Beginner's Guide to Shinuyama MA

[thejeff]

Make sure that communion master is on attack (or retreat!)

If he's casting, the slaves will do nothing.

[vfb]

I had fun with these guys in SP. I made an awake Dom9, F3E3D5 Bakemono Kunshu and used him to expand solo. Dom9 for Awe and hit points, D5 for fear, F3 for attack, E3 for a little protection, and it leaves you with only 4 wasted points.

Scales were: Ord3,Sloth3,Heat1,Misfortune2,Drain2.

Sloth 3 still let me recruit as many O-bakemonos as I had gold for, and they're a decent morale troop for another expanding army. One Uba crafted out skull talismans for a load of Mujina assassins, who can then kill most indy leaders. The leaderless indies will route when you send in a single unit (a scout will do, or a Bakemono shaman can hide and preach until the leaders are all dead). Watch out for lizard and amazon provinces, since they like to use bodyguards. Bodyguards = 1 dead Mujina prophet.

[Lazy_Perfectionist]

I'd forgotten all about Awe- pricy as it is, it is a persistent, fatigueless effect. Thanks for the (on-topic) tip VFB. Jeff, thanks for the tip about Lammashtas. Thanks for the feedback on flight. On an attempt to bring the Ktonian deviation on topic somewhat,can a crystal matrix and slave matrix work even if none of the slaves have paths in magic, and none of the masters paths in astral?

With an immortal pretender, theres' little drawback (aside from points) in taking astral. So, with the right paths and research, you should be able to forge several matrixes. A lot of effort to get higher in the paths, but maybe you can spam elementals? Whatever. The Sorceror does have a lot of '2's, and a lot of interesting things become available at 3. Plus spells and artifacts like earthpower and earth boots... Even 2 communion slaves might be interesting.

Skull Talismans on Mujina? Interesting. I hadn't ever tried that artifact. And Mujina expansions? Also interesting. I'l have to try that. It may give me additional material to discourage incursions, if I can just find a way around the bodyguards.

For an interesting idea I have yet to try...
Dark Skies. Unfortunately a defensive spell, it reduces enemy morale by one for each point of friendly dominion. Won't affect many undead or magical bodyguards, but will render Mujina a lot more effective in friendly territory.

[Xietor]

I took an imprisoned one in a recent mp game(very risky),
but I envision using him with items, and the advantage of immortality is that if he dies, i do lose items but not my pretender, and he does heal wounds.

I will not equip him with great items, but with a few constr 4 items he can be quite potent. While awe is great, with dom 1, I think the price is too high.

Especially since mine will not awaken until year 3 and there are many units with morale 50 in play by that time.

[Lazy_Perfectionist]

Let us know how it turns out, Xietor. I'm interested in hearing all about it

How many weeks would you estimate you are from him escaping?

[Xietor]

well in it summer of year 3 now. So he should be popping out soon.

Since that game is ongoing, I cannot reveal the magic paths or strategy for him quite yet. But as shin is not the greatest MP race, my participation in the game may come to an end at any time.

But I will give a full report once it becomes common knowledge what my paths are to my fellow players.

[MaxWilson]

A crystal matrix does not rely on the master having astral paths, but a slave matrix will not function if the slaves do not have magic. Let me qualify that--the slaves do not share spell fatigue if they have no magic. I don't know if they are still affected by single-target spells on the master, although I expect not.

-Max