[Tuidjy]

> 1) Are the twin spears worth the time? They seem pretty inexpensive as far
> as artifacts go. 'Great deals' or better choices?

They are nothing to write home about. About worth what you pay for them.

> 2) Is magebane a good weapon?

The very best. No single other weapon can remotely compare. One handed, too.

> I like the base stats, but wonder if the death effect could be bounced back
> at the wielder using the blood vengeance spell. Anyone tried this?

Blood vengeance is mostly useless. It requires a failed magic resistance
check in order to work. By the time you have researched the spell, you are
unlikely to encounter anyone with a low magic resistance.

As for Mage Bane, it increases your magic resistance. Anyone giving that
uber-artifact to some wimp with low resistance deserves to lose it.

> Actually, I have the same question on other 'effect' weapons like the Aegis.

The Aigis is another very powerful artifact, but I would take the mage bane.
Once again, the same thing applies: anyone worthy of carrying Aegis should
laugh at blood vengeance.

> How good is magebane anyhow? What is the most powerful creature you've seen
> in bring down in one hit?

I have seen, more recently than I care to think about, a Pretender with Mage Bane
wipe out hundreds of my units, including Doom Horror and Arch devils. The battle
is posted in a thread named 'Armageddon was held is Zemike'. If you have
any doubts on Mage Bane, take a look.

> 3) For the Aegis, does the petrify work like the spell ie making the MR save
> still results in paralysis?

Not sure, but I just watched a battle in which about 200 units broke against a
Aegis carrier, and not one got paralised. On the other hand, not one touched
him, either...

So one thing I can say for sure... you do not have to damage the Aegis carrier
to get killed by the effect.

> 4) Are there any creatures that are immune to petrify? Statues seem like a
> safe bet...

I do not think so. I have not seen anyone resist petrify.