FIF: Defend Preview

[Hey_Daralon]

I agree that it should be novice, its a great essential for pretty much any spellbook with creatures. Its good to have cheap spells that can be used in a pinch. I haven't got this much excited over a card worth 1 mana.

[Aylin]

This was the response on FB to that question: "Defend was novice for two reasons. First, we felt that this was a simple order. Any intellegent living creature could be ordered to guard something, so this was a a simple spell to encourage them to do so. Second, when we wanted to have spell to encourage more creature combat. That was something we wanted everyone to have access to.

When looking at the Warlord and command spells, it's good to keep in mind that he has three cards for him alone that improve the use of commands, Gurmash, Helm of Command, and Ring of Command. Of these Gurmash and the Helm are superb with this command."

seems like pretty weak reasoning to me.

It'll be fine as long as they make more non-novice commands that will actually see play (Battle Fury, Retaliate, and Charge are the only three currently iirc).

[ringkichard]

Sadly for Warlord, Retaliate is not a command. Believe me, I checked.

[Aylin]

Sadly for Warlord, Retaliate is not a command. Believe me, I checked.

That...what? Argh!

[ringkichard]

Not a crazy idea, though. I brought the idea up when I noticed how well Defend worked on Gurmash.

[BoomFrog]

Not a crazy idea, though. I brought the idea up when I noticed how well Defend worked on Gurmash.

Defend does not work well on Gurmash. You have to remember each time he uses a command your losing his melee attack.

[ringkichard]

If you say so

[Aylin]

Not a crazy idea, though. I brought the idea up when I noticed how well Defend worked on Gurmash.

Defend does not work well on Gurmash. You have to remember each time he uses a command your losing his melee attack.

Can be worth it if the creature you're casting it on has a better attack than Gurmash does.

[sIKE]

Defend does not work well on Gurmash. You have to remember each time he uses a command your losing his melee attack.

What if he isn't the one casting it?

[BoomFrog]

He's an okay choice but I'd prefer a knight of westlock or a vampiress. Or better yet a heavily enchanted vampiric bear strengthed gorrila.

[ringkichard]

He's an okay choice but I'd prefer a knight of westlock or a vampiress. Or better yet a heavily enchanted vampiric bear strengthed gorrila.

So if you've got one of those, you wouldn't cast a 2nd defend with Gurmash? And a third with your full action?

[applepi]

What I like about this command is that it can be cast for free on an orc butcher with gurmesh's channeling or command ring discount.  In addition, it can be reused, via helm of command.  The butchers have a 4 dice attack, which isn't weak.  A free guard on them is powerful.

I think a new theme of the warlord is alternate between low cost commands and large cost spells like conquer or summoning thorg.

[BoomFrog]

I can't imagine an opponent masochistic enough to attack such a beast 4 times so no I don't think I'd ever have opportunity to cast defend so many times in one turn. But I'll concede I'm going to put defend and Grummesh in any warlord book so I'm sure I'll find opportunity to use them together when my warlord is busy.

I'd just prefer to use grunmish mostly for attacking and casting rare expensive commands.

What I'm really hoping to see now are more arena wide commands. Maybe all soidiers gain immovable and 2 armor until the end of the round?

[ringkichard]

The interesting thing about Bloodthirsty is that it's a forced attack. Zombies and Vampires and Demons and such are fools for a lightly injured guard.