New spells / items ?

Hi there,

Reading the Dom2progress page, I've the feeling that you changed a lot of units (esp. pretenders).

Do you know if the list of spells and items will also change a lot in Dom2 ?

And do you plan to make more "national" items like the Black Laurel (Ermor) and the Jade Mask (Ctis) ? IMHO this gives more spice to the game - Ulm for exemple could be much more attractive if it was the only nation able to forge, say, charcoal shields...

I played Dom1 for months, and I still cannot see any practical interest in some (very few) items/spells.
Did someone found some real interest in the uncommon Slave Collar, Shroud of the battle saint, Stone Sword (how could you protect yourself vs petrification ?), Sandals of the crane. Blink ? Holy Avenger & Smite ?
I dont say that they should be removed from the game, simply I cannot see any good combo.

I know that a twisted mind could place a cursed slave collar on a weak unprotected infantry commander, hoping that he'll die in battle and that an important unlucky enemy will find it after the battle and block one of his own misc slot. Something _really_ useful beside that ?

TIA,
Sunray.

[Pocus]

I used the shroud of the saint with success in pbem. It gives blessing, even to units which are not holy. With blessing you get +3 attacks.

I needed this extra boost to reach 28 attacks with father illearths. Below 28, I had too few chances to hit the numerous ice devils of my opponents.

I didnt care about the defence of my 8 or 10 FIEs (dont recall the exact number), because they were bathing in my Gift of Health, and were at 250 Hps roughly (well my Prophet FIE was at 520 HP...). With the invulnerability they cast on first round, and the increased regeneration they get from the increased HP base, surviving some big blows from Ice Devils was very feasible. But while the quickened devils hammered on them, the FIE were replying with Flambeau swords, and won more often than not the duels (from testing, more than 80% of the time).

A more balanced FIE, or any other combos with any other items was loosing a duel. I tested perhaps during a whole afternoon with the powerful Dominions Scripting Engine (tm), and only this combos worked.

And then the turn after or so, the game was declared a draw

The moral of the story (aside from not spending countless hours on something which wont serve you) is that in dominions, when you think something is useless, than youd better check again (well I agree that I dont know how to use yet sandals of the crane)

>The moral of the story (aside from not spending countless hours
>on something which wont serve you) is that in dominions, when you
>think something is useless, than youd better check again (well I agree
>that I dont know how to use yet sandals of the crane)

That's why I ask suggestions to others
Frankly, about the shroud, situations where you need 28+ attack to beat an opponent are exceptions. Even an Ice Demon or a Father Illearth will fall on the ground, stunned (def/att = 0), after some Stellar Cascades...
Could the owner of a holy shroud survive a battle with The Ark ?

Cheers

[Pocus]

stunned if the opposition has no relief...

and in doms II, perhaps the demons&devils will not be considered living for fatigue, but undead for the rest.

and not all opponents can cast stellar cascades. But all could have engaged into heavy blood magic, in dominions I.

To be consistant, I agree that the shroud should give the units the 'holy' flag. This would allow some niceties, like divine armaments.

[Nerfix]

Caelos The Sacred One+Slave Collar+Burning Pearl+Boots of Quickness+Two Swords of Swiftness=
Non-routing armored dude who chops down militias like weeds. He also was my prophet and had Heroic Endurance.
I mean, 8 attacks per round...

[Kristoffer O]

Sandals of the Crane might be useful if you have a commander with a ranged spellcasting item. Blinking about and casting spells without being overwhelmed by attackers.