Wind of Death useful?

[MaxWilson]

Does Wind of Death have any real utility in the game without using Penetration items? +4 to MR might be okay on Master Enslave, where you get some utility out of the few units that fail to resist, but Decay is a weak enough effect that I suspect the spell is useful only against animals, or with a Rune Smasher + Spell Focus.

-Max

[Wish]

it seems to get about a third of the army, unenhanced. (in my experience)

[PvK]

Decay is a weak effect?

[Wish]

it used to guarantee death at the end of combat (in dom 2), i dunno if it still does that for those who retreat - but it does sure make folks retreat like crazy.

[Rathar]

I am avidly trying to use it asap in a MP game at the moment.

I shall do my best to remember this thread and let ya know how it went!

Rathar

[MaxWilson]

Hmmm, perhaps I'll have to reevaluate my opinion of decay (and of that Corpse Candle shield). I ran a quick test with Wind of Death against 30 or so Marverni and as far as I could tell affected none of them, but that might have been a fluke. You say it makes them retreat? Does it force a morale check, as if decay were a wound? That might make it worth loading up on the penetration items for.

-Max

[Shovah32]

Im not sure about retreats but decay isnt exactly a weak effect. If they retreat thats great but, in the case of regular troops, it would be better if they DONT retreat. They gain 5 years of age every battle turn they are decayed meaning that provided the battle goes on for long enough all the affected units(who dont have some crazily high old age requirement) will be crippled beyond belief.

[jutetrea]

Would the effects of Wind of Death stack with a D-9 bless? There was an earlier post about affliction chance, etc and this may be good synergy or just a waste, unsure.

[MaxWilson]

I'll check it later on, but I don't see how it could stack if Wind of Death doesn't do hit-point damage. 450% of zero is still zero. It would be really wicked if it did stack, though.

-Max

[Wish]

i've played with it some, and it definitely causes a morale check every time they age.