which creature caused the most problems for you when you first met them? don't include bosses like dragons, kangaxx etc, just run of the mill creatures

mine were the beholders -> without the shield of balduran, cloak of reflection or scroll of prot from magic, these guys are pretty difficult to face in small packs

Mindflayers the first time I met them. But after a minute or two I quickly found out the best way to kill them. After that the most painstaking would be beholders. I still have some trouble with them.

Beholders and mindflayers make me feel most stressed. However, in Irenicus's dungeon, those damnable mephits are as challenging as anything.

Lol. Yep, those mephits are just about as deadly as Mind Flayers for the average low-level intrepid group of adventurers. ;)
Mine was a Greater Wolfwere in Firkraag's Dungeon which decided to attack me when I had just about run out of spells - and which refused to die even after my character and Minsc hammered it with four successive criticals.
My first encounter with Mind Flayers and Beholders wasn't exactly too hard - but it was when I tried out battling them without using any summons that I realized how deadly they really were.

The critters that pissed me off, were those elemental portals in the underdark. I decided to send the group to visit one, killed the first elemental easy.

But then they just kept spawning constantly. Jahiera died and I pulled out, but they kept spawning a following me.

Then I ran into another group of annoyances, those bloody drow pop outta nowhere and ice two of my weakened people...

I'd have to say the Beholders...
And they're still tough opponents. I don't use the Shield of Balduran. Its only purpose (... if an item can have a purpose) seems to be to make some of the hardest battles easy - and Beholders are meant to be challenging.

Mindflayers... The only enemies I still have respect for :)

Mindflayers, certainly. I tried the Hidden as an early quest my first game. Needless to say, mindflayers stressed me out for quite a while after that.

Anyone else have problems with that hobgoblin force at the entrance to Firkraag's lair the first time you met them? I ended up with my entire party confused and held, not fun.

Scythesong,
I remember that wolfwere. I have a screenshot of myself slamming him with 3 horrid wiltings and two criticals each (from Minsc and Korgan) all in one round. He still read as uninjured. He was really easy whenever I fought him a couple nights ago, though.

Beholders and mindflayers make me feel most stressed. However, in Irenicus's dungeon, those damnable mephits are as challenging as anything. uahuauahuahuhauh 100% agreeded!!! Mainly when you're going to free the Genie. Gee I was killed a lot (and when I say a lot I mean A LOT!!!!!).
But who I really hate are the Vampires...that damned Level Drain is a pain on the hole!
Oh yes..I also hate Goblins..not that they are hard..but I just can't kill Goblins anymore. I became so annoyed with their number in Windspear Hills that I simply use Ctrl + Y on them. Advice..never sleep there for they will always come back..Goblins and the boring Orcs... Blarghhh....

Those evil Halfings in the Planear Sphere. Dunno why, but they have always been somewhat difficult for me. Least until I learned to lure them out 1 by 1.

id say the hob goblins...the first time i did hendaks quest, i ran into the group of hobgoblins, and EVERYONE got held and confused...i watched helplessly as they "focus fired" my guys one by one...

For me it was the group of adventures in the sewers that ask for money to let you go by. For the level of party I always seem to face them at they are always tough.

Also, the group of adventurers in the inn near waukeens promenade. You can face these very early on and unless you use cheese tactice they can desimate your party so easily.

For me it was the group of adventures in the sewers that ask for money to let you go by. For the level of party I always seem to face them at they are always tough.

Also, the group of adventurers in the inn near waukeens promenade. You can face these very early on and unless you use cheese tactice they can desimate your party so easily. Oh yes! I forgot about them..they really were hard to me. And i still have a few problems sometimes..with that damned Mage and that boring "Archer".

Those damn tactics Saughin are a pain in the ass. They really arent bad in groups in tactics and theres 500 of them in the city. Improved illyich. Beholders when their still tough (non-tactics and tactics), ie in the sewers. And last but not least, the most annoying ****s ive ever had to face with my solo sorcerer is the kuo tao.

The first time I played the game I ran into loads of problems with trolls on account of not having any fire spells ready. :confused:

Another time it the umber hulks at de'Arnise Hold who kept confusing the hell out of my party.

i think the greater mummy, clay golem and shadow fiends are a notable mention

shadow fiends in packs - all it takes is one to hold you - and it happens quite regularly to low level characters

greater mummy - no +3 weapons, better haul arse - this guy's disease keeps going and going

everyone knows about the clay golems - hit hard, and no one carries enchanted blunt weapons except the mage and cleric...

