SC Arena Competition Over! Results on page 9

[Potatoman]

I was poking through the archives of ancient wisdom (aka. DomII forums) the other day and unearthed a nifty thread about people sending in SC ideas for a giant deathmatch. It sounded so fun that I decided to resurrect the concept for Dominions 3!

Sound interesting? Build a SC and send him in to me! I'll start a test game, recruit and equip everybody's SC, and wish for a giant deathmatch that will determine the victor!

Edit: SC Arena Competition 1 is over, but was plagued by replay bugs and I have consequently taken it down. The make-up contest will be re-run on December 22nd or 23rd, with several small refinements to the original ruleset.
- The new 5 path rule has been adopted, detailed in the rules list. This discourages "insta-death" spellcaster types and should result in more entertainment for viewers.
- Pretenders will no longer possess the #pretender tag, which provided them with immunity to mind spells.
- All paths will be researched for all players before the contest takes place. This provides a familiar, baseline level of risk for the "Cast Spells" command that people have requested.

By default, all combatants from contest 1 will be entered in contest 2, unless they violate the 5 path rule. Combatants who violate the 5 path rule will be modified to conform with it in the way I deem least foolhardy, unless their creator contacts me with specific instructions. If you wish, you can send me an updated combatant and I will replace your old one. If you'd like to bow out completely, pm me and I'll remove you.

Your SC may be of any almost chassis in the game (GOR is allowed), may be empowered up to 3 times, may wield any non-unique equipment, and may script any spells known to it. You may only carry 10 gems/blood slaves into the arena, however! Pretenders may choose up to 2 magic levels in addition to their empowerment options.

Your combatant only has to conform to the following rules:

No Seraph
No Doom Horrors
No artifacts
No Blessings allowed
No prophets
Aquatic contenders must take Amulet of the Fish as a misc item. However, I will mod in an extra misc slot to any Aquatic chassis that you choose in order to compensate for this disadvantage.
Your combatant may have no more than 5 magic paths in total, after empowerment and pretender picks. If you end up with more, then I will mod your chassis to remove excess picks (you may choose which paths are removed, if you wish.)


PM me your combatant with the following information:
Chassis
Magic empowerment
Magic picks to be removed to confirm with the 5 path max rule, if necessary.
Script
Gem/slave choice
Equipment
Nation (in case you need a specific pretender chassis or national spell)
Name (something tough!)


Clarifications:
Note that Claws of Kocytos and Banish to Inferno do not work in arena fights, and are therefore useless. Do not script them.
You don't get 5 empowerments from the 5 path rule. Literally put, your final paths (after pretender magic picks and empowerment) must be less than or equal to 5.
You contender may boost their magic above 5 using items such as Earth Boots or Robe of the Magi. This is not prohibited by the 5 path rule.
Priest levels do not count towards the 5 path limit.
For purposes of complying with the 5 path rule, you choose which paths are removed. These can be base magic paths. For instance, if you pick an Anathement Dragon as your combatant and decide to empower it to 3 water (total 3 water, 3 fire) you could choose to remove either 1 water level or 1 fire level.
The 5 path rule doesn't allow for removing more paths than is necessary to get your combatant down to 5. So you could not, for instance, choose to remove all magic levels from your Anathement Dragon combatant.
Only 1 combatant per person, please.
The contest will take place on the night of December 22nd or December 23rd. The deadline for submissions goes right up to the minute I start setting up the contest (likely 8:00 Pacific Time.) If you want to enter, I'd urge you to have your combatant submitted by then.
Immobile pretenders normally cannot enter the arena. However, if you'd like to choose an immobile, I will mod it to possess a mapmove of 1. They are not banned.


Edit: Here's my combatant for round 2, which, in the interest of fairness, should be public knowledge.
Void Lord
Blood Thorn x2
Wraith Crown
Hydra Skin Armor
Boots of Quickness
Ring of Regeneration
Lifelong Protection Contract
3F, 2S
Phoenix Pyre, Luck, attack large.

The contest is now over. The turn file, and the mod required to view it, can be downloaded on page 9 of this thread.

[Rytek]

What about Tartarians? they come in so many varieties...

[vfb]

Sounds fun! I'll go with:

Name: Very Furious Bastard
Chassis: Angel of Fury
Magic: F3
Script: Attack Closest
Gems: 10 blood slaves
Placement: Far Lower Left-Hand Corner
Equip: Shadow Brand, Eye Shield, Rainbow Armor, Starshine Cap, Boots of Quickness, Lycanthrope Amulet, Lifelong Protection

Edited to add placement

[Baalz]

What about random magic paths? I guess Rytek was probably asking about that in regards to the Tartarians, but lots of chasises have random picks which varies them quite a bit. Also for clarification, I'm assuming gems/slaves are not replenished between fights?

[Cor2]

OoOOHH! I am on it... Need time to plan....

[Jazzepi]

Baalz said:
What about random magic paths? I guess Rytek was probably asking about that in regards to the Tartarians, but lots of chasises have random picks which varies them quite a bit. Also for clarification, I'm assuming gems/slaves are not replenished between fights?



My guess would be that you could configure a unit with random picks to any viable random output.

Jazzepi

[Potatoman]

Right, you can pick your randoms. Posting your build to the forum is a disadvantage that is not required btw; if you just pm it to me then it will remain top secret.
Gems/slaves are not replenished between battles- I will wish for deathmatch and throw everything in together.

I will post the turn file when everything is ready.

Edit: while you ponder your kick-*** SC builds, feel free to check out some of the new sprite graphics from my Ch'uan Qi mod, which makes available a nation loosely based on the legends surrounding the five sacred mountains in China and the Shaolin temple! This sprite (attached) is the Jade Dragon Master... So far, I have made all my sprites completely from scratch. Look ok? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[WonderLlama]

If pretenders are allowed, are any of the normal pretender options (extra paths and awe) allowed? Or just the base paths (with 3 empowerment)?

Is there any way to avoid the effects of Banish to Inferno/Claws of Cocytus? If not, are those spells allowed?

[quantum_mechani]

What happens if two people pick the same unique?

Also, as I recall, anything without hands cannot enter the death match, so people should take that into account when designing.

[vfb]

I don't think anything should be banned (well, glyphs and vastnesses etc impossible as QM says). I think the combat order of the Arena is not designed to be "fair", and also damage from one combat carries over to the next fight (but not afflictions).

I think the idea is that this is supposed to be fun. You can take it seriously if you want, but if an unseeded harpy scout wins the initiative, and flies over and pecks you in your eye for your last single HP after you defeated 10 opponents in epic battles, you might be disappointed.

[Frostmourne27]

As far as hands, isn't it that anything mobile can compete, but you can only win the trident if you can hold it? I thought it was an easy out of having to return, not to mention being stuck with a crappy item...

[Potatoman]

Awe via dominion 9 or 10 isn't allowed, though I don't think it'd be terribly powerful in this contest anyway. As stated in the original post, pretenders are allowed 3 extra magic levels, plus their alloted empowerments.

If two people pick the same unique then I will mod in a second copy of the unique using copystats.

As for the hands thing, that doesn't appear to be the case. A GoRed Hydra was able to compete in the arena match in my test game.

[quantum_mechani]

Potatoman said:
As for the hands thing, that doesn't appear to be the case. A GoRed Hydra was able to compete in the arena match in my test game.

Interesting, I assumed it was all no handed creatures, but perhaps it's just ones specifically with the immobile tag?

EDIT: I'm guessing the aquatic tag too, perhaps with the exception of amulet of the fish wearers.

[vfb]

PotatoMan, can you please try an Ancient Kraken? I think I tried to send one to a death match before, and it didn't have the order available. I've seen aquatics in the arena before, so it's not that. I'll still stick with my Angel though.

[Cor2]

quantum_mechani said:
Interesting, I assumed it was all no handed creatures, but perhaps it's just ones specifically with the immobile tag?

EDIT: I'm guessing the aquatic tag too, perhaps with the exception of amulet of the fish wearers.



Nope, fish people can fight in the arena without the amulet as if they were in water, IIRC.

