Re: End game diversity mod
 

Hmmm, not a bad point. I have to say I've never yet used either of those two spells, nor had them used against me. (And people call me a vet. Sheesh!) I think one of my Asynja's has a D pick. (Along with the earth I was using him for.) Gona see if I can think of a good situation to experiment in.

Re: End game diversity mod
 

Firebird has a great niche of destroying big undead armies using only a low number of fire gems and relatively low level conjuration research. Just don't use them by themselves, obviously. Use it with guys you don't care about going blind (chaff, guys with recuperation, PD) and SCs with high MR and it can be a great bang for the buck when a huge C'tis or Ermorian army shows up and you've not got the mages/research to drop the classic goto spells for that situation. Handy for countering an opponent who is beating you over the head with darkness to.

Re: End game diversity mod
 

Since quest for firebird is a unique spell, hardly a nation truely need it can afford the risk of waste....

Re: End game diversity mod
 

On krakens:

I tend to differ with the general opinion. Kraken is, I think, a very cost-efficient super-thug. It does not have slots... but then it does not need some to provide good army support. Amulet of fish, RoR and a reinvig item is enough, then cast stone/iron skin, quicken self, maybe breath of winter/ fire resistance (you have it through E-W combo) if needed, et voila. Multiple AP attacks provided by tentacles is really like a good magical weapon already and combines very well with quicken self, stone or iron skin and good HP removes the need for magic armor, one reinvig. item is enough to deal with fatigue as encumbrance is low.

If you plan to fight SC rather than armies, you can replace reinv. item by a cheap attack of strength bonus which works well with the 8 tentacle attacks by round.

Healing afflictions is a plus to ensure a good return on investment, as when you are opposed with Black Bow or just regular battle wounds.

Of course not the most powerful SC you can find... but for the price in gems, a very efficient one, IMHO.

Re: End game diversity mod
 

... and you get to say "RELEASE THE KRAKEN!" in a dramatic, moving voice. ;)
ssj

PS Got me thinking if there are any SCs where you could make a case to empower them with some path. Granted there are other things to spend gems on but there could be special circumstances that might trump the opportunity loss.

Re: End game diversity mod
 

I've just finished a MP game in which I was at war against Machaka who was relying on a lot of ember lords. I've sent a lot of anti-SC to counter them and 3/4 of them got blind while fighting the ember lords (the ember lords where alone and they didn't hold an eye shield).
Is it just bad luck or does the ember lords have some kind of special capacity?

Re: End game diversity mod
 

Are you sure no other mage casting blindness? No eyebow and no solar brilliance been casted?

Re: End game diversity mod
 

The Ember Lords could have been packing Eye Shields as well. Fairly common and nasty SC gear.

Re: End game diversity mod
 

My Ember Lords had some Eyeshields, some sorcerers were scripted on spamming Blindness, and a Firebird was wandering around. I guess all of that have destroyed some fragile eyes.

Re: End game diversity mod
 

Can ember lord go underwater?