lantern shield
 

What does it do exactly? What are Corpse Candles and how do they work?

I am asking because I am equiping an SC to take care of some other SCs/thugs, and I am trying to figure out what the best shield is. I guess the gold shield that gives awe is little use against high morale SCs, and a similar reasoning may apply to the charcoal shield.

Any suggestions are welcome, thanks!

Re: lantern shield
 

Eye shield and high defense.

Re: lantern shield
 

I love mass Lantern Shield in SP with battlefield luck http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: lantern shield
 

In general, the gold shield, the eye shield, the vine shield and the charcoal shield are good anti-chaff weapons, not so great against enemy supercombatants.

The lantern shield is nice if you have no other access to fear (because you need some other helmet), the stats for corpse candles are on pg 239 of the manual.

Against enemy SCs, you are probably better off going in there John Woo style, with a weapon in each hand.

If you really must have a shield:
* Do the enemy SCs have non-stratospheric MR? Given that you're fighting pythium, probably their MR will be >20, but if not, take the Eye Shield to blind them.
* Are the enemy SCs non-fire-immune? You might *consider* the charcoal shield, if you think an AP 7 hit will hurt them more than it hurts you (not likely.)
* The Scutata Vulturnus only shocks your enemy once, but that might be enough to tip the combat in your favor (if we're talking 1 SC vs 1 SC, the lightning strike causes some fatigue), and it provides some shock resistance, which you *must have* against Theurgs.

Hope that helps, but it depends on a lot of factors,

Re: lantern shield
 

A minor clarification: the SV shocks once per turn. The Copper Plate armor only shocks once per battle.

Re: lantern shield
 

more information about your SC and nation would provide better answers.

I think duel weilding weapons is a nice choice. I always use the lucky shield anyways.

Re: lantern shield
 

Thanks for the feedback. Right now I'd rather not be very specific on the specific situation I am looking at (MP game).

But it seems that perhaps the luck shield is the better option overall: fear doesn't really help against high morale, so unless the corpse candles do something usefull (i'll check my manual once i get home), the luck shield really seems best. Luck is something I'd take for any fight that takes more then a few rounds, and the luck shield frees up a slot. The other shields seem mostly useful for taking on hordes of lower level units.

I can't forge the Vulturnus shield, but I think that's because its level 8 of construction IIRC.

The option of going in with two weapons and no shield is also interesting. Any particular weapons that you would recommend for this?

Re: lantern shield
 

In general, if you're trying to kill another supercombatant, we're going to assume that you're strong enough to hurt him right through his high protection value, but that you may not be guaranteed to hit him.

In that case, your best bet is two swords of swiftness - making more attacks makes you more likely to hit with each attack (there's a defense penalty after the first attack), and raises the damage you expect to do.

The Wave Breaker is a sort of happy medium - you get 3 attacks (vs 2 with two weapons) but better attack skill and more damage than with swords of swiftness.

If, at the other extreme, you're sure you'll hit but not sure you can do damage, consider: dusk dagger, axe of sharpness (it's cheap), fire brand.

Also consider the Flambeau (if the enemy SC is a demon or undead) or the Moon Blade (if a magic being.)

Re: lantern shield
 

Raising your defense is much easier than attack, so eye shield is a cheap, in all meanings of the word, way of killing SCs.
And once again, judging by our tests Eye shield does NOT check MR, it works when your defense beats enemy attack. There is NO defense against eye shield, other than a 30+ attack and maybe a morningstar (I heard they have a bonus vs shields).
And honestly, I dont see attack of 30+ that often.

Re: lantern shield
 

For enemy SC killing, try:
2xShadow Brand
Horned Helmet
Jade Armour
Flying Shoes(or, if flying, boots of quickness and decent armour)
Bear Claw Talisman/Burning Pearl
Ring of the Warrior

4 Shadow Brand attacks per turn for big damage, 2 gore attacks to help with defence and maybe do damage, great attack from quickness, weapons and misc items, flying to hit the enemy fast.

Re: lantern shield
 

I remember a game where the eyeloss effect worked with an eye shield on a SC paralyzed before melee, so I've difficulties to believe it's based on defense (or there is a bug somewhere).

Re: lantern shield
 

If you've got access to blood, shield of the accursed is one of my favs. One of (the? don't remember) best defense boosts, great protection, and if a SC wails away at you for awhile he's gonna be horror marked to hell even if he wins.

Flails
 

The flagellant's flails don't ignore shields, but it was my understanding the magic forged flails/morningstars (Star of Heroes, Evening Star & Star of Thalrdom) still do. Edit: Although looking at Edi's DB there's nothing I see to suggest that.

Anyone know why Belial the Demon Lord's flail requires two hands for this size6 demon to hold if it has the same 3 damage as a regular one-handed flagellant's flail?

Re: Flails
 

I thought Belial's flail gave him a heratic bonus?

Re: Flails
 

The heratic thing sounds like Belphagor the Demon Lord. I believe Belial himself increases unrest and Edi's database shows he can "corrupt commander" too. Belial's flail has curse luck, which is what interested me about it. It's possible it's WAD, but I was just surprised seeing the 2-handed flail at 3damage since non-magic 2-handed wands/staffs are 3 damage along with non-magic 1-handed flails.

Re: Flails
 

Yeah, I confused the two. I am always disappointed when Buer doesnt show up.

Re: Flails
 

I thought I read somewhere that in Dom3, they were +2 attack vs. shields. Can't back up my statement with sources, though...

Re: Flails
 

I cannot back up mine either & since I cannot find anything to confirm my initial premise in Edi's DB you're probably right & all flails are treated the same.