Arcane Wonders Forum
Mage Wars => Spellbook Design and Construction => Topic started by: silverclawgrizzly on August 08, 2015, 11:04:15 PM
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This is the spell book gdieckhaus used in the 2015 Gen Con Tournament.
[spellbook]
[spellbookheader]
[spellbookname]Westlock Angels[/spellbookname]
[mage]Priestess[/mage]
[/spellbookheader]
[spells]
[spellclass]Attack[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKA01]1 x Surging Wave[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNA01]1 x Acid Ball[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWA02]1 x Force Hammer[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFA02]1 x Hurl Rock[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1a11]1 x Pillar of Light[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1a01]1 x Blinding Flash[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Conjuration[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1j12]1 x Mana Crystal[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j24]1 x Temple of Light[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j08]1 x Hand of Bim-Shalla[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j04]1 x Battle Forge[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Creature[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKC06]4 x Guardian Angel[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1c31]1 x Samandriel, Angel of Light[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Enchantment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFE04]1 x Brace Yourself[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKE03]4 x Healing Charm[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKE02]1 x Divine Might[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e11]1 x Divine Intervention[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e01]3 x Bear Strength[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFE06]3 x Lion Savagery[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWE03]1 x Falcon Precision[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e05]2 x Cheetah Speed[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e29]2 x Nullify[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKE04]2 x Enchantment Transfusion[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Equipment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1q19]1 x Mage Wand[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q23]1 x Regrowth Belt[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q09]1 x Enchanter's Ring[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q06]1 x Dragonscale Hauberk[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q15]1 x Leather Boots[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q16]1 x Leather Gloves[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q03]1 x Crown of Protection[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q08]1 x Elemental Wand[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q07]1 x Elemental Cloak[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Incantation[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1i06]3 x Dispel[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i24]1 x Seeking Dispel[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i28]1 x Teleport[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i07]3 x Dissolve[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i13]1 x Group Heal[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i17]2 x Minor Heal[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i20]1 x Purify[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i14]1 x Heal[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i12]1 x Force Push[/mwcard]
[/spells]
[cost]Total cost: 120 pts[/cost]
[/spellbook]
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Any chance we might be able to get a breakdown from gdieckhaus? I'd love to hear his strategy behind this book and how he played it!
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Hopefully he will. He's been honing this build for awhile now and it's very formidable.
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I'd be glad to talk about it sometime..
But as always the build keeps changing...
Eventually I can write something up but Real Life is pretty busy now.
Gregg
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This is the spell book gdieckhaus used in the 2015 Gen Con Tournament.
[spellbook]
[spellbookheader]
[spellbookname]Westlock Angels[/spellbookname]
[mage]Priestess[/mage]
[/spellbookheader]
[spells]
[spellclass]Attack[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKA01]1 x Surging Wave[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNA01]1 x Acid Ball[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWA02]1 x Force Hammer[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFA02]1 x Hurl Rock[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1a11]1 x Pillar of Light[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1a01]1 x Blinding Flash[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Conjuration[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1j12]1 x Mana Crystal[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j24]1 x Temple of Light[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j08]1 x Hand of Bim-Shalla[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j04]1 x Battle Forge[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Creature[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKC06]4 x Guardian Angel[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1c31]1 x Samandriel, Angel of Light[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Enchantment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFE04]1 x Brace Yourself[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKE03]4 x Healing Charm[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKE02]1 x Divine Might[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e11]1 x Divine Intervention[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e01]3 x Bear Strength[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFE06]3 x Lion Savagery[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWE03]1 x Falcon Precision[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e05]2 x Cheetah Speed[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e29]2 x Nullify[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKE04]2 x Enchantment Transfusion[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Equipment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1q19]1 x Mage Wand[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q23]1 