Sorry, I know this has probably been done a billion times before, but there have been a lot of "dud" threads lately and I thought we might as well celebrate some of the cool parts of Dominions also. (Not a criticism of those who post on duds to try to improve them, just an attempt at balance.) What are the coolest units, spells, and combos you've used or had used against you?
I play SP, but here are some reflections to start:
I'm a huge fan of Svartalfs. Legions of Steel/Strength of Giants/Weapons of Sharpness, Magma Eruption, Cloud of Death, Blade Wind, Petrify, skelly spam, Wind of Death, Bane Fire, Aim, etc., etc., all on a recruitable-anywhere unit. (I guess that's why they're getting set to capital-only in the next patch. Sigh.) They can forge owl quills, skull mentors, and lightless lanterns, as well as forging their own earth boots, skulls of fire, and skull staffs, which together with Summon Earth/Phoenix power can give you up to F3, E5, or D4 in combat. I'd be very tempted to play any nation at all if it had recruitable-anywhere Svartalfs attached. Even if its only other national troop was militia.
Sauromancers don't have quite the variety of Svartalfs, but they're also recruitable anywhere, can cast Eagle Eyes for better accuracy, can do Nether Darts/Cloud of Death/Drain Life/skelly spam, Quickening with some items, can forge clams, and have 10 Prot which is pretty decent for a mage. They can forge their own Spell Focuses in a pinch, and Shrouds of the Battle Saint (which gives them 16 Prot plus bless effects like D9 or E9). A couple of lucky picks and you have all the magic you need for Gift-of-Reasoned Tartarians, which gets you every magic path in the game.
Palankashas are incredibly durable and take well to blesses.
Wraith Lords have 0 encumbrance and 22 Prot, and can cast Soul Vortex which makes them last forever.
I'm very fond of the Master Lich. Pretty cheap for a death bless (great for combat mages), nice rainbow capabilities, immortal for healing afflictions. I haven't found the low hp to matter much since I use him as a support mage, though I suppose in MP he might be vulnerable to Dust to Dust unless you bring chaff undead along. (Shatter would be a threat if it didn't have range 10.)
The Phoenix is a really cool pretender, too. Tends to get used naked for artillery spells, which combines nicely with flight and immortality. Just add a touch of PD for an amazing rolling strategic defense--getting killed just lets him restock on gems.
Drain Life is an amazing spell. Good range, 14+ unresistable damage, 100 Prec, and spammable ad nauseum because it restores Fatigue. Even available on an item so you can give it to Communicants.
-Max
Awesome units/spells
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