Re: Conceptual Balance (Discussion)
 

EA Tien Chi has 1/4 chance of getting a F2 Celestial Master, and 1/4 chance of getting F1D1 Celestial Master. Skull of Fire is a Fire booster. It wouldn't be 100 gems, and it wouldn't be just one mage. One empower and one Skull of Fire would let the lucky one forge boosters for the rest of the Celestial Masters. Of course, there's not really need for that, as 1/4 Celestial Masters have F2 and can both cast Phoenix Power without gems AND use a Skull of Fire.

EA Tien Chi also has Masters of the Five Elements, of course.

Other eras of Tien Chi don't have Fire, even as randoms.



MA Tien Chi doesn't have any Earth randoms. That's bad. It might also be a bug, because LA Tien Chi Celestial Masters DO have an Earth random, even though they don't have an Earth pick.
However, if one of the Celestial Masters is empowered to Earth 2 (30 gems), he can forge Earth Boots, and Dwarven Hammer with the boots.

LA Tien Chi has access to D2, E2 and N2, but not 3 in any one of these. They also have access to what MA Tien had: A2 and S2 via 100% randoms and W2 without random. The only thing MA Tien Chi has in addition is an E1 pick on the Celestial Masters, which is worse than being able to recruit E2D1 mages from all your castles, and access to W3 via a 100% random instead of just 10% random.

Tien Chi can't forge Air boosters. They can forge Astral boosters (Starshine Skullcap). With Skullcap, an E2 Celestial Master can forge Crystal Coins. Tien Chi can forge both Water boosters. Empowerment lets a Celestial Master forge Thistle Maces, and with N3S1 they can make a further Moonvine Bracelet.

Single empowerment can still be worth it for Tien Chi. However, it seems MA Tien Chi is very, very weak magic-wise. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Re: Conceptual Balance (Discussion)
 

MA Tien needs at least to get Earth randoms. Then we can at least open a way for them to use Gifts from Heaven.

Re: Conceptual Balance (Discussion)
 

Seems odd (and is definately frustrating) that LA TC's randoms can never go on the mages strengths. (D2 can't get D, E2 can't get E, etc.) Also that the one mage who starts with N2 - gets a nice extra 50 years of age, to ensure that he's dying despite having N2. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Re: Conceptual Balance (Discussion)
 

Celestial masters aren't good battlemages but they are still great units. Battlemages want high ratings in single paths rather than a wide range of paths, because of the way spells get better with higher path ratings and the limited ability to use spell diversity. However, they are excellent site-searchers, good forgers, and are good at casting the excellent Tien Chi specialist summons. You can also often boost individuals to cast hard-to-access multipath spells. Having access to them is an excellent boost to Tien Chi even if you don't want a bank of them doing artillery work.

Re: Conceptual Balance (Discussion)
 

Splendid initiative Zen!

With the new spell mod commands you can have a go at making spells, changing dmg, range, effects, and whatever.


Good luck!

Re: Conceptual Balance (Discussion)
 

Yes, based on the last patch progress report the 3.01 patch is almost ready.
Looks like I'll take Friday as a day off from work.
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

Re: Conceptual Balance (Discussion)
 

Is no one else insane enough to think about Summon Hellpower on Celestial Masters ?

Re: Conceptual Balance (Discussion)
 

You...can!!?? OMU, does this mean that I can make my Astral 1 Blood 1 Astral Taint that causes Horror Marks??

Re: Conceptual Balance (Discussion)
 

Was referring to this actually to be specific. I'm well aware of S&A's CM's I assure you. I have no real complaints about LA CM's and the only qualm about EA CM is that they start with old age and s1.

Re: Conceptual Balance (Discussion)
 

About old age, it seems that growth scale has a big effect. In a few demo games I've had many old people without any afflictions for the entire 40 turns with growth 3.

It seems growth scale is much more useful now, and that's a good thing, right? Of course, some things like Abysia probably could use some fiddling with but you shouldn't be too quick to just throw old age out.