Paralyze vs SoulSlay: MR mechanics?

[Chazar]

I have read somewhere here that Paralyze is the "bane of SCs". Why? Isn't it always better to use SoulSlay instead? Both spells allow normal MR according to the game info - thus have the same success chance, and target 1 Person with 100 Precision, but the latter one kills outright. So why is Paralyze regarded as better?

Generally, works MR different for different spells, apart from the documented "easily negates"?

Does e.g. an Ethereal Crossbow have the same chance of succeeding as SoulSlay (under the premise that the bolt hits in the first place)?

[thejeff]

I don't know about Paralyze. Petrify is the bane of SCs, since it either kills outright or paralyzes.

MR checks work the same way for different spells, but you do get +1 penetration for every 2 extra levels of magic you have, so a 4S mage would have a bonus using Paralyze(S2) but not with Soul Slay(S3). He'd also get more of them off, since fatigue will be reduced more by his higher levels.

[Deadnature]

Maybe "an early SC counter" would be a better way to describe it, because if it passes MR-check it can be a death-sentence.

[sansanjuan]

easier to spam... everything counts in large amounts..
-ssj

[Numahr]

Note that if your enemy dominated the battlefield and won the battle, his paralyzed SC will fight again, not his soul-slain one. "Paralyze" works only in combination with battlefield domination through other means.

[Peter Ebbesen]

Originally Posted by Chazar

I have read somewhere here that Paralyze is the "bane of SCs". Why?

Because as an astral 2 spell it is the easiest spell capable of stopping SCs in their tracks to mass casters for.

Soul Slay is better, Enslave Mind better than Soul Slay, Charm is better than all of them, Petrify is the the king of non-blood SC countering spells, and blood sends SCs straight to hell, but actually deploying these counters succesfully is for most nations considerably harder than amassing paralyze casters, requiring more research and rare and valuable specialized mages.

Compare with the ease of amassing S1 mages and a single unit to cast Light of the Northern Star or use a banner (or for true astral nations, amassing S2 mages).

[NooBliss]

I have a feeling that Soulslay doesnt change your status to 'dead', it deals 999 damage and thus is countered by luck half the time. Paralyze isn't, so paralyze works 2x times more often.

[sansanjuan]

Originally Posted by Peter Ebbesen

Because as an astral 2 spell it is the easiest spell capable of stopping SCs in their tracks to mass casters for.

Soul Slay is better, Enslave Mind better than Soul Slay, Charm is better than all of them, Petrify is the the king of non-blood SC countering spells, and blood sends SCs straight to hell, but actually deploying these counters succesfully is for most nations considerably harder than amassing paralyze casters, requiring more research and rare and valuable specialized mages.

Compare with the ease of amassing S1 mages and a single unit to cast Light of the Northern Star or use a banner (or for true astral nations, amassing S2 mages).

or spam horror marks...
-ssj

[Chazar]

I am basically interested in success chances. So I figure that MR or MReasy is basically the same across all spells (subject to penetration and excess caster levels).

However, this is very interesting, which makes SoulSlay much less appealing:

Originally Posted by NooBliss

I have a feeling that Soulslay doesnt change your status to 'dead', it deals 999 damage and thus is countered by luck half the time. Paralyze isn't, so paralyze works 2x times more often.

Anything else along those lines one should be aware of?

[Knai]

Originally Posted by NooBliss

I have a feeling that Soulslay doesnt change your status to 'dead', it deals 999 damage and thus is countered by luck half the time. Paralyze isn't, so paralyze works 2x times more often.

It is also possible to get over 999 HP, though that is a niche case at best.