When I first played the game the hardest creatures for me at the time was the Mind Flayers, they just owned my whole party in a few seconds, there easy now sure but the first time I thought id never get past them :)

I guess after playing it so many times there is no hard enemy to face now, just the ones who cast imprisonment on you :)

The greater Wolfwere caused me much pain, but I'd hasve to say the only enemy who causes me problems even after several times through is Beholders.

The evil halflings, they killed me so often.

Same with the crooks in the sewers.

And the Baalor that the deep gnomes ask you to eliminate. The first time I tried it I didn't hae Keldorn and Carsonomyr so it killed me badly.

For me, it was my first time in the Drow city and I didn't get out quick enough at the end. I had to fight the entire city to get out. In small numbers, the Drow are easy. But the whole city was a little much.

Don't forget Vampiric Mists!

They level drain you on hit, and blink in and out of invisibility so they always get the first hit in. Also you have to keep targetting them when they appear... annoying.

Memphits, Beholders, Golems... yeah, I'd agree with the rest of you.

And yes Benanthalin is right about Demons too. I hate them more than mind flayers and greater werewolves!

The Mephits aren't so hard. Just have Immy throw in a Fireball and if you can throw a Holy Smite in there too.

The hardest one for me is the Shadow Dragon with a level 9-10 party. That thing just keeps going and going. It really confusing most of the time too because you pause it... give 50 commands, unpause it, wait for the Shadow Dragon to own you, then reload. Wash, rinse, repeat. (I know I'm not supposed to include bosses, but I don't consider the Shadow Dragon a boss. He's way easier than any other boss. Besides, Illych is technically a "boss".)

Those little friggin' halflings are hard mothers when you're low level. Not even the bloody demon is that bad.

Most defineatly the Iron Golem in D'arnise Keep. I always do that quest almost right away to get the FoA, and damn. That guys hard if not impossible. Half the time I just run out screaming.

I'd forgotten about the Darksun halflings - those guys are as hard as nails. Tarnor Hatchetman and his cronies (the evil party in the Temple District sewers) can be quite hard because you're likely to meet them while you're still at a lowish level. A web spell helps here. Clay golems are always a priority enemy for me because they haste themselves and consequently hit hard and often.

What about adamantite golems? Like iron golems but 90% damage resistant.

@Mystra's Chosen
The iron golem in the de'Arnise Keep is a fairly easy enemy because you can fight it from the doorway. Give Minsc Lilarcor and the golem can't touch him.

The iron golem in the de'Arnise Keep is a fairly easy enemy because you can fight it from the doorway. Give Minsc Lilarcor and the golem can't touch him. Yes, but that's kind of cheesy. The golem should be able to just break through the wall.

I forgot about those halflings. They really aren't that bad if you use the right tactics, but they are annoying if try the battle at an early level.

Tarnor & Friends mopped the floor with my party during my first few run throughs. They're really easy if you've got the Resist Fear spell, though (or Teleport Field, but that makes everything easy).

I'm surprised that nobody said anything about Tanova yet. It took me a while to figure out how to beat her.

All of the complaints about difficult challenges assume the party blunders into a room and screams CHARGE!!!

A little stealth goes a long way.

Some monsters (such as the memphits on the Djinn platform) aren't worth fighting. Hife in shadows or Sanctuary and walk by.

The great thing about sanctuary is that you can perform actions, cast spells, and it stays active, unlike hide in shadows. Feeding dog stew to the Umber Hulks becomes a simple task.

Number one tactic for Mind Flayers: Use range weapons or quick spells, and don't stand still. You can't go toe to toe with amind flayer.

Intelligent tactics, and most importantly, using everyone's full scope of assets will make big challenges seem simple, even at low levels.

All of the complaints about difficult challenges assume the party blunders into a room and screams CHARGE!!! They assume no such thing! We are merely discussing the enemies that make our palms sweat a little, the ones that we don't like to face and the ones that we give ourselves a pat on the back for when we've defeated them. I know damned fine how to kill mindflayers, thank you very much, but it doesn't mean that I enjoy fighting them.

OK OK, you have risen above your low roots to the vanguard of goonery.

Maybe you can eductae me, speaking of mindflayers... what is the story behind the mindflayer hideout in the sewers? When I entered it in the beginning, I though I was on the Cult of the Eyeless quest. Needless to say, it isn't....

