Scout Bloodhunting Nerf - New Numbers?

[Stormbinder]

Yes, I would liek to know it as well. In both of my current games I am playing blood-capable races (Abyssia and Jotuns) but using scouts for bloodhunting since it is more economical. I would like to know if it is time to change my hunting habbits.

[archaeolept]

I'm guessing they're now half as effective..

so, yah, time to change over to real bloodhunters. Use those scouts for what they were intended - pack mules.

[ April 08, 2004, 17:06: Message edited by: archaeolept ]

Originally posted by archaeolept:
I'm guessing they're now half as effective..

After 400 tests : you're right, it is 10% now.
Fortunately the *base* chance for blood mages is still 20% (+20% for each level in blood, I've not tested the SDR).
After 200 hunts with scouts I've got 19 hits and 82 slaves.
After 200 hunts with Blood 1 mages I've got 82 hits and 455 slaves...
Cheers

[Norfleet]

Originally posted by Sunray_be:
Fortunately the *base* chance for blood mages is still 20% (+20% for each level in blood, I've not tested the SDR).

If the base chance for a blood mage finding blood slaves is 20% per level of blood, does this mean a blood-5 mage, or a blood 3 mage with an SDR, which is supposed to be +2 blood for hunting, will always find blood slaves? How does population of province affect this?

If the base chance for a blood mage finding blood slaves is 20% per level of blood, does this mean a blood-5 mage, or a blood 3 mage with an SDR, which is supposed to be +2 blood for hunting, will always find blood slaves? How does population of province affect this?

I've not tested up to level 5, but this should be 100% indeed (maybe a small "fumble" chance even for high level mages ?). Do you use 270gp Warlocks to hunt slaves, anyway ?
My tests were based on provinces with 8,000 to 12,000 pop. Slave Hunt in larger provinces or in the capital seems too dangerous (possible unrest burst) and too expensive (gold loss).

In another previous test on a 5,000 pop province I've seen that my hunters were slightly less successful (about -20% slaves). But my test was limited on this point.
Unrest above 50 seems to make slave hunt harder, and much harder above 100.

Cheers

[Graeme Dice]

So, if we go by Saber Cherry's previous numbers, it now takes 8 scouts to be as effective as a single blood 1 mage with a SDR. Looks like that just about evens out the costs for most of the blood mages out there so that they are the most effective hunters.

Originally posted by Graeme Dice:
So, if we go by Saber Cherry's previous numbers, it now takes 8 scouts to be as effective as a single blood 1 mage with a SDR. Looks like that just about evens out the costs for most of the blood mages out there so that they are the most effective hunters.

Dont forget the unrest effect. 8 scouts should make about 25 unrest points in the province. 1 mage with a rod should make about probably less than 10 points. A big difference if you take the gold loss (and the patrolers' price) into acount.
And the upkeep cost of most blood mages is halved since they are sacred (Warlock Apprentice, Pandemoniacs and Hags are an exception).
Cheers