Immobile cannot participate, But anything else can.

[quantum_mechani]

Cor2 said:


Nope, fish people can fight in the arena without the amulet as if they were in water, IIRC.



Which fish people? Mermen and atlantians aren't aquatic.

[Cor2]

I was just tring to be cute, I meant any aquatic unit. I have seen the AI send tritons to the arena IIRC. Could be wrong but i don't think so.

[Cor2]

I have a badass which will remain a super secret! You will only know his/her/it's name. MRMunchy!

Fear MrMuchy...fear him/her/it!

[vfb]

Aquatic units are allowed for sure. That's why I'm confused about the Ancient Kraken.

Edit: Nope, I'm wrong. Aquatics are allowed for the AI only. They might work for humans with a Fish Amulet.

[K]

Name: Anthrax
Chassis: King of Banefires
Magic: +2 Earth, +1 Death
Script: Cast Summon Earthpower, Invulnerability, Soul Vortex, Drain Life, Banefire, Cast Spells; Placed up close
Gems: 10 Death gems
Equipment: Ring of Regeneration, Amulet of Resilience, Lucky Coin, Armor of Souls, Skull Helmet
Nation:

[quantum_mechani]

vfb said:
Aquatic units are allowed for sure. That's why I'm confused about the Ancient Kraken.

I don't think so. I just tested with both aboleths and tritons, no dice.

[mathusalem]

do you mean Armor of souls and soul vortex stacks ??

[Twan]

Chassis : Dagon
Race : Atlantis
Empowerement : + 3w
Magic : + 3w
Gear : Vine Shield, Charcoal Shield, Rainbow Armor, Spirit Helmet, Boots of the Messenger, Dancing Trident, Amulet of Resilience
Gems : 10w
position : in the middle
Script : Living Water, Quicken Self, Breath of Winter, Attack closest

(strange build without regen and high prot, may work or not, the idea is to have him quietly trample all little summons, and remain conscious after the opponent)

[vfb]

quantum_mechani said:

vfb said:
Aquatic units are allowed for sure. That's why I'm confused about the Ancient Kraken.

I don't think so. I just tested with both aboleths and tritons, no dice.



Oh, this is making me so confused! I know I saw some kind of Rlyeh hero in a Death Match just a few days ago. Is it just the AI that can send aquatics? There's a pic of a triton lord in the arena here:

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=dom3&Number=459687

Yeah, the pic is old, so maybe it's been changed. But man, I know I just saw that Rlyeh dude in 3.10.

I cannot send any aquatic or immobile unit in my testing now. You do not need hands, a White Bull was fine.

Edit: Okay, I'm not nuts. Here's a new one. But I didn't send it, the AI did. So maybe only the AI can submit aquatics with no Fish Amulet to the deathmatch. How unfair http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/vfb_dominions/DM.jpg

[DigitalSin]

Well, having never played a MP game in my life, I am obviously a top pick for coming close to last in this http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Name: Rawrku, Hunter of Hotdogs
Chassis: Angel of Fury
Magic: 3 Fire
Script: Hold and Attack: Rear
Gems: N/A
Equipment: Black Steel Helmet, Chain Mail of Displacement, Boots of Quickness, Astral Serpent, Ring of the Warrior, 2x Serpent Kryss
Nation: Either MA or LA Marignon (So it can be summoned)

*Edited coz I am teh n00b http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/redface.gif

[Hadrian_II]

I sent some SC to potatoman and he might actually kick some butt. (or at least i hope so)

@mathusalem i dont think that they stack, as both have the same effect.

[BigandScary]

Name: Grazz the Cruel, Lord of the Unending Darkness, King of Pain, Master of Horror, Captain of Cute
Chassis: Tartarian Cyclops
Magic: 2N,1S
Script: Cast Personal Regen, Resist Magic, Attack Rear
Gems: N/A
Equipment: Amulet of Luck, Bottle of Living Water, Wraith Crown, Charcoal Shield, Shadow brand, boots of Quickness, Robe of invulnerability

[PyroStock]

Big&Scary - Which Tartarian Cyclops(2A3E or 4E)?
Digital Sin - IIRC, Sandals of the Crane is an artifact.
Mathusalem - Armor of Souls=Blood+1 & MR+5; Bone Armor = 50%CR & Soul Vortex

[mathusalem]

@PyroStock thanks http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Potatoman]

Yeah, Aquatics need the Amulet of the Fish to compete, but they're still valid. Losing that misc slot hurts though. Edit- see below.

Also be aware that Claws of Kokytos and Banish to the Inferno are banned now (first post updated), and scripts that provide 10 blood slaves with the ambiguous command to Cast Spells without a script will only be allotted 8 levels of Blood magic research instead of the usual 9 so you don't "accidentally" break the rules. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

@DigitalSin- Sandals of the Crane is a unique artifact and isn't allowed. Once you choose different boots and bestow a name upon your creation, however, I'll add your combatant to the roster.

There are currently 12 combatants enrolled for the contest.

Edit: If you want to choose an aquatic, I'll mod in an extra misc slot on your chassis for fairness (the amulet of the fish must go there). Sound ok?

[sector24]

Good thread! Since luck plays such a big part in the deathmatch, it would be interesting if you ran it several times to see if the same person wins consistently.

[sum1lost]

Potatoman, if I am not mistaken, being banished to various levels of hell is ineffective in arena matches- due to the mechanics of the arena, banished commanders get called back from Inferno to fight in another match, until one of them is dead. Or was this a bug that was fixed?

[Agrajag]

Also be aware that Claws of Kokytos and Banish to the Inferno are banned now (first post updated), and scripts that provide 10 blood slaves with the ambiguous command to Cast Spells without a script will only be allotted 8 levels of Blood magic research instead of the usual 9 so you don't "accidentally" break the rules.


Since you're using mods anyway, wouldn't it be easier to just mod out those spells that you decide are banned?

[Potatoman]

Yeah, that solution makes a lot more sense. I'll mod them out.

I don't know whether they work in the arena or not, but they'd either be overpowered or useless in this format without any kind of middle-ground that I can see. I don't really see a drawback to modding them out.

[Shovah32]

Cower before my Night Elf Mohawk. He shall be victorious.

[Nikolai]

Please wait for me! I'll send someone in 24 hours.

[Taqwus]

...perhaps a

Name: Bob Dylan (*)
Chassis: Tartarian Titan (3?2?2? version, all Earth)
Magic: E7 + E3 == E10
Script:
Gems: 10 earth gems
Equipment:
1x that +2-penetration wand
1x Luck Coin
1x Wraith Crown
1x Rainbow Armor
1x Earth Boots
1x Lifelong Protection
1x Spell Focus
Script:
Far back
Petrify (x5)


(*) 'cuz "Everybody must get stoned"

[Shovah32]

I shouldn't be giving advice, but wouldn't an eye of the void be better than the spell focus?

[Potatoman]

Post deleted by Potatoman.

Edit: overlooked the fact that you were talking about the Titan, rather than Cyclops. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Taqwus]

There's actually a 3/2/2 tartarian titan (male, most-intact), and it's possible for all three ? to be E.

Eye of the Void might work better, but I have a slight aversion to replacement body parts. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[quantum_mechani]

Tartarian king gets a total of 7 randoms.

EDIT: Crosspost.

[Rytek]

Name: Ketlones Masp
Master Lich (go 5hp!!)
6 picks of death so, total of D9
Nation Tien Chi
Placed at back corner of battlefield

Script:
Wrath of Ancestors,Raise Skeleton x4, cast spells
10 Death gems
Equipment: Staff of storms, wraith crown, rainbow armor, boots of the messenger, lifelong protection, amulet of resiliance. bottle of water.

[PyroStock]

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gifI'm betting on Taqwas only because that was the same build I was going to submit http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif(with slight equipment variations). I'll submit a plan B for more variety. Fear... plan B!

[Jazzepi]

Does battlefield position matter in deathmatch arenas? I thought that they just positioned you in an arbitrary place regardless of your BF positioning?