x Regrowth Belt[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q09]1 x Enchanter's Ring[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q06]1 x Dragonscale Hauberk[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q15]1 x Leather Boots[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q16]1 x Leather Gloves[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q03]1 x Crown of Protection[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q08]1 x Elemental Wand[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q07]1 x Elemental Cloak[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Incantation[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1i06]3 x Dispel[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i24]1 x Seeking Dispel[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i28]1 x Teleport[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i07]3 x Dissolve[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i13]1 x Group Heal[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i17]2 x Minor Heal[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i20]1 x Purify[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i14]1 x Heal[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i12]1 x Force Push[/mwcard]
[/spells]
[cost]Total cost: 120 pts[/cost]
[/spellbook]
I'd like to take a closer look at this book especially since I run a very similar one ( Transfusion Priestess )
I made a comparison between this build and my current Priestess build and found out :
1- both books run exactly 58 cards
2- we have 39 cards in common totalling 84 sbp's or 70% of the book
3- 36 sbp's ( 30% ) makes for a different approach and added potential tactics
Please allow me to post my own current book here so we can make comparisons :
[spellbook]
[spellbookheader]
[spellbookname][/spellbookname]
[mage]Priestess[/mage]
[/spellbookheader]
[spells]
[spellclass]Attack[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1a11]1 x Pillar of Light[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWA02]1 x Force Hammer[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNA01]2 x Acid Ball[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKA01]1 x Surging Wave[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Conjuration[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKJ01]1 x Enchanter's Wardstone[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFW01]2 x Wall of Earth[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j22]1 x Tanglevine[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j08]1 x Hand of Bim-Shalla[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Creature[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKC06]4 x Guardian Angel[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Enchantment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKE04]5 x Enchantment Transfusion[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e29]2 x Nullify[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKE02]1 x Divine Might[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKE03]2 x Healing Charm[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e01]3 x Bear Strength[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e05]2 x Cheetah Speed[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWE03]2 x Falcon Precision[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFE06]3 x Lion Savagery[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e28]2 x Mongoose Agility[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e32]1 x Regrowth[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e36]2 x Rhino Hide[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFE04]1 x Brace Yourself[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFE07]1 x Rust[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWBG1E01]1 x Astral Anchor[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Equipment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKQ06]1 x Eagleclaw Boots[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q07]1 x Elemental Cloak[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q08]1 x Elemental Wand[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q09]1 x Enchanter's Ring[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q19]1 x Mage Wand[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Incantation[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1i06]3 x Dispel[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i24]1 x Seeking Dispel[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i25]1 x Shift Enchantment[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i28]1 x Teleport[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i14]1 x Heal[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i19]1 x Piercing Strike[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i07]2 x Dissolve[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i12]1 x Force Push[/mwcard]
[/spells]
[cost]Total cost: 120 pts[/cost]
[/spellbook]
I see two big differences :
First, gdieckhaus uses a Battleforge while I don't.
I tried a Forge as well at some point during the book's growth but generally I found that I didn't really need one.
Using the Forge kind of forced me to add cheap Equipment cards to he book to keep the Forge active round after round but actually I found these cheap Equipment cards simply take sbp's away from other cards which I found more useful and they also drained mana from my resources every round.
Bottomline, I determined I needed only 5 equipment cards for this build with only the Ring being an automatic first round cast and everything else being situational, so a Forge was not needed.
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKQ06]1 x Eagleclaw Boots[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q07]1 x Elemental Cloak[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q08]1 x Elemental Wand[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q09]1 x Enchanter's Ring[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q19]1 x Mage Wand[/mwcard]
Personally, I prefer a Regrowth over a Regrowth Belt in this situation as I can shift the enchantment to the Angels as well if necessary whereas the Belt is for the mage only. Just a case of increasing my options.
Crown of Protection is a nice little addition as low armor is about the only handicap the Angels have, however I consider this card only when played through a Forge ( as gdieckhaus does :) )
Moreover, it allows you to always have an action in reserve when, for some reason you can't play the cards you had selected that round and you're at the risk of losing an action that round.
