Golden Age Arcoscephale

[Graeme Dice]

Originally posted by Blitz:
It has no redeeming qualities whatsoever.

Of course it has redeeming qualities. It has earthpower, invulnerability, luck, body ethereal, and astral shield. It's also a flying trampler, which allows it to smash normal armies.

Myrmidons cannot go toe to toe with either Einheres or temple guards... let alone mammoths.

No infantry can go toe to toe with mammoths and expect to not take severe losses. There are virtually no infantry that can fight very well against Einheres, and temple guards are even more resource limited than Myrmidons.

[Graeme Dice]

Originally posted by Blitz:
Here's the BEST Shedu I can manage.

Shedu
SSSSSS EEEE DDDD
Dominion 5

You wasted a huge number of points on the death magic, since it is totally unnecessary for fatigue purposes.

Which would you rather have?

I can't tell you the answer to that without knowing the parameters of the game.

[Norfleet]

Originally posted by Graeme Dice:
Of course it has redeeming qualities. It has earthpower, invulnerability, luck, body ethereal, and astral shield. It's also a flying trampler, which allows it to smash normal armies.

Well, yeah, as long as said normal army can be broken in less than 10-15 tramples. Even Earthpower can't compensate for the enormous fatigue of trampling: I had messenger boots, a resilience amulet, and earthpower all running at once on a Fat Momma. She still fatigued out. Not cool.

Soul Vortex is definitely a solution, but the Shedu does not come with any death, nor a body slot to enable the wearing of bone armor. At 80 points a path, this is probably not something you wish to add yourself, either.

[Blitz]

No infantry can go toe to toe with mammoths and expect to not take severe losses. There are virtually no infantry that can fight very well against Einheres, and temple guards are even more resource limited than Myrmidons.

So what you are telling me is that Vanheim gets better infantry, better cavalry, better fliers, and recruitable SC's and GE Arco gets... mystics and philosophers. Can I at least have my elephants back please? Uberchariot isn't enough, especially when you figure in the Vandjarls and those valkries who are all over your mystics and priestesses.

As for temple guards being more resource-intensive... at least you aren't operating under FORCED SLOTH. Let's not forget that Vanheim and Caelum get 1 and 3 free temperature picks respectively. And besides, who gives a crap about temple guards when you have wingless/mammoth.

Of course it has redeeming qualities. It has earthpower, invulnerability, luck, body ethereal, and astral shield. It's also a flying trampler, which allows it to smash normal armies.

For 466 points? This ain't Ermor buddy. The only way I can see a Shedu doing anything productive is by incorporating soul vortex. Take 80 point paths, a forced 5+ astral, and a 125 point base cost and you are investing a lot in something you could accomplish a lot cheaper with winged boots on an Oprah.

[Graeme Dice]

Originally posted by Blitz:
So what you are telling me is that Vanheim gets better infantry, better cavalry, better fliers, and recruitable SC's and GE Arco gets... mystics and philosophers.

I think you are misusing the SC term. A vanadrott cannot take on an entire army by itself, which is the requirement for the SC term. Arco also has better and more affordable mages than Vanheim, so it's pretty much evens out.

Can I at least have my elephants back please? Uberchariot isn't enough, especially when you figure in the Vandjarls and those valkries who are all over your mystics and priestesses.

The valkyries won't be in your rear because you'll be bringing along a staff of storms. Chariots can also deal with valkyries as they never miss.

For 466 points? This ain't Ermor buddy.

Astral 6, earth 4 is all that's required for the spells I listed above. That's doable with order 3, prod 1 (It's not a golden age only pretender you realize), misfortune 2, dominion 6, and a castle.

[Blitz]

I think you are misusing the SC term. A vanadrott cannot take on an entire army by itself, which is the requirement for the SC term. Arco also has better and more affordable mages than Vanheim, so it's pretty much evens out.

Ever try a hangadrott with full gear, wraith sword, and soul vortex? Find me a better investment for 400 gold. I'll promise you one thing... it'll own the **** out of a Shedu any day.

The valkyries won't be in your rear because you'll be bringing along a staff of storms.

Sweet. Now my wind riders are 125 gold heavy cavalry and my icarids are 28 gold peLasts! I'm sure my ground forces will be more than a match for einheres and vans.

Astral 6, earth 4 is all that's required for the spells I listed above. That's doable with order 3, prod 1 (It's not a golden age only pretender you realize), misfortune 2, dominion 6, and a castle.

You realize that pretender loses to a hangadrott right? Just checking. Feel free to test it out yourself.

[Graeme Dice]

Originally posted by Blitz:
]Ever try a hangadrott with full gear, wraith sword, and soul vortex? Find me a better investment for 400 gold. I'll promise you one thing... it'll own the **** out of a Shedu any day.

That it will kill a shedu is really irrelevant, since you don't pick a Shedu for killing other thugs, you pick it to kill normal troops very well. I wouldn't bother putting a full set of equipment on it in the first place either, since there are any number of spells that can deal with a unit with such low hitpoints. Counting only the 400 gold you spent, then two mystics with the appropriate skills should do. Since he will likely have lightning immunity, then I would bring along a fire 2 mystic, and a water mystic. One casts incinerate or astral fires, the other casts frozen heart. Sure you can make him immune to three of the elements, but then your equipment will lack either magic resistance, regeneration or luck. If we also include the gem costs of all that equipment you put on him, then arco can start to bring along golems with similar equipment.

]Sweet. Now my wind riders are 125 gold heavy cavalry and my icarids are 28 gold peLasts! I'm sure my ground forces will be more than a match for einheres and vans.

Well, since Vanheim would have brought storms even if you hadn't, it's doesn't change the issue at all. And yes, your ground forces can be a match for his since you will also have much more magical research completed, and have the ability to use communion.

You realize that pretender loses to a hangadrott right? Just checking. Feel free to test it out yourself. [/QB]

So? It's not a pretender that's made to take out other SCs. It's made to kill normal troops. Arco