Lower level summons?

[PvK]

Sedna said:
Mound Kings have been mentioned already as a useful ferry, but I am wondering if anyone has ever really exploited their unique characteristic: 4 strategic movement. Outisde of Vastnesses and horrors, I think these are the only summons which can move 4 provinces, and the cost is minimal: 3 death gems and 1 death required to summon.

This has to be insanely useful in some situation.

As Mictlan, I used them to express-ferry blood slaves. Adds speed and reduces micromanagement.

PvK

[The Panther]

As for saving gems for higher level summoning spells, I try to do this as much as I can.

Earth - Mechanical men are vastly superior to clockwork horrors as well as pretty much any other earth summons. You can't always wait for this, as your neighbors often times interrupt grand plans!

Death - The death summons are so very powerful at the higher levels, that I also like to hoard those for a rainy day. Unless you consider Bane Lords to be a lower level summons, as I tend to use that one a lot. Black Servents are very good for fever fetishes, clams, and exploring.

Water - Not very useful for summons. I suppose getting the sea troll kings is done just for the one water gem income per turn and the attached water skill to build clams. That hardly counts, though, for the goal is usally clams and not troops here. The sea trolls themselves are useful fodder, of course, but the fact that you have to pay them upkeep renders them practically useless.

Nature - pretty much everybody I know uses the ivy crown for monthly ritual vine ogres, one of the best bargain summoned troop in the game. Later, the fairy queens are good for the healing ability.

Air - I usually save up the 45 gems for draconians. The leaders can summon more, which is very nice. And they fly, which is a HUGE bonus. The hawks have the gigantic disadvantage that you have to pay them upkeep.

Fire - I don't summon fire much, for the gems are typically better used to convert to money for buying more mages.

Blood - Devils, devils, and more devils. Is there a better low-level summoned troop for the gem cost than a devil? I don't really know of one. Oh, and the ice devils and arch devils too. They are still devils, though. Don't foget soul contracts also, if your neighbors leave you alone.

Astral - Are there any astral summons worth casting other than those high-level abominations that require 25 gems? I don't really know of any.

[Huzurdaddi]

The Panther said:
Earth - Mechanical men are vastly superior to clockwork horrors as well as pretty much any other earth summons. You can't always wait for this, as your neighbors often times interrupt grand plans!

Actually the living statues can be almost as good and perhaps better *if* you don't expect constant wrathful skies.

The Panther said:
Nature - pretty much everybody I know uses the ivy crown for monthly ritual vine ogres, one of the best bargain summoned troop in the game.

In my mind they are the best price/performers in the game even including devils.

The Panther said:
Air - I usually save up the 45 gems for draconians. The leaders can summon more, which is very nice.

Hmm never really thought much about these. But if the head draconian can summon allies then the spell becomes much more attractive!

The Panther said:
Blood - Devils, devils, and more devils. Is there a better low-level summoned troop for the gem cost than a devil? I don't really know of one.

I would have to say Vine Ogres are a better buy taking cost into effect, unless ...

The Panther said:
Don't foget soul contracts also, if your neighbors leave you alone.

Well soul contacts totally change the economics of summoning devils. It takes what, 8.5 turns to break even on a soul contract ( assuming hammer )? More if you have a construction site ( which is much more common than a blood site ). You also needen't burn caster turns summoning the things anymore. They are the best buy in the game (yes, devils bought via contract are better than Vine Ogres, IMO ).

[BigDaddy]

I summon the Angelic host for the fire mage, who with a little work is some really heavy artillery, and is reasonably tough. The other high level astral summon, Ether Gate gets you another excellent mage, who often has good SC potential. Also, when you consider the high armor and etearealness of the ether warriors, they aren't all that expensive gem for gem.

[PvK]

The Panther said:
...
Water - Not very useful for summons. I suppose getting the sea troll kings is done just for the one water gem income per turn and the attached water skill to build clams. That hardly counts, though, for the goal is usally clams and not troops here. The sea trolls themselves are useful fodder, of course, but the fact that you have to pay them upkeep renders them practically useless.

I think water summons are useful ... underwater. Sea trolls are useful if you use them right away instead of keeping them sitting around eating children. Put them to use right away - they are a way to instantly create a fast and fairly tough instant army which can fight underwater:

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Sea monsters and kraken are also good underwater units.

PvK

[YellowCactus]

I LOVE playin' Blood Factions. And there's nothing better for blood hunting than a bunch of hawks. 25-50 hawks in each provice and your bloodhunting with the best of them. Not to mention Impossible to assassinate or get spyed on.

Gold is over-rated. After turn 30 it's a none issue if your cruizin.
-Yc

[Oversway]

I summon the Angelic host for the fire mage, who with a little work is some really heavy artillery, and is reasonably tough.

Yeah access to fire is nice, but holy-4 doesn't hurt either.

Water queens seem to be the best water summon. The sea troll king is nice but sometimes I don't want the annoying high upkeep of all the sea trolls.

[PvK]

Hawks for blood hunting? I thought only the leader mattered for blood hunting, and that his blood magic skill and items determined his effectiveness. And, why can't a hawk be assassinated just like any other blood hunting commander?

I can see hawk commanders being (sillily) good for blood slave transportation, but not for hunting. Am I wrong about some thing(s)?

PvK

[Huzurdaddi]

I think it is for the patrolling.

[Taqwus]

Hm. How many blood slaves can an unladen hawk carry?