Pretender Idea: Master Summoner

Poopsi · #1 December 4th, 2008, 03:44 AM

Or goetic master, or Demonologist. Whatever.

It´s on the line of my near-base pretenders. This one is on the lines of the Mictlanese-Early Smoking Mirror pretender: AKA it´s not pure "base" (costs more than 30 points. Maybe 50-60), but has two paths (in this case, blood and astral), and has a minor innate reinvirgoration-regenerative ability, and heals like the pangea units. The idea is that it´s encouraged to bring him along your army as even if he receives wounds.

I´m trying to think of any other stuff that could supplement-replace those. I am also willing to accept name suggestions. Any ideas?

HoneyBadger · #2 December 4th, 2008, 04:22 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon

Here's the Wiki on King Solomon, who was described in legends as being the master of demons and spirits, among other things. It might give you some ideas, and there's some really interesting/entertaining stuff here.

Also, as much as I'd like it to be different, I can't see any thematic reason for a diabolist/summoner to have the healing ability. It just doesn't obviously fit. Immortality, possibly, but it would require a good backstory, to make me believe it

lch · #3 December 4th, 2008, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoneyBadger

I can't see any thematic reason for a diabolist/summoner to have the healing ability. It just doesn't obviously fit. Immortality, possibly, but it would require a good backstory, to make me believe it

Pact with the devil wouldn't work. How could the devil be able to collect your soul if you're immortal?

HoneyBadger · #4 December 4th, 2008, 05:13 AM

Exactly lch. If you can't outsmart the devil, how can you expect to ever become a god?

Selling your soul to the devil, and then becoming an immortal, that's basic 1st year god stuff.

rdonj · #5 December 4th, 2008, 05:26 AM

Perhaps instead of making a pact with the devil, he has made a pact with the dark lord Zoamelgustar!

Gandalf Parker · #6 December 4th, 2008, 11:40 AM

There are magic sites with a conjuration bonus. Can that be given to a unit? Just a thought. It would make a nice addition to a Master Summoner.

I find that the immortal switch (the phoenix looking icon) does much toward making me want to use my god. It feels thematicly logical. Use him to help protect his provinces, but dont let him stray beyond the strength of his domain. He must remain inside the light of his dominion where he is strongest and safest.

There are also pretenders who summon either each turn or in combat. Tying all of those together would make a really cool Master Summoner god.

Poopsi · #7 December 4th, 2008, 12:56 PM

hmmm... immortal could do it. You see, I was going to include the "demon" tag as a pretender flaw, but I didnt want to generate "permacripple" situations as with the Moloch, so I was going to add the regen+recover stats. But immortality would work just as well.

I´d like to add a conj bonus (or a blood magic bonus, for that matter), but I am not sure it´s doable. I dont want a #summon through, as it tends to be rather limiting (I´d rather have my pretender casting high level blood spells than "summoning allies"). Entering combat with a swarm of imps like the moloch would do, but I´d rather do something new. Maybe throw in a blood vengeance, or a horrormark to attackers (maybe combined with autocast hellpower as to give the pretender increased combat magic, but make him prone to horror attacks. Hey, it is a limitation, but not such a bad one, being immortal)

Gandalf Parker · #8 December 4th, 2008, 01:19 PM

Yes Ive always rather liked the immortal thing. Makes it handy for defense and when you are getting squeezed or rushed. But it holds back on the offense-SC thing.

Poopsi · #9 December 4th, 2008, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Also, as much as I'd like it to be different, I can't see any thematic reason for a diabolist/summoner to have the healing ability. It just doesn't obviously fit. Immortality, possibly, but it would require a good backstory, to make me believe it

I was thinking on something around the lines of "unnatural vigor due to blood magic", leaving it vague as to whether it is due to having been changed by it (like that early-age Jomon hero which is a sorcerer with the demon tag), or having been changed by eating demons (like the OTHER early jomonese hero).

I´m thinking on combining the Solomon legend with the knack for occultism the Habsburgs had (particularily Rudolf II and his cousin Philip II), and make it a "King-with-a-knack-for-occultism" pretender, maybe limiting the avaiability to Ulm and Marignon

Poopsi · #10 December 4th, 2008, 11:53 PM

Almost done with the prototype. I even have a pic (a modified theurg). Basically: it´s an immortal pretender, with one dot in blood and another in astral, but has the demon tag (can be banished), and increases unrest by 8 each turn (he tends to neglect PR time in favor of his sorcerous pursuits)

Tentative name: Witch King (I REALLY want a better one. Please suggest away).

Restricted to MA and LA Ulm and Marignon.