Questions about HoF shields

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I played this game at release and really enjoyed it. After beating normal, I continued on to HoF, but because I had a normal party (not HoF-viable), it was tough going. I slogged through to the Underdark and then quit in frustration. But I kept that save all these years and always wanted to go back to it.

So six years later, I've checked out some HoF guides, adjusted my party slightly and decided to scrape through to Kuldahar for equipment and then export and start them in a new HoF game that will hopefully be more enjoyable. Most guides ignore armor and shields but I'm actually trying to get as much AC as possible from a "normal" setup and I had some shield questions that I couldn't find anywhere on the web and was hoping somebody might know:

1. Does the Sad Giant(+4)/Sad Gohji's(+6) shield exist in the game? It's in the Item list but I've never seen either version and nobody ever mentions it.

2. Where is the Red Fang/Death Adder shield located? I know I had Red Fang in normal but I don't remember where I got it and as of Kuldahar I had not gotten Death Adder in HoF. It's probably an end-game item but I wanted to make sure I didn't miss it.

3. After peacefully getting the Iron Collar guys to report to the wall in HoF Prologue, Shawford is impressed and gives me a shield as a reward. Something is bugged in my game and even after reloading, this item never shows up. Does anyone know what shield this is? (btw, it's not the Cliffs of whatever shield because I already got that as an earlier reward.) If it's a good one, I'll just add it with Dalekeeper.

Thanks to anyone who can help.

 

1) The 'Sad' shields are two of the many shields that are augmented by Ease-of-use (armour/shields can get Damage Resistance, optional mod component) and Light of Selune (improves the AC of many shields).
The 'Sad' shields are also special, because they have only a 5% arcane spell failure chance, while giving a good AC boost. Meaning that arcane casters can take one feat in Armoured Arcana, and use it well. Additionally, they have a -0 proficiency penalty, meaning your abilities aren't penalized if you use it without shield proficiency. The shields are ideal for wizard/rogues and stuff like that, giving them some combat ability.

2) I'm pretty sure the Red Fang is a mid-game shield, but can't remember exactly where it appears. It's not impressive though: very heavy, outmatched in AC soon, and I rarely used the Aganazzar's Scorcher ability. Still good to put in an unused weapon slot, so you have the item ability.

3) This might actually be a random item, because I do remember getting the Cliffs of Maer Dualdon from him. It got the same shield from a container in the Ice Temple later on too.

 

Hmm, I didn't install the DR mod from Ease of Use. And according to the item lists I checked, the Sad Gohji is indeed naturally +6 AC, which is all I'm concerned about since that's the highest shield AC in the game.

Anyway, all I'm really interested in is whether it actually shows up in the game, and if so, where? If it's a random drop, then oh well, but if there's a place I can get it, it'd be really nice to have.

Yeah, Red Fang is no good, but Death Adder is the HoF version with +5 AC, making it one of the top three +AC shields in the game. It'd be perfect for my dwarf fighter. I still think it must be post-Kuldahar since I don't know how I would have missed it. But if anyone knows for sure, I'm all ears.

I believe I got Cliffs of Maer Dualdon as a reward from Ulbrec for clearing the docks. Might have been Shawford but I'm pretty sure it was Ulbrec (you'd think I would remember since I literally played this last night, lol )

Either way, it bothers me that this bugged shield reward might possibly be the +6 Sad Gohji. In its description, it says it was last seen with goblins near Targos, so if it's in the game it makes sense for it to come out at this point. But I don't want to cheat and assume that the one shield I want most just happens to be the one they're trying to giving me, lol. But it could be.

If anyone else knows anything about locations for these shields, I'd be very interested.

 

The Ease of Use mod makes the Normal mode Gohji shield available from Shawford after doing a series of quests for him, but I haven't been able to get the HOF version although I've specifically tried for it a couple of times. Normal, unmodded game doesn't have either.

Dragon Adder's shield is in the final loot pile of the Dragon's Eye, the one you get into by going after Thorasskus. I can't remember seeing it's HOF version either, but would have to double-check that. It's too heavy for a decoy, incompatible with a mage-based spellsword (due to its massive spell casting penalty) and monk-based tanks with high WIS bonus, and pretty much useless for the rest, so I wouldn't worry about it.

Edit: You DO know that anything seriously below 60 AC is just as good as none in HOF mode, right?

 

The "sad" shields and Cliffs of Maer Dualdon are part of the Forgotten Shields and Armor part of Ease of Use. It is slightly bugged, however, because it does not give Sad Gohji's Cap in HoF. The Sad shields are given by Shawford right after resolving the Iron Collar quest and the Cliffs is the reward for a fighter type destroying the keg outside Shawford's office. As you seem to already have this component installed, the Rolly Polly Knuckleheaded shield you can purchase in Galloway's store (from one of the assistants) in HoF is quite nice.

If you have LoS installed, the sad shields are also located in the white wyrm nest outside the Black Raven monastery.

 

Thanks for the help guys. Turns out I didn't need the Death Adder shield anyway (although it wasn't in Dragon's Eye treasure room so it may not even show up in the game), but I finally beat HoF yesterday. Only 7 years after I started.

It was a satisfying playthrough, although I was surprised I beat the final battle on the first try. I was prepared to have to take several shots at it. The first half was cake, and while the second half was pretty dicey (lost both clerics right off to Blasphemy/Slayer Knights), it wasn't too tough to pull through. I had a lot more trouble on top of the War Tower and with the Tyrannar battle in the Cleric Tower.

Speaking of which, what are people's strategies for the HoF Tyrannar battle if you don't have a HoF-optimized party? I tried a bunch of times but I just couldn't get my party isolated into a room and my weaker characters would get torn to shreds without room to maneuver. Eventually, I gave up and pre-cast Invisibility Sphere for an easy win, but it's the only battle in the game I felt I "cheated" on so it kinda bugs me. I'm curious to know how other people handled it.

 

Tyrannar: Like nearly all the battles, lots and lots of buff spells in advance, timed and applied wisely, will get even the most clumsy party through these battles. Avoid getting dispelled, perhaps you can have a decoy take the dispel alone if you can't avoid it. Fall back to the stairs compartment in the Tyrannar's chambers, set up a buffer of summons and area spells (grease, web, slow) to keep the approaching enemies busy. Then just improvise.

War tower aerie: Buff, pre-buff before entering! I found this group particularly easy, actually. Area spells (see above) that delay the half-dragons, and summons to occupy them (if you needed Protection from Evil for your summons, then be careful to not damage them). Hack away at the escort party behind you, pay attention to the clerics first. Disrupt their casting if you can. When they're finished off, you can enter the fray with the half-dragons if you see fit. I found that i could take them down with all six mambers firing off ranged weapons; focus the fire on the most damaged of opponents, and one by one they're dead.

These battles have in common that you can't summon in advance, so timing is crucial; if you're disrupted, you've nearly lost already. A tactical withdrawal may be wise, to create the right distance between you and the opponents... After dialogue, the opponents wait a few seconds before they 'come alive', so take advantage of this: Either start casting, or move away already. Those who are Mirror Imaged can start casting a web or grease (they cast quickly, if you have AutoPause:Spell Cast enabled in options, you won't waste time).