Jazzepi

[BigandScary]

The Tartarian Cyclops with 4E

[Shovah32]

PyroStock said:
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gifI'm betting on Taqwas only because that was the same build I was going to submit http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif(with slight equipment variations).



Same here. But them I just remembered that there might be some SCs out there who can't be petrified, and the ai would probably pick stupid spells to cast if they turned up.

[Cor2]

Jazzepi said:
Does battlefield position matter in deathmatch arenas? I thought that they just positioned you in an arbitrary place regardless of your BF positioning?

Jazzepi




I am pretty sure that is the case.

[calmon]

Taqwus said:
...perhaps a

Name: Bob Dylan (*)
Chassis: Tartarian Titan (3?2?2? version, all Earth)
Magic: E7 + E3 == E10
Script:
Gems: 10 earth gems
Equipment:
1x that +2-penetration wand
1x Luck Coin
1x Wraith Crown
1x Rainbow Armor
1x Earth Boots
1x Lifelong Protection
1x Spell Focus
Script:
Far back
Petrify (x5)


(*) 'cuz "Everybody must get stoned"



Stop posting your builds here. I sent a likewise SC tactic via pm some times before but i did't want to see much MR boosts!

[Tuidjy]

The Earth Build is almost the same as the one I submitted in the original
tournament. It did great, killing four or five combatants before falling to
Yvelina's winner by losing the 'go first' draw :-)

[Taqwus]

Well, it's a fairly obvious min-max try -- although less so now that there are some petrification-immune chasses. I'd expect a split between pure damage-causers and spell specialists (thought about something built for lifedrain, w/ banner and boots of quickness, but didn't think it'd do enough damage against big guys; thought about monster-spamming as well)...

[Potatoman]

The SC Arena combat will take place tonight at ~8:00 Pacific time, so please send in your combatants now if you'd like to compete!

[NTJedi]

Upon finishing the birth of my SC build... I received a huge painful leg cramp. So I'm calling him 'PAIN':

*Script Update at bottom*
Name: PAIN
Chassis: Poison Golem (ID#1099)
Magic: 1W 2A
Gems: 10 air gems
Location: Center Front
Equipment:
1x Rod of the Phoenix
1x Lucky Coin
1x Spirit Helmet
1x Robe of Shadows
1x Boots of the Messenger
1x Lifelong Protection
1x Bag of Winds
Script:
Quickness; Incinerate; Mirror Image; Incinerate; Ghost Wolves (Cast Spells)

[LoloMo]

Name: WHO'S YOUR DADDY!?!
Chasis: Top Secret
Equipment: Top Secret
Script: Top Secret

Mwahahahahahahaha! FEAR YOUR DADDY!

[Tuidjy]

Can we get a list of the contestants? I was tempted to submit Yvelina's build
from last tournament, but made my saving throw.

[Potatoman]

I'll post the list of combatants once I finish transcribing everyone's builds into my notebook so that I have it handy when starting the game. Everything should be forged, summoned, and researched by turn 10 to prevent anyone from gaining any experience

I got started a little late, so there might be a 1-2 hour delay while I set all the combatants up. There were 20 entrants in all.

@Tuidjy - Wasn't the previous contest won by someone's Tartarian spamming enslave mind? I recall that that trick was only so effective because they fought it out in a province rather than a death match, allowing all the enslaved fighters to help with the successive combats. But

[Cor2]

...but what? god i hope potatoman wasn't killed by ninjas as he was typing. We lose more posters that way...

[Potatoman]

The contest is now complete!

And the winner is... revealed in the attached turn file, which you can open to view all the gory details. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/evil.gif

The turnout was quite varied, with all sorts of nasty dominions monsters and powerhouses making their appearances. Most of the fights were quite close and could have gone either way!

Here's the full roster:
Slab Plankchest the Scythe Wielder (Christmas edition), fighting for Potatoman
Slayer of Aeons the Tartarian Cyclops, fighting for HadrianII
Anthrax the King of Banefire, fighting for K
Foolslayer the Destroyer of Worlds, fighting for Wick
Unfettered the Eater of the Dead, fighting for Cor2
Spamming Fetish the Colossal Fetish, fighting for Quantum Mechani
Tisiphone the Erinya, fighting for Sum1Lost
Father Dagon the Dagon, fighting for Twan
Sucks To Be You the Poison Golem, fighting for Baalz
Rawrku, Hunter of Hotdogs, the Angel of Fury, fighting for DigitalSin
Nameless the Rudra, fighting for Micah
Grazz the Cruel, the Tartarian Cyclops, fighting for BigandScary
Bob Dylan the Tartarian Titan, fighting for Taqwus
Night Elf Mohawk the Rudra, fighting for Shovah
PAIN the Poison Golem, fighting for NTJedi
Dead Old Man the Master Lich, fighting for Calmon
She is Back, the Tartarian Titan, fighting for Nikolai
Very Furious Bastard the Angel of Fury, fighting for vfb
Wish Upon a Shooting Star, the Djinn, fighting for Pyrostock
Ketlones Masp the Master Lich, fighting for Rytek
WHO'S YOUR DADDY!?!, the Ettin Mandragora, fighting for Lolomo



edit- The results of the contest were bugged and have been taken down. There may be a second, final contest if interest persists. Chime in on page 7.

double edit- It wouldn't be fair to take the results down, since many people have already seen them. The turn file is now attached once more. Some fights are bugged. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[Potatoman]

The SC Stadium mod that is required to view the turn is attached to this post.

[Jazzepi]

I sent you my SC, but I didn't see him in the list =\

Jazzepi

[vfb]

Very cool! And amusing too! Thanks, Potatoman.

It was interesting to learn about double lantern shields/double lifelong protection, I had no idea that worked.

[K]

Well, I got killed on round 1. On the bright side, I got killed by the guy who made it to the last battle, so I don't feel too bad.

[Hadrian_II]

I killed 2 but went down in the end. Maybe i should have swiched the gate cleaver for a firebrand & shadowbrand combination.

[LoloMo]

I thought my ettin mandragora was the perfect build, but he ran away after a couple of rounds, the coward!

[BigandScary]

I'd like to recognise the fact that my fighter won every battle that lasted beyond the first turn. How did he have that much astral?

[Twan]

Funs fights, thanks for organization.

The masterlich AI was terribly clever against me : chain casting ghost grip, so even with his reinvigoration set my Dagon was exhausted fast.

[PyroStock]

That was great, but doesn't having all the nations each at different levels of research impact the battles for casters who last longer than round5? Like Calmon having disintegrate researched, but not raise skeletons & Rytek having raise skeletons & ghost grip, but not disintegrate? Both my battles were over before round 6 so it didn't impact me and most battles were decided before that time anyways so maybe it's not a big deal.

[NTJedi]

*
In Arena battle 3 it shows me winning... yet my SC never fights again. Why ?

*
If we were allowed 3 magic levels then why does the SC named 'spamming fetish' start with an extra 6 air as the default unit only starts with 2 earth?

[Agrajag]

In Arena battle 3 it shows me winning... yet my SC never fights again. Why ?


That's strange. If you choose NTJedi as your nation, then the battle results message reports that the both SCs died (but of course in the replay itself NTJedi's SC stays alive)
EDIT: guess: Maybe the game was hosted on a different Dom3 version than 3.10?

[Hadrian_II]

Why did i not take a tartarian with air magic and cast lightning resistance at the beginning. But im learning for a next time

[Twan]

NTJedi said:
If we were allowed 3 magic levels then why does the SC named 'spamming fetish' start with an extra 6 air as the default unit only starts with 2 earth?



Fetish is a machaka pretender, and pretenders got the normal 3 empowerements and in addition + 3 magic levels.

[Jazzepi]

Twan said:

NTJedi said:
If we were allowed 3 magic levels then why does the SC named 'spamming fetish' start with an extra 6 air as the default unit only starts with 2 earth?



Fetish is a machaka pretender, and pretenders got the normal 3 empowerements and in addition + 3 magic levels.



I thought this was a bad rule. I don't see why pretenders should get extra magic paths.

