Winning w/o a SC???

Torlin HalfAxe · #1 June 22nd, 2004, 02:25 PM

Hello folks, I've been browsing these forums for about a week now, and I've recently ordered the game. The AAR's have been very informative and the guides have been well written, many thanks from the heart of a new guy!

To get back on topic, I have seen a lot of people talk about their SC's and how they get them/equip them and when they are the most useful in-game.

So this leaves me wondering what other feasible strategies are out there besides using an uber-character???

Are there ways to combat one without having one of your own?

I also have seen many topics on people using Jotunhiem, and I have yet to see one of them lose! What are some strategies on defeating the giants?

My first thoughts on this are to have an army that is more mobile, avoiding the big fat giant armies and cutting off supply lines, hitting weaker areas---guerilla type tactics. Yet if I want to play a Dwarf type race, what are my options when facing an SC and 30 giants rumbling down on me?

Teraswaerto · #2 June 22nd, 2004, 02:37 PM

There are ways to counter SCs without having one of your own, though they mostly involve mages.

Petrify, for example, is an excellent spell against SCs, since it always causes paralysis, even if the target makes his MR save (if he doesn't, the effect is death).

In general, anything that does unresistable damage (or causes an unresistable effect/affliction) is good, since SCs tend to have all the resistances pretty well covered.

[ June 22, 2004, 13:38: Message edited by: Teraswaerto ]

Vynd · #3 June 22nd, 2004, 03:13 PM

I can't say that I've noticed that Jotunheim is so special. Sure, giants are big and tough. But they're also pretty expensive. And there are plenty of ways to kill them, ranging from magic to just swaming them with cheap infantry.

As for winning without a SC, Teraswaerto covered the basics. But I would add that I don't see why anyone would have to win without a SC, since every magic path has at least 1 or 2 summonable units that can make a plausible SC. So even if you don't start with a SC in the form of youir Pretender, there's no reason you can't get one later.

NTJedi · #4 June 22nd, 2004, 03:42 PM

I've recently started playing the giants and don't use that many since they have a higher upkeep compared to other units. I do buy the blessed giants since the upkeep is divided by 30 instead of 15 thus making the longterm cost more reasonable.
One of the blessed commanders has a cost of 60 gold thus the upkeep is only 2 gold plus the option to place items on him is available. I believe one of the blessed commanders also has a cost of 50 gold yet the other commander looks like a better deal.

[ June 22, 2004, 14:43: Message edited by: NTJedi ]

Torlin HalfAxe · #5 June 22nd, 2004, 03:52 PM

Quote:

There are ways to counter SCs without having one of your own, though they mostly involve mages.

Mostly? Can you elaborate a bit for me?

Teraswaerto · #6 June 22nd, 2004, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Torlin HalfAxe:

quote:
There are ways to counter SCs without having one of your own, though they mostly involve mages.

Mostly? Can you elaborate a bit for me?

Massed crossbows (or arbalests for Ulm) is one counter that doesn't involve mages, though the spell Wind Guide would make it more effective, as would Flaming Arrows if the target SC isn't 100% fire resistant. Very high protection or air shield will make crossbows uneffective though, and a slowly moving army can have problems catching the SC.

Flying troops can be good against SCs that need to cast spells to make themselves ready for combat, since they strike at the SC before it has a chance to boost itself with magic.