Iron Body

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I remember reading somewhere (don't remember where) that Iron Body is not actually 50/+3, it's infinity/+3. Is that true?

I imagine that would be really useful in a porcupine trap. That is, cast both versions of fire shield + death armor, and everybody who hits you takes 3d6 + 65 points of damage (at level 30)... forever. Unlike with mirror image you're not limited to a measly 24d6 + 520 damage, they can keep hitting you all day and dying all day. The only problem is that 1.) eventually Fire Shield and Death Armor run out, and 2.) I don't know how many creatures have +3 weapons, but if there are any you're too slow to run away and you can't cast any more spells. So I don't imagine this would be a great tactic for a solo game.

Also, is Iron Body a viable alternative to AC 72 Decoy/Army of Summons for protecting the party in HoF?

-Max
Still waiting for my copy of the game to arrive...

 

Never thought of this, actually. If you're sure your opponents don't have +4 weapons, you can try it. The character still would have vulnerability to certain spells, but you can try to prevent this by casting Death Ward, Mind Blank and others in advance. This tactic is best performed with the lowest armour class, so enemies hit you more often.

 

Also, is it true that Iron Body's 80% spell failure chance applies only to arcane spells? It would be nice to be able to cast Sanctuary on one's self if you need to sing the bug-out Boogie... I suppose Golden Heart of X's permanent Haste might work just as well. I'd imagine that Iron Body + Mind Blank + Chaotic Commands would make for an entertaining solo game.

-Max

 

You don't need Chaotic Commands if you have Mind Blank cast already.
As for the spell failure; clerics of Helm would be very lucky to get it as a domain spell with no spell failure to their divine spells. Since items always give arcane spell failure, it's entirely possible that Iron Body has the same type. But I haven't tested it yet.

 

I don't know about your specific questions, but I was going through HOF with just a two-person party: a sorcerer and a druid, and I ran out of all my usual spells in the middle of the Hook Horror nest. I turned on Iron Body and let my druid disappear (invisibility ring). The Hook Horrors set about laying into my sorcerer like mad, but not one of them could hurt him. Of course, he couldn't do much either, but it lasted long enough for my druid to pick off the hook horrors one at a time. It was increadible.

 

Nice and quirky idea. Me likes.

Iron Body isn't used much due to its awkward limitations, but if it actually IS infinity/+3, that'd make a caster with retributive items a hilarious tank substitute. Not exactly very effective (since high AC accomplishes pretty much the same thing) but would seriously be worth a laugh at.. say.. the Hook Horror Cavern?

 

Yeah, it took me a while, but I was laughing all the way.

 

I checked. No. Clerics still get the 80% spell failure.

 

Thanks for checking. Blink probably works like this too, then. Good to know.

-Max