Pimp My Pretender

[Novi]

I was wondering - equipping a thug doesn't seem like a challenge, but kitting out an SC? OK, I understand that some things are a must, if you're able to seize them before anyone else does (like Aegis, for example), but what about the rest? The main issue appears to be the weapon, since a Firebrand seems like an insult to your SC... Also, the decision regarding one's headgear and armour are a bit tricky as well, so... What should I pick then? (Suppose my pretender is a human-shaped chap)

[PvK]

He needs a really big bright purple hat...

For an SC, the main issues are being able to not gain fatigue while engaging nearly-endless foes, and being practically invulnerable to non-magical and weak-magical attacks. Having something that kills enemies without any effort is also helpful.

[Tuidjy]

It also depends on whether your pretender has the magic ability to generate at
least one damage dealing aura. Soul Vortex is best, but Breath of Winter and
Fire shield are nothing to sneer at... well, unless you are trying to
inconvenience undead with Breath of Winter :-)

And I definitely do not consider Firebrand an insult to my SCs. Most of my SCs
fall in three categories:

1. Raiders. These wander the enemy rear and avoid combat. They only die to
teleporting squads, and no weapon helps against these. Firebrands/Charcoal
shields all around.

2. Army backbone. These are supported by a dozen of mages, and hundreds of
archers. Once again, they usually deal with chaff. The mages are in charge
of dishing out the hurt. The SCs are supposed to blunt the enemy attack, and
survive, even if they are paralyzed in the process. Charcoal shields for
sure, and often Firebrands... although sometimes I use the second hand slot
for some protection item - the luck sword, a second shield, etc... Note that
Firebrand is also a protection item - 50% fire resistance.

3. SCs killers. These are tailored to the target, and are nearly always
quickened fliers with a weapon in each hand. They rely on crippling a SINGLE
target in the first round with a silly number of attacks. Here the firebrand
would not be the usual choice - but it all depends on the target.

And by the way, I do not think that the Aegis is amongst the top ten artifacts.
Chaff is not what well equipped SCs die to... Mage slayer, now, that's the
real deal. Shows balls, too...

[Ironhawk]

Its hard to say because you dont list what your pretender is. What abilities does it already have? What is it intended to fight?

Just generally speaking, I would equip it with "standard" equipment something like this:

Blood Thorn
Charcoal Shield
Starshine Skullcap
Jade Armor
Flying Boots
AML
Cat Charm (or AMA if its likely to making lots of MR checks)

[Shovah32]

You would use a blood thorn even with the severely weakened life drain?

[HoneyBadger]

Keep your paths in mind, too. If you are able to cast Quickness, lose the Jade Armor and replace with something else. If you've already got fire, just cast fire shield and get a shield of gleaming gold instead-Awe isn't easy. If you don't have astral, then go with a pendant of luck and a wraith crown. If you don't have earth, go with marble boots.

You always want some kind of regeneration, unless your Pretender heals afflictions, or you've got access to healers who do the same thing among your forces. Ring of regeneration is the most obvious choice, but maybe not the best-I'd rather use hydra-skin armor unless my Pretender has immunity to poison, because then you're filling 3 functions with 1 slot-armor, regen, poison resistance.

I try to avoid low levels of astral with my Pretenders anyway, because then you avoid or win magic-duels.

Wraith Crown is an awesome helmet (I think it comes in purple). Slightly better protection than Starshine, doesn't require starting paths, gives you Etherialness, and a whole army of undead!

[Ironhawk]

Shovah32 said:
You would use a blood thorn even with the severely weakened life drain?

Actually I use only living (regen/reinvig) SCs these days as I dont play blood or death too much anymore.

But sure I would use the blood thorn. After all the damage of an anti-troop SC is from his shields, not his weapon. The weapon is just there to keep him from falling over from exhaustion and healing some hp here and there.

[HoneyBadger]

How good is the Scutatae Vol-whatever, the "very powerful" shield that does shock damage?

[Shovah32]

I think its basically a regular tower shield that casts shocking touch once per round if any enemies are in range.

[HoneyBadger]

I was considering suggesting it, since you don't usually hear a lot about it