Pimp My Pretender

[Morkilus]

Here I thought it was a lightning version of Charcoal Shield... it seems like a waste for 10 gems if it just zaps one guy once a turn.

[Micah]

Damage output is much lower, yes, but if you need SR or are fighting things with fire resistance it looks a lot better.

There's a reason it's not the first choice shield though.

[HoneyBadger]

It does have good defense/weight/protection overall, but I definitely wouldn't take it over even a lead shield in a lot of cases.

If it's supposed to be "very powerful" then it needs some kind of boost.

[Shovah32]

Making it cast shockwave might be better but it could make it a bit too strong.

[HoneyBadger]

I think it would, actually. If the area were reduced so that it just affected units adjacent to the person holding the shield, it would be ok.

[Novi]

Mmkay, so a raiding SC should cast as many area-affecting spells as possible...

But what about the artifacts, which ones are worth forging/using? Magebane?(I reckon that's its name) Aegis? The thing that enables you to mummify?

And, Ironhawk, why should one use Starshine Skullcap? If you have astral, it won't do you much good, let alone not having it...
And what about Boots of Flying - are they that efficient? OK, I understand they let the SC skip the waves of chaff and attack the core right away but does that turn the tide of battle?

[sum1lost]

starshine gives mr, which is invaluable against things like mind burn and paralyze.

[jutetrea]

Mobility is key for a raiding Melee combatant - both to flee if necessary/possible, hit rearmost if possible, and increase mapmove. Boots of flying/flying carpet.

Depends on what is available, but affects are good

Fire shield (spell, charcoal shield)
ethereal (spell, wraith crown, robe of shadows, boots of planes)
regen (spell, RoRegen, hydra armor, boots of anteaus, lyc amu)
lucky (lucky charm, lucky coin, faithful)
Fear (horror helm, PicusX2, lantern shield, Aegis)
Awe (AoVirtue, gold shield)
Petrification (Aegis, stone sword)
Air shield (spell, silver hauberk, shield of valor)
twist fate
Re-invig (birch boots, AoResilience, caelum's boots, Rainbow armor, boots of messenger, boots of anteaus, girdle, heart of life, krupps)
Resistances
Soul Vortex (spell, bone armor)
BoWinter (spell, Rime Hauberk)
Blood Vengeance (spell, Flesh Ward)

Basic stat increases are good
Str (Precious, PicusX2, Barrier, boots of str, brimstone boots, bear claw, girdle, lyc amu)
Atk (RoWarrior, Precious, summit, burning pearl)
Def (cat, CoD (chain of displacement, summit, bracers of prot, krupps)
Prot (spell, invuln robe, marble boots/armor, CoD, bracers of prot, krupps)
MR (spell, skullcap, Anti-M, mage bane, blood armor, lead shield, Rainbow Armor)


If most others are covered, extra attacks are good
Jade Armor
Dimensional Rod
Boots of quickness
stone birds
astral serpent
Dancing trident
Spirit helm
Horned helm
chi boots

Then there's the gift of kurgi

Incomplete list

[sum1lost]

I'm not sure if she qualifies as a SC, but if you can get an erinye (or however you spell it), it isn't that hard to trick her out well enough to take apart just about any army you might face.

She already has ethreal, flying, and fear, after all.

[Taqwus]

Magebane's nice in a duel-type situation, or when facing MR attacks. It'll eventually attract horrors, but those are essentially duels, and the MR boost gives you improved survival odds. By itself, it's not a mass-slaughter item the way that, say, Sun Slayer.

Aegis is very, very nice. Good stats, lethal shield -- no resists 'tho.

Amon Hotep gives awe, MR boost, and prot 25 without adding to your encumberance -- very nice if you have something else in mind for the body slot, like a Robe of Shadows, Bone Armor, Flesh Ward et al. It's also cursed, so think before you wear.

Blood Vengeance + Luck might save your bacon for when you finally meet a mage who lands Gifts from Heaven on you, or casts Life for a Life. Even this won't help against Banish to Inferno 'tho.

/musing: Soul Drain + strong death blessing ?