Hidden in Snow

Sombre · #1 February 26th, 2007, 01:18 PM

Maybe you got that response because you initially seemed to suggest suiciding the trolls so you don't have to pay upkeep for them and basically using the spell entirely to get more gems via the kings.

I also find it hard to see how going for kings to get more gems makes sense. You'd have to be playing a huuuuge game for 45/55 turns to be a sensible amount of time to wait. If you have the time and resources to set something like that up my feeling is that you could have done a thousand other more effective things to help you win instead.

Nick_K · #2 February 26th, 2007, 01:32 PM

IMO The sea king spell is ok, because the king himself if a very good commander. That's not what I'm criticising... but the regular sea troll unit is just rubbish. I think they're only worth using if you need amphibious troops and can't get the (dramatically better) kydnides. Otherwise, I just throw them in an army to bulk it out and let them die.
The problem is their large size. When 1 sea troll is fighting 3 infantry then att9, def9, prot8 doesn't cut it. They tend to die if they're matched up in front line combat against any reasonable force, and I've often seen them rout fairly fast too. They are ok against independents and they could be useful if you plan on dealing loads of damage with mages or missiles and just want them to take damage for a few turns. Even then, I'd prefer, say, indep heavy infantry but the trolls can go underwater and you might have a bunch hanging around from the king summon.

Does anyone actually use the 1-gem sea troll summon though? Anyone rate sea trolls without the king?

Belcarl · #3 February 26th, 2007, 01:41 PM

Sea trolls are great really, as chaff. High hp regenerating unit. Just don't expect them to do any damage. They are there to soak up the enemies melee so you can do artillery damage.

If that is not your main advantage, other summons may be better.

FrankTrollman · #4 February 26th, 2007, 01:58 PM

Deleted.

SlipperyJim · #5 February 26th, 2007, 05:51 PM

Quote:

FrankTrollman said:
In underwater battles, it's all about armies sumo-wrestling each other while Shark Attack does its dirty work. Big piles of Sea Trolls backed up with a water mage who gets his own gems to cast Shark Attack with is actually exactly what the doctor ordered.

That's a ... brilliant ... and evil idea! Thanks muchly, Frank! My current Dom3 game is almost over, and I just preached Oceania out of existence, but that will be an excellent point to remember for a future game.

Ballbarian · #6 February 27th, 2007, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Does anyone actually use the 1-gem sea troll summon though?

I do when I have more water gems than I know what to do with, but not enough to blow on more kings without breaking the bank (and idle water mages). I use them just to fill up squads for breaking into the seas. Actually, that was more in Dom2, and not so much now in Dom3.

I usually use the sea trolls to guard the decked out, gem generating kings. The kings just sit back with a water elemental spawning bottle each and cast frozen heart, and/or sharks.

Kalin · #7 February 27th, 2007, 11:00 AM

I generally don't use the 1-gem sea troll summon, mainly because it takes forever to get anything going with it. The problem is that the trolls cost a lot of maintenance, so while you are building up, you're paying a fortune that could be used elsewhere. I'd much rather save the gems for sea king's court, even if it doesn't seem as efficient cost wise at first...