Something different...

[Mind Elemental]

So as the king of sandbox strategy gamers (an acquaintance once described my play style, very aptly, as "enacting a story"), I'm fond of playing default theme Pythium with a Virtue, and using neither 'evil' magic (death/blood rituals/spells/items, spells that target 'civilians' -- ie. population, etc.), nor things that are really game-y and wouldn't be too fun to read about in a fantasy novel (i.e. wishing for endless Doom Horrors, clamshelling, extreme micromanagement). In other words, I'm playing the Forces of Good (with a capital G). ^_^

Does anyone have any suggestions? Because Vestals are such a joke, I'm thinking there's no point in going for Air 9. Instead, I might go for Air 7, then invest the points saved in Growth and Fortune (1 each, for flavour), putting one each in Order and Productivity, and then probably putting the remaining 2 into Fortune. That, or putting one into each of Fortune and Productivity -- I tend to be swimming in gold by the lategame, but resources are still a problem when churning out Emeralds.

What do you think?

[Tuna]

Put all in magic scale and research master enslave. Then set up a communion squad and you can be the ultimate force of good: You dont kill them, just persuade them to join on your side!

[Argitoth]

No, master enslave is an evil spell which has no persuasion involved.

If you want forceful persuasion, you get charm. But whoever said roleplaying "good" was a smart idea?

[Endoperez]

For a "good" game you could also try Marignon, make lots of crossbows and protect your Knights of the Chalice (+flagellants) with Air blessing... But if it is Pythium you want, then you should use communion a lot. That is one of the main strengths of Pythium, but cooperation is what good guys are known in most heroic adventures.

If you have troubles using up all your money you don't have enough castles. Especially as Pythium can recruit both Theurgs and Theurg Communicants from all their castles. If you think Wrath of God is good enough, then have strong magic scale and go for it! When you reach Evocation 6 you hopefully have Arch Theurg with 3 Air and another with 4 Astral. Research construction for Starshine Skullcap and Bag of Winds, give both to your 4S2A Arch-theurg and watch the fun.

Also, remember to choose evil enemies. Ermor, C'tis, Mictlan, Jotunheim, Abysia, maybe Vanheim and Pangaea too. If you choose their themes here are (most) evil ones: Abysia (both), Vanheim (Helheim), Jotunheim (Niefelheim), Ulm (Black Forest), C'tis (Desert Tombs), Marignon (Diabolical Faith), two Ermor themes or Pangaea (Carrion Woods) if you want a challenge. R'lyeh could also be seen as evil.

[Nagot Gick Fel]

Endoperez said:
Also, remember to choose evil enemies. Ermor, C'tis, Mictlan, Jotunheim, Abysia, maybe Vanheim and Pangaea too. If you choose their themes here are (most) evil ones: Abysia (both), Vanheim (Helheim), Jotunheim (Niefelheim), Ulm (Black Forest), C'tis (Desert Tombs), Marignon (Diabolical Faith), two Ermor themes or Pangaea (Carrion Woods) if you want a challenge. R'lyeh could also be seen as evil.

You forgot Pythium in the list. Hydras are evil (just ask Herakles), both Pythium themes use Hydras, therefore both Pythium themes are evil. QED.

[Vynd]

Nagot Gick Fel said:
You forgot Pythium in the list. Hydras are evil (just ask Herakles), both Pythium themes use Hydras, therefore both Pythium themes are evil. QED.

Not to mention all those Communion Slaves that the mages suck dry and cast aside. Down with Pythium! Up with Ermor!

[Vicious Love]

Endoperez said:
C'tis

Said, but failed to justify. Honestly, why everyone always hasslin' me lizards?
I mean, even working with the vague, not-at-all-rigorous, common usage meaning of "evil", I fail to see what's so bad about the little guys. Is this about enslaving the predator lizards?
Abysia are unabashedly evil, even more so than all the nations based on actual civilizations, and Ermor's classic mix of hubris, myopia and, well, stupidity, would be called evil by most, but whassadeal with all this reptile-bashing?

[Nagot Gick Fel]

Vicious Love said:
I mean, even working with the vague, not-at-all-rigorous, common usage meaning of "evil", I fail to see what's so bad about the little guys. Is this about enslaving the predator lizards?

Cultural difference. My neighbor's daughter think Koreans are evil (since she was told they use to eat dogs). I guess you could find Indian people who don't like us to eat beefsteak too.

[Endoperez]

Vicious Love said:

Said, but failed to justify. Honestly, why everyone always hasslin' me lizards?
I mean, even working with the vague, not-at-all-rigorous, common usage meaning of "evil", I fail to see what's so bad about the little guys. Is this about enslaving the predator lizards?
Abysia are unabashedly evil, even more so than all the nations based on actual civilizations, and Ermor's classic mix of hubris, myopia and, well, stupidity, would be called evil by most, but whassadeal with all this reptile-bashing?

Well, nothing much. Just this use of necromantic magic (Utterdark, Burden of Time) coupled with nature magic (Haunted Forest), which can be seen as a way to cause misery to all others and make life happier for themselves. Then this little teacher-student pact they had with Ermor, the fact that they like to either poison all of us or raise us as undead (Miasma/ Desert Tombs) when they get a chance and the fact that they train assasins that happen to also be necromancers (weak, but still). Oh, and the fact that they won't know a real god from a false one even if the real one kills their false one in straight battle.

[Vicious Love]

Endoperez also said:
...Vanheim and Pangaea...Vanheim (Helheim)...Marignon (Diabolical Faith)...(Carrion Woods) if you want a challenge. R'lyeh could also be seen as evil.

Not touching this with a ten-foot ethical oversimplification dis... erm... combobulator. Seldom does a game of Dom 2 degenerate into good vs. evil. Or even evil vs. evil.