Racial Specific Pretenders (Limitations)

#1 December 2nd, 2003, 07:38 AM

***** Queen is like a slightly improved Arch-Mage. Which isn't saying alot.

I'd always take a ***** Queen over an Archmage if I had the option, though I don't know if I'd take the ***** Queen as Man, but maybe as Vanheim.

40 Cost, 1 Dominion, 0 Magic Picks, 10 Pick per new.

Decent stats and calls 'wolves' to battle with her.

The Arco and 3 other Races that are allowed the Natarajah are not what I'm talking about

.

Skratti is like a big Arch-mage. 50 Cost, 1 Dominion, 0 Magic Picks, 10 Pick per new.

Maybe what I'm missing is the use of the "Arch-mage" type of Pretenders. Does everyone use them from time to time?

I find their low Domininon unattractive and the lowered stats (especially HP) a deterant.

Saber Cherry · #2 December 2nd, 2003, 07:54 AM

Yes, I find them very useful. Only a few nations need high dominion, as far as I can tell, so I always use an archmage type unless I'm using an SC or having fun with an immortal... but the ghost king is very fun, as an immortal ethereal archmage-type (20 per path) with high dominion.

I find the immobile pretenders to be fairly useless. If they were cheaper, perhaps, or had cheaper paths, or... who knows, maybe I'd never use one no matter what=) I think they need special advantages - the fountain of blood has special advantages, but the others need them too... like spewing out gems, or functioning as some sort of magic site, or something...

[ December 02, 2003, 05:56: Message edited by: Saber Cherry ]

Jasper · #3 December 2nd, 2003, 08:02 AM

The Ghost King isn't immortal... perhaps you're thinking of the Vampire Queen?

Nerfix · #4 December 2nd, 2003, 08:05 AM

I have found myself using immobiles lately. The Void Lurker of R'lyeh is about the best pretender they can get, and i still think that scales are rather important. He gets two attacks, is ethereal and has a poison cloud effect(iirc) and costs hefty 0 points.

But i do find it srange that Oracles can't scry...

[ December 02, 2003, 06:06: Message edited by: Nerfix ]

Saber Cherry · #5 December 2nd, 2003, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jasper:
The Ghost King isn't immortal... perhaps you're thinking of the Vampire Queen?

Oh, whoops! I guess I was lucky=) I was being so careful to keep him in his dominion, too=)

Saber Cherry · #6 December 2nd, 2003, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nerfix:
I have found myself using immobiles lately. The Void Lurker of R'lyeh is about the best pretender they can get, and i still think that scales are rather important. He gets two attacks, is ethereal and has a poison cloud effect(iirc) and costs hefty 0 points.

But i do find it srange that Oracles can't scry...

Their archmage is also zero points, but can be used to sitesearch underwater... or with an amulet of fish, on land, too. Not a bad deal! The disadvantages are weak astral and low HP (assassination, seeking arrow).

But who cares how many attacks an immobile pretender gets? I really don't see that as ever being important.

Keir Maxwell · #7 December 2nd, 2003, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zen:
Maybe what I'm missing is the use of the "Arch-mage" type of Pretenders. Does everyone use them from time to time?

I find their low Domininon unattractive and the lowered stats (especially HP) a deterant.

I am warming to rainbow mages in Dom2. I am quite happy to have my pretender as capable researcher, site searcher, item maker, even when they have SC stats. The SC Versions will do a bit of conquering here and there but that is more a bonus than anything. I have never much liked magic rich Super combatent Pretenders - you may well lose them and half their magic. The only reason I use them in Dom2 is because they are generally the cheapest chassis for a bless effect god.

At present I'm taking "Master Liu" the Great Sage with Tien Ch'i. 21 research points (race has a -3drain scale to help pay) and excellent site searching - which is a big thing in game with 60%+ magic sites. The race design has problems but I'm coming to suspect this is in part due to bread and butter issues like the troops Tien Ch'i get not being that great. Still main theme is far from a pauper like the two Tien Ch'i sub-themes.

It would be nice if the special rainbow mages for races like Abysia, Jotun and Caelum cost a little more and started with a higher dominion. At present its too expensive to get a rainbow mage for a race needing high dominion.

cheers

Keir

[ December 02, 2003, 08:24: Message edited by: Keir Maxwell ]