priests

[earcaraxe]

I often play with sauromatia and I sometimes feel the need for a H3 commander besides my prophet. Is there a way to make one?
I dont consider charming (or the other blood spell) an option.
I can make a H2 one with the injusice sword but it still cant cast divine blessing.

[Quitti]

Some nations just don't get good priests. It's there due to thematic reasons or due balance - h3 suddenly brings up whole new set of spells to be used (like instead of every priest having to bless once, they can push one more banishment or sermon of courage instead when just one divine blessing is fired up). Sword of justice and Sword of injustice both give +1h, barring that you could do a communion since it also boosts the holy level of priest participating in it, in addition to (other) magic paths. If all else fails, you can craft 4 slave matrixes and one crystal matrix, give slave matrixes to normal commanders and the crystal matrix to a h1 priest - divine spells don't cause extra fatigue or cause very little of it so having a holy communion doesn't kill off the slaves instantly like it's easy to do with other magic paths.

[Wrana]

One more thing - communion only boosts levels of priests who are already mages. So be careful who you include as a master. The same goes for Astral spell Power of the Spheres and Crystal Shield (which casts the same spell) - it also boosts levels, but only for priest/mages.
Actually, as Sauromatia you can use Sabbath to boost holy levels: you have many Blood mages, some of which are also priests iirc. One Sabbath Master and 4+ Slaves give you Holy 3.
Another thing I didn't test - there is a Hell Power spell. It requires Blood3 and boosts all levels by 2, also giving a Hrror mark. I am not sure whether it boosts priest levels but it should - which may be useful in a pinch.
Also there are some summons and mummification, but those above are easier to do.

[earcaraxe]

Do you mean if the master has only levels in holy (so he isnt a mage) he wont get bonus levels in holy?

is there any summons for sauromatia that has holy levels?

by mumification you mean the ritual of rebirth? does it give holy levels?

[thejeff]

RoR does not give holy levels, but a former prophet revived using it keeps his holy levels but is no longer your prophet, meaning you can appoint another or even appoint him again to boost him to 4 or beyond.

It's a very niche case.

[Quitti]

You could look here (http://z7.invisionfree.com/Dom3mods/index.php?showtopic=29) too. Also asking on the IRC gets (most of the time) faster answer for lots of things :)

[Gandalf Parker]

(Im beginning to feel like a fanatic bringing the same thing up for every problem)
There is also an option of assassins/seducers casting Charm or Hellbind. Steal some better priests from a nation that has them. You can even steal their prophet and get multiples. Do damage to them at the same time that you are benefiting yourself.

OR if you want something less aggressive but abit more difficult to arrange, you can trade for them. Trading for mages and priests is possible. The person simply moves that unit to a province owned by you where you have mages lined up waiting to cast Charm or Hellbind. (that used to be much easier before Wind Ride got nerfed)

[Soyweiser]

Also asking on the IRC gets (most of the time) faster answer for lots of things :)

While I love IRC. Posting here and at the other forum also helps. It allows more people to see it, and the messages keep stored.

IRC is more for the, "I need help NOW!" problems.

[RadicalTurnip]

Also, Insane Commanders will rarely, but sometimes declare themselves your prophet, gaining H3 status, but no dominion spread.

Of course, then they're still insane...

[Stavis_L]

You could summon a mound fiend, which gives you an H2.

http://dom3.servegame.com/wiki/Summon_Mound_Fiend

http://dom3.servegame.com/wiki/Mound_Fiend

That plus one of the swords gives you H3/D3 on an undead chassis.

[Rytek]

A B1 warrior sorceress leading a 4 man communion would be the easist solution.

[Squirrelloid]

Also, Insane Commanders will rarely, but sometimes declare themselves your prophet, gaining H3 status, but no dominion spread.

Of course, then they're still insane...

I believe this only works for LA Rlyeh, although I could be wrong.

Certainly tarts never randomly become "prophets" due to insanity induced by their shattered soul.

[RadicalTurnip]

I've noticed that as well, and what I assumed happened was that "Shattered Soul" was much like insanity, but not the same, I haven't actually played *as* Ryleth yet (so the prophet thing is hearsay) but what I assumed happened was that Shattered Soul had different weird things like "Build a Mausoleum" and stuff, and didn't include "Become Prophet" or, probably, a few other things.