Then there's the matter of Armor.
gdieckhaus uses
[mwcard=mw1q06]1 x Dragonscale Hauberk[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q15]1 x Leather Boots[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q16]1 x Leather Gloves[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q07]1 x Elemental Cloak[/mwcard]
while I only use the Elemental Cloak and Rhino Hide ( + Brace Yourself and Hand of Bim Shalla ) to generate Armor.
Here again, the enchantment Rhino Hide offers me the added benefit that I can Shift it to an Angel, and in the process potentially get rid of some Corrosion Counters.
I do have another strategy to stay out of harm's way however and that's Wall of Earth.
It amazes me that after all this time walls are still undervalued and their power is still not fully recognized.
For me personally ( and that just my opinion, mind you ) no book is complete without at least a pair of walls.
A wall, played at the right time can completely swing a game/battle.
In this case however, the walls can not only shield me and cut LOS from my enemies but at the same time, I keep LoS open to my Angels, so I can continue my strategy without any hindrance.
The second big difference I see lies in the number of Enchantment Transfusions 2 vs 5.
With "only" two Transfusions I assume gdieckhaus uses them primarily to protect his stack of enchantments.
The reason that I use 5 of them is because I plan to use them aggressively, meaning attacking with an Angel for 7 dice + Pierce+1 then transfusing the stack of enchantments to the other Angel to attack again with 7 dice + Pierce+1 then playing another ET on the last Angel to protect the stack until the next round ( of course Nullify and Enchanter's Wardstone play a role in defending the stack as well )
So, by adding 3 ET's ( 6 sbp's) it's possible to play a very aggressive game mode and ( try to ) end a game fast, preferably against "slow" build up players. This is a dimension I would strongly advise to incorporate.
As a side note, and this comes as something that I've picked up during my Magic playing days in the nineties :
In a two player game, like Magic and Mage Wars, there's ALWAYS an ATTACKER and a DEFENDER.
It's vital to know asap which one you are in that matchup. You're not necessarily always the same.
Therefore I think ( again just my opinion :) ) that every book should be able to play in a Defender and Attacker modus. ( but that's probably a topic for another thread )
Overall, it is my impression that gdieckhaus has build his book with a much more defensive playing style in mind as opposed to my build which wants to be more of the attacker.
Further proof for this theory is found in the fact that gdieckhaus' deck includes
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKE03]4 x Healing Charm[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e11]1 x Divine Intervention[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i13]1 x Group Heal[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i17]2 x Minor Heal[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i20]1 x Purify[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i14]1 x Heal[/mwcard]
Whereas my book includes only 2 Healing Charms and 1 Heal.
My reasoning, if I'm about to lose an Angel ( 1 or 2 life left ), instead of investing more mana into trying to keep it alive, just cast a new one.
I cut Divine Intervention because I figured it costs way too much mana and my Walls of Earth should be cheaper and other options offering alternatives.
Samandriel was another card that got cut along the way as I found the Angels to be more effective overall for barely half the cost. I'd rather have 2 GA's than 1 Samandriel and to just keep her in the "sideboard" to come out vs dark and non-living creatures proved to be too much of a sbp investment for me ( 5 sbp's )
A couple of cards I still want to mention which I have in my book :
I can't stress enough the power of Piercing Strike.
A Piercing Strike on an enchanted Angel is 7 dice with Pierce +4.
That will usually take any Mage Tower, Battle Forge, Gravikor or Harshforge Monolith out of play in one fell swoop.
A Tanglevine at the right time has often provided me with a game swing.
Not to mention that it synergizes so well with Astral Anchor.
And last but not least : Enchanter's Wardstone.
One of the biggest threats to this book is [mwcard=MW1I21] Purge Magic[/mwcard]
Once your stack of enchantments goes beyond 4 it's probably a good idea to bring out the Wardstone to prevent the Purge. A Nullify and Enchantment Transfusion can be Seeking Dispelled anyway opening you up for a Purge. The Stone makes a Purge a very costly affair.
