I think the best way for a forcemaster tank to actually win would probably be spellbook attrition. I.e. pack lots of force crushes (for them) forcefields (for you), plus mana siphons, dissolves, dispels etc. You might actually pretend to solo rush at first so they use dispels etc. inefficiently, but also build up defences so that later in the game they're force crushed, you're forcefielded and they're out of dispels. Even if they've got lots of creatures, they'd use most of the effort getting through your defences.

Would suffer against another mage designed for a similar role (particularly wizards or death mages focused on direct damage/poison) but could be pretty effective against other builds.

In this context, Galvitar is great because of being a cantrip: you're guaranteed access to a weapon that remains useful when you start running low on mana. Ditto on force pull (particularly useful if you're elusive as you can pull an enemy into your square and then sprint out of charge range)


I'd find this fun to build/use, but probably never would, as it sounds dull/frustrating for your opponent unless they're into this sort of meta book-building. Same reason I retired my 'you can't kill me' priestess after a couple of games

The game already has a built in function for giving handicaps.

If you want to disadvantage yourself against the opponent, simply lower your 120 spell points...  build an 80 or 90 point one.   If you want to give the advantage to an opponent, increase them to 150 spellpoints or so.  Its simple, and the opponent understands the advantage you are giving them by simply showing them the mage card.   You dont have to "play down", and then when they are acclimated they can just start playing a regular book.    This also teaches a value for spell book point effeciency very early on.

I like the spellbook approach to handicapping: but giving them more spellbook points can just give them more stuff to choose between, which can make it more daunting! So limiting your own stuff might be easier.

In general, Magewars is easier to handicap than many games as you have the pre-game of making books. When I play against people who I tend to beat, I'll often play a thematic but sub-par mage (e.g. a Dwarf Warlord with only Dwarfs as creatures), which then means it's more challenging.

There are also some specific tricks that I just wouldn't use against a new person: basically, stuff that they probably don't realise you can do! So basically anything involving enchantment transfusion for instance.

Finally, frustration isn't just about winning/losing. The swiftest change I've made was playing against a newish person when I brought out a Priestess who had armour up to the hilt, plus veteran's belt, plus aegis: he basically couldn't put any damage on her, and I had cheap heal anyway. The issue there wasn't that it was overpowered, so much as if you didn't beat it, it was boring. A bit like the old Magic the Gathering 'permission' decks where you countered everything the other person did: it just isn't a fun game unless you've got into that sort of deck design meta.

Interesting book! I'm currently playing a Warlock with a couple of Blood Demons, though I usually only use one (as the Reaper as is being talked about here) and then rely on curses and a bit of fire magic. I lay down a battleforge first turn and bring out the Demon second turn.

If you want to go for several reapers, I think it would help to have some walls, as they can fly over them anyway and it can separate a mage from his guards. Wall of Fire and Wall of Bones are both good and cheap: a wall of thorns in your back pocket gives you an opportunity if an unarmoured opponent pushes their luck. Not sure I'd bother with Wardstones, although they're good with curses: I guess it depends how many dispels your opponents tend to carry.

In terms of buffs, bear strength is great on something with Vampiric, and Mongoose agility might be worth it on your reaper, but I wouldn't necessarily bother with the other ones. There is the slight risk of the opponent just running away because your Demons don't hinder him, but if the Warlock himself is in melee that's less of an issue. Lion savagery only seems worth it if you also have cheetah speed, and that's a pretty massive investment.

I'd be tempted to replace at least one of the vampirisms with regrowth: the latter is more flexible (i.e. can be used while running away if you're injured) and against so many curses I don't see your buffs being dispelled that much anyway. My warlock sometimes has the bloodreaper's healing, regrowth belt and vampirism at the same time, which means he can soak up shocking amounts of damage and that the opponent really can't afford to pause to build resources.

I'd also be tempted to have at least area attack spell in case of swarms. If you're surrounded by 4 thunderift falcons with a rajan's fury or two down, a ring of fire is very welcome indeed.

I was going to say that Dragonscale Hauberk beats Daemonhide, but actually with bloodthirsty creatures it might be convenient to cause small amounts of damage to opposing creatures and make them tastier targets!

I would also consider the forge. The main boon is action efficiency, and a chance to react before quickcast. Given you're presumably going to spend most of your full actions hitting things, an extra action wouldn't go amiss

No once you have cast Libro it is now an object with the Spawnpoint trait. It is what (functionally) brings the creature into play.

But to be explicit, (as per the card posted above), things summoned from spawnpoints can also go to the garrison post. RogRog: you might have missed this if you have an older set, as the garrison post card was updated (largely to let it work with barracks, but helping with Libro Mortus too!)

Where are the Dwarves? Seem to be only 3 against 9 goblins! Which side of the Battle of the Five Armies are you on anyway? 

I mainly ask because I'm foolish enough to be making an all-Dwarf deck and was hoping someone was sharing my pain....


Only vaguely helpful comment: given your battle orders give fast, not sure 'charge' is worth it. Also, I don't see Akiro's battle cry being pulled off twice in a game!

Well brutes can guard but have bloodthirsty, so they have to attack if they can... a tough wounded creature can therefore draw off all the guards.

Zombies are incredibly tough and strong for the points, but bloodthirstiness and speed are both problems for them. Pushing/teleporting the necromancer away from his swarm and putting up walls isn't a bad start. Also just quick, early attacking. If you're in his face on the third turn, a battleforge/libro/ring approach is just too slow.

Sure someone will come along to rain on the angel parade soon, but one more positive first: the cheap armour given by crown of protection is particularly good  value with angels, given they already have aegis and flying making it a pain to attack them.