A compilation of questions on using items

[vfb]

Blessed != sacred, I'm pretty sure it won't help.

[Mysterio]

So, if an artifact is lost in battle, it will once again be available for nations to forge? Or is it unavailable for the remainder of the game?

[sector24]

Artifacts that disappear from the game can be reforged.

[Micah]

charm or enslave effects also get around the RoR/rebirth combo. except on a pretender. use an elixir of life for a truly untouchable overlord since it doesn't care about fatigue.

[Maerlande]

I used the Forbidden Light in a game for the astral boost. I put it on an S4 mage and kept 2 pearls on him at all times and scripted returning. It worked for 30 + turns without killing. He got attacked a lot but just kept going back to my capital. Of course if you lose your capital it's all gone. The horror marking is pretty bad but it didn't get to an attack a turn. No more than about 1/5 turns.

I used the ark in a game. I found it pretty useless. The results are much too slow in almost any battle. I wouldn't bother with it again and a sacred only army usually suffers from some diversity problems. I used it with LA TC and an army of only magi, Ancestor Vessels, and Celestial summons is not very robust. Strong, but not broad based so vulnerable to counters if your opponent is wise. And mine was.

So experience may vary, but I've personally found the +2 astral on the Forbidden very worthwhile. On a S4 magi that's a lot of pearls saved on empowerment. Enough to make it worthwhile to even pay for a astral tart or something and a second forging of the Light.

The ark doesn't seem worth the gems.