Magic duel for base zero astral

[el cid]

Hello everyone. My firts post in this forum, although I have played Dominions 3 a bit.

And the question is, since Magic duel only counts your base starting astral level, without conisdering magic items or empowerment, and since only units with astral magic can partcipate in it,

If you empower a unit to astral 1, can he be magic dueled?

[brxbrx]

Yes. Empowerment counts as increasing your base level. Good news, amirite?
But it won't boost your bless.

[el cid]

Thanks, I did not know this.

[Knai]

Originally Posted by el cid

Thanks, I did not know this.

It usually isn't relevant. Empowerment is almost always a bad idea - you might need to use it to grab Wish or similar, and it might be worth it then. Then there is Blood, in which empowerment is significantly more valuable.

[JonBrave]

Originally Posted by Knai

It usually isn't relevant. Empowerment is almost always a bad idea - you might need to use it to grab Wish or similar, and it might be worth it then.

@el cid,
Although the above is true for best tactics/MP, certainly in SP while learning it is fun to do. So go ahead!

Also you might notice, the cheapest Empowerment is always from level 1 to level 2, so that one helps if you have a level 1 guy.

[JonBrave]

Originally Posted by brxbrx

Yes. Empowerment counts as increasing your base level. Good news, amirite?
But it won't boost your bless.

Hi brxbrxbrx
What's the "But it won't boost your bless"? Empowerment is up 1 level, what else are you saying?

[brxbrx]

Originally Posted by JonBrave

Hi brxbrxbrx
What's the "But it won't boost your bless"? Empowerment is up 1 level, what else are you saying?

I mean that if your pretender had N3, and you juice him up to N4, you won't get the 5% regeneration blessing.
Empowerment increases base magic ability, but it's not factored into blessings.

[el cid]

I find it necesary to empower from level 1 to level 2 some indi mages. It seems that until you reach level 2 you do not get access to artifacts that actually boost your magic level.

I am currently playinga game with Agartha, and without indi mages plus empower I do not see a way to really get ahead in Astral, Nature or Air.

[JonBrave]

Originally Posted by el cid

I find it necesary to empower from level 1 to level 2 some indi mages. It seems that until you reach level 2 you do not get access to artifacts that actually boost your magic level.

I am currently playinga game with Agartha, and without indi mages plus empower I do not see a way to really get ahead in Astral, Nature or Air.

You are doing well!

It is correct that the majority (but not all) starter-booster-forgeries require level 2 (that's part of the fun!), so if you only have level 1 mages you'll get stuck. But a usual tactic, don't forget, is to use one mage who has reached level 2 (empowered if necessary) to forge items for other mages who are still on level 1, then those mages in turn can start constructing for others

And you are also right that if you play a given nation you will tend not to have any levels in certain other paths. Either use indies as you say, or next time you could pick a "rainbow" Pretender (wide variety of paths) if you want the other paths. Or manage (relatively) without --- it is intentional that different races will have some paths and not others, it's part of the "flavor"...

[Soyweiser]

In blood especially as blood 4 is one of the big levels. It gives access to 3 blood boosters iirc. The only other way is rings of wizardry/sorcery (need astral 5+, and very expensive), or nature2/blood3 (http://dom3.servegame.com/wiki/Armor_of_Twisting_Thorns) which also isn't that common.