What nation should I play next?

[fahdiz]

I really like Wauthan's "toxic avenger" idea. If it please the court, I'd like to swipe that one.

Base Pythium is another really interesting choice...a very straightforward military with the added benefit and complexity of sacred mages. Plus, it will teach you about Astral Communion, and so it's a good nation to use for "skill building".

[PDF]

Ermor Soul Gate is my fave for the moment Quite different than any "living" nations, dark and spectral ... Very fun !

[Nagot Gick Fel]

C'tis/Miasma with a 6+ dominion and a death-9 PoD is another funny way to go toxic. You lose the Hydras but get the diseasing dominion and the Poison Slingers, and the Bog Beasts are research-free. Add Banefire archers if you find it's not enough.

[Saber Cherry]

Originally posted by Sand:
I played Vanheim once with an SC commander and once with a rainbow mage. This time I'm looking to focus on one or two paths of magic. Suggestions are welcome!

Water 9 / Blood 4 (Blue Dragon) - Quickness, Defense, and Strength for your Vans. Vans are expensive, so Order 3 / Sloth are possible.

Earth 9 / Fire 9 (Moloch) - Super-powered reinvigorating +4 protection Vans. Pretty expensive, though... you might be better with Earth 9 / Nature 9 (Earth Mother / Cyclops).

Earth 9 / Water 4 is another possiblity...

Hard to say which is best overall. You may want to try Vans with various blessings in the Combat Sim.

Please note that Earth is especially valuable for Vanheim, which has sacred mages. They start physically and magically powerful, and +4 protection and +4 reinvigoration make them even more so.

[ March 09, 2004, 17:07: Message edited by: Saber Cherry ]

[Nagot Gick Fel]

Originally posted by Saber Cherry:
Hard to say which is best overall. You may want o try Vans with various blessings in the Combat Sim.

Try this one: Blue Dragon, Water10/Earth4, preferably with Midgard (with so much magic you'll probably have to pick some misfortune, and the Völvur will come handy here). Then try the 'shocking development' trick with a bunch of blessed Vanjarls.

[Norfleet]

Originally posted by Wauthan:
Using the Serpent Cult Pythium with a Green Dragon pretender is a good start.
snip
Breath of the dragon lets your theurgs do their part in drowning your enemies in bile while vinemen/ogres serve as the meatshield. When you get access to minor death magic the lesser undead are also an option.

I think you meant Serpent Priests, yes? SC Pythium doesn't get Theurgs anymore.

[ March 09, 2004, 18:05: Message edited by: Norfleet ]

[Sand]

Originally posted by Torvak:
Arcoscephale with a D4 or 5 PoD. Wraith Lords, Arch Angels and Tartarians gallore.

Trying them in order...this failed miserably for me. I got hit by two enemies around turn 20, and my miserable province defense caused me to fold like origami. I never found a supply of death gems, so my pretender was more or less useless.

I've tried Arco several times and failed each time...I must be missing their strengths. They just seem too physically weak to do anything -- they get outmanned by more physical nations, and their magic can't keep up.