Re: Lamias vs mandragoras
 

Ivy kings have also the advantage to be good Battlemages .
They are a very worthy charm platform http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

Re: Lamias vs mandragoras
 

Yes, they are a favorite summons whenever I have good access to Nature.

Re: Lamias vs mandragoras
 

Yeah they are imo even the most useful nature summon http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif.

Re: Lamias vs mandragoras
 

(Charm)(Relief)(Charm)(Relief)(Charm) is a wonderful thing.

Re: Lamias vs mandragoras
 

One thing I like to do with man is make 5 Ivy Kings as soon as possible and set each to cast a monthly ritual of summon vine ogre. It has a high upfront cost of 100N but you'll be glad you did it when you're producing 20 vine ogres a turn for a cost of 5N.

Re: Lamias vs mandragoras
 

I normally try to get a few Ivy kings and script then 2 to relief x5 and the others to charm x5 .
1 reliefcaster does normally as first casting mass regeneration and the 2nd mass protection .

My atm "optimal" lategame army has a few tartarians , a few ivy kings and as troops either mech men or devils .

I try to make 2-3 such good armies and minor enemy armies i try to beat with artillery spells or horrors or ghost riders .

The big army with the invy kings has good chances to get a few additional wraithlords by charming if someone decides to ghostrider it http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Lamias vs mandragoras
 

IMO the Vine Ogre is the "best" nature summon after you have a few Ivy Kings. The best part about the Vine Ogre is that it is a NORMAL unit. There are few normal units in the game that actually have the hps to stand up to SCs and wizards, and with Ivy Kings, Vine Ogres are by far the cheapest. They have 53hps and 12 attack skill. They can actually hit stuff too.

Re: Lamias vs mandragoras
 

I agree. Also, they don't eat and they don't rout.

Re: Lamias vs mandragoras
 

Mmm, the Ogres are good indeed, but I realize recently that lamias are better IMHO.
Ivy Kings need Conj 7. For 160 less RP you get Lamia Queens, and they can summon 5 lamias each (and they can forge moonvine bracelets, if you really need +1N somewhere).

Lamia are extremely powerful. They cannot be killed by a single killer spell like Gifts from Heaven. Also, they often survive weaker large-area spells like Wrathful Skies. They are immune to poison (like Ogres), and Foul Vapor will not damage them.
They drain life, so they regain both HP and fatigue when opposed by living troops. This is a 'magical' attack BTW, so they easily kill the classical ethereal buff (false horrors, spirits, winter wolven, even air elementals). Okay, they are cold blooded, and this could be a problem in a cold province, but if you can summon them you can also cast Relief in battle.

All this is very convenient for Man ! Man can summon Lamia Queens (Crone + Thistle Mace), forge a staff of storm (Crone with random +1 Air), cast Foul Vapors (Crone with random +1 W), cast Relief (any Crone, or even a Mother + Mace) and Soothing Songs. With a +1Air item and the SoS, any crone can cast Wrathfull Skies. Most Mages can cast Resist Lightning, and *all* mages, including the Bard, can cast Resist Poison.

Two suggestions for Man : (a) summon some undead with the N1 lamia queens (Arouse Hunger, Revive Whight, Summon Ghost, Behemoths, Manikins etc) when the N2 queens (with a mace) make lamias. Mix them all. Use undead or nature mage to lead them in battle. Add Foul Vapor. Serve.
(b) Take an Air9 pretender. Make Wardens and lamias. Forge Rings of Tamed Lightning for some monks. Forge a SoS. Send all the stuff in battle and cast Wrathful Sky (warden are immune when blessed, lamias will suffer very few losses).
Cheers