Storming Castles

[Taqwus]

During the turns spent merely sieging, the defender can try to assassinate the besiegers (if he has any assassins... and star children are cheap) while the besieger cannot. A storm is a single battle, 'tho, and assassins are just like any other unit if they participate.
The defender's troops are also not known (would a Stone Sphere work? Probably. Don't otherwise go Astral Probing R'lyeh 'tho.), hence the suggestion of a suicide scout.
If you have Earth Attack available, that will work even underwater and during a siege. That's pretty high up 'tho. Mind Hunt would work, except that you'll probably end up with feebleminded mages because R'lyeh is astrally proficient.
Tritons are a good idea; if you don't have scads of mindless or high-MR troops, another counter for mind-bLasting is having numerous cheap, incredibly mobile troops that spend a minimum time getting paralyzed before they even reach the illithids.

[licker]

I don't think you can see the army while storming, it's hidden. At least I've checked and seen the 'no hostile military units' stormed, and met up with resistance beyond the handful of commanders you assume are there.

With that much HI you might be able to take it, but the mind burn slowing your advance through the gate my be problamatic. I'd really try to get some tritons in there (if you can) to swim in and create some trouble while your slow HI advance through the gate.

Do you have any spells that will work underwater?

[Wendigo]

Survivalist, if you want to know what's left inside recruit a cheapo triton lord in the next sea & pull Gandalf's trick or alternatively cast Astral Window on the province.

[SurvivalistMerc]

If my commander with the water breathing gear gets assassinated, do all my troops die, or do they have a turn under alternative leadership to swim ashore?

If the former, I will storm immediately. If the latter, I will send in that el cheapo triton lord.

I don't yet have that orb that lets you probe, but one would be nice. How much information does it give you? Can you see the spheres on the mage commanders?

[SurvivalistMerc]

(bump)

Apologies if this is inappropriate.

If your units will not survive in water or can go with another commander; they drown.

[SurvivalistMerc]

Hmmm. That sounds very dangerous. Last turn, there were 2 successful assassination attempts against my commanders in nearby provinces by those bLasted star children. They beat the heck out of empoisoners as assassins, or maybe I just don't use empoisoners right.

If you had 75 HI down there...and known assassins nearby...likely more assassins in their fortress...would you storm it? My guess is yes. On the army size screen, they hardly have an army and just have one other province and their capital is all.

When I read on fortresses in the manual, there is something about shots per tower and such. Are these actual defenders or just what will be happening to my troops as I advance? I'm trying to figure out my losses. But I'm guessing 75 HI will be adequate backed by mage power.