Building a Better Pretender

[Sheap]

I think the reason most people avoid dragons is because, for what you get, the Wyrm is really a better deal. The thing about a monster type pretender is that you can start attacking independents right from turn 2. Undead or titan pretenders need to do at least a little bit of research before they move out. The problem with dragons is that they don't have regeneration. Since monster pretenders fight all the time, they are really prone to getting afflictions. The Wyrm, who is tougher than the dragon anyway, and has much lower path cost, does have built-in regeneration and is amphibious, too. The dragon's only military advantage is that it flies. (The blue dragon can go in the water by way of water magic, of course).

If you wanted a good cheap W9 or N9 blessing, and a monster-type pretender, the dragon would be the way to go. For F9, you'd really be better off with the Moloch.

The dragon can also take better advantage of items by turning into human form. But it's hard to come up with a good use for these items when you can't use most of them in combat and all your magic is concentrated in one or maybe two paths.

[Taqwus]

There's always the Pangaean Carrion Dragon, which does have recuperation if memory serves. It's not quite the 'traditional' dragon however.

Immobiles... well, there's the Fountain of Blood, which might be useful for jumpstarting a blood economy. There's the R'lyeh Void Lurker, which since it's alive can be turned into a mobile Wight Mage. The Oracle might be useful for an astral-9 blessing, while Mr. Flaming Skull has been pushed into F9/A9 by some although the scales will presumably suffer.

[Thufir]

Sheap said:
If you wanted a good cheap W9 or N9 blessing, and a monster-type pretender, the dragon would be the way to go. For F9, you'd really be better off with the Moloch.

I'm just curious - but why do people ever go for N9 blessing? Maybe I just haven't figured out the right way to deal with this, or maybe I'm just giving it too much importance, but every time I've played with N4+ blessing - the berserker trait screws me over. Any sacred caster (including most importantly your Prophet, but this also happens a lot with both TienChi S&A and Pythium casters- two of my favorite nations) will get the berserk trait whenever they're blessed (and this is a permanent condition for the prophet). And believe me, if you're focused on mage power, the Last thing you want is you want is for your favorite Arch Theurg, or Celestial Master go running straight into the horde of enemy hydras just cause he got nicked with a sling bullet!

[Cheezeninja]

Thufir said:

I'm just curious - but why do people ever go for N9 blessing? Maybe I just haven't figured out the right way to deal with this, or maybe I'm just giving it too much importance, but every time I've played with N4+ blessing - the berserker trait screws me over. Any sacred caster (including most importantly your Prophet, but this also happens a lot with both TienChi S&A and Pythium casters- two of my favorite nations) will get the berserk trait whenever they're blessed (and this is a permanent condition for the prophet). And believe me, if you're focused on mage power, the Last thing you want is you want is for your favorite Arch Theurg, or Celestial Master go running straight into the horde of enemy hydras just cause he got nicked with a sling bullet!

I play N9 alot with jotunheim niefel theme. The combination of high hp and N9 regen on Jarls or giants really helps stop afflictions. Plus its usually not a bad thing when niefel giants or Jarls go beserk as they are extremely potent in small Groups, I've had my army run away but my 4 berserking niefel giants win the province more times than i can count. Plus with the Jarls they wont go berserk until they are blessed, and they can bless themselves AFTER casting quickness and get a breath of winter in on the same turn, about that time it doesnt matter if they berserk because i tell them to attack anyway.

[Thilock_Dominus]

Thufir said:

I'm just curious - but why do people ever go for N9 blessing? Maybe I just haven't figured out the right way to deal with this, or maybe I'm just giving it too much importance, but every time I've played with N4+ blessing - the berserker trait screws me over. Any sacred caster (including most importantly your Prophet, but this also happens a lot with both TienChi S&A and Pythium casters- two of my favorite nations) will get the berserk trait whenever they're blessed (and this is a permanent condition for the prophet). And believe me, if you're focused on mage power, the Last thing you want is you want is for your favorite Arch Theurg, or Celestial Master go running straight into the horde of enemy hydras just cause he got nicked with a sling bullet!

I'm one of them who play 9 blessing dragons. Especially when playing C'tis.

C'tis - Miasma, dominion 8, Green Dragon with N9.
1. You spread deceases and expand your domion quickly.(coorect me if I'm wrong, you'll get extra income for each +1 domion strength in every province with Miasma).
2. Strong SC
3. Your Sacred Serpents gets berserk +3, immune poison 100%, regeneration. Back up with poison slingers and it really kick a**.
4. With N9 on your SC pretender you can cast some of the coolest spell IMO (enchantments like gift of health etc. which is good because you are a SC).
5. Make sure that your shaman(s) forge a amulet of luck...when you can afford it empowering your SC with water so you can cast quickness. Also make some Sacred Serpents to Commanders so they can lead your armies.

Another Dragon combination would be Caelum. but not bless 9. Blue Dragon W4 A4. Before the dragon goes to battle cast quickness, Mirror Image, etc. and again you have a killer machine


best regards
Thilock

[magnate]

This is a great thread for a semi-newbie. There used to be a list of all the bless effects elsewhere on this forum, but I can't find it. Am I just searching for the wrong thing (+"bless effect"), or did it get lost in the upgrade?

CC (a big fan of the enchantress ...)

[Arryn]

magnate said:
There used to be a list of all the bless effects elsewhere on this forum, but I can't find it. Am I just searching for the wrong thing (+"bless effect"), or did it get lost in the upgrade?

Read the Javascript pop-up page titled "Bless Effects guide by Nerfix" at this site.

[PDF]

Magnate, the bless effect list can be found here : http://www.dominionsx.com/guides.html

BTW, I just found another pretty good use for N9 bless : TC base/BK ... The Celestial Sldrs are sacred, and are IMHO as good as Niefels !

[Karacan]

Berserking regenerating Demons of the Heavenly River in S&A are one scary troop, as well.

[magnate]

Got it - thanks folks.