A few bless and other questions

Snacktime · #1 July 22nd, 2007, 11:41 PM

1) Do my nations bless effects change when my pretender's magic changes? I.e. what if he dies and is called back with lower magic, does my bless suffer? what about if he carries path-increasing magic items? what if i empower him?

2) what weapons get the flaming weapons bonus from F9? I can tell arrows don't get it. Do things like bite/claw/kick (i.e. non-weapon attacks) get flaming? what about multiple attacks, do all of them get flaming weapons or just the "primary"?

3) Does the spell flaming arrows affect only arrows, or also other missiles like javelins, slings etc?

4) How the heck do I save myself from blade wind?

jutetrea · #2 July 23rd, 2007, 12:11 AM

1. No change, either by death or empowerment, set at creation.

2. curious about this myself, arrows are a negative as you said.

3. I believe others as well, but would also like confirmation.

4. Shields and armor, I believe the effects are considered missile weapons. High parry, etc. If the unit can stand up well to missile attacks it should stand up well to bw afaik.

Snacktime · #3 July 23rd, 2007, 12:26 AM

Thanks jute - regarding blade wind, i'm curious if spells like Storm would affect the missiles or if they're magic or something. It's kind of a moot point since I can't cast air spells. i guess i need to see if there are some ways i can beef up my defense and protection, but i don't have earth either so i'm at a bit at a loss (I'm EA mictlan in this particular instance).

MaxWilson · #4 July 23rd, 2007, 01:07 AM

Mictlan has good access to Wooden Warriors. It's not great but it's not bad either.

P.S. Don't forget to scatter decoys around. Mictlan does cheap chaff, doesn't it? "Archer decoys" should work just as well vs. blade wind, to buy your tough sacreds some time to close.

-Max

Edi · #5 July 23rd, 2007, 01:38 AM

1) No. This is in the FAQ.

2) All melee weapons. They get the "bless fire" weapon added to them.

3) Flaming arrows affects longbows, short bows, crossbows, arbalests, slings, chakrams, javelins, shuriken and boulders, not sure about throwing axes. It should also affect banefire bows, but I'm not sure about other magical bows.

4) Units with heavy armor and/or good shields usually suffer less from Blade Wind.

Kristoffer O · #6 July 23rd, 2007, 08:34 AM

I'm currently playing MA Mictlan in an MP game. My armies are currenlty being whipped by Vanheim bladewinds. I have come to the conclusion that archer decoys are not necessarily a good thing, as BW outrange your spells and slings and can be used from the rear of the enemy lines to target your rear units, regardless of archer decoys.

Generally the spell AI targets to get maximum dmg output, which means it avoids buffed troops and is more likely to target your large group of archers or other shield less troops. If all rear troops are protected with wooden warriors the front ones will be targeted, but on the other hand, the buffed rear troops will not close for combat until the front chaff are destroyed. Might be better to place all your troops as close to the enemy as possible, together with buffing mages, expect some losses and hope that your troops get to the rear of the enemy before your chaff is dead.

Flying troops can be great to take out rear mages.

Snacktime · #7 July 23rd, 2007, 10:51 AM

Thanks again - Edi what is a melee weapon? Is bite/claw/claw three melee "weapons" and they all get flaming weapons?

As for bladewind, the flying units and spreading chaff seem to be doing pretty okay.

Chris_Byler · #8 July 23rd, 2007, 11:11 AM

I thought the way to use archer decoys was to put them in front *and to the side* of your real troops, so they don't actually get in the way, but they're still nearer and thus targeted first. Since the slaves have 0 prot and are not buffed, they will take more damage. By the time they break, hopefully your real troops are within a round or two of reaching the enemy (or already have) and the dwarves are tired.

KO, in addition to the wooden warriors suggestion, you might also try mind hunting the dwarves with moon priests.

Lazy_Perfectionist · #9 July 23rd, 2007, 11:44 AM

From what I hear, the death bless (affliction rate) will affect spells as well. Is this an exploit or an acceptable thing to take advantage of in MP?

Endoperez · #10 July 23rd, 2007, 12:03 PM

Everything that isn't a ranged weapon (i.e. doesn't have "range" and "ammo" values) is a melee weapon. Hoofs of the sacred knights' horses will be aflame. A Stone Bird of a sacred thug will be aflame. Ice Blades of Temple Guards will be aflame. The bite of the sacred serpent will also deal fire damage.