Seeking MP Serpent Cult Advice

[Ironhawk]

What about serpent cult magic?

What spells do you guys go for normally?

What spells do you use on the battlefield?

Which mages do you recruit most and why?

[VedalkenBear]

Well, the obvious counter to archer issues is an Air bless. If you go to Air-9, then Orb Lightning (which might be an issue) is less of a threat.

As for the heretics I recommend, if you want to start a blood economy, you're going to have an awful lot of non-Blood Revelers running around, who just so happen to be Heretic 3. Those aren't half bad, but I usually use them for 'dominion clean up'. I should think that the Fire heretics would be good for combat support as well as Dominion kill. This would also suggest using the Fire resistant national troops or summons as your raiding 'army'.

Can't really comment on the 'Assassination in MP' issue, although considering the minimal investment needed, the cost of the guards for the commanders might be more than the cost of the Satyrs. Economic warfare is still warfare. Worst case, give them a Bane Venom Charm and send them in. Can commanders pick those up?

Now, the magic questions. The Serpent Cult has _extremely_ versatile magic, with most of it accessible at the 2-level. Air, Earth, and Blood might be a small problem. Don't expect the greatest multipath abilities, though.

Spells? Well, if you mean by 'global', I'm not exactly sure. Your most ubiquitous magic is Water and Nature, so that might give you some leads.

Battlefield magic depends on your gameplan. If you go Hydras, Poison is your friend. Your bestest buddy. Any/all people on the battlefield that you control should be poison immune. If, however, you go for the heretic horde, as stated Fire evocations sound like 'the plan'.

Well, I tend to like sacred mages myself. Your capital should be producing a Serpent Priest a turn as soon as possible. These guys are your one-stop shop, especially for a hydra strategy. Poison immune innately, Holy-2 Priest, and IIRC 80 Leadership (may only be 40).

As far as other mages are concerned, I like using the Renatus for research purposes in the 'interior' of my territory. Basically, non-heretics. I place the heretics on the borders where they can be quickly placed to get rid of dominion. It sort of makes a dominion 'dead zone' that anyone will find extremely hard to penetrate. It also gives them a quick route into enemy territory.

I hope this helps.

[Ironhawk]

No, sadly the majority of these choices just won't work in the multiplayer environment. I'll just have to fly by the seat of my pants, I guess.

[Meglobob]

The hydras are pretty vulnerable to archer/crossbow fire. I bumped into a few in a MP recently and just 30 crossbows took out all the heads of about half a dozen hydras, leaving them in there 40 hp final form.

A air bless might work well with hydras to protect them from this. Up close and personal the things are lethal. Flying may well work on them, they can then close in on the enemy straight away.

Mass flight on a bunch of hydras may be as fun as it is on a herd of elephants. The problem is Pythium as no air mages I believe...

[VedalkenBear]

Meglobob: You do have AS Theurgs as the Serpent Cult. I believe they are capital-only.

[Sombre]

If you aren't using the quickfix or any other kind of mod to fix the sacred hydras, be aware that they're only sacred until they lose a head, and as such are overpriced and crap.

[Ironhawk]

Oh wow. Thats even more vulnerable than I thought they would be Meglobob. Man thats depressing. Thanks for the information tho, that really confirms a lot of my fears.

Air bless could be useful, but its a huge price to pay in like 6-8 air just to get airshield on a handful of units :/

[sum1lost]

VedalkenBear said:
Meglobob: You do have AS Theurgs as the Serpent Cult. I believe they are capital-only.

So, flying, ethereal, blessed hydras, is what you are saying. Got it.