So far what nations look strong... and weak?

apoger · #1 November 21st, 2003, 03:00 AM

>Tien Chi looks quite interesting, but am I the only one completely put off by expensive mages with Astral 1?!

The more exposure I get to Tien Chi the more I agree. I like the troops, and I like some of the summons, but the mage power is lacking. I fear that the late game will be hard on TC.

Still, it's early to be writting them off. If I still feel the same way in three months...

Saber Cherry · #2 November 21st, 2003, 03:06 AM

You have to spend an average of 8*90=720 gold on sages to get an astral sage... I don't see that as a very cheap or reliable way to hunt Tien Chi mages...

LordArioch · #3 November 21st, 2003, 05:40 AM

Solution...magic duel immunity item! It would solve the problem of astral weakening mages, but still leave mind duel as a valid strategy because not every astral mage will have one. That way all you people can stop worring about magic duels so much.

Jasper · #4 November 21st, 2003, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Saber Cherry:
You have to spend an average of 8*90=720 gold on sages to get an astral sage... I don't see that as a very cheap or reliable way to hunt Tien Chi mages...

Don't send the non astral ones to hunt Celestial Masters. :-/

If you are recruiting sages, you will get some with Astral. Facing Tien Chi, an obvious tactic would be to have them Magic Duel the drastically more expensive Celestial Masters. This is bad enough even in the weakest case (Sages), and gets much worse when you face any faction with signficant Astral power.

Keir Maxwell · #5 November 21st, 2003, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LordArioch:
Solution...magic duel immunity item!

I would like to second this.

#6 November 21st, 2003, 07:24 AM

Maybe a helmet or something. And not "Mind Hunt" immunity, or even more early supercombatants would surface, but perhaps a 6 Construction item that requires a certain amount before you could use it. Say Astral 3. Or you resist a mindhunt, but it has a chance to cause an affliction based on ... something. Totally negating mind hunt with an item IMO would be counterbalancing.

Jasper · #7 November 21st, 2003, 09:57 AM

A Magic Duel Immunity item seems too specific IMHO, but then a broader Astral Immunity item would be too much...

I'd be happier just tweaking Tien Chi's Celestial Masters so they had an extra Air magic rather than Astral. There are enough races with Astral magic as it is.

IMHO this is more in theme with the elemental nature of Chinese Magic; letting CM's Cloud Trapeze is particularly apt -- isn't Chinese Mythology where the idea for the spell comes from? It would also make Tien Chi much more viable.

IMHO even just removing their Astral skill would improve Celestial Masters. :-(