Arcane Wonders Forum

Mage Wars => Spellbook Design and Construction => Topic started by: DaveW on February 17, 2015, 06:08:07 PM

Title: Last 30 spell book points (Necromancer)
Post by: DaveW on February 17, 2015, 06:08:07 PM
I've been working on a Necromancer (skeleton focus) and have the basics of the book together, and have about 30 spell book points left to spend. I started to think how I could use them to try to have something generally useful in different situations that my opponents might present. For example, I was thinking that a Mage Wand for my limited number of useful arcane incantations, or any of several defensive spells would be nice to have.

What spells would you consider adding that aren't in the usual Necro toolbox? (I already have plenty of creatures, some curses and other enchantments, a few forms of Dark healing, basic equipment, a couple of walls, one Teleport, etc.)

I also am thinking about other out of school things like a damage barrier, Sleep, Banish or Turn to Stone, Push, and an Elemental Wand with a few specialty attack spells (like Geyser for anti-burn use, Flameblast for Plant spells, Surging Wave for anti-Battle Forge  use, Chain Lightning for use against Falcon swarms and others).

What would you pack?
Title: Re: Last 30 spell book points (Necromancer)
Post by: DaveW on February 24, 2015, 08:07:15 PM
Maybe I should have put it a different way....

If you were setting up a Necromancer spellbook, what would you include to deal with the biggest threats that you might encounter?

For example, is a big threat a swarm of little creatures? If so, we might include Chain Lightning. A Wizard with multiple wands? Then we might add to the number of dissolves, or even a Steal Equipment. That sort of thing.
Title: Re: Last 30 spell book points (Necromancer)
Post by: sdougla2 on February 24, 2015, 09:41:50 PM
With the Necromancer, I like to include several defensive measures like Brace Yourself and Block in order to slow down aggressive opponents, as the Necromancer is the squishiest mage in the game. Aside from that, it's hard to say without seeing what you've already included.
Title: Re: Last 30 spell book points (Necromancer)
Post by: wtcannonjr on February 25, 2015, 05:35:45 AM
Aside from that, it's hard to say without seeing what you've already included.
Agreed. I just completed a skeleton based necromancer book that doesn't use a spawn point. If I understood how your book differs I could make some suggestions.
Title: Re: Last 30 spell book points (Necromancer)
Post by: DaveW on February 25, 2015, 08:56:59 PM
How do I get to that spellbook builder? I'd rather put it in that format than just type it in. Thanks!
Title: Re: Last 30 spell book points (Necromancer)
Post by: sdougla2 on February 25, 2015, 10:04:26 PM
http://forum.arcanewonders.com/sbb/#

Or if you go to the home page of Arcane Wonders, then go to Products => Mage Wars => Mage Wars Resources & Downloads => Spellbook Builder
Title: Re: Last 30 spell book points (Necromancer)
Post by: sIKE on February 25, 2015, 11:49:41 PM
How do I get to that spellbook builder? I'd rather put it in that format than just type it in. Thanks!
At the top of this page hover over the word Cards and you will see the link to the SBB appear below it....
Title: Re: Last 30 spell book points (Necromancer)
Post by: wtcannonjr on February 26, 2015, 12:07:37 PM
How do I get to that spellbook builder? I'd rather put it in that format than just type it in. Thanks!

I feel a spellbook coming ...
Title: Re: Last 30 spell book points (Necromancer)
Post by: V10lentray on February 26, 2015, 01:13:50 PM
If you are going skeletons, looks for any items of abilities that give buffs to soldiers. All the skeletons are soldiers, except for the dog looking one.

Archers Watchtower, Armory...
Title: Re: Last 30 spell book points (Necromancer)
Post by: DaveW on February 26, 2015, 10:09:21 PM
Thanks for the comments and for taking time to look this over.

Didn't think of Armory... good one for my book, I think.

