[PvK]

Originally posted by Norfleet:

quote:

---

Originally posted by PvK:
Asynja (note spelling) is a much better fighter than a Virtue, though, and doesn't tend to die from one hit of Elf Bane.

Yes, but if you have her scripted as a mage to spam spells, she will die anyway because the spellcasting AI is too dumb to quit casting spells and fight, or cast spells and quit trying to fight: You have to script it to do one or the other, and it won't be able to switch functions to fit the battle.

---

I'm confident I have been quite able to script mage/fighters to cast some spells and then go into combat.

As such, if you're using the Asynja just to lob spells from the back of the army, the increased durability is no asset, and innate armor is actually encumbering and counterproductive to spellcasting. The Virtue has better precision.

No, the durability is still an asset, especially against flying attacks on the first few turns, or arrows or other ranged threats that can pick off a Virtue or other lightweight caster.

The armor could be counterproductive to casting, but it isn't glued to her. If you want to use her as a caster for a while, there are cheap items with no encumbrance which can replace her fighting gear.

If you want to build a monster SC, the Allfather provides this at reduced price.

I'm sure your right, as I expect I have never even tried to build something which you would qualify as a monster SC.

If you want an A9 bless on a chassis that can also fight, the Titan provides this more cheaply due to his A3 start. The Titan is only one point of precision short anyway.....does one point really make that much of a difference, especially as he makes it up with his higher starting air magic, for a precision boost all the same, and when you take it up to A9, precision is high enough to use lightning bolts to snipe with anyway?

No, I expect you're right that the Titan makes as good or better a lightning-bolt-sniper. However the Titan is 50 points more expensive base than Asynja, and Asynja is a better fighter (with hand weapons) than the Titan.

Once again....where's the niche? In any niche you can try to slot the Asynja into, there's a pretender that seems to perform the exact same taskset far better.

The niche I think I would try to use is "middleweight SC/caster and limited bless provider". This is perhaps an entire playstyle that doesn't fit what I take to be your "go all the way for one thing" approach. That tends to be my play style though. Be good at more than one thing; and I like units with good fighting skills. Piled with items that build on the skilled foundation, I think she might be able to take out quite a few "problem" threats, as well. Without dumping all that many points in one place.

I don't claim my approaches are the best, but they suits me, and I think Asynja has her advantages.

But ya, as I said before I wouldn't disagree if people gave her some other ability, increased something, or cut her cost to 50.

PvK