Proper Tactics for a Solar vs. a Good Aligned Party

[Kaodi]

I don't think you should go all out with the loot, but by the book, every solar totes around a snazzy magical sword. I just thought they might have some more unique snazzy magical swords.

 

[Greg K]

What do the good gods think of the players going against the Solars? If solars are divine agents of good, are the deities going to give clerics, paladins, etc. spells to fight them?

 

[Shemeska]

One thing to keep in mind:

Solars (and all other aasimon/angels) are not primarily servants of Good in the abstract, in any of its flavors. They are, first and foremost, direct servants of good aligned deities. The will of a Solar's patron deity is all they are concerned with, and there will be times when the will of that deity will have them performing actions that are not Good. If their deity feels that something must die, they will be merciless unless told to play nice by their patron. They're Good beings, but the will of their deific patrons will trump the advancement of Good if it comes down to a difference between those two.

So in this particular instance it's going to depend on what deity these Solars are serving, what orders they're operating under, and likely what gods the PCs worship. They'll likely avoid harming a follower of their patron god or gods, but followers of rival or opposed deities are probably going to die if they're going for whatever the Solars are guarding.

 

[Aluvial]

One thing to keep in mind:

Solars (and all other aasimon/angels) are not primarily servants of Good in the abstract, in any of its flavors. They are, first and foremost, direct servants of good aligned deities. The will of a Solar's patron deity is all they are concerned with, and there will be times when the will of that deity will have them performing actions that are not Good. If their deity feels that something must die, they will be merciless unless told to play nice by their patron. They're Good beings, but the will of their deific patrons will trump the advancement of Good if it comes down to a difference between those two.

So in this particular instance it's going to depend on what deity these Solars are serving, what orders they're operating under, and likely what gods the PCs worship. They'll likely avoid harming a follower of their patron god or gods, but followers of rival or opposed deities are probably going to die if they're going for whatever the Solars are guarding.

Good advice from everyone, especially this post!

I determined that both of the Solar's were fully set with spells already cast knowing that the party was close by. This greatly enhanced both attacks, defenses against attacks, and AC. I changed up a slot or two and gave them Energy Immunity vs. Electric and Fire.

The battle comensed with the Angelic Warning (booming voice here). Then I used Blade Barriers in the first rounds to divide the group into two, essentially splitting the party and the battlefield. (I did this in the following round as well.)

Attacks that caused damage did not occur until the party atacked first. Then the Solars unleashed a numbing set of attacks on the group. Power Attack with a greatsword is something else. Dancing greatswords while the Angels unleased spell attacks against the group was better.

When appropriate I used Power Word Stun, and Power Word Blind on wounded fighters taking them effectively out of the battle. The cleric is now out of Heal, and they are fighting in a plane where healing only does half damage anyway...

So, 6 rounds in, two of three fighter types are down, one stunned, one blind. The third is wounded. The party cleric and druid are almost out of other "effective" spells, and the wizard is almost out of anything in the level 7 to 9 range.

So, I've resisted using death attacks as of yet believing the angels to have honor enough to defeat, not destroy the party. Regardless, the group is weakening both of the solars with combined attacks and I may turn to Power Word Kill to destroy a strong foe.

With both a Wish and a Miracle (each), I plan on reducing the damage of a round or two of attacks, and with the other, bringing back the other once he?/it? is killed. The group is looking beyond hope now, and that's how I like to leave a battle I'm in the middle of when I have to break for the session. They'll have a week of depresion thinking the end is near...

Next week they will likely revive a fighter (or two) and manage to destroy one... the fight will be close from there.

I will likely score a death or two here, and that's fine by me. This is the final adventure of this campaign and this is very close to the culminating set of encounters. I expect some of them to expire here.

Aluvial

 

[frankthedm]

So, 6 rounds in, two of three fighter types are down, one stunned, one blind. The third is wounded. The party cleric and druid are almost out of other "effective" spells, and the wizard is almost out of anything in the level 7 to 9 range.

So, I've resisted using death attacks as of yet believing the angels to have honor enough to defeat, not destroy the party

Sounds like you've been too rough on the combatants and too gentle with the casters. :/ Those death attacks nuke wizards and the cleric should be a prime chopping target.

 

[Aluvial]

Ok, the party has taken out one of the Solars...

The other one is on the ropes. Time for a Wish.

But what to Wish for? I always have trouble with this. I don't want to reset the battle... but should I bring the second one back?

Should I go for a full Heal?

What do you think? I haven't killed anyone yet, but this might be the proper time!

Aluvial

 

[Piratecat]

I'd resurrect the first solar, who can then resurrect the second one if he drops in the mean time!

 

[Quartz]

Wishing someone dead is specifically not allowed - or rather, one of those things that get automatically twisted.

 

[Sejs]

I'd resurrect the first solar, who can then resurrect the second one if he drops in the mean time!

Yep, seconded.

Resurrect the dead solar.

 

[Aluvial]

I'd resurrect the first solar, who can then resurrect the second one if he drops in the mean time!

Would you give the party credit (XP's) for killing the first one, even if it were Resurrected? Would you give the party credit if you destroyed it twice!?

Aluvial