Not that funny, but...

[UninspiredName]

During a sort of 'test run' with a nature-based team, (Really curious what happens if you get together a veritable army of Dryads with Gift of Reason) I ran into the following magic item. (To be fair, I ran into it in the 'forge magic item' list)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y117/YPPdoopy/ModernCurrency.png

As a random side-note, I also found something that looks like an amulet that, while giving you stat-boosts, eventually turns you into a werewolf, though the demo ran out before I got a chance to test it.

[PDF]

Yep, nice find, Lucky Coin is a nice item, very very very often used http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gifas it gives 50% "protection" and don't fill a (precious) mis slot as does the Luck Amulet.

[UninspiredName]

Oh, is it? Sorry about that.

[Endoperez]

It must be the most powerful Buckler in the entire game.

[Nerfix]

But not the most powerful shield. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/evil.gif

[PDF]

Nerfix said:
But not the most powerful shield. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/evil.gif



Yes it is, which other shield cancels 50% of hits ? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Nerfix]

Well, Charcoal Shield grills the attackers and Aegis turn them to stone.

[JaydedOne]

Yeah, but you can't Magic Resistance your way out of someone else's Luck. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Nerfix]

That's true, but I'd rather use that luck amulet than the coin.

[JaydedOne]

I'm just pleased that it's not easily settled which shield is the "best."

I'd be disappointed in Dominions if it were.

[Endoperez]

Of course, Curse Luck special ability cancels out luck. I just found out about this the other day, but...

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/uploads/463812-temp.jpg

[Nerfix]

That's beatiful. BEATIFUL.

[Endoperez]

Yes, it is. But it's written beautiful. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif Restricted to some Doom Horrors, Demon Lords etc tough guys, of course. I wonder how long it has existed, undocumented and mysterious, never to be noticed until now.

[JaydedOne]

Wow. That's one I've never seen before.

[Cainehill]

Nerfix said:
That's true, but I'd rather use that luck amulet than the coin.



Eh, if you have 4 misc slots, the luck amulet may be more attractive. Or if you can self-cast luck.

Even forgoing luck, the shield that grants 100% immunity to fire and lightning might be considered better in some circumstances.

[PDF]

Nerfix said:
That's true, but I'd rather use that luck amulet than the coin.



Usually the tightest constraint is on misc items, so I prefer to have luck on either shield or sword for protection on units that aren't meant to mass kill (or at least not with their combat prowess).
Self-luck is fine except it fills a spell slot ...
Aaaahh tradeoffs...that's Dominions ! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Nerfix]

Might be just the nations I tend to play, but the misc slots aren't usualy that contested for me.

[Ironhawk]

Endoperez said:
Of course, Curse Luck special ability cancels out luck. I just found out about this the other day, but...



How do you curse someone else's luck? Is it a spell?

Is there also a spell to banish ethereality?

[FrankTrollman]

I'm really in favor of the Shield of the Acursed. It's hard to make unless you're Ulm, Abyssia, or Marignon, but it gives a parry modifier of 11 and a protection of 20. Almost nothing hits you by 12 points and almost nothing exceeds your armor by more than 20, so it drops way more than 50% of incoming attacks.

Also every time it blocks an attack (which it does constantly) it gives your enemies a horror mark. Totally awesome.

If you routinely fight against living opponents, the Shield of Gleaming Gold is also high quality. And of course against a pure enslavement position like R'lyeh the Lead Shiield's +4 MR is substantially more effective than a 50% Luck effect. It really depends upon what you're fighting.

In an abstract sense, you might be make a valid argument that the Coin is the best because it's always useful no matter what you're up against. But in any particular situation I'd usually rather have the Fireshield Shield or the Awe Shield, or the Horror Marking Shield, or the Magic Resistance shield. And that's before we get int the Unique stuff. Because hey, Barrier and Aegis are crazy-go-nuts.

-Frank

[Taqwus]

Ironhawk said:
How do you curse someone else's luck? Is it a spell?




You don't. Kurgi, Umor, et al do.

Try casting 'Wish' for a 'Slave to Unreason'. Or... maybe not. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif



Is there also a spell to banish ethereality?



Nope. However, magical weapons and most spells already ignore it, and there are spells to enchant normal troops' weapons (ex. Flaming Arrows, Weapons of Sharpness both count if memory serves).

Now... true ethereal is harder to deal with.