So, for this kind of build I think the Wardstone is really a must have.
Overall, I think gdieckhaus' Westlock Angels is already a good book but can still be improved upon.
I assume it's played rather steadily and defensively and could benefit from having an additional aggressive mode.
Nevertheless, I'd like to congratulate gdieckhaus with his third place finish at the gencon tournament.
Well done.
I can only humbly hope I gave him something to think about. :)
Thanks for reading.
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@Borg
With such a action heavy Enchantment load are not afraid of your opponent wising up and using [mwcard=FWI01]Destroy Magic[/mwcard] or [mwcard=MW1I21]Purge Magic[/mwcard] (I am including the mwcard=MWSTX1CKJ01]Enchanter's Wardstone[/mwcard]) to wreck your strategy? It might be a bit of a mana cost, but it is extremely action efficient and is quite easy to carry for Wizard.
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Interesting comparison between the two books. My only note is that I think you're undervaluing Divine Intervention. It's not a defensive card, no matter what the flavor text says. Using it to counter summoning a creature is usually GG.
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@Borg
With such a action heavy Enchantment load are not afraid of your opponent wising up and using [mwcard=FWI01]Destroy Magic[/mwcard] or [mwcard=MW1I21]Purge Magic[/mwcard] (I am including the mwcard=MWSTX1CKJ01]Enchanter's Wardstone[/mwcard]) to wreck your strategy? It might be a bit of a mana cost, but it is extremely action efficient and is quite easy to carry for Wizard.
Hi sIKE,
I think I can handle Purge Magic. ( for some time )
Enchantment Transfusion is usually the third Enchantment being put on after Lions Savagery and Bear Strength.
I keep/add an Enchantment Transfusion with the Stack at all times and use my QC to put on a new one after I transfused the stack and attacked with the other Angel and add a Nullify once the threat to Purge becomes real, meaning when the stack goes to 4+ enchantments.
At the same time the Priestess remains within 2 zones of the stack (but usually not in the same zone)
and another Angel may or may not be in the same zone as the enchanted Angel but normally within two zones.
If the opponent tries to Purge, the Nullify will counter it.
If the opponent triggers the Nullify first, then Purges, I'll Transfuse to the other Angel or the Priestess.
If the opponent Seeking Dispels the ET, the Nullify counters the Purge
If the opponent Seeking Dispels the Nullify, I'll Transfuse.
So, I think I have that situation covered.
If not, if there are other situations you can think of, feel free to correct me because I'm always willing to learn.
Truth be told, I've had no encounters (yet) with Destroy Magic and I can see that this one could be a problem as it targets a zone and not the creature,
thus : if my opponent could Seeking Dispel the Enchantment Transfusion and then follow up with Destroy Magic he could take out all enchantments ( including his own ).
However, that would mean a hell of an investment on the opponent's part.
Let's do the count : 2 from the Seeking Dispel + 16 from Destroy Magic + at least 8 from the Wardstone.
So we're talking at least 26 mana + potentially destroying a couple of his own enchantments as well along the way.
I don't know if this is a situation that will come up very often, but it might .... so, good of you to bring it up.
I'll certainly monitor my opponent's mana supply.
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Interested in a couple of points/tips since I don't get to play much.
Silverclaw, what have you done to get your angels to this:A Piercing Strike on an enchanted Angel is 7 dice with Pierce +4.
I'm also interested in how the stronger players are using their incantations? Most of the top books have few incantations, are you always casting them through a wand to hang onto them? Or just not using them as much? i. e. Teleport/ piercing strike etc. Doesn't this have a tempo / action cost?
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My only note is that I think you're undervaluing Divine Intervention. It's not a defensive card, no matter what the flavor text says. Using it to counter summoning a creature is usually GG.
Thanks for reminding me of this use for Divine Intervention.
It must certainly feel very rewarding to turn a DI face up when your opponent just cast a Lord of Fire :) or any 12+ mana creature for that matter.
