An intial try at a Pythium strategy guide

[tinkthank]

These are some nice suggestions.

If I may:
Enslave Mind is Thaum 6 (not 5).
The Principe is truly nice, but I also like the Legionairre: they are quite a bit cheaper and have spears. I get some Triarius every now and then too just for the heck of it: they are good at repelling within their own dominion (enemy has lower morale).
I never get Centurions, Emerald Lords or Battle Deacons (not to mention: Cataphract leaders) -- do you use them?
It would be nice if you edited your original post to include either a brief outline of what apoger's storm thingy is or put a link to it.
Also, it would be nice if you included a bit more info on Communions: what you feel to be a good ratio of masters/slaves, etc.
Thanks much!

[Anglachel]

Here is a link to a bunch of interesting combos including, I believe, the "perfect storm".

http://www.shrapnelgames.com/cgi-bin...;f=74;t=000855

[Huzurdaddi]

Enslave Mind is Thaum 6 (not 5).

I stand corrected. I really should do some fact checking before I post!

Legionairre: they are quite a bit cheaper and have spears

They were at 1st my standard troop. Until one time ( by comeplete random chance ) I created one block of infantry with Principes and they got a little experience and I noticed that they took *very* few losses in most combats. I figured that the difference was the defence. I'm sure Sable Cherry has the stats on how effective a 15 defence is vs. a 13 defence. Not to mention how 16 vs. 14 ( when they get a little experience ). And I guess the difference allows more of them to actually get the experience vs. the Legionnaires.

I never get Centurions, Emerald Lords or Battle Deacons (not to mention: Cataphract leaders) -- do you use them?

It's probably silly of me. I like to put my infantry into a large block and sprinkle the bothy etherial casters thoughout the block, I'm sure that having 5 or so blocks would work almost as well. They would break more I guess but I really don't know if that would be a problem.

Also, it would be nice if you included a bit more info on Communions: what you feel to be a good ratio of masters/slaves, etc.

Well I'll be honest. Ever since I found this "recipie" (etherial troops -> ether warriors -> abombs ) I have not used communion much. I used to use it as my staple though. The major problem that I found was that in serious conflicts the theurgs would always kill the communicants unless you had a shaman along. I think I went as high as 3 to 1 ratios and they would still die. What I probably should have done was have ever theurg cast slave and cast master ( I think that this works ) but just as I was thinking of that I hit on this. I was impressed however with the power of the communion having 5 or 6 quickened casters casting enslave mind turns combats quite quickly (and I always wanted to try getting them all high enough to cast nifel flames just to see ).

[tinkthank]

Ah ok. My ratio is much higher. I usually am like 8 to 1 or so.
My build usually includes a *Wizard Tower*. I often just crank out tons and tons of Communicants.

I was going to post a Pythium guide actually but my strategy took a serious blow in 2.11: nerfing of non-skilled blood hunters. I had TONS of Communicants ferry troops to the front line, and when they had nothing to do, the would blood hunt. I had quite a nice blood economy going.
It doesnt work anymore. At all. Which is ok, it was almost too good to be true.

[Huzurdaddi]

Ah ok. My ratio is much higher. I usually am like 8 to 1 or so.
My build usually includes a *Wizard Tower*. I often just crank out tons and tons of Communicants.

Holy bejesus. That is a lot. How long does it take to get up to this stage? What turn do you have this going on? It sounds like it could be pretty darn powerful! Getting 16 Communicants ) or jeeze 32 ) into an army with 4 or so casters would be hugely powerful I can't even think of what kind of devestation you could inflict on your enemies.

I had TONS of Communicants ferry troops to the front line, and when they had nothing to do, the would blood hunt.

Holy cats. Given their super low maintainance cost that would have been very efficient. Pythium with blood. It's too insane for words! Nice job. Thank gosh it got nerfed. And here I was using scouts like a retard ( at least before 2.11 ).

[Firebreath]

Ahh, and here I was thinking that 'body ethereal' was a 'self' spell.

I tried a slight variation of that, using arco's heart compagnions (along with a fire 9 bless and healing of afflictions). It seems to work rather well, even if the wiz are expensive. With cheap pythium casters, no doubt it's more effective.

Now, I wonder how ethereal elephants will perform...or how about ethereal fire 9 hydras, if I can forge some poison immune item...

Apart from that - nice post.

[ April 30, 2004, 22:58: Message edited by: Firebreath ]

[Huzurdaddi]

Now, I wonder how ethereal elephants will perform

Indeed this is how I started with this tactic. I tried it on Arcosphale elephants and was quite happy with the results! The only problem was that the elephants would break once in a while and squish my expensive casters. It was also expensive as both the casters for Arcosphale and the elephants cost a nice amount of coin.

But other that the money consideration it was amazing to watch!

I also tried it with chariots. Seeing as the only problem with chariots is the lack of decent protection I figured this would work nicely. And indeed it did.

Ahh, and here I was thinking that 'body ethereal' was a 'self' spell.

Shocked me too!