How to Play the Abysian Race?

#1 March 13th, 2004, 08:48 PM

When you make a Demonbred your prophet, he also turns into a full fledged demon. Just FYI.

Teraswaerto · #2 March 13th, 2004, 09:08 PM

Spells like Fireball are accurate enough if the mages are positioned close to the front line, though there is a slight danger that they'll get hit by arrows. Also, when positioned close to the front line, the mages can cast Flame Eruption once evocation 6 is researched for some major damage. In one SP game against 3 AIs that Lasted 50ish turns I had 4 Anathemant Dragons in the HoF with over 600 kills each.

[ March 13, 2004, 19:09: Message edited by: Teraswaerto ]

tinkthank · #3 March 13th, 2004, 10:23 PM

These are all great tips and advice, and I wont repeat this. Odd however because these are not the first things that pop into my head about Abysia, which I like to play. But that's the great thing about DomII.
Obviously, Abysia is a fire race, but I dont play it with strong fire casting. I love its Astral, and its blood.
I often go with an Oracle, a Divine Glyph, or a Phoenix or a Virtue. (On the virtue I slap a fire ring on round 1.) I want Air 4 on my pretender for the bless effect, and I want to be able to forge +air items in case I get a random on my warlocks, which I get a lot of asap, and to forge a staff of storms. Staff of storms is key for me. Abysia doesnt use projectile weapons, and I try to make sure my enemies cant either. Keep those storms coming. So I invest in Construction quite a bit too. Construction will also get you those contracts (btw: its a blood 5 req for Soul Contract, which you get at Constuct 2).
Thaumaturgy is key for me too. I prefer Communion to Sabath master/slave. I love warlocks for mind burn, then soul slay, paralyze, and then later of course mind control. And the most important for me: Gateway. Notice how Abysias great troops are so damn slow? I hate toting them around, so I gateway them with my warlocks.
I like Blood for Send Horrors, which is great. Thats almost about all I use it for, with the occasional summon Storm Demon, Succubus, and Horde. I dont care for the rest of the summons as much as other people do, but thats a style thing again. Do what you like.
Then I invest in some conjuration and some evocation as time permits. Enchantment and Alteration as time permits.
Well thats just a few quick tips from my perspective, which is of course very different from what other like (and what they said here is all good, true stuff), and hopefully different from yours too. Enjoy!

SelfishGene · #4 March 13th, 2004, 10:41 PM

Salamanders rock at times. They killed my trample 20+ prot, trample, 34+ regen, Earth Mother in a PBeM. I would have crushed the Abysian army easily had not their large armor piercing attack ripped right into my Pretender and killed her in about two turns of combat.

[ March 13, 2004, 20:46: Message edited by: SelfishGene ]

tinkthank · #5 March 13th, 2004, 10:51 PM

Yes.
Their upkeep is a real issue however. Thanks to Wauthan (praise be to him), I have made a mini-mod with his help which makes Salamanders a bit more expensive but sacred. I think it is a nice balance. Their upkeep is then tolerable, and it makes for a more varied army.

Zurai · #6 March 13th, 2004, 11:52 PM

Problem with using a Staff of Storms as Abyssia is that a storm makes fire magic more fatiguing in combat, which sucks. Still, if you're facing someone like Man with heavy duty, accurate archers, it might be worthwhile.

PhilD · #7 March 14th, 2004, 12:16 AM

Most of the comments seem to revolve around magic; here's one it took me some time to understand...

Abysian troops (Abysian Infantry) require tons of resources. (the mages cost a lot of gold, while the troops, not counting the lava warriors, cost relatively little gold, but a lot of resources)

Consider using a cheaply built fortress, so you can recruit them from more than one place. I try to go with the Wizard's Tower, though the 120 design points hurt a lot.