Re: Quick Q: defending against shadow blast?
 

Cloud of Death, and cloud spells in general just cannot compare with any significant attack spell like this. There are only rare cases where they are useful, like seiges. Other than that, you have a strong possibility that your own men will wander into them and be killed.

The power of shadow blast is high damage, huge AOE, and really low casting requirements. If you arent impressed with it, that means you havent been really Shadow Blasted yet.

Re: Quick Q: defending against shadow blast?
 

Perhaps I've been using it wrong, then. I'll try casting it with several Ktonian necromancers at a time and see if it works better than Magma Eruption, although maybe the real problem is that Ktonian necromancers have low precision. I have found friendly casualties to be a bit of an annoyance in the past--especially since I like a high death bless on my sacred casters--but only when the enemy army is small enough that it quickly routs. For large battles, or small battles with only PD as chaff, Cloud of Death is a lovely spell.

-Max