Wishlist: Assassinations

[quantum_mechani]

Originally Posted by Dorjan

They do. I've had it happen loads already.

I have as well actually.

That said, assassination falls into the category of quite niche at best.

[cleveland]

I liked Zeldor's idea of allowing a 2nd script specific for assassination.

That might have just saved a Mother of Avalon who, when alone and staring down the barrel of an Emposioner, let loose with Mass Protection (which does require gems). If a barkskinned, exhausted mage falls in an assassination, and no bodyguards are around to hear it, does she make a sound?

[llamabeast]

If the mage was a battlefield support mage then he would die anyway as he would just end up casting a battlefield spell and waiting 4 turns

Why do you have your mages scripted to wait four turns? If you had them on [support spell][cast spells] they'd at least be able to defend themselves after the first round.

[llamabeast]

That might have just saved a Mother of Avalon who, when alone and staring down the barrel of an Emposioner, let loose with Mass Protection (which does require gems). If a barkskinned, exhausted mage falls in an assassination, and no bodyguards are around to hear it, does she make a sound?

Gosh, that's shocking. I really didn't think it would do that.

[Dorjan]

Originally Posted by llamabeast

Why do you have your mages scripted to wait four turns? If you had them on [support spell][cast spells] they'd at least be able to defend themselves after the first round.

Because it's set up for a army situation, I want them to rest for 4 turns so they won't be fatuged and able to cast bigger spells when the scripting ends

[Dorjan]

Originally Posted by quantum_mechani

I have as well actually.

That said, assassination falls into the category of quite niche at best.

Wow, I've not played a MP game without at least 50 assasination attempts happening against me.

[llamabeast]

Because it's set up for a army situation, I want them to rest for 4 turns so they won't be fatuged and able to cast bigger spells when the scripting ends

Their fatigue doesn't drop by resting, unless they're already over 100 fatigue, in which case the scripting makes no difference. Or unless they've got an earth bless.

Who do you play MP with? I think assassinations are generally fairly rare in MP because in order to make a decent assassin you have to put a fair bit of effort in, which is probably more than the cost you'll cause to your opponent by killing a mage or two. There are exceptions of course, and things like Earth Attack are definitely common, although obviously they're pretty late game.

[llamabeast]

Because it's set up for a army situation, I want them to rest for 4 turns so they won't be fatuged and able to cast bigger spells when the scripting ends

Their fatigue doesn't drop by resting, unless they're already over 100 fatigue, in which case the scripting makes no difference. Or unless they've got an earth bless.

Who do you play MP with? I think assassinations are generally fairly rare in MP because in order to make a decent assassin you have to put a fair bit of effort in, which is probably more than the cost you'll cause to your opponent by killing a mage or two. There are exceptions of course, and things like Earth Attack are definitely common, although obviously they're pretty late game.

[quantum_mechani]

Originally Posted by Dorjan

Wow, I've not played a MP game without at least 50 assasination attempts happening against me.

That's pretty odd... are we talking about a lot of cheapo assassins, or a few really elite ones?

The problem, is both kinds of some serious issues. A swarm of cheapo assassins can do really well the first turn or two they start, but usually just a few mundane bodyguards will do them in, which people quickly catch on to.

Elite ones can face down most bodyguards fine, but it only takes a few specially set up 'trap' mages with the right scripts to end their reign of terror.

Both kinds also ultimately have issues with patrolling and mind hunt.

EDIT: Unless, like llama pointed out, you are talking about one shot assassin spells, which are indeed all over the place.

[chrispedersen]

Originally Posted by Loren

I think he does have a point about battlefield spells. One should not use offensive battlefield spells in an assassination.

Again, the problem is that assassination is overall not an effective technique.

If you change the scripting to have battlefield scripts and assassinations scripts - the balance shifts even *more* in the opposite direction.

In certain circles the moral is: surprise kills. And regardless of the mages rank and power, I should like there to be some possibility of them being assassinated.