CBM Pretenders

[Trumanator]

There was a recent post in the CBM thread about the Lord of the Gates pretender being overpowered. I figured that if it hadn't been used much then it must not be that good. So I decided to give it a shot in SP and see how it worked out. To my surprise, it actually worked QUITE well as a variation on the usual early game SC.

My question to you is, have you really tried the other pretender chassis that CBM buffs, and have you ever been surprised by your success?

Also, any advice for using your unorthodox pretender design would be great, maybe we can expand the variability of new games.

I took my LotG with MA C'tis, Dom 9, E4 D5, O3 S2 H3 D1 L3 M1. The spawning shades allow him to expand w/out equipment from turn two, and he can easily take just about any indy province with less than 60 defenders by turn 4 as he gains more and more shades. Later on you can equip him and use him as an SC, and his shades provide great arrow decoys and lance absorbers.

[coobe]

i played him in several blitzes, never worked out for me that well...
maybe im just doing stuff wrong

[Endoperez]

I didn't try making Lord of War and Celestial General into SCs, but the amount of infantry they generate made it much easier to expand using archer-armies. You don't need to "waste" resources for the resource-intensive troops since you get those for free.

Baalz's posts about the Forge Lord in his guide for MA Agartha might also count. At least it surprised some people reading the guide. Blood Stones for 3 blood saves each, Rings of Wizardry for 12 pearls each... Innate 50% forge bonus!

[Revolution]

Originally Posted by Trumanator

I took my LotG with MA C'tis, Dom 9, E4 D5, O3 S2 H3 D1 L3 M1. The spawning shades allow him to expand w/out equipment from turn two, and he can easily take just about any indy province with less than 60 defenders by turn 4 as he gains more and more shades. Later on you can equip him and use him as an SC, and his shades provide great arrow decoys and lance absorbers.

Be aware that the lord of the gates will likely eventually (or quickly) get diseased (as would any pretender that is not disease immune) under MA C'tis dominion. But yes, I quite like the freespawn pretenders with CBM, a pretty cool twist on having an awake SC.

[Trumanator]

Well I would think that he would be diseased by now since he's been in my dominion since turn 1. Maybe he's immune?

[Revolution]

Originally Posted by Trumanator

Well I would think that he would be diseased by now since he's been in my dominion since turn 1. Maybe he's immune?

Nope, you're just getting lucky.

[Endoperez]

I think it's based on magic resistance or some other value all pretenders are good in. It usually takes a long time before the disease kicks in.

[JimMorrison]

Originally Posted by Endoperez

I think it's based on magic resistance or some other value all pretenders are good in. It usually takes a long time before the disease kicks in.

Pretty sure that it's not MR dependent. That from some SP games, but also in a current MP I am trying to invade MA C'tis, and even 18 MR mages in just 5 enemy dominion tend to very rapidly get diseased.

Honestly I think the mechanic is a bit harsh, this is the most needlessly attrition-istic invasion I've ever led (and I am a master at pissing troops away already ).

[Trumanator]

I dunno, I had a Mother of Rivers get diseased on like turn 3 of an SP game when I forgot about the dominion effect. I wonder if there's any way to make them immune? What if you give them a ring of poison resist?

[archaeolept]

i think disease is just a percent chance based on dominion, and the LotG is not immune. So he has just been lucky

I didn't try making Lord of War and Celestial General into SCs

Celestial General is a fine SC chassis. Earth and Air, fairly good stats; free armor if needed.