Jazzepi

[Twan]

@Jazzepi : Because they usually have design points ?

(it's more normal than the famous tartarians with chosen randoms - = an hundred of gift of reasoned summons to get the exact monster)

edit : "logic" as nothing to do with it

[NTJedi]

Jazzepi said:

Twan said:
Fetish is a machaka pretender, and pretenders got the normal 3 empowerements and in addition + 3 magic levels.



I thought this was a bad rule. I don't see why pretenders should get extra magic paths.

Jazzepi



I completely agree! Pretenders should not recieve +6 while other units only are allowed +3.
SC vs SC should be fighting with equal bonuses.

This arena match was bugged and invalid anyways since my SC battle result was different than the actual battle.

[Hadrian_II]

Well, with the right tartarian and 3 epowerments, you can get a path of 10 like the astral enslaver. For the next one maybe limit the paths to 5 total or something like this. If the units are not created with mod but are added to a map, it should be easier to do it anyway.

[Potatoman]

I apologize if one of the arena results was bugged (I can't verify right now, but it sounds like that's the case.) I've got the latest patch installed just fine, but I didn't catch the invalid result last night. Phooey!

If there is general consensus and interest, I could re-run the simulation.

Pretenders were allowed extra magic levels to keep them competitive with Tartarians, which can reach 6-pick pretender magic levels quite easily. I think that, if I were running it again in the future, the 5-pick total rule would be a good one.

Jazzepi- When I was adding players to the mod I made an entry for you with Ettin Mandragora as the combatant but, unfortunately, when I looked for your build in the thread and in my pm box last night I wasn't able to find it. The only pm I received was the one asking if you could use the Ettin Mandragora chassis.

Edit- When viewing the results, make sure you have the SuperCombatant Arena mod downloaded and enabled. It's in the post 1 space down from the results post. I notice that it has about 10 fewer dls than the turn file, but both are required to view the results correctly!

[Jazzepi]

Bahh, I must have done something wrong. I tried to send it while I was doing a million other things and must not have hit send. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

I think a total magic paths would be a great idea.

One thing to note, sometimes the replays don't match what actually happened, which is highly frustrating.

Jazzepi

[NTJedi]

It'd probably be best to start a new arena match with the 5_pick total rule. All nations should have research completed for all levels.

I have a new and different SC design almost ready.

[Agrajag]

The reason pretenders get extra paths is because their default paths suck.
For example compare the Master Lich pretender (3 death) to the summoned Demilich (4 death). The Demilich even has better stats.

[Potatoman]

Could you guys double check that you have the SC Stadium mod enabled when you're viewing the turn? Not having it on would screw the results up.

[NTJedi]

Potatoman said:
Could you guys double check that you have the SC Stadium mod enabled when you're viewing the turn? Not having it on would screw the results up.



Yes it's on... mixed battle results rarely happen, yet even in MP games and SP games it still happens. During the MP games having mixed battle results usually isn't a big issue however for a special game which consists of only an arena match the mixed battle results is a big issue.

[Agrajag]

Could you guys double check that you have the SC Stadium mod enabled when you're viewing the turn? Not having it on would screw the results up.


Yes, it is enabled. Furthermore, when you load a game that uses a mod, it automatically loads the correct mods for you, so there could be no doubt. (It also unloads none-relevant mods)

Potatoman, what OS are you using? Maybe the bug that causes differences in replays between OSs hasn't been completely squashed?

[Potatoman]

I'm running Dominions on Windows XP.

[Torin]

I had buggy battles even in SP.

[NTJedi]

Potatoman said:
I'm running Dominions on Windows XP.



I'm running Windows XP Professional... upon viewing the battle I win, yet results shows both of us were killed.

What happens when you watch my arena battle?

[Cor2]

LoloMo said:
I thought my ettin mandragora was the perfect build, but he ran away after a couple of rounds, the coward!



You were fighting my Unfettered with a fear of +10. Anybody with a mind would have run.

[Cor2]

a few more things:

Thanks bunches potatoman, this was awesome!

saw a bunch of the builds I was toying with, the erinya, the djinn and the ettin mandragora. Alas i was unique!

of course I had to fight a death 12 lich my first round, disentegrating for 180, ouch!

Why do morale 30 units run away so quickly? I could understand if it were the battle turn limit, but its not. This is how I lost as well as a few others. I would not have won, so I am not upset. Is there a special set of rules in teh arena?

[Jazzepi]

Cor2 said:

LoloMo said:
I thought my ettin mandragora was the perfect build, but he ran away after a couple of rounds, the coward!



You were fighting my Unfettered with a fear of +10. Anybody with a mind would have run.



What the heck was that thing? I thought there were no doom horrors allowed, I guess it's some weird national summon or something?

I wanted to say that at one point during the arena fight with that doom horror, I noticed that it had -329 or so hitpoints. Thought that was pretty funny.

Jazzepi

[quantum_mechani]

Cor2 said:


Why do morale 30 units run away so quickly? I could understand if it were the battle turn limit, but its not. This is how I lost as well as a few others. I would not have won, so I am not upset. Is there a special set of rules in teh arena?

In any battle, if a non-mindless SC gets under 75% HP, they run.

[Rytek]

im at work and cant download,who won the tournament?

[Potatoman]

In my replay of this battle (#10), the Erinya dances around the Poison Golem, and they exchange blows for about 6-7 rounds. The Golem manages to get off a Quicken Self spell while the Erinya chases a distant Imp, but she quickly returns and manages to slay it. The Erinya finishes the match with no damage (although it was forced to regenerate some damage) and 48 fatigue.

So it appears that our replays are markedly different, which is bad news for any re-start that might have been in the works. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[Cor2]

Jazzepi said:

What the heck was that thing? I thought there were no doom horrors allowed, I guess it's some weird national summon or something?

I wanted to say that at one point during the arena fight with that doom horror, I noticed that it had -329 or so hitpoints. Thought that was pretty funny.

Jazzepi



It was the Eater of the Dead after it breaks away hence the name "unfettered". Its not a horror, just and undead. I think the negative hp came from Pheonix Pyre though I did not notice it going that low.

I am proud of it as a combatant. Everyone says eater of the dead is worthless, but with a GOR it becames a very good SC and by the time it goes unfettered its deep in enemy territory.

I didn't know that rule about running with 75% damage, anyway i wrongly assumed that the eater was mindless.

[Taqwus]

Sounds entertaining. Haven't had a chance to see yet, maybe tonight. Anybody use an Devourer of Souls? Thought about that one, but figured most SCs would have too high DEF to give the poor two-slot fellow that much of a chance, and the no-unique-stuff rule prevented a Kurgified Devourer.

(Eater of Souls with Gift of Kurgi and, say, either anti-magic, lifelong protection, or if we're feeling really wacky, the Horror Harmonica.)

Another 'joke build' I thought of was a Gifts-from-Heaven specialist... :p

[vfb]

Well, my dude was killed by a high-aim GFH specialist (PyroStock's Precision-25 Djinn). Ha ha. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[PyroStock]

Taqwus said:
Another 'joke build' I thought of was a Gifts-from-Heaven specialist... :p



http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/shock.gifThat's brilliant... it worked once. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif Even with 25Precision (25-3GFH=22) the meteors didn't seem to immediately target the highest hit point unit as I expected.

I also read that even if petrify fails it does 7AN, which I interpretted as 7 turn stun and that clearly wasn't the case.


saw a bunch of the builds I was toying with, the erinya, the djinn and the ettin mandragora.



I was toying with QM's Fetish, but didn't see the thunderstrikes doing enough damage against the big guys & it seemed even more vulnerable to the monster spammers like Rytek.

[Micah]

Pyro: Read the section on paralyze damage regarding petrification. IIRC the target's size is subtracted from the damage, and then halved, so that's only about a turn on average...luck and random rolls mean that only about a third of failed petrifiction spells will paralyze at all (more if luck doesn't apply, but still, not 100%).

I was really sad to see my guy run away unscathed due to a minor fear effect though, especially since he (she?) was actually working like I had hoped before bailing out.

