Last 30 spell book points (Necromancer)

[DaveW]

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?

[DaveW]

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.

[sdougla2]

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.

[wtcannonjr]

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.

[DaveW]

How do I get to that spellbook builder? I'd rather put it in that format than just type it in. Thanks!

[sdougla2]

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

[sIKE]

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....

[wtcannonjr]

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 ...

[V10lentray]

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...

[DaveW]

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)

[Puddnhead]

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  .  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.

[V10lentray]

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.

[Laddinfance]

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

He is.

[iNano78]

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 or spell book builder, or at least in the Rules and Codex Supplement 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.

[Puddnhead]

YAY! Another 4 dice, 8 cost Soldier! Wooo!