Assassin nations?

jaif · #1 November 2nd, 2007, 07:57 PM

Hey all, thanks for the good discussion. I don't get to play much, so I've focussed mostly on nations without assassins up until now, but I just got a hankering to play with them a bit.

I'm curious - what do you guys do against a priest with smite? Smite's 20 points, so that can easily be a one-shot kill.

-Jeff

llamabeast · #2 November 2nd, 2007, 08:02 PM

Smite is MR-resists, so give your assassin an anti-magic amulet.

KissBlade · #3 November 2nd, 2007, 11:25 PM

Don't forget there's also Mujina.

B0rsuk · #4 November 3rd, 2007, 10:17 AM

I'd like to point out Bane Spider is actually pretty good assassin except for his terrible armor. He gets -6 defense just from armor (1 for full helmet 5 for spider armor). So if you want to use them, replacing armor is the first step. I think Marble Armor is very cost effective - 25 protection +4 defense and that's for 10 gems without hammer. Cold vulnerability is not a big deal against most opponents.
I'm still scratching my head why BS cost so much gold - probably bane blades. 14 hp, nice attack and defense, ambidexterous 3. But still...

Can anyone enlighten me what's the benefit of Forest Survival on a commander with strategic move 1 ? I know there are some minor benefits like Swamp Survival units not getting diseased in Miasma, but other than that ?

Burnsaber · #5 November 3rd, 2007, 10:37 AM

Quote:

B0rsuk said:
I'd like to point out Bane Spider is actually pretty good assassin except for his terrible armor. He gets -6 defense just from armor (1 for full helmet 5 for spider armor). So if you want to use them, replacing armor is the first step. I think Marble Armor is very cost effective - 25 protection +4 defense and that's for 10 gems without hammer. Cold vulnerability is not a big deal against most opponents.
I'm still scratching my head why BS cost so much gold - probably bane blades. 14 hp, nice attack and defense, ambidexterous 3. But still...

Can anyone enlighten me what's the benefit of Forest Survival on a commander with strategic move 1 ? I know there are some minor benefits like Swamp Survival units not getting diseased in Miasma, but other than that ?

- resitance to Beckoning
- flavor

jimkehn · #6 November 3rd, 2007, 11:26 AM

Also....aren't they less susceptible to starvation in a forest??

B0rsuk · #7 November 3rd, 2007, 11:52 AM

I thought commanders don't starve anyway ?
A bit off-topic : while Bane Spiders have potential, I have yet to find any task fit for Spider Warriors (that 2weapon 36res stealthy heavy infantry). Even pretty weak Pythium province defence rips them to pieces, and they're awfully expensive. Why exactly do Spider Warriors cost 30 gold ?! They could be more useful if I support them with flying/stealthy mages, for example a druid with Treelord Staff can cast regeneration, barskin, and berserkers . But so much fuss - is it worth it ? As far as I know there are no spells which work like Barskin for defence - set base defence to 10 or other fixed value (and optionally provide small defence bonus if def is already 10 or higher)

Edratman · #8 November 5th, 2007, 09:26 AM

Smite is powerful, but you also need precision with it and MR influences the hit.

I've been playing using either of 2 bows on assassins, bow of madness(?) and etheral crossbow. Etheral crossbow is more effective, but I still lose assassins to mundane commanders. Haven't managed to get my assassin with the crossbow to target a pretender or major commander yet.

thejeff · #9 November 5th, 2007, 10:03 AM

I think Smite is 100 precision. MR is the key.

Stryke11 · #10 November 5th, 2007, 04:08 PM

You've seen the Ethereal Crossbow work? I ask because I never see an attack sprite of the commander and no quarrel like a regular bow. I was beginning to think they were bugged. I even looked at enemy armies very closely for unexplainable deaths.