Re: Thuggity Thug [efficient thug builds]
 

How many gems you want to spend?

10 Frost Brand, Pendant of Luck
15 + Lead Shield
25 +Boots of Quickness
35 +Ring of Regen (or Lycanthrope Amulet)
45 +Amulet of Magic Resistence and Horror Helm

Re: Thuggity Thug [efficient thug builds]
 

Some thugs, but not necessary efficient builds. Click on the thumbnail to view fullsize :-

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/6...yer1ra8.th.jpg

Its got the rat tail and monolith armour because I was sick of them sitting in my lab.

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/9655/tim1tv1.th.jpg

This little fellows more deadly than the banelord, cheap equipment too...

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/2...fourmw9.th.jpg

Shame about the fatigue but fun!

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/4...ver1ms3.th.jpg

Hint, another dude on the battlefield has Banner of the Northern Star, come in packs...

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/2...diceft6.th.jpg

Loves undead/demons.

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/9...fishht2.th.jpg

Come to the dark side...

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/5...ntwoqo5.th.jpg

A bit of a failed experiment, needs higher precision, still 4 bonds of fire per combat rounds not bad.

Just a small example of some of my thugs, I like experimenting as you can see. I even do it alot in MP, rather than go with something I know works, I often make something new up just for fun.

Re: Thuggity Thug [efficient thug builds]
 

Cool - thanks for posting those!

Re: Thuggity Thug [efficient thug builds]
 

Nice. I guess now i'll have to post some of mine too http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif.

Re: Thuggity Thug [efficient thug builds]
 

What this says to me is that SC status is context-dependent, since toward the late game there is no way to protect any single combatant from all the nasty tricks available (though not every trick is necessarily available to every nation). For instance, there is no gear that can protect you from the Standard of the Damned (or five of them), and if you're not immune to Petrify by virtue of being made of stone, no gear will make you so. (Unless Boots of Stone/Stoneskin do, which would be a surprise but not a shock.) Therefore, an SC is only a thug when going up against someone who's reseached/constructed counters he isn't immune to.

-Max

Re: Thuggity Thug [efficient thug builds]
 

High MR, etherialness or combined high prot/high def (above 20 for both), mobility, the ability to attack multiple opponents in a single round and weaken masses of surrounding opponents you don't attack at the same time, good regeneration or affliction healing or lifedrain, and protection from atleast 2 elements/poison or being made of stone, and atleast 2 magic paths with atleast 1 at level 2 or better, these things make for a good SC.

Re: Thuggity Thug [efficient thug builds]
 

How about an ethereal def 31, awe, protection 22, luck, mr 20, immunity to poison, fire immunity, cold resist, poison cloud, regeneration with an aoe sword?

<3 erinye.

Re: Thuggity Thug [efficient thug builds]
 

That's not too bad, if you started with a basic human or something

Re: Thuggity Thug [efficient thug builds]
 

So what are considered the great non-unique chassis?

For arguments sake - say moderate HP (30+), moderate EQ (const. 6) and moderately expensive (around 60 gems)

Bane Lord - 12 gems, ok HP, undead (no enc, CR), can regen, all slots
Wraith lord - 40 gems, D3 - soul vortex, can regen, all slots, summons ghosts, no enc
Sleeper - less HP, less resistences, 10 gems, all slots, can regen
Golem - mindless, can't regen, S2+skullcap = teleport/slay plus eth, luck, twist, astral shield, no enc, 30 gems, all slots

Beyond the 4 common ones who are considered good?
By path - does fire have one? Water? Earth? Air? Blood has a few, starting with succubus up to some heliophage/lords/archdevils.
By nation - any nation specific? Umbral? Jarls? Unfamiliar with Lanka/patala demon summonings, Mict specific blood summons?

Are some of the knights considered worthwhile? I could see grey knights being worthwhile from the get-go with ethereal.

Any specific heroes that stand out as good base models?

Any worthwhile caster heavy SC's? Either just via buffs or combat magic as well?

Any units that make a great SC with the right prophetize/bless combo?

Re: Thuggity Thug [efficient thug builds]
 

Harbringers are amazing. I've only tried them out in SP, but they've got flight, great Air buffing potential, good HP, can bless themsleves, brutal precision, and absolutely fry demons/undead with their built in massive area ranged attack. Just 25 gems a pop, and Conj 6. Have to be Pythium or Marignon though http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif.

Mictlan Tlahuelpuchi cost 25 blood and are Blood 6. I like to send them out with just a regen ring, a bane venom charm, and some blood slaves. They can fly into an enemy capital, turn into a super-stealth dog and disease it for a while. When you get Blood 7, assassination using Leech is very effective.