Has anyone had a non-Tart "Build a Mausoleum"? or some of the other weird ones they do?

[Soyweiser]

I've noticed that as well, and what I assumed happened was that "Shattered Soul" was much like insanity, but not the same, I haven't actually played *as* Ryleth yet (so the prophet thing is hearsay) but what I assumed happened was that Shattered Soul had different weird things like "Build a Mausoleum" and stuff, and didn't include "Become Prophet" or, probably, a few other things.

Has anyone had a non-Tart "Build a Mausoleum"? or some of the other weird ones they do?

I had a indy commander with the gift of kurgi, say: "The stars are right" and "Ftagn". Both references to Lovecraft of course.

[Stavis_L]

If I remember correctly, the remote attack spell imprint souls (http://dom3.servegame.com/wiki/Imprint_Souls) provides an insane priest commander. I've never had the commander become a prophet unless playing LA R'yleh. But then, I haven't cast it all that much.

[thejeff]

I think Shattered Soul does have a different list of actions.

All the other sources of insanity seem to produce the same actions as R'lyehs. Except that non-R'lyeh commanders don't become prophets. I've had plenty go insane from R'lyeh's influence and never gotten a prophet out of it.

[Wrana]

Has anyone had a non-Tart "Build a Mausoleum"? or some of the other weird ones they do?
Interesting. And what does "Build a Mausoleum"?

To earaxecare:
Yes, that's what I meant: pure priest doesn't get bonuses.
As for Sauromatia-only summons - I don't remember. Among general 2 were already mentioned and I think that there are a few more. Not remember right now. But both death and astral summons Sauromatia can do.

[Stavis_L]

Among general 2 were already mentioned and I think that there are a few more. Not remember right now. But both death and astral summons Sauromatia can do.

To be clear - the imprint souls commander/priest is only H1 (I was answering re: the tangent on insanity.) However, you could also do Hidden in Sand (http://dom3.servegame.com/wiki/Hidden_in_Sand), which gives you an H2 dust priest (albeit very expensively.)

Other, marginal options:

1) Wish :-P
2) Ritual of Rebirth to return a prophet of yours that's been killed.

[Verjigorm]

I assume this is for Divine Blessing?

Androphags and Oiorpata are both Cap-only sacreds, so their numbers will generally be quite limited. The best thing to do would be to put multiple Warrior Sorceresses among them and then order them to cast Bless until the units are out of casting range. You'll get a good percentage of them.

The two best ways of getting H3 have already been mentioned (Mound Fiend and Sabbath Slave War Sorc), but it isn't necessary to have a B1 Warrior Sorceress. An alternative is the Master/Slave Matrix depending on the type of communion you're forming. I would say that a Reverse Communion led by a Soothsayer with some kind of bow (If he casts spells, he'll fatigue/kill your WS):

1 Soothsayer (Master with Bow like BBoB scripted to Fire @ Rearmost)
3 Soothsayer (Slave)
1 Warrior Sorceress (Slave Matrix)

This will allow your WS to use DB and whatever other magic she has without fatiguing the other participants in the communion. If she was an N1 for instance, she could waste your slaves off-script when she started spamming non-Astral magic.

With the reverse communion, the 3 Soothsayer slaves can cast Soul Slay while you get some DB and Smite action off your WS.

Plus, this basic communion structure can also be combined with your Witch Kings, Enaries, and Spirit Guides (Slave Matrix, please) to augment your other magic.

The only problem with implementing this is finding Earth magic in Sauromatia. Therefore, you'll want at least a pretender who can make the matrices. Besides, a 4E bless would be lovely anyway to reduce encumbrance on your sacred armies and Witch Kings and gives access to hammers. The Earth magic limitation to this strategy will confine it to the realm of novelty unless you pick up something cool in the way of magic sites to recruit ES mages from (High Temple of the Magii?).

Other than that, I would confine your view to alternatives to blessing. What magic can I use instead?

I want to be looking at things I can do easily:

Quickness, Body Ethereal, Luck/Battle Fortune/Will of the Fates, Regeneration, Touch of Madness,

You could do a combo like Poison Ward and Foul Vapors (maybe with Hydra guards) or Winter Ward/Grip of Winter.

