[Windreaper]

Ok, I suppose I could add my two cents here since the topic is sort of close to my heart.

First, I seriously dislike trampling supercombatants mainly due to fatigue issues. They're just too darn easy to lose. Also, high mr and some reinvigoration are a must with any supercombatant, wraith sword or not. Boots of the messenger is especially good for ice devil since he doesn't really need the slot for anything else. Getting hit by sleep/stellar cascades/sleep vines and such can otherwise really ruin your day. Antimagic amulet is bare minimum mr boost you should get. I'd consider starshine skullcap mandatory, however.

As people mentioned before, supercombatants should be used with an army because they're just too easy to lose - spells like wind ride and mind hunt, for example, can put hurt to single commanders no matter who they are. Also, with an army you usually have access to Relief which really helps to keep your SC alive.

EQ I use with Ice Devils.

Weapons: wraith sword, blood thorn (low dmg but allows for a shield)
Shields: Not a big issue since they're nowadays downgraded but with blood thorn I'd probably use the lucky coin/lead shield (vine shield and eye shield are also good for special occasions).
Helmets: spirit helmet, horror helmet, starshine skullcap (again, depending on how much mr I need, usually the latter) expensive gemwise 99,9% of the time, however). Fire helmet and wraith crown are also ok if you're _really_ swimming in gems.
Armor: elemental hauberk, rainbow armor, hydra skin armor or alternatively shadow cloak/bless shirt if you got no prot issues or invulnerability cloak if you got absolutely no other uses for gems :PP
Boots: boots of the messenger, flying boots (again, unless I'm using rainbow armor I often get the messenger boots)
Misc: regen ring, antimagic amulet, luck pendant (all these are pretty standard, if I get regen through hydra skin, for example I replace regen ring with luck pendant but consider the first two mandatory unless the SC already regens).

EDIT: decided to add example ID for early game (all items const 4)

Weapon: wraith sword
Helmet: horror helm
Armor: elemental hauberk
Boots: boots of the messenger
Misc1: regen ring
Misc2: antimagic amulet

The result is a bit weak in the mr department (22) but otoh it got full elemental immunity, high prot and some reinvigoration to fend of extra fatigue from the hauberk. Later in the game you should really try to upgrade him to stand up to nasty summons and such.

Later game ID:

Weapon: blood thorn
Shield: lucky coin
Armor: elemental hauberk
Helmet: starshine skullcap
Boots: boots of the messenger
Misc1: regen ring
Misc2: antimagic amulet

mr is slightly higher. Use of shield increased prot and defence and introduced luck with only a slight reduction in damage. If facing magic-heavy nations you could consider exchanging either the armor or shield for the mr Versions (lead shield, rainbow armor).

[ January 09, 2004, 05:32: Message edited by: Windreaper ]