Can a Mage be Both Communion Slave *and* Master?

Jazzepi · #1 January 19th, 2008, 10:39 PM

Quote:

DryaUnda said:

Quote:

Jazzepi said:
If your combat order looks like this

SLAVE A
SLAVE B
MASTER C
SLAVE D

Then slave A/B will be able to freely cast spells each round. Master C will then cast a spell. And slave D will sit around soaking up fatigue and looking stupid.

What happens if slave A is also a master?

If A is a master then B/D will be unable to cast spells, but C will be just fine. Masters never interfere with each other.

Jazzepi

Sombre · #2 January 19th, 2008, 10:42 PM

What if you set A and B to hold for one turn, then cast slave?

Will they still cast spells each round because they are before the master, or not?

Jazzepi · #3 January 19th, 2008, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Sombre said:
What if you set A and B to hold for one turn, then cast slave?

Will they still cast spells each round because they are before the master, or not?

AFAIK the only thing that matters is not /when/ a particular unit becomes a master or a slave, only that ~in a given turn~ if a slave comes before a master in turn order, he will be able to cast.

So I'm 99% certain that a slave that becomes a slave from a matrix before the battle, or one becoming a slave on turn one, or on turn 20, will all be the same way. The next turn after they become a slave, and every turn after that, all that matters is that they come before whatever communion masters you might have.

Jazzepi

Sombre · #4 January 19th, 2008, 10:50 PM

That's pretty annoying.

I never really used communions much and stuff like that isn't encouraging me to.

vfb · #5 January 19th, 2008, 11:04 PM

It's not all bad ... it's sometimes possible to micro your casters so that depending on what you are doing, you can have the slaves just soak up fatigue, by having slaves last intentionally (Sauromatia Enarie communion for eternal skelly spam); or contribute to a communion for a boost, but also participate, by having slaves first intentionally (S2 Communion for an Antimagic and some Soul Slays, with the slaves casting Mind Burn or Paralyze).

Sometimes it's tough to get what you want because your communion units are non-homogeneous and you may prefer to have your slaves not casting. They'll usually behave themselves for the 1st to 5th turns at least if you script (Comm Slave, 4*Hold).

It's only when you do want your slaves to cast but they are after your masters (in battle order) that you are really out of luck.

AlgaeNymph · #6 January 19th, 2008, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Jazzepi said:
If A is a master then B/D will be unable to cast spells, but C will be just fine. Masters never interfere with each other.

And if master C is also a slave?

Endoperez · #7 January 19th, 2008, 11:53 PM

C won't cast, because he is a slave, and a master has already casted a spell that turn.

Gregstrom · #8 January 20th, 2008, 05:53 AM

So basically, a master can also be a slave but the limitations of slave status still apply, often to the caster's detriment.

And the opponent's amusement.