I filled in all 120 spellbook points. I'm not sure about some of it, but here goes:

[spellbook]
[spellbookheader]
[spellbookname]First Skeleton Necro Try[/spellbookname]
[mage]Necromancer[/mage]
[/spellbookheader]
[spells]
[spellclass]Attack[/spellclass]
[mwcard=FWA02]1 x  Force Hammer[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1a06]1 x  Flameblast[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1a08]1 x  Geyser[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNA01]1 x  Acid Ball[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Conjuration[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFJ04]1 x  Armory[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j11]1 x  Idol of Pestilence[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWJ02]1 x  Archer's Watchtower[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNW02]3 x  Wall of Bones[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j18]1 x  Poison Gas Cloud[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Creature[/spellclass]
[mwcard=DNC07]1 x  Mort[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNC11]1 x  Ravenous Ghoul[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNC13]2 x  Skeletal Archer[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1c32]4 x  Skeletal Sentry[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNC15]6 x  Skeletal Minion[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Enchantment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1e09]1 x  Agony[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e04]1 x  Chains of Agony[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e08]1 x  Death Link[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e14]1 x  Enfeeble[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e19]1 x  Ghoul Rot[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFE03]1 x  Arcane Corruption[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e25]1 x  Maim Wings[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e24]1 x  Magebane[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e29]1 x  Nullify[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFE04]1 x  Brace Yourself[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e22]1 x  Hellfire Trap[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWE06]1 x  Fortified Position[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Equipment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=DNQ01]1 x  Cloak of Shadows[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNQ02]1 x  Death Ring[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNQ05]1 x  Libro Mortuos[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNQ10]1 x  Meditation Amulet[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q15]1 x  Leather Boots[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q16]1 x  Leather Gloves[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q08]1 x  Elemental Wand[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Incantation[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1i28]1 x  Teleport[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i07]1 x  Dissolve[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i06]2 x  Dispel[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i24]1 x  Seeking Dispel[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKI01]2 x  Drain Soul[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i08]2 x  Drain Life[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i25]1 x  Shift Enchantment[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNI03]3 x  Reassemble[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNI05]1 x  Unholy Resurgence[/mwcard]
[/spells]
[cost]Total cost: 120 pts[/cost]
[/spellbook]

The basic thought is to create multiple low-cost skeleton creatures and have Mort and Armory support them. The Ghoul is for use as my eternal servant. While not a skeleton, I like him for his ability to harass the enemy (and growth potential against certain Mages). The start would be Death Ring + Libro for a little mana economy and additional action potential, bringing out the Ravenous Ghoul on turn 2. For example:

Against a turtling opponent:
Turn 1 (20) = Death Ring (-5), Libro Mortuos (-9*) = (6)
Turn 2 (16+1) = Deploy Ravenous Ghoul ES (11*+1), Meditation Amulet (-4), Meditate (+3) = (4+0)
Turn 3 (14+1) = Deploy Skeletal Archer (9*+1), Brace Yourself (-2), Meditate (+3) = (6+0)

* = Discount from ring


Against an aggressive opponent:
Turn 1 (20) = Ravenous Ghoul ES (-13), Brace Yourself (-2) = (5)
Turn 2 (15) = Cloak of Shadows (-6), Leather Gloves (-2) = (7)
Turn 3 (17) = Leather Boots (-2), [Curse] maybe Chains of Agony (-2-1) = (12)
Title: Re: Last 30 spell book points (Necromancer)
Post by: Puddnhead on February 27, 2015, 08:36:36 AM
Quote
All the skeletons are soldiers, except for the dog looking one.

My copies of [mwcard=MW1C32]Skeletal Sentry[/mwcard] and indeed the website's, do not list it as a soldier.

Appears to be intentional, but is there any way we can get this guy to be a soldier?  It would make Soldier Necro builds much more exciting and it would also make for the Warlords to have 8 Orc Butchers  ;D.  Okay, maybe it would be too much.

Also, armor stackers might give you some trouble as none of your creatures (Except the Ghoul) come with natural piercing.  I would suggest finding space for another dissolve or a rust at least.  If you can prioritize getting in there and Hammering that Battle Forge you might be okay, but that's dangerous against an aggressive mage.
Title: Re: Last 30 spell book points (Necromancer)
Post by: V10lentray on February 27, 2015, 08:40:16 AM
This is an old story, but in the 3rd printing of MW, he was made a soldier. Last I looked the Database still had the original version, not showing him as a soldier.

