Thug/SC/Assasin builds thread

Will · #1 November 8th, 2006, 05:59 PM

I'm testing out something in my current game, more along the lines of gang thugs, and wanted to see what some more experienced players think of the setup:

I came across some independant Lizard Shamen (1S1N), recruited a group of 8 and I equipped each with Thistle Mace, Rune Smasher, Starshine Skullcap, Rainbow Armor, Boots of the Messenger, and Moonvine Bracelet, making them 2S3N. I script each of them to cast Communion Slave, Communion Master, and then one of each casts a buff to be spread across the communion (Power of the Spheres, Twist Fate, Eagle Eyes, Personal Luck, Elemental Fortitude, Resist Magic, Personal Regeneration, Astral Shield). I also bring along a priest with a Banner of the Northern Star (scripted to bless), so after the buffs and everything, I should have 8x 4S4N Shamen, each with +7 Reinvig in communion, which should bring their magic skills up to 7S7N for spellcasting and fatigue purposes. Then, depending on the situation, I script the last two spell slots to either Soul Slay or Charm.

So, other than the expense in gems to make all the equipment (75 gems for each! Less since I used Dwarven Hammers and have Forge of the Ancients active), is there anything I'm missing that is horribly wrong with this setup? For the Charm setup, I figure keep the Shamen up front with some body guards and a bunch of chaff troops set to Attack Closest, and for Soul Slay keep them behind a decent army.

Shovah32 · #2 November 8th, 2006, 06:36 PM

The slave+master on each dosnt work, for one iirc when one of them casts a spell the rest (being slaves aswell as masters) wont cast that turn.

Will · #3 November 8th, 2006, 06:40 PM

Hmmm, well, I guess that throws out all the buffs spreading across all. I suppose I could switch them all to just do, say, Eagle Eyes, so at least that will go through and they will have higher precision for the Charm/Soul Slay spam.

Zen · #4 November 8th, 2006, 07:58 PM

You don't need eagle eyes for Soul Slay or Charm really.

Also you've made some very interesting 110g units, with no resistances, so if you get blasted by artillary, or flying screens to disrupt casting, you might be wondering why they are so fragile.

FrankTrollman · #5 November 9th, 2006, 05:04 AM

Most importantly though, if a comunion master casts a spell, each comunion slave takes fatigue equal to their encumberance. So outfits like Rainbow Armor actually bone you if you are a comunion slave.

-Frank

Will · #6 November 9th, 2006, 07:19 AM

Quote:

FrankTrollman said:
Most importantly though, if a comunion master casts a spell, each comunion slave takes fatigue equal to their encumberance. So outfits like Rainbow Armor actually bone you if you are a comunion slave.

-Frank

Rainbow Armor is Enc. 1, +3 Reinvig. The messenger boots would also help with the fatigue. Communion would reduce the extra casting fatigue because of path skill boost. I haven't tried it out yet, but I would think that the +1 casting encumberance would be more than offset by reinvig and reduced casting fatigue. I would think that it would result in less fatigue than there would have been with each casting the spells individually.

Besides, I decided to equip with Rainbow Armor more for the +MR, and if I cast Elemental Fortitude (since Zen tells me now that Eagle Eyes isn't going to really help), then I should have decent coverage in fire/cold/shock/poison/magic resistances. This could be augmented by other mages in the army casting battlefield resistances.

thejeff · #7 November 9th, 2006, 09:33 AM

But it still doesn't work.
It's not just the buffs they won't cast.
Only one will cast the Soul Slay or Charm each round. The others will just sit there and take his fatigue.

More effective to use 9 (or 10) shamen. 8 for slaves and 1 or 2 masters. Equip the masters if you want, but they'll get 3 path boosts from the slaves anyway, so with your gear and without buffs they'd be at 5S6N anyway.