Dancing trident v stone bird

[magnate]

Dear All,

If you had a single free misc slot on your SC and you wanted to boost its offensive power, and it was already resistant to poison, which would you choose? (Or something else?)

1 attack at 19 dam, with +1 def, or 4 attacks at 9 dam? The latter is more useful for clearing out militia and light PD, but are there a significant number of foes which have prot greater than 8 and less than 19?

Interested,

CC

[Ygorl]

The stone bird is also nice for wearing down the Defense on really agile enemies.
It just depends on your enemies.

[Ironhawk]

Why not choose a burning pearl? or ring of the warrior?

[Ygorl]

The stone bird lowers Defense, rather than raising Attack, which means that other people will find it easier to hit your victim as well. Plus, I think its effect doubles if you're quickened.

[Saber Cherry]

Stone bird is great with Astral Weapon, and not great otherwise, as strength is not added. Lowering defense is not very useful because IIRC the misc-slot weapon is the last to strike. However it is indeed doubled with quickness.

If your SC is not casting Astral Weapon and Quickness, I suspect Bracers of Protection, Cat Charm, Missle Res. Amulet, Lucky Charm, (or for a living SC) Ring of Regen, Girdle of Might, or Amulet of Resilience would serve you better. If you have blood, a Soul Contract is also excellent for an SC and will keep them from ever retreating, even when grouped with other units.

Edit: Another consideration is repel. Both of those are length 6, I think, so they can be useful against (e.g.) spear units if your SC doesn't have any other long weapons. But repel is only very good versus low morale units like militia.

So... generally I avoid those, but with Astral Weapon the bird is always better and without the Trident is probably better in most cases.

[magnate]

Hmm, interesting thoughts folks. I'd failed to notice that Astral Weapon would make the bird much more useful. Definitely a winner.

CC