Re: Eater of the Dead
 

Your guarantee is not so strong... I ran some tests on the eater of the dead. It's stronger than 2 banelords without equipment, but 40 normal archers with no help killed the beast with minor losses(less than 10). Not mentioned, but still an interesting measurement. Viewing the battle I estimate 30 archers could even have won.
Then I tested those 50 undead horsemen you mention which slaughtered the creature... another test revealed even 20 of the undead horsemen easily killed the creature with minor losses(less than 5).

Another weakness of the eater of the undead from my testing revealed that only one of these can exist within a game. If another is summoned then POOF the other vanishes the same as the DJinn. No testing was done on the behemoth.

The creature has been improved from dominions_2 yet my testing rates it's value at only 11 astral.

Re: Eater of the Dead
 

Stronger in fight if it has reached his higher forms, yes. Better as a summoning? No. By that time he's near being uncontrollable already. Besides, i wouldn't put my money on the eater vs. the horsemen too soon, with the poor protection of the eater light lances hurt. And if we're talking eater vs. another summon not overall usefulness you can just summon a wight or two and let them kill the eater with a baneblade.
And i defninitly don't remember the eater being a really awesome summon in Dom 2, though he should've been if he's supposed to be decent in Dom 3 with twice the cost.

Re: Eater of the Dead
 

Go play arund with it. It has a few tricks up it's sleave that is not readily apparent.

Re: Eater of the Dead
 

It certainly has the ability to confuse newbies, and make them post frustrated threads on Dominions3 forum. So expect a steady flow of very short threads complaining about Eater of the Dead. It's a passive ability, and the effect lasts for about 2 years. * **

* assuming that Dominions4 is ever made, it will probably take about 2 years.
** unless the creature description is changed in one of future patches to make its strengths more apparent

Re: Eater of the Dead
 

Well it turns out it was bugged, so go play around with it some more after the first patch.

Re: Eater of the Dead
 

I think you should run some tests of undead horsies against some priests since that's what's going to happen to pale riders at that stage of the game ... I didn't mean to put all those units in the arena and say, "ROUND ONE FIGHT!"

Re: Eater of the Dead
 

You did not say 50 undead horses verses eater of the dead, 20 militia and 5 priests. Your guarantee was eater of the dead was STRONGER than 50 undead horses... this was WAY wrong. Before you start giving your guarantee I recommend examining your exact words.
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: Eater of the Dead
 

I don't have all the knowledge you guys do, but my first experience with this creature was a real let down. I'll admit I didn't really know what kind of role it was supposed to fill, though. I'll try again after the patch, of course. I wish I could remember what killed it, but it was something surprisingly minor. I remember I sent it into battle with my obelisk pretender by casting stygian paths. The pretender just sat and cast bone grinding and other mean spells, but the eater got killed before the obelisk won the battle.

I agree it could use an aura. Leprosy was a cool suggestion.

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Re: Eater of the Dead
 

Let it eat a bit first. Pillage your province if you want it to grow faster. It is somewhat broken and lack some of its fun specials, but that is fixed in the patch.

Re: Eater of the Dead
 

It seemed to be pretty random. It also went to an independent province, and joined the defenders. Light infantry and Unfettered fighting side by side really warms your heart. That might be just the disease aura, though. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smirk.gif