Static Pretender ideas

Saxon · #1 December 3rd, 2003, 11:55 AM

I have been playing a Fountain Pretender with Man and it is not as restrictive as I had expected. Sure, the pretender is no use in fighting, but it has kept me more focused on magic than normal. Can anyone add some thoughts to my meger ideas below? Perhaps ideas of good paths to take for a research/item builder or what nations this might suit better?

1. Static gods need to focus on magic research
2. Allows the production of more items than normal, so your commanders tend to be tougher
3. Frees up points for dominion or magic
4. Lack of mobility limits fighting and magic search uses
5. Avoids the risks of a combat god
6. Potential to really sway dominion values, if you do not take any extra paths

I saw there was one other thread on this topic, but people generally talked about it giving up mobility and when the patch was coming. Let us assume that you wanted to try this, what should you aim for?

Cheers!

PDF · #2 December 3rd, 2003, 04:06 PM

I was considering trying the Sacred Statue : tough, with a high Astral level.
It looks like it's not *really* immobile : no "immobile" tag, and Move is 0/2, so it *should* be possible (and easy with that much Astral

) to teleport it here&there.

But maybe I'm just stupid and it's crap ...

Advice ?

Saber Cherry · #3 December 3rd, 2003, 04:49 PM

Well. If there was a static pretender with cheap paths and a research bonus, maybe... but as it stands, a great sage will always slaughter a static pretender in research generation, item forging possiblities, and the ability to equip items that increase research and magic paths.

Nerfix · #4 December 3rd, 2003, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Saber Cherry:
Well. If there was a static pretender with cheap paths and a research bonus, maybe... but as it stands, a great sage will always slaughter a static pretender in research generation, item forging possiblities, and the ability to equip items that increase research and magic paths.

Sages are realy great untill they get hit by a Seeking Arrow and lose their magic skills.

And Void Lurker has cheap(15 pts) magic paths. And costs 0 points too.

SurvivalistMerc · #5 December 3rd, 2003, 08:31 PM

Nerfix,

I agree...that seeking arrow spell (even in the hands of the AI) is good for taking out RBs. Except that I generally find air and can forge one of those blue and white shields that has air shield or an amulet of missile protection by the time the other wizards start casting this spell. Also, I think that the target is random, so travelling with disposable commanders such as spies, scouts, or those indie barbarians I think adds protection. I'm not sure what just any ordinary shield will do...but supposedly that provides some protection.

And of course I agree that a dead RB is next to worthless as a pretender. Which is why the first thing I do after I have a decent supply of gems and construction research is to protect the pretender. I usually go for the awe shield, spirit helmet, faithful, hydra skin armor, boots of stone, amulet of misile protection, and amulet of antimagic rather early on with RBs.

I have been using retreat as their standard order, too...and placing them as far back as possible with some of their guards forward and others farther back by the pretender. Does this bug automatically allow the assassination of commanders with retreat orders? Even when they have spirit helmets which fire independently of their owners? And even if they have beefy guards?

Saxon · #6 December 4th, 2003, 12:02 PM

Saber,

When you mention a “great sage” are you meaning as a Pretender or as a commander you pick up in the course of the game? If you mean Pretender, what sort of set up would you use?

I take it that people are not very impressed with the idea of a static Pretender for general use, it would be more of a role playing sort of choice.