Worst Summon ??

The real issue is whether or not you can use them effectively.

You can use Corpse Men effectively, but it's more costly than it's worth.

I have yet to play in a game where someone uses their Air Gem Income, with an Staff of Storms (or Lightning Rod) and start summoning Corpse Men.

The same can be said for Hama Dryads. I have never summoned them for their cost effectiveness or their special abilities; but on a lark.

Both of those units could use a slight change or adjustment in either +Path bonuses to make them more attractive to even use them situationally.

[PvK]

Corpse Man Construction is a level-one spell, and would be useful early on for someone who had a death-1 air-1 mage (and preferably, a lightning rod) to make an amphibious army (IIRC that they can go underwater like most undead).

It's not an impressive spell, but that's appropriate for a level-one spell, no?

I have used it in MP, but only because I had a Staff of Storms available which I didn't want to use for other purposes, and a death-1 air-1 mage without anything better to do. Seemed like a pretty decent way thing to do with a temporarily-idle staff of storms.

That's something to keep in mind when thinking about balance: there are many items which increase magic power level, and sometimes the powerful mages who use them, don't need them for several turns, while they do something else. So weaker mages can borrow powerful items without costing anyone anything, and can thus cast spells which might seem under-powered for the required magic path levels, but are quite good for a weak mage who is borrowing power-boosting items.

PvK

[PvK]

Originally posted by Gandalf Parker:

quote:

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Originally posted by PvK:
So far I only see people posting about units that they don't appreciate because they haven't figured out how to use them effectively.

Thats how I tend to see it. And most of the game really.

I dont really knock such an attitude. But I do like to say that the way to excell in this game is to experiment and find what works for you. What lets you do the things you would do anyway. Other peoples strategys are fun to read but they dont just fit in your pocket like in other games.

Anyway, I highly recommend that anyone people avoid thinking of things as weak or useless. You will find that advanced players refer to them as "things I havent found a use for yet". That way you might test it again later. Or at least you wont be so stunned when you come up against someone who did find a use for it.

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Those are some excellent points, Gandalf, and they illustrate what a great game this is. In many games that are only developed to the point of release and then abandoned by the corporation that paid for their development, there are only a few best strategies which need to be found and used to play competetively. Dominions gives a lot more leeway for playing with a wide variety of styles. Players can afford to find things that are useful to them, and to discard things which aren't useful, and still be able to play effectively. Also, there are many nations and situations where some techniques aren't very useful, or aren't available, which happen to be great when used by other nations, other styles, or in other circumstances.

PvK

[mr.white]

Personally I'd say Contact Draconians. Extreme cost and while they look kind of neat on paper they seem to die very easily in practice.

[Kel]

Much like, in other threads, where invicible != unbalanced...

Worst summon != Useless.

- Kel

[tinkthank]

I agree with Gandalf here too, which is why I was loathe to post in this thread.
Maybe we can interpret "worst" as "most costly" or something...?
But I just had to post because someone just mentioned Draconians as a poor summon; but mixed in with a bog beast or two and/or other nice poison immune troops, and you have a seriously powerful troop. A bit of cannon fodder, 2 bog beasts, and some dracononians led by a dracochief is my idea of an excellent bang for your buck. Draconian chiefs can summon more draconians if he has nothing else to do, which I just love. They are perfect hit-and-run summons and can wreak havoc behind enemy lines. If you play Caelum, for instance, draconians tend to appear less interesting, but there you go.

[calmon]

Air Magic (like Fire) isn't a summon-path so Draconians are good enough. The queens are unique and the draconians are the best alternative. At least if you want to invest airgems for summonings.

[ May 18, 2004, 10:40: Message edited by: calmon ]