Sphinx immobile?

[Viajero]

I have looked at the relevant threads here but still unsure as I have not been able to try the spell (research getting there).

On the one hand some threads here suggest Sphinx Pretenders can not move at all, no spell will do.

In the other hand the rule book suggest that immobile pretenders can move with either Gateway or Thrapeze of the Clouds spells.

Is the Sphinx specially more immobile than other immobile units? Can the Sphinx move at all with any spell?

[Redeyes]

The Sphinx is the most immobile thing around, yeah ;)
Only the Stygian Paths spell can move it, or so I have been told.

[Omnirizon]

The Sphinx is the most immobile thing around, yeah ;)
Only the Stygian Paths spell can move it, or so I have been told.

which is kind of funny, since in that spell they supposedly are _walking_ through the underworld.

[Endoperez]

which is kind of funny, since in that spell they supposedly are _walking_ through the underworld.

Not just walking. Sneaking.

"Hey, Muttlecraunch, are you seeing what I'm seeing?"
"What? What are you seeing?"
"That sphinx over there... I swear I saw it move."
"Sphinx?! There's no sphinxes here, you tumorous excresence! Who would build one HERE?"
"That's what I thought, look - hey, it's gone! Where did it go?"
"See? No sphinx. I told you."
"But -"
"Oh, shut up."

[Viajero]

And on top of it... the sphinx only has, wait for it,... 1 misc item slot! (obvisouly, I guess now with hindsight... who's going to taylor a bloody robe for it!!!) would be nice if in the pretender criteria selection all this downsides would have been more explicit.

Swear to God I've been had! when I saw the sphinx in the list when creating my first pretender I went: oh! looky here... 0 pt cost!!, 300 HP!!! ...immobile though... ah but no worries! the manual says you can move with gateway so here we go... arghhh!

Im stuck (pun intended) now with the bloody sphynx!

[Endoperez]

Im stuck (pun intended) now with the bloody sphynx!

At least it's YOUR Sphinx you're stuck with. Consider what you could do with all those hp and all that natural protection if the Sphinx could teleport. Teleport is only Thaumaturgy 3. How can you kill an ENEMY Sphinx sitting on your capital, "sieging" it by himself, with several hundred hps even in your dominion, not letting you recruit any more mages or your national troops, denying you the income from your capital... And even if you kill it, you only lowered it's Astral level by 1. If your enemy has mage-priests (Pythium, Tien Chi) the researchers might be able to call it back in very short amount of time... Imagine the Sphinx bombaring your capital AGAIN, three turns later! :hurt:

[llamabeast]

Well you can at least see that it only has one misc slot when choosing a pretender.

[Redeyes]

Hmm, I wonder if the Monolith would really be "that" much easier to kill off for some nations, they are as good at negating damage and that's the important part, when either is surrounded by units capable of damaging them they die, as do they to from effects like soul slay.

Has anyone tested faery trod with the Sphinx? They essentially have the same effect, wouldn't be suprised if also worked. Then again, I can understand why it wouldn't - it's much more easily available.

[ano]

Even if Faery Trod works with Sphinx, to use it you should start in a forest province which you can't really build your strategy around:)

[JimMorrison]

Pshhh, just Stygian Paths to a nice forest, and then Faery Trod out. :happy:

[MaxWilson]

Even if Faery Trod works with Sphinx, to use it you should start in a forest province which you can't really build your strategy around:)

Not if your Sphinx is a pretender, true--but what if he's a Wished SC? :)

-Max

P.S. I wonder if a Sphinx non-commander can be Gatewayed or Astral Travelled.

[PsiSoldier]

P.S. I wonder if a Sphinx non-commander can be Gatewayed or Astral Travelled.


What difference would it make since he'd have no magic and cant attack. He'd basicly just be a big rock to soak up damage. So even if it could I dont see that it would matter in any way.

[chrispedersen]

would matter a *lot*.

Teleport into a fight where you are the defender.
Very difficult to kill the sphinx in the 50 turn time frame.

ergo.. very useful defender.

[PsiSoldier]

I just cant see wasting 100 Pearls on that..

Granted it does have a lot of HP's and 31 Protection but there are plenty of magical counters that could take it out easy.

[statttis]

Just ran a couple quick tests. The sphinx can travel by stygian paths but not fairy trod. It makes no difference whether it is the commander casting the spell, or a unit travelling with the caster.

[MaxWilson]

would matter a *lot*.

Teleport into a fight where you are the defender.
Very difficult to kill the sphinx in the 50 turn time frame.

ergo.. very useful defender.

I dunno, it seems like the Sphinx would be as easy to kill as any other single unit. Can't you just Disintegrate/Soul Slay/Claws of Cocytus it? It only has one misc slot, so the MR at best will be mediocre 22 or so.

My thought was not so much about it being *effective* to Wish for a Sphinx as maybe *fun*. If you want "effective" you wish for a Mandaha or Chayot.

-Max

[Redeyes]

Those spells aren't availalble to everyone, certainly not as quickly as teleport can be.
Though the difference between the Monolith and Sphinx is minor, so you can already do this if you really want to.

Immobile units don't retreat anyway, so they can be amusing to bring on the offensive as well.
A Sphinx without magic paths might be better as he wouldn't get fatigue, which is the SC killer...

[JimMorrison]

It only has one misc slot, so the MR at best will be mediocre 22 or so.

Non-commander, it has no misc slots at all. :p As a commander, it will have Astral magic, so the typical script of "(Resist Magic)(Astral Shield)(Win Battle)" would still apply. ;)

[MaxWilson]

Ah, yes.

1. Resist Magic
2. Astral shield
3. ???
4. Profit!

Sorry, couldn't resist. You're right though, I had forgotten about Resist Magic. MR 26 is respectable.

-Max

[BigDaddy]

P.S. I wonder if a Sphinx non-commander can be Gatewayed or Astral Travelled.


What difference would it make since he'd have no magic and cant attack. He'd basicly just be a big rock to soak up damage. So even if it could I dont see that it would matter in any way.

Well, you could set him in front and he'd get surrounded by stuff than can barely scratch him while you cast spells on the stuff, or maybe throw javelins even. It seems quite good actually, especially because it can't do anything to become exhausted.

[Humakty]

As a member of the GLIN, I have to warn you you need a license to practice necromancy in these forums.

As a side note : how do you get a sphinx to throw javelins ? Graft him a pair of arms ?

[Jarkko]

As a side note : how do you get a sphinx to throw javelins ? Graft him a pair of arms ?
As Big Daddy has recently been interested in Machaka, I presume he means them. The Machakan Sphinx at front, Machakan PD closes in to throw javelins.

As they are Machakans half of those javelins will hit the sphinx while the other half hits the machakans themselves. Massive bloodshed follows, and when the enemy finally reaches the front the Machakans have already succeeded to rout themselves. Of course the sphinx is still stuck on the field, and will be there to turn 50 when the attackers autorout.

But I presume the javelins would make a nice "plink" sound when they hit the sphinx. Might be worth trying for because of that!

[Humakty]

Nothing shall stand in the way of Aesthetics.

[Torin]

If you give the sphinx the bird ston or the dancing trident it should be able to melee fight. (i guess).

The monolith or the statue. Or the Mictlan bighead.