[NTJedi]

Cor2 said:
Everyone says eater of the dead is worthless, but with a GOR it becames a very good SC and by the time it goes unfettered its deep in enemy territory.




Actually it is worthless except maybe SP. For MP one of your opponents could remove the creature by casting the same spell. Thus you've lost the astral gems, nature gems, and forged items. Also with no real control over the creature in its last stage causes risk of it returning your direction or the direction of an ally.

Personally I wouldn't use 70 gems or more to babysit and feed a single commander who will eventually turn independent and could attack my kingdom and armies. The fact the game only allows one is a huge achilles heel.

[NTJedi]

Potatoman said:
In my replay of this battle (#10), the Erinya dances around the Poison Golem, and they exchange blows for about 6-7 rounds. The Golem manages to get off a Quicken Self spell while the Erinya chases a distant Imp, but she quickly returns and manages to slay it. The Erinya finishes the match with no damage (although it was forced to regenerate some damage) and 48 fatigue.

So it appears that our replays are markedly different, which is bad news for any re-start that might have been in the works. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif



The battle was #3 for my system.

From my experience battle results and battle views are rarely different. I'm sure many of us would like to see another arena battle... I have a new and different SC if you decide to host another.

[sum1lost]

In my version, the erinya never actually won a battle. Which was a shame, since it was my build...

I designed it against other fighter builds- darkness helps take out most non-undead and demons, and flambeau helps it against the demons and undead

[Potatoman]

My bad. I was not looking at the most current game (the first incarnation of the game was missing QM's entrant, so I had to re-run it.)

Yes, I'm seeing the bad results now as well, exactly as NTJedi described them! Round 3, Golem vs Rudra the Golem definately appears to win, but is erroneously counted as slain. That's good news, actually, because it means that if I re-run the contest it ought to work right rather than appearing right only on my machine.

Is anyone opposed to another, final arena tournament? Or has interest in this contest been exhausted?

[vfb]

Not at all, I'd actually like to see another run of it. Not that my SC will do much better http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif. But I think it would be cool to see some other match-ups.

[sum1lost]

Why not send us the turn before set up, so we can run the battles on our own machines as many times as we would like?

[NTJedi]

Potatoman said:
Is anyone opposed to another, final arena tournament? Or has interest in this contest been exhausted?



I'm ready for a new tournament... preferably the 5 magic path limit, but either way is good!

[Cor2]

I would like to see a rerun of this one, then a new one with diffrent combatants.

[Potatoman]

Ok, I still have energy to run another round. I do like the 5 path rule, however, and I'd like to let the people who wanted to play in the first contest but didn't have time to send a combatant in (like Jazzepi) participate, so I favor having a semi-new batch of combatants.

All combatants would have a maximum of 5 path levels to work with. You may choose chassis with more than 5 magic levels (ie Djinn), but I would be mod it down to a total of 5 for the combat (including empowerment; you would need to specify which levels it keeps.) All of the other rules from contest 1 would be unchanged.

People could choose to update/replace their combatants by sending me private messages with their builds, or leave them unchanged. Combatants that are left unchanged may lose magic paths in excess of 5, however.

I won't have time for the contest until the weekend, however. So it'd be run Saturday or Sunday night, probably.

Edit: To clarify, you have 5 maximum paths. You still only get 3 empowerments.

[sum1lost]

Suggestion: Pretender battle-off. You can use pretender points, with an AWAKE pretender and NEUTREL scales. Any mobile pretender can be used.

-Balances out spell casters with combat pretenders. Hurray for titans and such! They might get a chance.

[NTJedi]

Potatoman said:
All combatants would have a maximum of 5 path levels to work with. You may choose chassis with more than 5 magic levels (ie Djinn), but I would be mod it down to a total of 5 for the combat (including empowerment; you would need to specify which levels it keeps.) All of the other rules from contest 1 would be unchanged.




Sounds good!
Most participants will need to change/update the magic paths on their SC.

[Wick]

I would also add that none of the SCs should be actual Pretenders. A Pretender chassis is fine but not the actual role with it's extra HPs and immunity to enslavement.

[NTJedi]

Wick said:
I would also add that none of the SCs should be actual Pretenders. A Pretender chassis is fine but not the actual role with it's extra HPs and immunity to enslavement.



I noticed the same... and agree.
SC vs SC

[Shovah32]

I feel kind of silly here, but where is the actual turn file? I can't seem to find it.

[Hadrian_II]

Shovah32 said:
I feel kind of silly here, but where is the actual turn file? I can't seem to find it.



It should be attached to the post with the rooster, i suspect that potatoman while editing the post has removed the attachment.

Also, i have sent my improved variant to battle, and im very interested, in how it will do.

[K]

So, I've sent in my next SC for Combat 2 (after sending in one that needs to be ignored).

I will be avenged!

[calmon]

@Potatoman

Please make sure every nation has all pathes full researched. Its important for the "Cast spells" command after the 5 initial rounds.

[vfb]

easyspell.dm can do that for you:

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=d3smm&Number=566396

[mathusalem]

is an oracle with double ring of wizardry and double ring of sorcery is legal ?

[Baalz]

mathusalem said:
is an oracle with double ring of wizardry and double ring of sorcery is legal ?



Well, as it would seem that there is no advantage to taking the oracle for magic paths (since everyone will have the same number), you could equip ring of sorcery, ring of wizardry, robe of the magi, crystal shield, rune smasher on any "regular" slotted unit to get the same magic and penetration (with a bonus of having extra reinvig)...plus you can add a starshine cap assuming astral is what you're going for so it'd actually be better.

[calmon]

mathusalem said:
is an oracle with double ring of wizardry and double ring of sorcery is legal ?



You can't choose oracle because its immobile (and those can't join the arena)! But 2 equal rings in 1st and 3rd slot is allowed at the moment.

[NTJedi]

calmon said:
@Potatoman

Please make sure every nation has all pathes full researched. Its important for the "Cast spells" command after the 5 initial rounds.



I agree... also the first post within the topic should be updated to include the updated rules, deadlines for SC entry, and the date and time for the next arena event.

[Potatoman]

First post has been updated. Please look at the clarifications sections for more information about how the 5 path rule works.

Also, immobile pretenders ARE allowed. I will mod them to have a mapmove of 1 if you'd like to choose one.

[quantum_mechani]

Potatoman said:
First post has been updated.

Also, immobile pretenders ARE allowed. I will mod them to have a mapmove of 1 if you'd like to choose one.

I think you'd likely have to to #clearspec, to remove the immobile tag.

[Nikolai]

My SC relied on "Enslave mind", got few kills, and got killed by pretender that was immune, I am glad that next round will have no pretenders enabled.

No that I would use same strategy or anything :-)

[Shovah32]

Ok, I can't seem to find a turn file(yes, I'm that dumb), so can somebody tell me if I died during my first or second fight?

[Jazzepi]

Nikolai said:
My SC relied on "Enslave mind", got few kills, and got killed by pretender that was immune, I am glad that next round will have no pretenders enabled.

No that I would use same strategy or anything :-)



I don't believe the host implemented a "no pretender" rule. People were throwing it around, however.

Jazzepi

[vfb]

Shovah32 said:
Ok, I can't seem to find a turn file(yes, I'm that dumb), so can somebody tell me if I died during my first or second fight?



Your SC died in your first battle #3, versus NTJedi. (And that was the bugged match from which NTJedi did not continue.)

[DigitalSin]

On the same note as Shovah, can someone tell me how my guy went?

[Potatoman]

I re-attached the turn file back on page 4. It wouldn't have been fair to restrict access.

[K]

Are we on for the next battle on Sat.? I know that my new SC has been sent and I'm ready to make it past my first battle.

[Potatoman]

Yeah, Saturday or Sunday night, whenever I get time. Probably Saturday. Notice also that my build is public and is part of the post 1; this time, it's not (such) a joke!

[quantum_mechani]

Last I checked, a second drain weapon doesn't add to the drain.

[NTJedi]

My new and different SC is arriving within the hour via PM.

He has arrived and awaiting the arena match.

