SC Arena Competition Over! Results on page 9
 

I was poking through the archives of ancient wisdom (aka. DomII forums) the other day and unearthed a nifty thread about people sending in SC ideas for a giant deathmatch. It sounded so fun that I decided to resurrect the concept for Dominions 3!

Sound interesting? Build a SC and send him in to me! I'll start a test game, recruit and equip everybody's SC, and wish for a giant deathmatch that will determine the victor!

Edit: SC Arena Competition 1 is over, but was plagued by replay bugs and I have consequently taken it down. The make-up contest will be re-run on December 22nd or 23rd, with several small refinements to the original ruleset.
- The new 5 path rule has been adopted, detailed in the rules list. This discourages "insta-death" spellcaster types and should result in more entertainment for viewers.
- Pretenders will no longer possess the #pretender tag, which provided them with immunity to mind spells.
- All paths will be researched for all players before the contest takes place. This provides a familiar, baseline level of risk for the "Cast Spells" command that people have requested.

By default, all combatants from contest 1 will be entered in contest 2, unless they violate the 5 path rule. Combatants who violate the 5 path rule will be modified to conform with it in the way I deem least foolhardy, unless their creator contacts me with specific instructions. If you wish, you can send me an updated combatant and I will replace your old one. If you'd like to bow out completely, pm me and I'll remove you.

Your SC may be of any almost chassis in the game (GOR is allowed), may be empowered up to 3 times, may wield any non-unique equipment, and may script any spells known to it. You may only carry 10 gems/blood slaves into the arena, however! Pretenders may choose up to 2 magic levels in addition to their empowerment options.

Your combatant only has to conform to the following rules:

• No Seraph
• No Doom Horrors
• No artifacts
• No Blessings allowed
• No prophets
• Aquatic contenders must take Amulet of the Fish as a misc item. However, I will mod in an extra misc slot to any Aquatic chassis that you choose in order to compensate for this disadvantage.
• Your combatant may have no more than 5 magic paths in total, after empowerment and pretender picks. If you end up with more, then I will mod your chassis to remove excess picks (you may choose which paths are removed, if you wish.)

PM me your combatant with the following information:

• Chassis
• Magic empowerment
• Magic picks to be removed to confirm with the 5 path max rule, if necessary.
• Script
• Gem/slave choice
• Equipment
• Nation (in case you need a specific pretender chassis or national spell)
• Name (something tough!)

Clarifications:

• Note that Claws of Kocytos and Banish to Inferno do not work in arena fights, and are therefore useless. Do not script them.
• You don't get 5 empowerments from the 5 path rule. Literally put, your final paths (after pretender magic picks and empowerment) must be less than or equal to 5.
• You contender may boost their magic above 5 using items such as Earth Boots or Robe of the Magi. This is not prohibited by the 5 path rule.
• Priest levels do not count towards the 5 path limit.
• For purposes of complying with the 5 path rule, you choose which paths are removed. These can be base magic paths. For instance, if you pick an Anathement Dragon as your combatant and decide to empower it to 3 water (total 3 water, 3 fire) you could choose to remove either 1 water level or 1 fire level.
• The 5 path rule doesn't allow for removing more paths than is necessary to get your combatant down to 5. So you could not, for instance, choose to remove all magic levels from your Anathement Dragon combatant.
• Only 1 combatant per person, please.
• The contest will take place on the night of December 22nd or December 23rd. The deadline for submissions goes right up to the minute I start setting up the contest (likely 8:00 Pacific Time.) If you want to enter, I'd urge you to have your combatant submitted by then.
• Immobile pretenders normally cannot enter the arena. However, if you'd like to choose an immobile, I will mod it to possess a mapmove of 1. They are not banned.

Edit: Here's my combatant for round 2, which, in the interest of fairness, should be public knowledge.
Void Lord
Blood Thorn x2
Wraith Crown
Hydra Skin Armor
Boots of Quickness
Ring of Regeneration
Lifelong Protection Contract
3F, 2S
Phoenix Pyre, Luck, attack large.

