Are 'trick' spells viable?

[Nerfix]

Endoperez said:I always thought of Suplhur Haze and Freezing Mists as damage spells. Do you mean that all cloud spells are 'trick' spells as well?
Weird path combination doesn't make a spell a 'trick' spell. Only Tien Chi/Atlantis/Arcos get Acid (Water/Fire) with randoms in most games, Magma (earth/fire) is rare except on Ulm, Nether Darts is the only Astral/Death combination spell with Nether Dart, but this doesn't make these spells any weaker.

Well, they do neglible damage and their main purpose is to poison/numb the enemies there. FYI, I consider stuff like Combustion trick spells too.

Combustion spam is fun, too. 'Fun', maybe not effective.

[Endoperez]

Nerfix said:

Well, they do neglible damage and their main purpose is to poison/numb the enemies there. FYI, I consider stuff like Combustion trick spells too.

Combustion spam is fun, too. 'Fun', maybe not effective.

Combustion is a weak spell, although AoE version would be quite useful against creatures vulnerable to Fire (Vine men/ogres). However, AoE Poison is very, VERY powerful. One turn in the fog will hurt any mortal creatures badly, and two turns will probably kill them. The constant damage is bad for morale, might cause afflictions, and of course, dead Vanir or even cavalry are very expensive to replace.

All cloud-type spells aren't useful. Some are worthless. However, if by "trick" spell you mean spells which inhibit the creature some way without causing (much) damage or severe status changes, Sulphur Haze doesn't belong into that list.
Being aflame, numb, slowed, unable to move until (something), unable to attack etc are weak abilities. Poison is not. I'd like to see all of the above having greater AoE. However, Sulphur Haze is already useful for those able to use it.

[Nerfix]

Poison is still not immediatedly deadly to your run the mill militia like a close-up meet with Flare would be, so my classication stays.

I might have to use SH more, but from what I remember the cloud did 1 point of damage and gave weak poisoning...I'm not saying that is useless.

[Endoperez]

Nerfix said:
Poison is still not immediatedly deadly to your run the mill militia like a close-up meet with Flare would be, so my classication stays.

I might have to use SH more, but from what I remember the cloud did 1 point of damage and gave weak poisoning...I'm not saying that is useless.

Sulphur Haze is level 2 Evocation with AoE of 4+. It is very useful against big groups, especially if your units can hold them back without suffering too much. Undead are ideal, of course, being immune to poison.

Of course, the fact that it is Evoc 2 means that better spells replace it very quickly.

[Valandil]

Nether bolt/ darts is NOT the only astral/death.
there is eater of the dead, and soul drain (an awesome, but kinda difficult spell).

[Endoperez]

Valandil said:
Nether bolt/ darts is NOT the only astral/death.
there is eater of the dead, and soul drain (an awesome, but kinda difficult spell).

That's true. I was thinking of combat spells, and forgot about remember Soul Drain. I don't think Evocation has any more, and the only other summons (besides Eater of the Dead) I can think of are Nether Gate and Vengeance of the Dead. The latter isn't really a summon spell, though.

[shovah]

as for general trick spells how about the pangaean spell songs? tune of growth is ok and a few casters of tune of dancing death (backed by a few minos to clean up) could be deadly.

[Vicious Love]

Endoperez said:
I was thinking of combat spells, and forgot about remember Soul Drain. I don't think Evocation has any more, and the only other summons (besides Eater of the Dead) I can think of are Nether Gate and Vengeance of the Dead. The latter isn't really a summon spell, though.

Well, there is technically Nether Bolt. For the research-impaired. Such as undead Ermor. Both Soul Gate and Ashen Empire have good access to astral/death, but extremely slow research, and both have better schools to research than Evocation.