[Potatoman]

Getting started on setting up the arena now. Last call for entries is going out. But

[Jazzepi]

I'm wet with urine and anticipation.

Jazzepi

[Cor2]

Jazzepi said:
I'm wet with urine and anticipation.

Jazzepi



LOL! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[Potatoman]

It is done! The turn file of Supercombatant Arena 2 is attached to this post. Congratulations to the winner!

I'd also like to mention that I got special satisfaction out seeing some of the more creative builds in the contest, like Twan's blinking bow of war/vision's foe sniper, Calmon's Siege Golem (with diabolical metagaming tactics), Cor2's goofy nigh unkillable Eater of the Dead, Wick's ballsy Devourer of Souls gambit, and NTJedi's ridiculous imp-spamming Crone build. Almost everyone's build was cunning, powerful, and had a real shot at winning (with the required luck!) Every battle was close and very entertaining.

Thanks for playing!

[Potatoman]

The version of the SC Arena Mod that you'll need to view the turn is attached to this post.

[llamabeast]

It says I need True Immortal.tga.

[vfb]

Ha ha ha http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif Gifts From Heaven really has it in for the Furious Bastard, that's what killed me last tourney too.

[Twan]

Thanks for organization.

It's sad my sniper managed to fail a morale check she seemed to work well :" (sorry for the blind gratz, not really in condition for the next match).

[Jazzepi]

Argh! Gifts from heaven to the face. I was worried about that Q.Q

Jazzepi

[Potatoman]

Sorry, forgot to include the required graphic. It was 2 am when everything was finished. The graphic is now included in the mod archive.

Here's the combatant list.
Pazuzu, Lord of the Plague Wind, fighting for K.
Equipped with a Crystal Shield, Faithful Sword, Eye of Aiming, and Amulet of Antimagic.
2E 1S 2A, carrying 10E gems.
Scripted to cast Gifts from Heaven x5, Cast Spells.
Summary: A very high precision Gifts from Heaven Sniper with a lot of HP.
Doombringer, the Tartarian Cyclops, fighting for HandrianII
Equipped with a Shadow Brand, Fire Brand, Jade Armor, Starshine Skullcap, Winged Shoes, Stone Bird, and Ring of Tamed Lightning.
3F 2A, carrying 10 blood slaves.
Scripted to attack large monsters.
Summary: A melee combatant designed to rush casters quickly with the winged shoes and kill them instantly with it's many strong AOE attacks.
She is Back, the Tartarian Titan, fighting for Nikolai
Equipped with a Rune Smasher, Crystal Shield, Starshine Skullcap, Robe of the Magi, Boots of the Messenger, Ring of Sorcery, and Eye of the Void.
5S, carrying 10 Astral pearls.
Scripted to stand far back, cast Enslave Mindx5, Cast Spells.
Summary: A caster with a very powerful, high rating, enslave mind attack. Virtually powerless against mindless units, but very strong against most others.
Glass Cannon, the Rudra, fighting for Micah
Equipped with two Shadow Brands, Faithful Sword, Frost Brand, Starshine Skullcap, Rainbow Armor, and Lifelong Protection Contract.
3F 2W. Carrying 10 Fire gems.
Scripted to cast Phoenix Pyre, Quicken Self, attack large monsters.
Summary: A verasatle, flying, four-armed melee combatant with a lot of AOE attacks. Attacks after casting a pair of important self-buffs.
You Shall Not Pass, the Crone, fighting for NTJedi
Equipped with a Herald Lance, Lucky Coin, Wraith Crown, and 4 Lifelong Protection Contracts.
5D. Carrying 10 Death gems.
Scripted to stand in the far back left corner and cast Raise Skeletons x4, Spirit Curse, Cast Spells.
Summary: A prodigious, but extremely fragile, summoner that produces 20+ minions each round. Few creatures have the capability to beat minions faster than this summoner can create them, and will be infinitely stalled by the tide of imps and skeletons.
Grazz the Cruel, Tartarian Cyclops, fighting for BigandScary
Equipped with a Shadow Brand, Charcoal Shield, Wraith Crown, Boots of Quickness, Robe of Invulnerability, Amulet of Luck, and Bottle of Living Water.
2E 2N 1S. 7 Nature gems, 3 Astral pearls.
Scripted to cast Resist Magic, Personal Regeneration, attack rearmost.
Summary: A robust melee combatant with extremely tough defenses. Difficult to damage, high HP, and good regen rate all make Grazz very survivable. Luck even provides a chance dodge insta-death spells.
Sucks to Be You, the Poison Golem, fighting for Baalz
Equipped with a Banner of the Damned, Armor of Souls, Wraith Crown, Boots of Quickness, and 2 Lifetime Protection Contracts.
No magic. Carrying 10 Blood slaves.
Scripted to Cast Spells.
Summary: A lifeless, mindless, combatant that generates a lot of imps and can cast his drain life spell twice each turn. Steals fatigue at a greater rate than he spends it and can force a lot of difficult and painful MR checks. Vulnerable to lifeless enemies, which are immune to his spell.
The Unfettered, Eater of the Dead, fighting for Cor2
Equipped with a Girdle of Might and Amulet of Resilience.
3F. 10 Fire gems.
Scripted to cast Phoenix Pyre, attack.
Summary: Huge HP, huge regeneration, high reinvigoration, and it comes back to life in blast of fire if it's ever killed. Vulnerable to MR effects and has anemic offense against large opponents, but otherwise very difficult to slay.
Night Elf Mohawk, the Rudra, fighting for Shovah32
Equipped with 3 Shadow Brands, Faithful Sword, Horned Helm, Robe of Invulnerability, Boots of Quickness, and a Bear Claw Talisman.
5F, 10 Blood slaves.
Scripted to attack large.
Summary: A rushing build designed to slay opponents before they have time to buff or summon a big mess of chaff by flying in and unleashing 10 high-strength attacks (6 with large AOE).
Robusta, the Void Lord, fighting for Potatoman
Equipped with 2 Blood Thorns, Wraith Crown, Hydra Skin Armor, Boots of Quickness, Ring of Regeneration, and Lifelong Protection Contract.
3F, 2S. 10 Fire gems.
Scripted to cast Phoenix Pyre, Personal Luck, attack large monsters.
Summary: A melee combatant designed to quickly regenerate any wound with it's many life-stealing attacks and high regeneration rate. Should it be slain, it's high reinvigoration through via life-steal will quickly control the fatigue acquired through Phoenix Pyre, allowing it to ressurect without limit.
Ketlones Masp, the Lich, fighting for Rytek
Equipped with a Staff of Storms, Wraith Crown, Rainbow Armor, Boots of the Messenger, Amulet of Resilience, Lifelong Protection Contract, and Bottle of Living Water.
5D, 10 Death gems.
Scripted to cast Wrath of the Ancestors, Raise Skeletons x4, Cast Spells.
Summary: A summoner that takes advantage of the LA Tien Chi nation spell Wrath of the Ancestors to summon a mess of ethereal chaff at the start of each battle. Uses the Staff of Storms to discourage enemy evocation spells and prevent the Lich from being rushed by flying combatants.
Rawrku, the Angel of Fury, fighting for DigitalSin
Equipped with 2 Serpent Krysses, Black Steel Helmet, Chain Mail of Displacement, Boots of Quickness, Astral Serpent, and Ring of the Warrior.
3F, 10 Blood slaves.
Scripted to attack rearmost.
Summary: A flying combatant with high defense, poison attacks, and Blood Vengeance. Uses flight to attack opponents on the first turn and hopefully slay them in a single attack.
Whimsy, the Devourer of Souls, fighting for Wick
Equipped with a Ring of Regeneration and Amulet of Resilience.
3F, 10 Fire gems.
Scripted to cast Phoenix Pyre, Fire Shield, attack large monsters.
Summary: The Devourer of Souls kills anything trapped between its jaws- no save of any kind is allowed. The idea is to persevere long enough via Phoenix Pyre and Regeneration to score just one hit against the enemy- that's all the Devourer needs.
The Imperious Leader, Mechanical Man, fighting for Pyrostock
Equipped with a Crystal Shield, Rune Smasher, Wraith Crown, Robe of the Magi, Messenger Boots, and 2 Lifelong Protection Contracts.
3D, 10 death gems.
Scripted to cast Wither Bones, Wrath of the Ancestors, Disintegrate x3, Cast Spells.
Summary: A versatile spellcaster that spams, metagames against spamming, and throws out a bunch of nasty save-or-die spells.
WHO'S YOUR DADDY!?!, the Divine Emperor, fighting for Lolomo
Equipped with Wraith Crown, Robe of the Magi, Eye of Aiming, and 3 Lifelong Protection contracts.
4E, 1S. 10 Earth gems.
Scripted to cast Gifts from Heaven x5, Cast Spells.
Summary: A summoning-evoker that generates a lot of imps and calls down 3 meteors (for 150+ damage) each turn. The Meteors have little accuracy, but the tide of imps ensures that this combatant will get as many shots as he needs.
Mael Bolgia, the Ettin Mandragora, fighting for Jazzepi
Equipped with Fire Brand, Frost Brand, Scutata Volturnus, Wraith Crown, Starshine Skullcap, Elemental Armor, Boots of Quickness, and Lifelong Protection Contract.
1S 2E, 10 Blood slaves.
Scripted to cast Resist Magic, Iron Will, Personal Luck, attack.
Summary: A melee combatant with high magic resistance, lots of elemental immunities, and many attacks.
Pillar, the Marble Oracle, fighting for Quantum Mechanic
Equipped with 2 Scutata Volturnus, Skullface, Boots of Quickness, Amulet of Resilience, Robe of the Magi, and Lifelong Protection Contract. No magic, 10 slaves.
Scripted to cast Raise Skeletons x5, Cast.
Summary: A burly summoner who wields two lightning shields that fry nearby enemies.
The Herald of the Unliving, Mandaha, fighting for Sum1Lost
Equipped with a Faithful Sword, Lantern Shield, Skullface, Rainbow Armor, Boots of Quickness, Lifelong Protection Contract, and a Bottle of Living Water.
5B, 10 Death gems.
Scripted to Cast Spells.
Summary: The Herald is a summoning combatant that's also powerful in melee. The darkness that accompanies Mandahas into combat provides him with a defense against evocations, and other melee attackers who lack darkvision.
Siege Your ***, the Siege Golem, fighting for Calmon
Equipped with Wraith Crown, Robe of the Magi, Boots of the Messenger, Amulet of Resilience, and Pendant of Luck.
3F, 10 fire gems.
Scripted to cast Phoenix Pyre, Phoenix Power, Heat from Hell, Fire Shield, and attack closest.
Summary: The golem is virtually impervious to imps and skeletons; it uses Heat from Hell to fatigue or kill opponents while it is surrounded by a protective layer of enemy imps.
Cuisinart, the Ettin Mandragora, fighting for Taqwus
Equipped with a Rat Tail, Faithful Sword, Shield of the Accursed, Horned Helmet, Wraith Crown, Jade Armor, Boots of Stone, and Lifelong Protection Contract.
3D, 10 death gems.
Scripted to cast Soul Vortex and attack.
Summary: A melee combatant that uses Soul Vortex, Shield of Accursed, and Rat Tail to turn enemy chaff against their creator. Soul Vortex allows the Ettin to stay in combat against summoned imps almost indefinitely while they accumulate Horror Marks battering the Shield of the Accursed, attracting hostile horrors to the battlefield. The Rat Tail forces morale checks on the relatively cowardly imps, possibly forcing a rout.
Very Furious Bastard 2, the Angel of Fury, fighting for vfb
Equipped with a Staff of Storms, Skullface, Elemental Armor, Boots of Quickness, Heart of Life, and Lifelong Protection Contract.
No magic, 10 slaves.
Scripted to Cast Spells
Summary: A durable spamming platform with lots of elemental resistances. Uses the Staff of Storms to prevent being rushed at the beginning of combat by flying opponents.
Yukulala, the Devata, fighting for Twan
Equipped with a Bow of War, Vision's Foe, Wraith Crown, Robe of Invulnerability, Boots of the Messenger, and Lifelong Protection.
A3 S1 N1, 10 Astral pearls.
Scripted to cast Eagle Eye, fire, cast Blink, fire, cast Blink, fire large monsters.
Summary: A clever dual-wielding bowman that teleports around the battlefield at random to escape enemies.
Justice, the Arch Angel, fighting for Wraithlord
Equipped with Flambeau, Wraith Crown, Rainbow Armor, Boots of Stone, Amulet of Resilience, and Amulet of Antimagic.
3F, 2N, 10 slaves.
Scripted to cast Phoenix Pyre, Fire Shield, Personal Regeneration, Touch of Madness, and attack rearmost.
Summary: A self-buffing melee combatant that does triple damage to undead or demonic targets. Very powerful if it survives to fire off all of its buff spells and attack.