The contest is now over. The turn file, and the mod required to view it, can be downloaded on page 9 of this thread.

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

What about Tartarians? they come in so many varieties...

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

Sounds fun! I'll go with:

Name: Very Furious Bastard
Chassis: Angel of Fury
Magic: F3
Script: Attack Closest
Gems: 10 blood slaves
Placement: Far Lower Left-Hand Corner
Equip: Shadow Brand, Eye Shield, Rainbow Armor, Starshine Cap, Boots of Quickness, Lycanthrope Amulet, Lifelong Protection

Edited to add placement

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

What about random magic paths? I guess Rytek was probably asking about that in regards to the Tartarians, but lots of chasises have random picks which varies them quite a bit. Also for clarification, I'm assuming gems/slaves are not replenished between fights?

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

OoOOHH! I am on it... Need time to plan....

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

My guess would be that you could configure a unit with random picks to any viable random output.

Jazzepi

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

Right, you can pick your randoms. Posting your build to the forum is a disadvantage that is not required btw; if you just pm it to me then it will remain top secret.
Gems/slaves are not replenished between battles- I will wish for deathmatch and throw everything in together.

I will post the turn file when everything is ready.

Edit: while you ponder your kick-*** SC builds, feel free to check out some of the new sprite graphics from my Ch'uan Qi mod, which makes available a nation loosely based on the legends surrounding the five sacred mountains in China and the Shaolin temple! This sprite (attached) is the Jade Dragon Master... So far, I have made all my sprites completely from scratch. Look ok? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

If pretenders are allowed, are any of the normal pretender options (extra paths and awe) allowed? Or just the base paths (with 3 empowerment)?

Is there any way to avoid the effects of Banish to Inferno/Claws of Cocytus? If not, are those spells allowed?

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

What happens if two people pick the same unique?

Also, as I recall, anything without hands cannot enter the death match, so people should take that into account when designing.

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

I don't think anything should be banned (well, glyphs and vastnesses etc impossible as QM says). I think the combat order of the Arena is not designed to be "fair", and also damage from one combat carries over to the next fight (but not afflictions).

I think the idea is that this is supposed to be fun. You can take it seriously if you want, but if an unseeded harpy scout wins the initiative, and flies over and pecks you in your eye for your last single HP after you defeated 10 opponents in epic battles, you might be disappointed.

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

As far as hands, isn't it that anything mobile can compete, but you can only win the trident if you can hold it? I thought it was an easy out of having to return, not to mention being stuck with a crappy item...

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

Awe via dominion 9 or 10 isn't allowed, though I don't think it'd be terribly powerful in this contest anyway. As stated in the original post, pretenders are allowed 3 extra magic levels, plus their alloted empowerments.

If two people pick the same unique then I will mod in a second copy of the unique using copystats.

As for the hands thing, that doesn't appear to be the case. A GoRed Hydra was able to compete in the arena match in my test game.

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

Interesting, I assumed it was all no handed creatures, but perhaps it's just ones specifically with the immobile tag?

EDIT: I'm guessing the aquatic tag too, perhaps with the exception of amulet of the fish wearers.

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

PotatoMan, can you please try an Ancient Kraken? I think I tried to send one to a death match before, and it didn't have the order available. I've seen aquatics in the arena before, so it's not that. I'll still stick with my Angel though.

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

Nope, fish people can fight in the arena without the amulet as if they were in water, IIRC.

Immobile cannot participate, But anything else can.

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

Which fish people? Mermen and atlantians aren't aquatic.

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

I was just tring to be cute, I meant any aquatic unit. I have seen the AI send tritons to the arena IIRC. Could be wrong but i don't think so.

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

I have a badass which will remain a super secret! You will only know his/her/it's name. MRMunchy!

Fear MrMuchy...fear him/her/it!

