March 29, 2024, 01:12:29 AM

Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - HERO

Pages: [1]
1
Strategy and Tactics / Re: How to effectively use the Force Master?
« on: November 21, 2013, 01:59:22 PM »
I think it is priced about right for the initial cast, I just feel it doesn't need the Upkeep Cost. Compared to similar cost creatures, it has an average attack and half the Life. Being Incorporeal and Invisible makes up for the low life and lack of armor though. Your opponent will probably have more creatures than you, meaning even if you delay as long as you can, he'll still be able to swing with one creature after you swing with the stalker. Still, he doesn't have to survive as many attacks as other creatures might. If the attack is ethereal though, it is going to hurt.

All of that seems to balance out. Average attack and average survivability for his cost. However, then we tack on the facts that he can not benefit from most of the enchantments in the game AND I have to pay Upkeep +1 each round? That makes him an inferior creature to me. If I could buff him up with my enchants, then I would simply equip a psi-orb and call things good. He'd see some use for me. As is though, I'd rather have other critters.

Exactly, there's no way to make him better.  For the FM, a Grizzly with enchants is infinitely more useful.  Same with the Vampire, or Brogan.  If you're casting for 15 mana + spending upkeep, the creature better be good.  In this case, he's not, not even close.  The only thing he offers is that he costs 5 points to put in the spellbook.

2
Strategy and Tactics / Re: How to effectively use the Force Master?
« on: November 21, 2013, 10:56:34 AM »
I'm wondering out there, for the playtesters who tested the product, but what is the purpose of the Invisible Stalker?  Seems overpriced and largely useless.

3
Strategy and Tactics / Re: How to effectively use the Force Master?
« on: November 20, 2013, 04:36:26 PM »
There's no way I'm sharing my book.  ;)

There are many ways to play FM effectively. Of the various routes I have seen, the three most effective have been...

Few big as per my post above
Thoughtspore with push or teleport, plus tooled up FM
Solo with forcefield

I take your point ref a versatile Wizard book, in fact, my main is an Air Wizard, but I still have PLENTY spells and several routes to win in my FM book with even THREE big. Grizzly, Brogan, Galador. Two big is slightly better
. I would trade versatility for effectiveness most times. Clearly, a bit of versatility IS required.

Ps what is voltron collective?

Just Voltron, it's a term used in magic that represents a mage who builds himself up to be stronger and stronger.  Normally he's Hexproof (cannot be targeted by spells and abilities), loaded with enchantments, equipment and other buffs so he can single-handily kill the enemy mage.  This is pretty much the FM, minus the hexproof and without counterspells for the most part.  With that comes the threat of enemy spells and abilities that target her and render her combat ineffective.

It's fine, I can share my book if you'd like.  I don't think it's something to hide since we're all players trying to improve our game.

Quote
Forcemaster
47 spells, 120 spell points

1 Battle Forge
2 Battle Fury
2 Bear Strength
1 Brogan Bloodstone
1 Charm
1 Cheetah Speed
1 Colossus Belt
2 Dispel
2 Dissolve
1 Eagleclaw Boots
1 Elemental Cloak
1 Falcon Precision
1 Force Crush
1 Forcefield
2 Force Hold
3 Force Push
1 Force Ring
1 Galvitar, Force Blade
1 Gauntlets of Strength
1 Hand of Bim-Shalla
2 Mage Wand
1 Mind Control
1 Mordok's Obelisk
2 Piercing Strike
1 Psi-Orb
2 Regrowth
3 Sleep
1 Suppression Orb
2 Surging Wave
2 Teleport
2 Thoughtspore
1 Vampirism

I worked with 2x Vampires before, same with 1x Brogan/1x Vampire, and I've also tried Grizzly/Brogan.  In my personal experience, you're better off spell-slinging with the help of 2+2 Thoughtspores/Wands to control the board rather than summoning another creature.  I find Surging Wave to be one of the best spellbind spells because of the ranged Slam.

I'm very disappointed about the Invisible Stalker though, have you guys found much use of him?

