MA Tien Chi in 3.10

[Shovah32]

Might be a bad idea. The dueling mages probably have a high chance of losing their duel against the enemies, exploding, respawning within your own forces(or enemy forces, dying again and getting more fatigued) and blowing them up after losing their next duel.

[Gregstrom]

Yes - S1 only has a 1/6 chance of killing S4 in a duel, or 10/36 for killing S3. I only suggested it because if you're TC going up against Bandar/Arco in MA, it might be a better way of going up against therir astral mages than sitting there waiting for them to duel you. If the master casts Power of the Spheres too, odds are 10/36 for S2 v S4 and 15/36 for S2 v S3 (NB: these odds include the chance of mutual annihilation - if you don't have Pyre up this might be a bigger concern)

A bit of MM can reduce the odds of at least the first death of each slave hurting any other casters.

[quantum_mechani]

Gregstrom said:
If the master casts Power of the Spheres too, odds are 10/36 for S2 v S4 and 15/36 for S2 v S3

No sort of booster helps magic duel.

[Gregstrom]

Oops.

[MKDELTA]

I realized that Nature opens up the path to Eagle Eyes, which is suprisingly nice little spell as it turns even mundane Fireballs and Acid Bolts deadlier.

Or well, more precise, but that's slightly the same thing, especialy against more regular units.

I'm still trying to think a solid use for the Alchemists and Masters of The Way.

[Shovah32]

Masters of the way aren't terribly useful, although with frozen heart they can be nice. They are also decent researchers - 20 more gold than geomancers but 2 less upkeep due to them being sacred.

Alchemists are protected from magic duel, but thats about all.

[Sombre]

You're right that eagle eyes is very nice. Aim would be too if it had a self target version.

Perhaps in that little mod,...

[FedSlayer]

So much to learn that a lot of this is over my head. On magic duel each of the involved duelers adds 1d6 (not open ended) to his/her level of Astral Magic. So an S1 would have a 10/36 chance to defeat an S3?

On a roll of 6 the S1 would kill an S3 rolling a 1 thru 4
On a roll of 5 the S1 would kill an S3 rolling a 1 thru 3
On a roll of 4 the S1 would kill an S3 rolling a 1 thru 2
On a roll of 3 the S1 would kill an S3 rolling a 1
On rolls of 1 or 2 the S1 can't kill the S3

Due to ties killing both mages there is a 30/36 chance of the S1 being killed, or a 6/36 of the S1 surviving if you want to think of it that way.

Correct?

Given enough expendable lower level astral mages you can take out an astral mage 1-2 levels higher, but it will be expensive.

[FedSlayer]

And now, what to do about a rampaging herd of elephants. Besides staying out of their way what's the best thing to do to counter them? I'm thinking the Panic spell might be a good start, but maybe not. What to do, what to do!!!

Plus there is that peskey F9 dragon pretender.

[Shovah32]

Panic is good. So are high defence units. Gifts from heaven and other high damage evocations are nice too, as is anything MR based(soul slay ect).