[WraithLord]

LOL, in MP the AI always casts touch of madness thus getting my mages killed. In the Arena the AI was smarter and overruled my script for touch of madness, hence one super buffed Arch Angel runs away like a coward http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Jazzepi]

My guy had frost brand and fire brand and the shield. 3 arms FTW!

jazzepi

[llamabeast]

This must have been _loads_ of work! Nice one potatoman.

[Tuidjy]

A pleasure to watch. Thanks for running the contest, Potatoman!

[vfb]

My build description is a bit off. The Heart of Life gives reinvigoration+10, not an extra life. The reason I need reinvigoration+10 is that I'm casting 2*Summon Skeletons every turn from my hat (which is also why I don't have any other magic paths, since that's all I want to cast). So, I come out even in the fatigue department.

An extra life would have been nice protection from incoming meteors http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif.

[Velusion]

So for those of us to lazy to watch the replay - who won?

[NTJedi]

Will there be another SC contest... or was this the last?

I'd be pleased to see another contest.

[Potatoman]

I'm not planning another contest. Llamabeast is quite right about it being a lot of work to set up; it was fun and I enjoyed it, but I am done now. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Maybe for Dominions 4...

[Meglobob]

Velusion said:
So for those of us to lazy to watch the replay - who won?



Sucks to Be You, the Poison Golem, fighting for Baalz.

Worth watching!

My favourite was the Emperor with his gifts from heaven.

The mechanical man was rather strange and amusing. Why a mechanical man?!?

[Baalz]

And with that I believe I win the argument as to whether poison golems qualify as SCs...:)

I bet though if we ran that fight 5 times we'd get 5 different winners, way too much paper-rock-scissors and insta kill hope-the-die-roll-favors-me. Plus, my guy only fought two battles, I gotta give the moral victory to that emperor who squished like 5 guys.

[Jazzepi]

Baalz said:
And with that I believe I win the argument as to whether poison golems qualify as SCs...:)

I bet though if we ran that fight 5 times we'd get 5 different winners, way too much paper-rock-scissors and insta kill hope-the-die-roll-favors-me. Plus, my guy only fought two battles, I gotta give the moral victory to that emperor who squished like 5 guys.



Yeah if you want to do this right, there needs to be swiss rounds.

Jazzepi

[LoloMo]

Baalz said:
Plus, my guy only fought two battles, I gotta give the moral victory to that emperor who squished like 5 guys.



Thank you thank you. That old fart did quite well. In his last fight against the Devourer, he really did want to fight on, but his advisers would have none of it, and the palanquin bearers took him away from the battle in spite of his protests. So he wasn't cowardly or anything. Nope not chicken at all. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

And thanks potatoman for running this. I'm sure we'll be seeing lifelong protection and phoenix pyre being used more often in MP games after this http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Cor2]

I have always had alot of faith in Phoenix pyre for scs, its like insurance against the ineveitable unlucky shots.

Anybody else notice that when the cyclops lost his only eye he recived two affliction hearts. Never noticed that before.

I thought the mechanical man was super ballzie, kudos! I think that proves that for one on ones its not the chasssies hp, its the magic items and empowerment that wins the game.