4
Strategy and Tactics / Re: How to effectively use the Force Master?
« on: November 20, 2013, 03:44:04 PM »
What does she do better than any other mage? The Forcemaster is the best solo mage in the game. Because you are attacking with her so much, you always have lots of spare mana to cast whatever you want. She is also the best at controlling the position of other creatures on the battlefield.

-Galvatar is the best weapon in the game. Equip it early and go in swinging.
-A built-in defense against both melee and ranged as an innate ability. Means you can afford to take more attacks, so charge!
-Force Pull lets you pull an enemy Mage away from his guard so you can use Galvatar's full attack.
-The Mind Control + Obelisk combo mentioned earlier lets you eliminate most any big creature threat in just one round.
-Swarms? <play Mass Sleep and Forcefield> What swarms?

First turn sprint and Battle Forge. Second turn Galvatar and Force Ring and sprint. Third turn you start bringing the pain while the Forge beefs you up - and you have at least 15 mana to work with. Charm or Sleep all the smaller threats, Mind Control the larger ones. Cast a Thoughtspore with Battle Fury on it for some fun.

Last Forcemaster game I played, I got in my opponent's face as fast as possible (a Beastmaster) and the game ended in 7 rounds with half his creatures asleep on the other side of the arena.

Actually, I've played a handful.  Still consider myself new to the game given I've had <5 games with her.  I've won all of them too, so it's not like I'm coming in all prissy.

It's just that everytime I've played her, I question the amount of spells I have in my book to my Wizard.  For example, in my Water Wizard book, I have 66 spells and a crap ton of versatility in the form of Dispel/Dissolve/Teleport/Creatures/Hexes/Equipment/Spellbinds/Walls.  In my ~45 spell Force Master deck, I only have a handful of Dispels and Dissolves, and not nearly as many versatile spells to cast.  Sure, I'm missing the MC + Obelisk combo, but I'm also missing handfuls of Agony/Gate/Marked for Death/Nullify/Jinx..etc.

I've been reading other FM threads as well and it seems that basic openers for the FM is relatively the same.  I myself have been going the solo +1 route with just her and Brogan.  Her spell collection needs to fit her playstyle and thus, she needs extra equipment and supportive spells to fuel that "Voltron" collective.  Oh, and I have 2x Thoughtspores and 2x Mage Wands to help with supporting casts of spells, but honestly that's it.

Some of you have already shared your experience with FM, but maybe you can share your books?  I'm beginning to wonder if everyone's books look pretty similar or are there more diverse builds to play FM.

5
Strategy and Tactics / Re: How to effectively use the Force Master?
« on: November 20, 2013, 01:27:52 PM »
She is a combat machine.  Force field is the best defense there is.  Galvitar is the best weapon.  Her basic mage abilities are both very useful.  Add to that her tool box of spells like mind control, charm, force crush... and I'm not too sure I see the problem.  My usual opponent says he will just concede if I bring another FM to the table. :(

The problem here is that she's one person, with limited actions, with highly cost ineffective creatures, with bad matchups.  She has absolutely nothing to deal with Iron Golems for example, and if you fought against a Water Mage, I just can't see her making any progress.  If you manage to lock her down, it doesn't matter how much mana you spent on her to get her into fighting position, she's still just as susceptible to other mage's spells.  If you know something about Magic, she's basically a Voltron caster, but with no hexproof.

If your opponent concedes if you bring FM to the table, I suggest you guide him here and take a look at some Wizard/BM/Priest builds.  Having limited actions while being susceptible to disables and other mage actions is just pretty terrible.

6
Strategy and Tactics / Re: How to effectively use the Force Master?
« on: November 20, 2013, 11:52:38 AM »
With an obelisk down, she can mind control your big creature and not pay the upkeep cost, instantly killing it.

Yes, I realize this.  But is that all she has to offer?  Like I said, a class should be able to offer something more right?

