Hello again.

Read your comments.  In my case, the sheild doesn't seem to reflect OR absorb damage.  In the 30ft of space between recognizing the three Gauths and fully engaging them, my character is dead.  Here is the log from the attack, I tried only sending Keldorn in, but apparently Minsc was a little too close too:

• Keldorn: Attacks Gauth 
• Gauth: Cause Serious Wounds : Keldorn
• Gauth: Cause Serious Wounds : Keldorn
• Gauth: Cause Serious Wounds : Keldorn
• Keldorn: Takes 13 magic damage from Gauth ( 4 damage resisted)
• Keldorn: One of the spells has failed
• Keldorn: Takes 13 magic damage from Gauth ( 4 damage resisted)
• Keldorn: One of the spells has failed
• Keldorn: Takes 13 magic damage from Gauth ( 4 damage resisted)
• Keldorn: One of the spells has failed
• Gauth: Paralyze : Minsc
• Gauth: Paralyze : Kildorn
• Gauth: Paralyze : Minsc
• Gauth: Paralyze : Minsc
• Gauth: Paralyze : Kildorn
• Gauth: Paralyze : Kildorn
• Minsc: Save vs. Spell
• Gauth: Cause Serious Wounds : Keldorn
• Gauth: Hold person : Keldorn
• Gauth: Hold person : Keldorn
• Minsc: Held
• Keldorn: Save vs. Spell
• Gauth: Cause Serious Wounds : Keldorn
• Minsc: Held
• Keldorn: Takes 13 magic damage from Gauth ( 4 damage resisted)
• Keldorn: Fire Shield (Blue) : Gauth
• Gauth: Takes 5 magic damage from Keldorn
• Gauth: Cause Serious Wounds : Keldorn
• Kildorn: Takes 13 magic damage from Gauth ( 4 damage resisted)
• Keldorn: One of the spells has failed
• Keldorn: Takes 13 magic damage from Gauth ( 4 damage resisted)
• Keldorn: The pain nearly o'vrwelmes me... (because I'm getting my butt kicked!)
• Gauth: Cause Serious Wounds : Keldorn
• Keldorn: Takes 13 magic damage from Gauth ( 4 damage resisted)
• Keldorn: Fire Shield (Blue) : Gauth
• Gauth: Takes 5 magic damage from Keldorn
• Gauth: Paralyze : Keldorn
• Gauth: Paralyze : Keldorn
• Gauth: Paralyze : Keldorn
• Gauth: Paralyze : Keldorn
• Keldorn: Save vs. Spell
• Gauth: Paralyze : Keldorn
• Gauth: Hold person : Keldorn
• Gauth: Hold person : Keldorn
• Gauth: Cause Serious Wounds : Keldorn
• Gauth: Cause Serious Wounds : Keldorn
• Keldorn: Save vs. Spell
• Keldorn: Takes 13 magic damage from Gauth ( 4 damage resisted)
• Keldorn: Death

Also, I finished the Planar Sphere and was told to take the stronghold as a gift... what does this mean?  How do I use it?

Sorry for being such a newb and not understanding everything.  I am learning... slowly.

Those details might help a lot, but I'm currently not at home and can't look into game mechanics, so no help with gauths by me for the next two days or so. ;)

A stronghold is something you get after certain quests. Which one depends on your class. Yields more quests, XP, material rewards ... fun. :)

I do not understand. Who is using the shield? Apparently not Keldorn, for the "Fire Shield: Blue" indicates that he is using his personal two handed sword.

I just checked the inventory and Keldorn is the one using the shield.  However I noticed he is also using his sword the Hallowed Redeemer which is two handed and causes the "Fire Shield : Blue".  So apparently even though the shield is equiped, he isn't using it.  I'll try using a different sword and get back to you on the results.

Thank you so much for your help, your observation has proven insightful.  He was using his two handed sword which negated the shield he was carrying.  Switched it out and all went well.  Thanks again for your help and for posting.

Curious. Having a shield equipped should prevent equipping a two handed weapon, and vice versa.

Yes, and as far as I know, at least some effects of the shield are applied, even if not actively using it … odd.

I'm sorry, I do not understand this. Does it mean you get the protective effects of the shield (only this specific shield?) only by carrying it around in your inventory?

No, in the shield slot. A difference between the game editions is that the shield slot must be empty when equipping a two-handed weapon in the original games, but can keep its item in the enhanced editions. And – as far as I know – bonuses are still applied in the enhanced eds in this case, even if not actively using the item from the shield slot. But I might be wrong …

Ah. Thank you. I have never played the EEs.

Thanks for your clarifications on the different editions.  The item was in the sheild slot and I was not getting the effects of it, so I am venturing a guess that it isn't applied unless it is actively being used.  When I did have it being actively used, all went as expected.