> I rather like the battle for the Key, because if you cast conceal or shield enough there is no way to lose. Rather cheap really.

I have to agree. Nothing has yet been more satisfying than when I finally beat him with my solo then-druid.

It was my first playthrough (still is). I had made it to the gatekeeper once before by using lots of items, and was slaughtered instantly. Since then I had been blasting away at level 4 on my own strength for hours, always falling short of the final corridor.

Finally I had collected enough gold try another item-heavy run. I reached the gatekeeper's door, but by that point my items were gone, and I was down to 93 hp and 10 sp. I thought "I've come this far, may as well try," and engaged. You can't imagine the thrill I felt when I got off that last shield with ~15 hp left.

Admittedly, whacking away with my staff +1 for well over a hundred rounds wasn't quite as exciting. But it was still worth it!