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

Aquatic units are allowed for sure. That's why I'm confused about the Ancient Kraken.

Edit: Nope, I'm wrong. Aquatics are allowed for the AI only. They might work for humans with a Fish Amulet.

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

Name: Anthrax
Chassis: King of Banefires
Magic: +2 Earth, +1 Death
Script: Cast Summon Earthpower, Invulnerability, Soul Vortex, Drain Life, Banefire, Cast Spells; Placed up close
Gems: 10 Death gems
Equipment: Ring of Regeneration, Amulet of Resilience, Lucky Coin, Armor of Souls, Skull Helmet
Nation:

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

I don't think so. I just tested with both aboleths and tritons, no dice.

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

do you mean Armor of souls and soul vortex stacks ??

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

Chassis : Dagon
Race : Atlantis
Empowerement : + 3w
Magic : + 3w
Gear : Vine Shield, Charcoal Shield, Rainbow Armor, Spirit Helmet, Boots of the Messenger, Dancing Trident, Amulet of Resilience
Gems : 10w
position : in the middle
Script : Living Water, Quicken Self, Breath of Winter, Attack closest

(strange build without regen and high prot, may work or not, the idea is to have him quietly trample all little summons, and remain conscious after the opponent)

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

Oh, this is making me so confused! I know I saw some kind of Rlyeh hero in a Death Match just a few days ago. Is it just the AI that can send aquatics? There's a pic of a triton lord in the arena here:

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...;Number=459687

Yeah, the pic is old, so maybe it's been changed. But man, I know I just saw that Rlyeh dude in 3.10.

I cannot send any aquatic or immobile unit in my testing now. You do not need hands, a White Bull was fine.

Edit: Okay, I'm not nuts. Here's a new one. But I didn't send it, the AI did. So maybe only the AI can submit aquatics with no Fish Amulet to the deathmatch. How unfair http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...minions/DM.jpg

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

Well, having never played a MP game in my life, I am obviously a top pick for coming close to last in this http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Name: Rawrku, Hunter of Hotdogs
Chassis: Angel of Fury
Magic: 3 Fire
Script: Hold and Attack: Rear
Gems: N/A
Equipment: Black Steel Helmet, Chain Mail of Displacement, Boots of Quickness, Astral Serpent, Ring of the Warrior, 2x Serpent Kryss
Nation: Either MA or LA Marignon (So it can be summoned)

*Edited coz I am teh n00b http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/redface.gif

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

I sent some SC to potatoman and he might actually kick some butt. (or at least i hope so)

@mathusalem i dont think that they stack, as both have the same effect.

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

Name: Grazz the Cruel, Lord of the Unending Darkness, King of Pain, Master of Horror, Captain of Cute
Chassis: Tartarian Cyclops
Magic: 2N,1S
Script: Cast Personal Regen, Resist Magic, Attack Rear
Gems: N/A
Equipment: Amulet of Luck, Bottle of Living Water, Wraith Crown, Charcoal Shield, Shadow brand, boots of Quickness, Robe of invulnerability

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

Big&Scary - Which Tartarian Cyclops(2A3E or 4E)?
Digital Sin - IIRC, Sandals of the Crane is an artifact.
Mathusalem - Armor of Souls=Blood+1 & MR+5; Bone Armor = 50%CR & Soul Vortex

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

@PyroStock thanks http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

Yeah, Aquatics need the Amulet of the Fish to compete, but they're still valid. Losing that misc slot hurts though. Edit- see below.

Also be aware that Claws of Kokytos and Banish to the Inferno are banned now (first post updated), and scripts that provide 10 blood slaves with the ambiguous command to Cast Spells without a script will only be allotted 8 levels of Blood magic research instead of the usual 9 so you don't "accidentally" break the rules. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

@DigitalSin- Sandals of the Crane is a unique artifact and isn't allowed. Once you choose different boots and bestow a name upon your creation, however, I'll add your combatant to the roster.