7
Strategy and Tactics / How to effectively use the Force Master?
« on: November 20, 2013, 01:11:50 AM »
I'm still pretty new to the game, but I would consider myself a pretty good, well-rounded gamer who's had his share of competitive TCGs, minis and board games.

After picking up nearly everything for Mage Wars (don't have Druid vs. Necro yet), I wanted to play the Force Master because I think she looks the coolest.  Sadly, after doing some in-depth research and class analysis, I'm a little confused of her purpose.

It seems that all the other classes in the game can function better than she does.  When you compare her spell repertoire with respect to point cost, it seems that she's very unfocused and cost ineffective.  Take the Wizard for example, a lot of the staple spells that people find essential are in the Arcane tree.  It's no surprise why people consider the Water Mage to be extremely strong, capable of multiple styles of play and openers, access to cheap and plentiful Dispel/Dissolve/Teleport/Mage Wand, all while having access to any creature in the game for 1-2x.

The other classes also feature pretty decent abilities, but the main thing to take away from those classes is that they can take creatures.  Creatures in their own school costs base, those outside costs 2x, and very rarely do they need to dabble in their weakest tree to take the 3x penalty.  Why is it that the Force Master is the only class in the game that pays triple for all creature spells outside of the Mind school?  It doesn't help that mind creatures are a complete flop with all things considered.  Creature actions dictate the pace of the game a lot, and having a class with limited openers and predictable gameplay is just a little lackluster.  I don't think the concept of solo play works very well in a game where multiple actions result in more dice rolled, and more dice equates to more damage while multiple creatures means more survivability.

If her purpose is to play control, I don't think she does a very good job at it.  If it's about doing solo damage, I don't see it either (especially with the Bim-Shalla nerf).  It's certainly not about supplying creatures, because she's pretty bad about that.  A spell-slinger mage doesn't work either because you're going to run out of cards, and they have finite use/application.  Aside from a few Grizzly teleport tricks, what is her actual win condition?  What can she do that a Water Mage, or a good Priest, or good Beastmaster, can't do better?

8
Spellbook Design and Construction / Re: Forcemaster - Grizzlies
« on: November 18, 2013, 12:58:38 PM »
OK. I just look at it like this:
Instead of babysitting the Bears with ups, heals and teleports to get his full action attack, you require virtually no babysitting on the vampires.

You can then focus that mana on disruption, control, and buffing your FM to be a better beatstick.

End result is 3 serious threats on the battlefield instead of 2.

9
Spellbook Design and Construction / Re: Forcemaster - Grizzlies
« on: November 17, 2013, 07:16:01 PM »
Here's my take on somewhat of the same build, with my personal build to taste.

Forcemaster

2x Battle Fury
2x Bear Strength
1x Cheetah Speed
3x Decoy
2x Dispel
2x Dissolve
1x Dragonscale Hauberk
1x Force Crush
1x Forcefield
2x Force Hammer
2x Force Hold
2x Force Push
1x Force Ring
1x Galvitar, Force Blade
1x Gauntlets of Strength
2x Mage Wand
2x Mind Control
2x Necropian Vampiress
1x Psi-Orb
1x Purify
2x Regrowth
2x Sleep
1x Suppression Orb
2x Surging Wave
3x Teleport

42 spells, 120 spell points

The big difference here is that I have 2x Vampires over the Grizzlys.  I find them to be more cost effective if you think about what you're getting.  You don't need to add anything else other than Regrowth + Bear Strength and they can take care of themselves.  Saves you points, 1 less armor for greater quick attack that can keep the mobile.

The rest of the list is built for a little bit more control with Magewand, 2x MCs, 2x Sleep, 2x Surging Waves, with Force Hold and Force Crush.  Utility spells with Teleport, Dispel and Dissolve, while keeping 2x Force Hammers just in case I need extra dice for damage.

Lastly, the default equipment setup for the Forcemaster herself to keep her dangerous Galvitar and Gauntlets mainly, but I can save a Bear Strength/Regrowth for her as well.

Let me know what you think.

Pages: [1]