I think I will have to reconsider this card.
Banana Sticker worthy ;)
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Silverclaw, what have you done to get your angels to this:A Piercing Strike on an enchanted Angel is 7 dice with Pierce +4.
Hi Moonglow,
Angel + Bear Strength + Lion Savagery = 7 dice ( when moving first )
Lion savagery + Piercing Strike = Pierce +4
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Interesting comparison between the two books. My only note is that I think you're undervaluing Divine Intervention. It's not a defensive card, no matter what the flavor text says. Using it to counter summoning a creature is usually GG.
How does it counter the summoning? Are you casting it on their new summoned creature to teleport it away from defenses and into range of your most powerful attacks? Or just away from you? It only seems a small tempo advantage for 10+ mana?
PS steelclaw, is Samandriel that bad/different? It essentially comes with built in bear strength and divine might, so same casting cost as angel plus these. Sure you can't Et them, but they can't be dispelled either and there is tempo advantage. Although perhaps not that great with your stack approach. The SB cost is probably the main sticking point I guess.
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Silverclaw, what have you done to get your angels to this:A Piercing Strike on an enchanted Angel is 7 dice with Pierce +4.
Hi Moonglow,
Angel + Bear Strength + Lion Savagery = 7 dice ( when moving first )
Lion savagery + Piercing Strike = Pierce +4
Thanks Borg, I'd gone back and looked as his enchantments and figured that might have been it. Is that a fair comparison though as lion savagery is only a potential +2 melee if he charges. +4 piercing will rip through armour though I agree.
Or am I missing something, should a flying creature always get charge if meleeing attacking on the ground? That would be cool and kinda makes sense, but probably makes lion savagery too strong then.
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Or am I missing something, should a flying creature always get charge if meleeing attacking on the ground? That would be cool and kinda makes sense, but probably makes lion savagery too strong then.
No, that would be too easy, wouldn't it ? ;)
This is where the Cheetah Speed comes in.
The Angel is a Flyer, so it can move around unhindered as long as it doesn't start its movement in a zone or doesn't move into a zone containing an enemy flyer.
So, if you put a Cheetah Speed on the above mentioned enchanted Angel you can actually attack anything withing 2 zones with 7 dice + Pierce+1 and then do it again the same round by Transfusing your enchantment stack to your other Angel.
Even if your target is in your own zone, the Cheetah Speed allows you to move out of the zone and then back in it so you can trigger the Lion Savagery's Charge+2 ( provided there is no enemy flyer in that zone of course ).
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Enchantment Transfusion is usually the third Enchantment being put on after Lions Savagery and Bear Strength.
Now everybody knows your secret, you welcome Borgs #1 play buddy ;)
You are right about the mana cost, but you also might look for a end of Round Force Hammer on the Ward Stone and a Purge Magic the following round, its 1 more mana, but two birds dealt with, with the those two actions and the mana intensity is split across two rounds. With 13/14 Channeling Mage its not that hard. I too favor heavy enchantment play and have learned this the hard way.
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Nice! Am appreciating lion savagery a bit more than I was I think! And, as steelclaw said, with piercing strike, a strong attack can start going through heavy armor conjurations and creatures like butter.
Hmmm elusive cheetah speed Bloodcrag minotaur with piercing strike lion savagery - similar effect +8 dice attack +4 piercing.
Damm, probably too long to setup, see why the angels work (or the falcons).
Or am I missing something, should a flying creature always get charge if meleeing attacking on the ground? That would be cool and kinda makes sense, but probably makes lion savagery too strong then.
No, that would be too easy, wouldn't it ? ;)
This is where the Cheetah Speed comes in.
The Angel is a Flyer, so it can move around unhindered as long as it doesn't start its movement in a zone or doesn't move into a zone containing an enemy flyer.
So, if you put a Cheetah Speed on the above mentioned enchanted Angel you can actually attack anything withing 2 zones with 7 dice + Pierce+1 and then do it again the same round by Transfusing your enchantment stack to your other Angel.
