attack. Retreat around corners and engage the mind flayer on its

flank with ranged and melee weapons. All types of weapons are effective

against these creatures.



Xorn: These creatures are slow and tough, do a lot of damage when they

hit, and are resistant to some spells. Engage the xorn by closing

to melee, attacking, and then retreating before the xorn can execute

its own powerful attack.



Level 12



Golem, Stone: Xanathar's stone golems are less powerful than classical

golems because they are built using short cuts and non-traditional

materials. Still, these monsters are extremely tough, do a lot of

damage when they hit, and are resistant to most spells in the

game. Engage a golem by closing to melee, attacking, and then

retreating before it can execute its powerful melee attack.



Beholder: Xanathar the beholder has been watching your party since

you accepted the Lord's commission and knows what you are capable of

doing. Defeating him will not be an easy task!



Beholders are almost completely resistant to magic because of the anti-

magic effects of their central eye. A beholder has ranged attacks,

that can devastate the entire party. To defeat the beholder, use the

tactics that have worked against other monsters, and remember the

clues that you have received throughout the game.



Solving Puzzles



Solving puzzles is an important part of completing EYE OF THE BEHOLDER.

The following are some ideas to use while trying to solve puzzles. If

you are having trouble with a specific puzzle, you can get additional

help in the Hints section. If you are still stumped, you can check out

the answer to the puzzle in the Solutions section.



Keep Track of Levers and Buttons



Some puzzles are activated in one part of the dungeon and executed in

another part. Record the position of any button or lever that has no

obvious function. If you can't seem to get through an area, go back and

change these buttons or levers one at a time to see if they make it any

easier to get through.



Look For Writing on the Wall



If you can't seem to to get through an area, look for writing on the

walls in the area. Often, writing on a side wall is difficult to

spot. Some writing may only be read if the party has a character of a

specific race.



Look for Hidden Buttons on the Walls



Always check the walls for secret and hidden buttons and bricks. Moving

sideways down a wall will often make hidden buttons easier to spot.



Keep Your Eye on the Compass



Watch the compass as the party moves. There are a number of traps that

change the party's facing. Teleporters often reveal themselves when the

party's facing changes.



Leave a Trail of "Bread Crumbs"



If you suspect the party is being teleported when moving through an area,

throw an item past the suspected teleporter. Watch the item as you move

through the area. The item will `disappear' when the party teleports.



Save the Game



Save the game anytime you think that something could happen that would

hurt the party. Save the game at the beginning of each level. If a

puzzle is difficult to solve, save the game and then try different

solutions. If the monsters are attacking the party thick and fast,

save the game and try different strategies. If things are getting really

tough, save before opening doors.



Go on



When all else fails, go on with the game. The party does not have to open

every door, fight every monster and obtain every item to win the game.

Mark down any areas that the party bypasses. If the party gets stumped

in a later area, or needs an item to go on, come back and try the puzzle

again.



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