Noob questions!

[Minrhael]

Just got the demo for this a couple days ago, loved it, ordered it up, express delivery, and it's still being processed 2 days later, I want it now! boohoo

Anyway, since it seems I'm stuck with the demo a few more days (which wouldn't be so bad if it didn't have that turn limit), can someone answer a couple questions I have?

Playing as Pythium, with Serpent Cult Dominion option, just in case it matters, no special orders given to any troops or commanders:

1) My serpent priest that I sent out with a few hydras and other troops cast some "green raindrop" spell that I think was fanaticism judging by the replay; I can't find a description in the magic spellbooks, but it seems to have killed off most of my own troops other than the hydras, is this supposed to happen and if so is there any way I can stop him from casting it? It was rather annoying since I couldn't have lost that battle no matter what, I didn't need whatever benefits the spell gave.

2) A province I had was taken over by 5 independent heroes. I lost the first army I sent in there, but killed off 4 of them. The Last one standing was some kind of green colored ogre looking thing with a sword. I went back with a larger army just to make sure, and he proceeded by himself to kill off a dozen hydras and 70 other troops, and they weren't the cheap troops, these were elites (it also appears he might have been using the "green raindrop" spell, I'm not sure, but it wasn't me this time because I didn't send along any spellcasters). Any idea what the heck this guy is and how in the world I'm supposed to kill him off?

Thanks!

Originally posted by Minrhael:
Playing as Pythium, with Serpent Cult Dominion option, just in case it matters, no special orders given to any troops or commanders:

1) My serpent priest that I sent out with a few hydras and other troops cast some "green raindrop" spell that I think was fanaticism judging by the replay; I can't find a description in the magic spellbooks, but it seems to have killed off most of my own troops other than the hydras, is this supposed to happen and if so is there any way I can stop him from casting it? It was rather annoying since I couldn't have lost that battle no matter what, I didn't need whatever benefits the spell gave.

The "green raindrop" spell is Poison. More than likely because your units were in range of the Hydra's Poison Aura. Fantatisim is a spell that goes "bling" and white stuff flashes on all your units.

2) A province I had was taken over by 5 independent heroes. I lost the first army I sent in there, but killed off 4 of them. The Last one standing was some kind of green colored ogre looking thing with a sword. I went back with a larger army just to make sure, and he proceeded by himself to kill off a dozen hydras and 70 other troops, and they weren't the cheap troops, these were elites (it also appears he might have been using the "green raindrop" spell, I'm not sure, but it wasn't me this time because I didn't send along any spellcasters). Any idea what the heck this guy is and how in the world I'm supposed to kill him off?

Thanks!

That is Illwinter's beloved Bogus the Troll and company. He's a little tough to kill early in the game; but later in the game, try using things that cut through armor like Armor Piercing, or Hydras or something similiar. You might want to try to cast Foul Vapors in the battle and wait for him to beat through a bunch of hydras. Or try using xbows.

[Norfleet]

Ah, the utter confusion of a newbie. I've clearly been playing way too many games, to never end up asking questions like this.

Anyway, as Zen said, the "Green raindrop spell" is not a spell at all: It's actually a vfx that indicates the unit is poisoned and taking poison damage as a result. The green drops will play every round that the unit remains poisoned.

Hydras have an aura that poisons units that stand near them: You should generally avoid mixing hydras with normal troops that are not immune to poison, because your hydras will emit noxious fumes that poison everyone else. Think about it as being similar to standing next to somebody with really, really bad flatulence.

As a a general rule of thumb, hydras should not be mixed with normal, non-poison-immune troops (unless you REALLY, REALLY know what you're doing or REALLY, REALLY want them to die, which may very well be the case). Use them in combination with construct and undead summoned units, which will be immune to the poisonous fumes.

Those independents you fought are the company of Bogus the Troll. I have no idea what their backstory is, but they're a nasty, unfriendly bunch. When in doubt, just remember that excessive force is always an option, albeit not necessarily cheap or economical. Killing 70 ordinary schmucks singlehandedly is not that hard to do for a powerful, well-equipped unit. Try using either better troops, or a more unreasonable number of them, like 700. Or both: An unreasonable number of better troops.

Remember: As a newbie, you're in a unique position to use your newbie intuition: Do you, using your newbie intuition, feel absolutely confident you will win? If not, you need a bigger hammer.

[ March 17, 2004, 07:06: Message edited by: Norfleet ]

[Peter Ebbesen]

Originally posted by Norfleet:
Those independents you fought are the company of Bogus the Troll. I have no idea what their backstory is, but they're a nasty, unfriendly bunch.

They are not a nasty bunch. Bogus and his friends are heroes, fighting the good fight in an evil time.

[Chazar]

Originally posted by Norfleet:
Try using either better troops, or a more unreasonable number of them, ... Or Both: An unreasonable number of better troops.

Why has nobody told me that before? If I had only knewn this advice, a lot of games would have ended different for me...!

[Wendigo]

Bogus & co are better handled with subtlety than with mass force, there's no reason to take unnecesarily huge losses vs the heroes.
The best tactic vs them is to leave them alone until you can bring the necessary mage power.

The heroes:
-The Dark knight has good prot & def, and likes to fly & attack rearmost.

-The warrior mage enjoys buffing Bogus with spells, and might try to paralyze pretenders & other big critters.

-Fang the troll archer can sometimes be annoying with his magic bow (some say that he can still fire at mages/commanders DomI style).

-The troll mage likes Ghost wolves, might use Orb lightning if you come near though.

-Last but not least: Bogus! with regeneration, a wraith sword, high protection & berserk he will dive through hordes of live troops, even elites.
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It might be a good idea to give your mages bodyguards to stall the Dark Knight.

Fliers with hold & attack rearmost orders work well vs the mages & the archer (hold because you do not want your fliers to run into Bogus).

Bogus is best dealt with by swarming him with hordes of lifeless troops (Raise skeletons & Raise the Dead are good spells here), that he cannot drain with his sword. He should eventually pass out to fatigue and get his huge protection pierced by the swarmers.

Alternatively, you can use MR based spells vs Bogus & the other 2 troll heroes with a pretty good chance of success, I did so recently in a MP game.