But trust me, he's a soldier.

There is an entire thread dedicated to this argument somewhere, and Ladinfance, chimed in saying that he is in fact a soldier.
Title: Re: Last 30 spell book points (Necromancer)
Post by: Laddinfance on February 27, 2015, 08:50:39 AM
There is an entire thread dedicated to this argument somewhere, and Ladinfance, chimed in saying that he is in fact a soldier.

He is. :)
Title: Re: Last 30 spell book points (Necromancer)
Post by: iNano78 on February 27, 2015, 08:51:51 AM
This is an old story, but in the 3rd printing of MW, he was made a soldier. Last I looked the Database still had the original version, not showing him as a soldier.

But trust me, he's a soldier.

There is an entire thread dedicated to this argument somewhere, and Ladinfance, chimed in saying that he is in fact a soldier.

That's interesting.  Perhaps this should be updated in the database (http://forum.arcanewonders.com/sbb/database.php) or spell book builder (http://forum.arcanewonders.com/sbb/index.php), or at least in the Rules and Codex Supplement (http://www.arcanewonders.com/resources/Mage_Wars_Official_Rules_and_Codex_Supplement.pdf) or something.  Then it wouldn't just be "something everyone on the forums knows but that isn't written anywhere."  Using the "but Laddinfance said so" argument might not work everywhere without some evidence to back it up.
Title: Re: Last 30 spell book points (Necromancer)
Post by: Puddnhead on February 27, 2015, 08:55:43 AM
YAY! Another 4 dice, 8 cost Soldier! Wooo!
Title: Re: Last 30 spell book points (Necromancer)
Post by: Laddinfance on February 27, 2015, 09:06:54 AM
This is an old story, but in the 3rd printing of MW, he was made a soldier. Last I looked the Database still had the original version, not showing him as a soldier.

But trust me, he's a soldier.

There is an entire thread dedicated to this argument somewhere, and Ladinfance, chimed in saying that he is in fact a soldier.

That's interesting.  Perhaps this should be updated in the database (http://forum.arcanewonders.com/sbb/database.php) or spell book builder (http://forum.arcanewonders.com/sbb/index.php), or at least in the Rules and Codex Supplement (http://www.arcanewonders.com/resources/Mage_Wars_Official_Rules_and_Codex_Supplement.pdf) or something.  Then it wouldn't just be "something everyone on the forums knows but that isn't written anywhere."  Using the "but Laddinfance said so" argument might not work everywhere without some evidence to back it up.

In the 3rd printing the card has been changed. The Arena printing should also have the corrected Sentry. I had made a document that collected all of the Errata into one place, but after I had made it, I'm not sure where it had gotten stored. Obviously, it is not on the Resources and Downloads page right now. Over the weekend, I'll rebuild it. That way there can be an easy way to have all of the current wordings for spells at your fingertips.

As for the Rules and Codex Supplement, I'm working on a bigger update to that, and it's still going to take a little while. Thank you for pointing this one out though, I had thought it was already in there, but I was wrong.

I hope this helps. I know how stubborn people can get if they don't see the evidence in the correct format.

If you have other questions, please let me know. I'm happy to try and answer them.
Title: Re: Last 30 spell book points (Necromancer)
Post by: V10lentray on February 27, 2015, 10:31:15 AM

That's interesting.  Perhaps this should be updated in the database (http://forum.arcanewonders.com/sbb/database.php) or spell book builder (http://forum.arcanewonders.com/sbb/index.php), or at least in the Rules and Codex Supplement (http://www.arcanewonders.com/resources/Mage_Wars_Official_Rules_and_Codex_Supplement.pdf) or something.  Then it wouldn't just be "something everyone on the forums knows but that isn't written anywhere."  Using the "but Laddinfance said so" argument might not work everywhere without some evidence to back it up.

You're preaching to the choir. You may not know this, but AW is a company of only 5-6 employees.