Strands of Astral Power. Worth it?

Tuidjy · #1 April 24th, 2008, 02:34 AM

What do you guys think about the global "Strands of Astral Power"? In my current
game, I have drawn too much attention, and my only chance for survival is to
turtle down and hope the neutral nations decide that my enemies are getting too
strong. I am considering "Strands of Astral Power", because I know that "God's
Wrath" will hurt people outside of my dominion and they will rightfully turn on me.

Now, I am pretty sure that it does not attack outside of my dominion. I have
tested it as well as could in the SP games I have around, and everyone I have
asked has agreed. But is it worth casting?

I understand it only attacks mages, and that they get a MR check. Will penetration
items on the caster help? Will extra natural levels? What about astral boosters?
As to non-astral enemies, will the mind burn benefit from penetration and extra levels?

Anyway, I am absolutely ignorant about this spell, and both the manual and the
in-game description fail to answer many of my questions. Have you ever used it
in Multiplayer, and what did it do for you?

sum1lost · #2 April 24th, 2008, 02:55 AM

It is pretty much a mental attack on all mages in your dominion. It devestates mages in your territory, at least it did when I used it, but if you contact an astral mage, it initiates a (sort of) magic duel between the two (if you lose, you are usually feebleminded), so with that kind of mental fight going on, its best to have a mage with either some way of curing afflictions, or very high natural levels in astral.

Ylvali · #3 April 25th, 2008, 03:06 AM

It also does a limited site searching which is useful when you are expanding fast or have large areas left unsearched.

Tuidjy · #4 April 25th, 2008, 04:15 AM

Well, as far as I am concerned, that was a bloody waste of 200 pearls. It seems
that magic resistance negates the spell without taking penetration items on the
caster into account. With dozens of invaders in my lands, four were found and one
was feebleminded. Great success!

Dedas · #5 April 25th, 2008, 04:26 AM

With a high magic scale and invaders with low MR it should be more effective.

Tuidjy · #6 April 27th, 2008, 06:53 AM

So not worth it! On this turn, I have at least 30 enemy mages in my dominion,
sitting outside my castles. Not a single enemy mage found!

What is the point, seriously? A spell that only detects mages, but is easily
defeated by magic resistance, and neither dominion 10, high penetration, or
extra levels help. Serves me right for using it for the first time in MP.

Dedas · #7 April 27th, 2008, 07:01 AM

What is your magic scale?

Sombre · #8 April 27th, 2008, 07:36 AM

You're right that is pretty stupid. The one thing you can count on mages having is decent mr.

Tuidjy · #9 April 27th, 2008, 07:49 AM

It is drain 2, but what does it matter? As if +2 or +3 to penetration would
make a difference. I have no SCs at under 22, and no mage under 20... I doubt my
opponents do. So instead of MR 23, they would be MR 20 if I had magic + 3. Woo!
Then I'd have made a killing... Unless there is a way to reduce the enemies' MR
beyond the measily +2 from magic 3, this spell is worthless.

Oh, and when I said 30 mages, I lied. In just one province, there's about 50
astral mages... and not one was detected.

Dedas · #10 April 27th, 2008, 08:00 AM

Astral mages have extra MR due to astral you know so it is no wonder the spell doesn't work.

As for +1-3 difference in MR matters? Well not if you have 20 MR against the base check against 10. But a standard mage with 13-15 MR in your dominion with magic 2 (for example), that takes it down to 12 or 13 is a big difference - just look at the table in the manual for the chances of penetration.