Stone Idol
 

We where in a discussion about The merits of the Stone Idol and a couple of other questions came up that I never had really thought of.

I need just a simple answer (lol, if there ever IS just a simple answer in this game).

If you have more than 1 Stone Idol in a province, do the effects stack?

And the questions that arose out of that is...(and I will use skeptics as an example) How many skeptics can you put in a province before you get diminishing returns, or they are just better used elsewhere. (although I am using skeptics as an example, I am referring to all dominion reducing mages etc).

Thanks

Re: Stone Idol
 

Yes, heretic effect stacks just like effect from preaching priests.

You'd better send your skeptics away from your dominion.

Just ran a quick test. I had a capital province, temple and pretender with domstr 10. Hired 2 skeptics, gave stone idol to 1 of them and dominion started redusing for about 2 candles each turn.

Re: Stone Idol
 

You won't see diminishing returns until you get to neutral dom in the province, at which point there is no return. I'm not sure when heresy occurs in the turn order - probably at the same time as preaching, so after domspread/checks.

Re: Stone Idol
 

So is heresy more effective than stealth preaching until you reach neutral dominion? Would it make sense to send a squad of heretics or stone idol holders before your stealth preachers, rather than simply sending more stealth preachers?

This is assuming you are going for a domkill.

Re: Stone Idol
 

Skeptic or stone idol holder is equal to H3 preaching priest.
Skeptic with stone idol is equal to H6 preaching priest, which is very effective.

Re: Stone Idol
 

Which leads me to a question I don't know the answer to:

What is the best way to kill a skeptic/stealthy unit in a province when you know he is there. For example, I know that a stealthy commander is sitting in one of my provinces, how do I kill him? Patrolling doesn't seem all that effective.

Re: Stone Idol
 

Patrol with big enough force should uncover them or mind hunt could do the trick, hopefully no stealthy astral mage with them thou...:D

Re: Stone Idol
 

Remember that fliers/units with high prec/AP are the best at patrolling.

Caelum is awesome at it, for example. Call of the Winds also does well.