These are just ideas I pulled out of my rear for the purposes of example only, btw, I haven't played Sauromatia extensively.

[thejeff]

I assume you intend your Soothsayer Master to cast PotS to boost Holy? Are Warrior Sorceresses H2s? I don't remember.

[RadicalTurnip]

I didn't know that only Ryleth got prophets, good to know. I wonder if it's scripted into the nation, or the unit...as in, if I for some strange reason wished for a Ryleth unit, and he became insane, might he declare himself a prophet or not?

[Verjigorm]

I assume you intend your Soothsayer Master to cast PotS to boost Holy? Are Warrior Sorceresses H2s? I don't remember.

Bah! Apparently my understanding of reverse communions is horribly flawed.

They are H1. It was my understanding (emphasis on was), that Slaves got +1 all paths per power of 2 slaves (2 = +1, 4 = +2, 8 = +3, etc.) including holy. The following test:

1 Priestess (Slave)
3 Mystic (Slave)
1 Mystic (Master)

At this level we should be +2 all which is true for the master, but not for the slaves. None of the slaves cast any spells that were above their basic path level until after I used PoTS which means that something is either different or I'm just stupid.

I'm referencing this guide btw:

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showthread.php?t=37499

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Now, after I PoTS the priestess will Smite (She's H2), and the slave mystics will cast spells that are under there, now visibly reflected increased spell abilities but won't cast above those. For instance, the boosted 2FS mystic wouldn't cast Falling Fire on turn 2 because he hadn't been hit with PoTS, but would cast it on turn 3.

Did something change or am I just totally wrong about reverse communions?

I usually use Traditional (Forward) communions, but was working on some reverse communion strategies based on the guide above, but it appears to be not be the case either ever or as occurrence of some patch. I've used reverse communions before.. perhaps I just didn't notice something (probably because i usually leave my communions largely unscripted after the communion spell is cast)? There is no way to get an S1 mage to cast Soul Slay as a communion slave as suggested in the guide, and I can't believe the guide was wrong.

Was there a patch I'm not aware of?


Either way, the strategy I put forth is bunk and must be amended. The Warrior Sorceress must be the master of the communion which means switch the strategy to 4 Soothsayer slaves and 1 Warrior Sorceress scripted to cast w/e. She will probably frequently kill slaves in long battles and will need a continuous supply unless you put a bow on her and instruct her to fire after she's done with her script. The slaves will also be much less useful than I had indicated but can cast Paralyze if you add a second master who casts PoTS. Giving someone a Banner of the Northern Star will get the Soul Slay going.

[thejeff]

Slaves get the communion boost only for reducing fatigue from spells cast by the masters.

I think the guide is wrong about Soul Slay, though the rest of the description looks right. The confusion may have come in because you can boost some paths by 2, (PotS, & Summon Earth|Phoenix Power|etc.) And as you suggest, Banner (or Light) of the Northern star will get the slaves up to 3 S, though not 3H.

This is why Mystics make such good reverse communions, they tend to have the paths with easy booster spells. E1 or F1 jumps up to E3, F3 and they all get reinvig from Summon Earth.

[Verjigorm]

Slaves get the communion boost only for reducing fatigue from spells cast by the masters.

I think the guide is wrong about Soul Slay, though the rest of the description looks right. The confusion may have come in because you can boost some paths by 2, (PotS, & Summon Earth|Phoenix Power|etc.) And as you suggest, Banner (or Light) of the Northern star will get the slaves up to 3 S, though not 3H.

This is why Mystics make such good reverse communions, they tend to have the paths with easy booster spells. E1 or F1 jumps up to E3, F3 and they all get reinvig from Summon Earth.

Which would be why my Reverse Communions of Mystics work so well. It is also, incidentally, the reason I never bother to script them--I find it annoying to have to script 18 different varieties of Mystics and as a lazy person would rather let them do their thing unless I need something super special for a particular battle. Of course, it's laziness, but of course you'd agree that you'd hate to rescript Mystics every time you increased paths to account for any new spells that some of your mystics may be able to cast. Micro-management is not my thing. ;)

Mystics also have a nice tendency to produce my favorite Communion Master: The FWES Mystic who can cast 4 different boosters though never together since Phoenix Power and Water Power are mutually exclusive.