Static Pretender ideas

[Saxon]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[Saber Cherry]

Originally posted by Saxon:
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?

Oh, I'm talking about the pretender, not some commander you pick up. The Great Sage pretender is the best researcher in the game, and better than any static pretender, except for his 10 hitpoints, 0 protection, and low dominon strength. I wouldn't mind seeing a static pretender with 10-point paths and a research, forge, or summoning bonus, but there aren't any. So as long as you protect your Great Sage, you can just never move it, and it becomes a static pretender that's better than the real static pretenders in every way... unless you need a high level in a certain path, or high dominion strength.

Or unless you like to roleplay an immobile hunk of rock=)

-cherry

[Nagot Gick Fel]

Among the human mages I like the Freak Lord the best, for his big size. That matters wrt Wind Ride and Earth Attack. Add some anti-missile or etherealness stuff, and pump his MR up, and you shouldn't be too worried about magical assassination attempts, bar the occasional Ashen Angel. Hmmm, with 3 misc slots he could even consider wearing that much despised ring of Warding.

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally posted by Saber Cherry:
Or unless you like to roleplay an immobile hunk of rock=)

As the "Defender of Things that No One would ever Choose" there are some advantages to immobile hunks of rock. In my random games where I sprinkle commanders and troops all over the map Ive learned to avoid provinces that had those rocks in them. It takes quite abit to kill one. Special equipment and troops selection.

In a small-map fast-game it might not be a bad choice. Something like the hex-blitz map from Dom1? I hate leaving troops at home and it makes me susceptable. Having an immovable deity who can withstand a long seige overcomes that fault. They will need to come prepared. I cant be starved out, can do lots of summoning. And can be put frontline to a combat with archers/mages behind him. It can buy me time to recoup and return home. Or for an ally to come save my pebbles. Or to push-research a particular spell.

OK its not a great choice but its a workable one in some instances. Maybe someone who wants to play a magic-research nation but cant get over his habit of marching everything to war including his pretender.

[Vger]

Hi,

Pardon my ignorance (if it is), but I thought you could use certain spells (e.g. teleport) to move the Rocks? Sure, it's cumbersome, but it's possible.

I like the Rocks, but have been too busy playing other fun pretenders, since this is all new to me.

Ciao,
V'ger gone