There are currently 12 combatants enrolled for the contest.

Edit: If you want to choose an aquatic, I'll mod in an extra misc slot on your chassis for fairness (the amulet of the fish must go there). Sound ok?

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

Good thread! Since luck plays such a big part in the deathmatch, it would be interesting if you ran it several times to see if the same person wins consistently.

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

Potatoman, if I am not mistaken, being banished to various levels of hell is ineffective in arena matches- due to the mechanics of the arena, banished commanders get called back from Inferno to fight in another match, until one of them is dead. Or was this a bug that was fixed?

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

Since you're using mods anyway, wouldn't it be easier to just mod out those spells that you decide are banned?

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

Yeah, that solution makes a lot more sense. I'll mod them out.

I don't know whether they work in the arena or not, but they'd either be overpowered or useless in this format without any kind of middle-ground that I can see. I don't really see a drawback to modding them out.

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

Cower before my Night Elf Mohawk. He shall be victorious.

Re: Build Your SC Arena Competition!
 

Please wait for me! I'll send someone in 24 hours.

To be silly...
 

...perhaps a

Name: Bob Dylan (*)
Chassis: Tartarian Titan (3?2?2? version, all Earth)
Magic: E7 + E3 == E10
Script:
Gems: 10 earth gems
Equipment:
1x that +2-penetration wand
1x Luck Coin
1x Wraith Crown
1x Rainbow Armor
1x Earth Boots
1x Lifelong Protection
1x Spell Focus
Script:
Far back
Petrify (x5)


(*) 'cuz "Everybody must get stoned"

Re: To be silly...
 

I shouldn't be giving advice, but wouldn't an eye of the void be better than the spell focus?

Re: To be silly... *DELETED*
 

Post deleted by Potatoman.

Edit: overlooked the fact that you were talking about the Titan, rather than Cyclops. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: To be silly...
 

There's actually a 3/2/2 tartarian titan (male, most-intact), and it's possible for all three ? to be E.

Eye of the Void might work better, but I have a slight aversion to replacement body parts. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: To be silly...
 

Tartarian king gets a total of 7 randoms.

EDIT: Crosspost.

Re: To be silly...
 

Name: Ketlones Masp
Master Lich (go 5hp!!)
6 picks of death so, total of D9
Nation Tien Chi
Placed at back corner of battlefield

Script:
Wrath of Ancestors,Raise Skeleton x4, cast spells
10 Death gems
Equipment: Staff of storms, wraith crown, rainbow armor, boots of the messenger, lifelong protection, amulet of resiliance. bottle of water.

Re: To be silly...
 

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gifI'm betting on Taqwas only because that was the same build I was going to submit http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif(with slight equipment variations). I'll submit a plan B for more variety. Fear... plan B!

Re: To be silly...
 

Does battlefield position matter in deathmatch arenas? I thought that they just positioned you in an arbitrary place regardless of your BF positioning?

Jazzepi

Re: To be silly...
 

The Tartarian Cyclops with 4E

Re: To be silly...
 

Same here. But them I just remembered that there might be some SCs out there who can't be petrified, and the ai would probably pick stupid spells to cast if they turned up.

Re: To be silly...
 

I am pretty sure that is the case.

Re: To be silly...
 

Stop posting your builds here. I sent a likewise SC tactic via pm some times before but i did't want to see much MR boosts!

Re: To be silly...
 

The Earth Build is almost the same as the one I submitted in the original
tournament. It did great, killing four or five combatants before falling to
Yvelina's winner by losing the 'go first' draw :-)

Re: To be silly...
 

Well, it's a fairly obvious min-max try -- although less so now that there are some petrification-immune chasses. I'd expect a split between pure damage-causers and spell specialists (thought about something built for lifedrain, w/ banner and boots of quickness, but didn't think it'd do enough damage against big guys; thought about monster-spamming as well)...