Tomb of Horrors: What does it take?

[BardicDuelist]

What group of 6 level 9 characters can successfully complete ToH? Excluding Pun-Pun, nanobites, and other infinite loop cheese, but allowing most other.

My guess: Wizard, Archivist, Factotum, Artificer, Cleric, Druid, although I have no idea on the builds that would work.

[String]

After reading through it, I think that a monk might make it through.
Now, said monk might be screwed when it comes to the tough battles, but With his Godly saves and penchant for survival and little else, it seems that a group with 1 or 2 of them would do well, if you threw in a high-powered rogue for the disable and trapfinding etc, and a Barbarian for strength checks.

[Citizen Joe]

I'm not entirely sure there is anything in there worth entering it for.

[Crow]

I'm not entirely sure there is anything in there worth entering it for.

That's what I thought too.

[Mike_Lemmer]

Yeah, what is worth all that trouble in the Tomb? I've never heard about what treasure anyone's ever found in there.

[Blasterfire]

Most of the characters I make would do it for the glory. Then again, my characters would probably do _anything_ if enough glory were involved. Its like delicious pie to them.

[TheLogman]

WARNING!!! This post contains intimate knowledge on the weaknesses of the Tomb, if you plan on ever playing it fairly, DO NOT READ THIS, especially not the Wizard part.

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2 Druids, who Buff and spend all remaining spell slots on summoning stuff to set off traps/Check hallways. 2 Rogues who have maxed out Disable Device, Spot, and Search. 1 Wizard/or possibly Psion who uses Knock, Mage Hand, Passwall, Break Enchantment (Or their psionic equivalents), and anything else that allows him to set off/avoid traps, and save cursed party members. In the last leg of the Tomb, before the final battle, they prepare Bear's Endurance (To increase the chance of survival from the Soul-sucking), and the few offensive spells that can kill the Final Construct. Alternatively, depending on the OOC knowledge, you could just use Command: Forget, and bypass the entire final fight. Finally, get a Cleric. He will do healing, buffing, save people from curses, and turn the few undead and such that ARE in that place.

[Talic]

CoDzilla x 6 ???

[Swordguy]

Any given six characters played by smart and paranoid players should be able to make it through the ToH, as long as they don't have major gaps in their group (no divine casters at all, nobody at all able to deal with traps, etc). It's not a test of your characters. It's a test of your players.

If the players are not at the top of their game, paranoid as all get out, and aware that ToH was the game that STARTED a bunch of D&D adventuring cliches, the characters will die.

[reorith]

my group made it through with a rogue8 paladin7/fighter2 ranger9 and hexblade7/psion2 with out much trouble. then again we were railroaded into the toh. oh well.

[CatCameBack]

Back In The Day (tm) I made it through on my second character (no priest in the party).

My 13th level Rogue (they was called "Thief" at the time) got halfway through in a party with a 12th level Wizard(Magic User) and a 11th level Fighter(still called a fighter).

We lost my Rogue and the Wizard on the same trap about 50% of the way through, and I rolled back in with another character I had played (11th level Wizard) and finished up the module.

And, yes, for those of you wondering: the end of the module involved a lot of running and a teleport spell or two.

A well supplied group of 9th level characters, run by canny and EXPERIENCED players can get through on one group (probably with a few breaks for rezzes).

[Dhavaer]

A Hexblade/Monk would be favourite. Cha to saves, Mettle and Evasion.

[Xefas]

A better question would be, what group of 6 characters could effectively make it through the Tomb of Horrors without their players having prior knowledge and THEN survive the Return to the Tomb of Horrors, only afterwards realizing that in doing so, their characters are then reduced to 1st level and forced to trod through the World's Largest Dungeon whose entrance is conveniently placed at the end of the Return to the Tomb of Horrors adventure.

I would be inclined to 4 druids, a wizard, and an artificer, myself.

[Hyozo]

All I know about the Tomb of horrors is that the character who has heard of it has to fail an int check to even considder going in, there are tons of traps, demons live there, and it is ruled by Acerack (Misspelled?). Knowing what I do, I would suggest as many rogues as you can get, clerics (would luck domain help?), and at least one batman caster (the Fatespinner PrC might help as well).