I had fun with my eater, too bad he was enslaved, low mr really hurt this round.

[Aezeal]

no, just run it a 100 times and then put up the charts

[Cerlin]

The Emperor Impressed me personally. Imp spam with Gifts from heaven. I was sure he would die in the first round and he kept on winning. This is one of the most educational things I have ever seen for Dominions, I learned so much! :O

[Shovah32]

I'm glad that poison golems, phoenix pyre, and lifelong protections got a good showing - I'm rather fond of them all.

[Aezeal]

please let a few people run this 10 times eacht with different player numbers for the combatants (to change for starts etc?)

then all post stats

or something

[PyroStock]

I chose the mechanical man because...
1>Complete immunity against all elements (QM's lightning spam which won him the first arena competition, phoenix pyre explosions, cold auras, poisons, etc);
2>Mindless protecting him from enslave & cowardice both of which were very lethal in the first competition. Also protects against soulslay, charm and others.

Recall the battle with Potoman's Void Lord, particularly the point with the Void Lord standing right in front of my SC. If I had chosen a Master Lich or Crone I suspect my SC would have either prematurely fled (like Rytek's SC did in the first competition against Cor's Unfettered) or possibly have been killed by an enemy Phoenix Pyre.

3>Not as crucial, but lifeless protected him from life drain, soul vortex, etc. A mechanical man instead of a master lich means I give up 2Death and 1 misc slot for all these immunities I mentioned above... I saw that as a good deal. Your mileage may vary.

So why not the Siege Golem or Poison Golem or another?
1st, all other options meant I lost immunities and/or slots in exchange for more hitpoints. There were too many ways to kill contestants in 1 round *regardless of hitpoints*, as we've seen. Therefore, hitpoints didn't seem more valuable than immunities and/or slots for a caster IMO. Gifts from Heaven hit for 150, which is lethal to any mindless unit. Some enemy SCs were scripted to attack largest some killing high life enemies instantly, such as Micah's attack largest blitz with magic weapons. The Siege Golem loses both hand slots which also would have weakened my caster's powers further. That aside, I was tempted to go with a different unit who had more life despite the loss of immunities, but decided against it because of reason#2 below.

Reason#2... raise skeletons & the wraith crown sometimes generate skeletons with 15 life. The mechancial man has 8 (tied with imps) so he could sometimes be effectively hidden against the "Attack Largest" SCs and numerous spells that target the units with highest hitpoints. Why be the target of an enemy disintegrate or petrify or another spell if I didn't need to be? I didn't see painting a big bullseye on my caster as a good idea. The first 3 fights I was up against "Attack Largest" SCs.

That aside, I didn't expect for my SC to cast "Drain Life" so often which eventually did raise his life later above 20 at one point. I spent the death gems faster than expected and Potatoman's Robusta kept coming back from the night of the living dead so often I was doomed to fight Baalz's Poison Golem gemless. By the time I fought that Poison Golem I really needed 20 ancestors to delay that imp wave so I could get eventually get a disintegrate through, I only needed 1 disintegrate to work on his Poison Golem to win it all... but ran out of time. *Perhaps* a Siege Golem may have lasted long enough until Baalz fled, but would the same Siege Golem have won against the other 3 earlier fights with a weaker magic (more fatigue per spell, less penetration) and a big bullseye on him?

Finally, the 1st WitherBones was not only for anti-spamming, but I also saw it as my best shot to kill any 5-15hp lich in the 1st round due to the large AoE... before ultimately losing the imp/summon wars to them as my disintegrates would never find him due to his low life.

On another note, I think Taqwus had the worst luck... both times his SCs were killed before they could even do anything.

Wraithlord's Touch of Madness didn't work because that spell requires 3N and he had no nature gems.

I was impressed with many of the builds but this post is long enough so I won't elaborate. And since I did steal Baalz's double lifelong protection idea for this build I'm ok with losing to him... this time. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Shovah32]

Raise dead raises the 15 health soulless, not raise skeletons.

I don't think phoenix pyre is fire damage, either.

[WraithLord]

PyroStock said:

Wraithlord's Touch of Madness didn't work because that spell requires 3N and he had no nature gems.




Wow, thank you! At last a touch of reason in this madness.

[Zeldor]

When is the next one?

[PyroStock]

Shovah32 said:
Raise dead raises the 15 health soulless, not raise skeletons.



True, regardless you can see I have 3 15 health soulless from the wraith crown when I faced the Void Lord. Once the Void Lord casted Phoenix Pyre those 15 health soulless were far from my caster and the 8 health imps were out so I was safe from an "Attack Largest" assault.


I don't think phoenix pyre is fire damage, either.



At the time I wasn't certain & there were other fire/element dangers. Phoenix Pyre is probably just physical, but I doubt it's AN. The mechanical man was only hit for 2damage thanks to the 18protection... compare that 18protection with the protection of a lich, crone or divine emperor and ask who would have survived that and of those who survived who would not have fled before/after.

The fact the mechanical man was also strange, amusing and considered ballzy is just frosting on the cake. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[PyroStock]

Aezeal said:
please let a few people run this 10 times eacht with different player numbers for the combatants (to change for starts etc?)



This would be interesting for both arena competitions.

A rematch could very well humble the imperious leader (mechanical man), particularly if he was the attacker facing some of the clever builds here. It might also give my djinn a better showing with his gifts from heaven.

[NTJedi]

PyroStock said:

Aezeal said:
please let a few people run this 10 times eacht with different player numbers for the combatants (to change for starts etc?)



This would be interesting for both arena competitions.

A rematch could very well humble the imperious leader (mechanical man), particularly if he was the attacker facing some of the clever builds here. It might also give my djinn a better showing with his gifts from heaven.



Yes you were very lucky(as usual) to always be the defender for battles. Lots of bad luck variables resulted in my SC going down in the second battle. First I was the attacker, second I was facing a non buffing SC, third the first round of combat the non buffing SC was lucky enough to find my SC hiding amongst the skelletons.
If any one of those variables would have been different it would have provided my SC with one round... which is all he needs for his mass imp spamming.

[PyroStock]

For the first battle, being the defender was flip-a-coin lucky (50%) since I unfortunately had no decoys until the imps were out. Hadrian's Tartarian with an immediate attack also fought the crone earlier who had one 15life decoy, but the decoy was in the same square as the 13life crone. That square for the "attack largest" Tartarian was a giant bullseye among 5hp units.

For the mechanical man's second battle, I doubt being the attacker would have changed anything. The mechanical man gave me the edge that the divine emperor lacked against the soul devourer earlier.

For the third battle, the mechanical man killed the void lord so he didn't win because of the 50turn rule. Against that 5fear SC who was eating imps for life/vigor I would rather be an attacking mechanical man vulnerable to the 50turn rule than a defending lich, divine emperor or crone vulnerable to phoenix pyre and cowardice several times well before 50turns.

The last battle I lost and being the defender only made the AI cast a useless terror spell before his death.

[vfb]

WraithLord said:

PyroStock said:

Wraithlord's Touch of Madness didn't work because that spell requires 3N and he had no nature gems.




Wow, thank you! At last a touch of reason in this madness.



Touch of Madness is an N3 spell with 30 Fatigue. So, no gems required.

[Taqwus]

Luck doth matter -- a lot.

A Devourer of Souls build, for instance, is all about luck. If he hits the right target fast, he wins... but that's far from guaranteed, and the lack of slots hurts his long-term life expectancy. Gifts from Heaven is similar... *if* it hits, it hurts.

Incidentally, if Phoenix Pyre actually worked well for multi-shape units, I would have considered going with a Phoenix Pyre'd Daughter of Typhon, just for amusement value. But some testing suggests that the reappearance is lost once you lose a form. :p

[Shovah32]

Maybe he only had N2?

[vfb]

vfb said:
Touch of Madness is an N3 spell with 30 Fatigue. So, no gems required.




Shovah32 said:
Maybe he only had N2?



Doh! You are right. Please ignore my post. http://koti.welho.com/ehalttun/Images/Smilies/banghead.gif