Anti SC spells

Endoperez · #1 March 30th, 2006, 04:18 PM

NTJedi's Ethereal crossbow made me think of Astral Weapon, and if it can be used on magical bows. Good precision, from Eye of Aiming, Aim or Eagle Eyes, and S1 for casting Astral Weapon. There aren't any magical bows with huge damage, though.

Vision's Foe isn't bad, neither is Black Bow of Botulf.

WraithLord · #2 March 30th, 2006, 07:03 PM

These are all great ideas! Thanks guys!

Ethereal xbow I'm already familiar with and I know it works well.
Astral weapons on magical bow also seems worth trying.
I am giving much hope into the eagle eyes+sleep combo, would it be effective vs. undead SCs as well?

quantum_mechani · #3 March 31st, 2006, 03:26 AM

Quote:

WraithLord said:
I am giving much hope into the eagle eyes+sleep combo, would it be effective vs. undead SCs as well?

Should work as well as vs. anything else.

Oversway · #4 March 30th, 2006, 07:06 PM

nature also has charm

shatter is good earth spell against golems

does polymorph count for nature? I've never seen it used, much less against scs.

Edi · #5 March 31st, 2006, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Oversway said:

nature also has charm

Indeed. And it can really ruin your day. I remember when I played a co-op game with Kaljamaha on the Small Faerun map with him as Vanheim, he summoned both earth kings, Father Illearth and a lot of other stuff and built at least half of the good artifacts. Sent both earth kings, equipped with all the goodies, against Earthmother in Gwynneth. With the result that his screen of chaff killed the wolves, didn't put a dent in the seasonal spirits and about that time the battle ended. Next report out of Gwynneth: "The army consists mainly of <list seasonal spirits>. It is commanded by Earthmother the Great Mother who radiates power. A huge King of the Mountains was also seen towering over the army."

Kaljamaha obviously wasn't pleased...

Edi

Saber Cherry · #6 March 31st, 2006, 03:27 AM

Gifts from Heaven is the best anti-SC spell, if you have a caster with high precision. But that's for SCs. Thugs can be taken out with militia and a Totem Shield, if there aren't very many of them. Blind is nice too, once you get it, and Drain Life is also very effective when in range. Sometimes I send a thug to the Arena, and when I lose to a mage, it's usually from Drain Life.

With regards to sleep, I don't recommend it because it has an MR save. I didn't think it worked on undead, but even if it does, undead thugs have high MR.

quantum_mechani · #7 March 31st, 2006, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Saber Cherry said:
Gifts from Heaven is the best anti-SC spell, if you have a caster with high precision. But that's for SCs. Thugs can be taken out with militia and a Totem Shield, if there aren't very many of them. Blind is nice too, once you get it, and Drain Life is also very effective when in range. Sometimes I send a thug to the Arena, and when I lose to a mage, it's usually from Drain Life.

With regards to sleep, I don't recommend it because it has an MR save. I didn't think it worked on undead, but even if it does, undead thugs have high MR.

Spells like gifts from heaven and drain life are certainly preferable if you have access to them. But when you are behind in research or constrained by your magic paths, sleep + eagle eyes can become a very attractive (or even only) option.

OG_Gleep · #8 March 31st, 2006, 12:44 PM

I can never get the Eth Xbow to hit a SC.

NTJedi · #9 March 31st, 2006, 01:05 PM

OG_Gleep ...

Precision of the unit holding the ethereal crossbow

Shoot at the type of SC so if it's a flyer... set command for shoot flyer... if it's a larger tartarian set command for shoot largest.

Spells like eagle eye or aim help if that unit has them

don't bring a single commander with an ethereal crossbow... I would recommend 2 or 3.

OG_Gleep · #10 April 5th, 2006, 06:28 PM

What about Charm/Enslave/Hellbind Heart? What kind of penetration would you need to have a good chance of success against the Royalty, or the blood pool (icedevils and up)?

Also a note on blind, I have been fighting Abysia in one of my games, and am using Ice devils to good effect. I have shrugged of multiple attempts to blind me. The majority of my casters in most games need boosters, spell boosters, or just meet the minimum requirements to cast the spell. Obviously all these spells become really effective when cast by your pretender who happens to have 9 of the required school.

But what about national/indie mages that needed don't recieve the bonus for surpassing the minimum requirements? Of the spells listed, how many mages do you need casting them to have a good chance at success?