Even if your target is in your own zone, the Cheetah Speed allows you to move out of the zone and then back in it so you can trigger the Lion Savagery's Charge+2 ( provided there is no enemy flyer in that zone of course ).
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Enchantment Transfusion is usually the third Enchantment being put on after Lions Savagery and Bear Strength.
Now everybody knows your secret, you welcome Borgs #1 play buddy ;)
Well euhh ... sometimes it's number 4 :-X
I'm being tricksed here :)
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How does it counter the summoning? Are you casting it on their new summoned creature to teleport it away from defenses and into range of your most powerful attacks? Or just away from you? It only seems a small tempo advantage for 10+ mana?
PS steelclaw, is Samandriel that bad/different? It essentially comes with built in bear strength and divine might, so same casting cost as angel plus these. Sure you can't Et them, but they can't be dispelled either and there is tempo advantage. Although perhaps not that great with your stack approach. The SB cost is probably the main sticking point I guess.
If you reveal the DI and move the opposing mage to another zone before the creature spell resolves the spell will eventually fizzle because the mage is no longer in the zone which he originally targeted when casting the creature spell. ( range for a creature is 0-0 )
Samandriel is not so good in "taking care of herself" as the Guardian Angels.
She has no built-in defense and cannot heal herself.
She costs almost twice the price of an Angel and weighs in at 5 sbp's.
I don't mind losing an Angel, so I don't have to go out of my way to protect them
whereas Samandriel is such an investment you have to account for her safety all the time.
Therefore I prefer 2 Angels over Samandriel.
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Samandriel is not so good in "taking care of herself" as the Guardian Angels.
She has no built-in defense and cannot heal herself.
She costs almost twice the price of an Angel and weighs in at 5 sbp's.
I don't mind losing an Angel, so I don't have to go out of my way to protect them
whereas Samandriel is such an investment you have to account for her safety all the time.
Therefore I prefer 2 Angels over Samandriel.
QFT
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QFT = Quite F'n true?
QFT
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This has been an awesome learning thread, thanks Borg! :)
Hadn't even considered interrupting the spell by shifting the mage!
Thanks for the detailed points about Sam too, I had sort of forgotten/minimised the benefits of the angels heal and defense (dice hate me sometimes so I often feel a little meh about defense and prefer sure things).
How does it counter the summoning? Are you casting it on their new summoned creature to teleport it away from defenses and into range of your most powerful attacks? Or just away from you? It only seems a small tempo advantage for 10+ mana?
PS steelclaw, is Samandriel that bad/different? It essentially comes with built in bear strength and divine might, so same casting cost as angel plus these. Sure you can't Et them, but they can't be dispelled either and there is tempo advantage. Although perhaps not that great with your stack approach. The SB cost is probably the main sticking point I guess.
If you reveal the DI and move the opposing mage to another zone before the creature spell resolves the spell will eventually fizzle because the mage is no longer in the zone which he originally targeted when casting the creature spell. ( range for a creature is 0-0 )
Samandriel is not so good in "taking care of herself" as the Guardian Angels.
She has no built-in defense and cannot heal herself.
She costs almost twice the price of an Angel and weighs in at 5 sbp's.
I don't mind losing an Angel, so I don't have to go out of my way to protect them
whereas Samandriel is such an investment you have to account for her safety all the time.
Therefore I prefer 2 Angels over Samandriel.
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Hadn't even considered interrupting the spell by shifting the mage!
Credit ringkichard for bringing that to our attention.
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QFT
Quoted For Truth
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I'm also interested in how the stronger players are using their incantations? Most of the top books have few incantations, are you always casting them through a wand to hang onto them? Or just not using them as much? i. e. Teleport/ piercing strike etc. Doesn't this have a tempo / action cost?
I can't speak to the tournament experience, but my guess would be that the games don't often go long enough to require more incantations.