I just need a hint, if you would.

Mind-Flayers 101: Chaotic Commands, hack and slash, with maybe a spell or two thrown in. Works (almost) every time.

Also remember to wear your best armour and stock up on the intelligence potions.

OK OK, you have risen above your low roots to the vanguard of goonery. Are you talking to me? Are you TALKING to ME?
what is the story behind the mindflayer hideout in the sewers? Spoilers
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As a race, the mindflayers are forever scheming. The hideout in the sewers is an attempted infiltration into Amn. You may recall the Alhoon in the Hammer Of Thunderbolts chamber complaining that his plans have been ruined. You may also recall a partially decipherable note from "The Hidden". If you have Jan Jansen in your party for any amount of time you will get a quest to cure a psychic illness besetting the daughter of his childhood sweetheart. To cure her, you need to make contact with The Hidden and perform a task for it. If you ask it, The Hidden reveals itself to be a mindflayer in disguise. So there you have it: the mindflayers are attempting to infiltrate Amn; you stumble across one of their bases of operations and wipe them out. It has no great significance: it is merely some extra colour. I believe that it was originally intended to make more of this, but time constraints caused the plans to be axed.

Tanova is quite hard, also those Shadow thieves after installing the pack that makes them harder, but most of all I hate GOLEMS. Clay golems and those bigger ones especially. That's because I don't like blunt weapons that much and I rarely have them. Just think of an Iron golem (which you can't hurt) blocking the doorway you just have to get in. Just have to summon a monster behind him and sneak in when it starts to attack your summoned monster. (Sometimes I shed a tear for those berserkers summoned by horn throwing themselves into an impossible battle against those immortal golems.) :'(

I hate golems as well.
Well, clay golems really - 80% of the time the only bunt weapon carrier is my wizard... damn golems!
Beholders never used to bother me until I got Tactics installed, but I have to say that Liches (the non-bosses) are my number 1 worst nightmare.

The biggest 'pain-in-the-ass' of enemy is vampiric mist. Puf! Invisible. Whack, drain 1 level and 3 spells. Puf! Insivible again. Whack, drain 1 level and another 3 spells. Puf! Repeat four times, then the mist is a pile burbling bug goo that even flies will not touch. :mad:

Yea, I hate those; not because they were difficult, but because that unlimited, instant invisibility and ability to see everything from the other side of the map. :nolike:

I don't even bother with them anymore: ctrl + y ;) No more PITA. :D

The first time I played through the game, back when I didn't know a gnome from a halfling!, (ah bless), I found that the most difficult enemy was Tolgerias in the planar sphere. That was before I discovered the wonders of cloudkill! I must have reloaded the game dozen's of times. Now he's as easy as.....something.

@Malovae
Well, clay golems really - 80% of the time the only bunt weapon carrier is my wizard... damn golems! Just use the 1st level priest spell Shillelagh. Most parties will have access to this spell. Spiritual Hammer probably works as well. I usually use my ranger(s) against Clay Golems - armed with Shillelagh.

I hate the tactics Liches. The original Liches were extremely stupid, but the tactics Liches are incredibly annoying because they will cast Protection from Magical Weapons. And they have a natural immune to normal weapons, but the worst is for god's sake Bioware gave Liches immunity to spells equal and below level 5, so no Breaches on them! Not mention the freakin powerful Party-teleporting-back + 100% dispel magic if my party attempts to escape :mad: ...After some frustrations I got rid of the immunities to spells of them with Near Infinity (because it seems that AD&D Liches don't have any spell immunity at all) so I can Breach them.

The first time through it was definitely the vampires. Especially the random encounters when walking around Athkatla at night. There's simply no way to prepare for them, and they always attack your spellcasters first, meaning you have to rememorize all your spells, so it's just a general pain.

@ Victor

The reason it was 80% of the time I have difficulty was that I only take a healer 20% of the times I play and most of my chars don't carry blunt weapons - so mage it is ;)

I find annoying those little spiders in the tombs with the spider queen. They individually are easy to take on for any charachter but since they have about 40 of those buggers, I always seem to get a party memberhit and poisioned every round that I have a full party

Golden Avenger -

Just set off a fireball spell and kill every single one of them - you'll also hurt your party, but not that much.

Fry up those little spiders like quahogs!

Or just one level 6 death spell should do the trick - 40 dead spiders with two mouse clicks. It's currently my favourite spell.