spell questions: Breath of Winter, Communion M/S

[Zooko]

Yet another question about fire-9 blessing. Is the normal sword attack considered magic and can ignore ethereal? I guess it must be, because if the ethereal forces the normal sword attack to miss then the fire attack automatically misses, which would render its magicalness moot.

[Zooko]

New Communion question. When my Communion Master cast Body Ethereal, he became ethereal but the Communion Slaves didn't. I guess this is because Body Ethereal isn't "Area of effect: caster" ? Likewise, he could cast Personal Luck and thus help the Communion Slaves, but not Luck. Am I right?

[Endoperez]

Yes, you are right: spells which target the caster affect the slaves too. I do not recall if Immolation worked at all, but it might be worth trying... Especially if coupled with Phoenix Pyre (if *that* works, that is )! Hmm, you could get rid of fatique by Earthpower, Earth blessing and Relief... Pity the Relief-caster will probably start casting Barkskins/Protections.

Not sure about the sword, I would gave saud that only the fire damage is considered magic but it doesn't seem to work with the answers of this thread... Good point with that.

[Taqwus]

Phoenix Pyre does indeed work on the communicants, but be warned that the results can be EXTREMELY ugly if your army is not entirely fire-immune.

[Kristoffer O]

I think Phoenix pyre works.

[Zooko]

So what *should* work is anything with "Area of Effect: Caster", and what should not work is anything with "Area of Effect: something other than Caster". Right?

[Endoperez]

Right.

[Zen]

Phoenix Pyre affects everything, even those fire immune. So you can't protect yourself really from it except with Phoenix Pyre or high regeneration/life drain.

Exploding communicants/slaves are particularly effective against anything that spams summons of any vareity. As long as you have a relief caster you can, for the most part, tire any SC/Army out except those with life drain.

[Endoperez]

Oh... Sabbath Master and Slave would work too, right? And Vampire Counts/Lords have Blood, and are immortal... Using WAE+FD pretender Black Forest Ulm could use Alteration buffs up to 4 or 5 and Ehterealize their units, and after level 7 and some Skulls of Fire + random picks... SP stuff, but could be fun!

[archaeolept]

i'm not sure what you're suggesting endoperez.

sabbath master/slave is currently not that useful. i don't see how immortality fits in w/ the discussion??? or why you are interested in skulls of fire

sabbath slave gives 100 fatigue, which makes it not so useful for phoenix pyre, unless you have a relief caster as well. not to mention micromanaging all the communion slaves.