What SC do you wish for?

[HoneyBadger]

This thread always gives me the desire to have a bunch of exclusively wishable SC's in the game. If I had my way, this feature of the Wish spell would be replaced by a separate high level spell that could be used to wish for a broad selection of SCable chassis that you couldn't otherwise get with any other spell, Nation, summon, or magic site.

Making every unit in the game Wishable just seems to cause problems, anyway. That's why we have Grigori in the game, afterall. Why allow one Nation to wish for the hero or the god of another Nation? It seems forced, and the same chassis seem to be wished for, over and over. Besides, it kind of erodes the specialness of Pretenders if you can just wish for one, collecting them like trading cards.

[MaxWilson]

Originally Posted by Endoperez

The point is that the slaves can't attack if the master(s) keeps casting spells after the buffs. A single Paralyze will stop one enemy and ALL of your communion-thugs!

So you're saying it *is* a linebacker communion? Then why are the masters all casting the same buffs? Also, why are the slaves set *behind* the masters? Shouldn't they be placed forward so they're in position to attack?

The solution for the problem you cite is to either

1.) make the masters attack too (they're not as uberbuffed, but it's simpler so I usually do this),

2.) give the master a crossbow and set him to Fire, or

3.) have a master cast Blink. Soul Vortex + Fire Shield can kill things even if the slaves are sitting there passively because a master cast a spell. I've never tried #3 but it's at least potentially a real use for Blink.

-Max

[Endoperez]

Originally Posted by MaxWilson

So you're saying it *is* a linebacker communion? Then why are the masters all casting the same buffs? Also, why are the slaves set *behind* the masters? Shouldn't they be placed forward so they're in position to attack?

It seems this isn't the thread I thought I was replying in. I thought I was answering to a question about using crossbows in a communion, instead of a question about the purpose of a spesific communion.

I think I'll go sleep now, before I do something weird again.

[AreaOfEffect]

Originally Posted by chrispedersen

Hmmmm

4 Communion master with phoenix pyre, well in advance of the 8-10 communion slaves. Cover the whole line of battle

Comm Ms - Com Mas, FireShield, Phoenix Pyre, hold, hold,

Com Sl - Body Ethereal, Personal Luck, Communion slave

I think the point was to have exploding communion masters who shared their fatigue with the slaves in order to explode again and again. Though I honestly don't think it works that way.

[MaxWilson]

It's been reported that Phoenix Pyre fatigue (from dying) is shared via a communion, although I don't know if it's pathlevel-adjusted like spells are. So I guess the point of having slaves cast Body Ethereal/Personal Luck is just to harden them against random arrows and such, while the masters wade into personal combat?

It could work. The problem I see is that 1.) Phoenix Pyre is a weak attack (10 AP although w/ AoE 50), 2.) since your damage strategy relies on dying a lot, you'll pick up lots of nasty afflictions like Mute and have to get new masters for the next battle. I see this having use mostly in desperate situations like "must retake capital from surprise attack without any chaff troops or skelly spammers." In most other situations it would be better to just rain Falling Fires on them, w/ Phoenix Pyre as an insurance measure and not your primary damage tactic.

-Max

[Gregstrom]

In response to 2: You only need base F1S1 on the communion masters, which puts them firmly in the disposable category.

[Trumanator]

How many F1S1 mages are there? I personally see this more as the ultimate chaff clearing tool. It seems like it has the potential to clear out Ermorian hordes very quickly. The problem is that there are better spells for that.

[JimMorrison]

I'm having trouble classifying 10AN+AoE50 as a "weak" attack. It may not be the strategy to take down packs of giants or to eliminate thugs, but against -most- chaff, it is extremely brutal.

If you have access to E+S mages, you only need an F1 as the master, as if you have enough slaves to distribute your fatigue, you are only worried about afflictions, not actual death. Thus, a Crystal Matrix allows you to use very cheap mages (if you have access), and you can theoretically clear quite a lot of chaff.

Note, this is probably mostly only of use for a nation who has access to FR troops, that can handle the bombs going off near your own lines.

[mivayan]

Originally Posted by JimMorrison

I'm having trouble classifying 10AN+AoE50 as a "weak" attack. It may not be the strategy to take down packs of giants or to eliminate thugs, but against -most- chaff, it is extremely brutal.

It's AP, so the first explosion will probably just get the chaff down to 4 hp.

Once, I tried some abuse with Abysia and phoenix power in single player, and got very surprised when my fire immune troops got hurt. Turns out it's not fire damage at all. Just looks and tastes and smells like it. Old post with screenie of abysians and phoenix pyre.

[JimMorrison]

Well hot diggity. You see, apparently it's "explosive" damage, which is kinetic.