[Green Bean]

All I know about the Tomb of horrors is that the character who has heard of it has to fail an int check to even considder going in, there are tons of traps, demons live there, and it is ruled by Acerack (Misspelled?). Knowing what I do, I would suggest as many rogues as you can get, clerics (would luck domain help?), and at least one batman caster (the Fatespinner PrC might help as well).

I vote for a level 21 wizard. Take off and Hell Ball it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

[Citizen Joe]

One of my old GM's would just keep ToH at his side and if we acted up too much in his game he'd pick it up and brandish it.

[puppyavenger]

no you just need major creation and eschew materials, use antimatter.

[SpikeFightwicky]

I vote for a level 21 wizard. Take off and Hell Ball it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

Let me remind you that there is a substantial dollar value attached to this tomb.

[Mr. Friendly]

The only group that can "win" the Tomb of Horrors would be the following:

Expert9 (Chef): Skill Focus Cooking, Magic Items related to cooking.
Expert9 (Clothier): Skill Focus Craft, magic items related to making T-Shirts ("I visited the Tomb of Horrors and all I got was all my gear stolen, my arse beat and this lousy t-shirt", etc.)
Expert9 (bartender): Skill Focus brewing, items related to brewing and bartending
Fighter4/Monk5 (bouncer): Obvious
Fighter4/Monk5 (bouncer): Obvious
Bard9 (Musician): Leadership for a full band.
Aristocrat9 (owner): Leadership, provides seed money
Healer9: Charges 10x normal prices
Wizard9: Charges 10x normal prices

Ok, now the plan is a bit tricky, but here it goes:

• Go to the Tomb of Horrors after hiring hundreds of laborers.
• Build a combination Inn/Gift Shop/Tourist Trap.
• Inflate the prices to the point of ridiculousness.
• Have a single character designated as the cashier who has max ranks in Diplomacy and Sense Motive to shut down any diplomancers who try to haggle prices lower.

If Acerak starts any static, just offer to cut him in on the profits and promise not to reveal any secrets of the Tomb.

[Green Bean]

Let me remind you that there is a substantial dollar value attached to this tomb.

They can bill me.

((aaaaaaand....scene! ))

[SoD]

Is there anywhere online that I'd be able to have a look over it? Or would I have to buy it?

Everyone talks about it, I've heard about it, know it's full of traps, but have never laid eyes on it.

[Green Bean]

Is there anywhere online that I'd be able to have a look over it? Or would I have to buy it?

Everyone talks about it, I've heard about it, know it's full of traps, but have never laid eyes on it.

For your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

[SoD]

Yay! Now I can finally see what all the fus is about. I must use this on my mates when I get back to Australia...

[SpikeFightwicky]

They can bill me.

((aaaaaaand....scene! ))

Classic!!!

I'm going to have to take a look at this thing. My group can't handle Scourge of the Howling Horde. I'd like to see them go through the 'legendary tomb'.

[SoD]

Scourge of the Howling Horde...is that the one with the goblins and Noak?

[SpikeFightwicky]

Can't remember who Noak is, but it definately has alot of goblins, and

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By the end of the adventure, the PCs can make their way to the dragon that's in cahoots with the goblin leader. A simple but neat adventure.

[Ferreon]

In the case of the party I run for, I'd have been heading for my third set of party members if it hadn't been for Aslan, the beast wars transformer paladin (with mildly broken template on the Dire Lion Form). before you ask, he was effectively a warforged with a shapechange effect, which didn't heal him...yup, the dm didn't think about what he was doing


Seriously, 4 times lay on hands is a pretty funky ability, even if he had to be in lion form to use it the 4th time


That said it took them 9 in game days to reach the

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fake lich, and then run away after the roof falling in illusion

[TheLogman]

Also:

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True Seeing is amazing within the Tomb. Get your Wizard to cast it on at least himself if not the rest of the party constantly, so that you always have it on. There are Illusions and Invisible stuff galore in that place.

[Angel in Black]

Wow is that mean. Just downright cruel and dark-hearted, just... mean. What kind of sadistic DM would run this monstrosity? Then again, if you keep yourself 100% lucid the whole way through, they telegraph most of the traps, so it's definitely possible. Hmmm...

[TheLogman]

Heh, I'm actually planning to run this in the next week or so. I did, however, warn my players that this would be dangerous, that people would die, to have spare characters, and even recommended what classes to bring (Rogues, Wizard/Psion, Cleric, essentially what I posted a bit above.)