Lewwyn Falls from Heaven, and Bounces Really High [SPOILERS]

[Mardoc]

Lurker Question:
-So is a metamagic node good? What sort of spells is it used for? Will I want to use those spells?

Metamagic is pretty good, yes, applied correctly. Adept level spell is Floating Eye - a recon mission, reveals a large area, and (I believe) invisible creatures inside the area, as well. Mage level spell is Dispel Node - that takes an improved mana node back to being a raw crystal, so you can turn it into something else. And Archmage level is Summon Djinn; a pretty good summoning spell if you have a wide variety of mana types on hand; Djinn get +1 Str for each mana node you have. They're not as strong as the dedicated summons can get, but those push you toward making all your nodes the same type.

But probably the most relevant point is that you get Dispel Magic, so the node can be whatever you want it to be, once you have a Mage.

We also have the roster completed. I'm going out in a bit though so I'll make some (inexperienced, uneducated) comments about both my opponents and their civ/leaders. That should be fun for all you pro FFHers.

[Thoth]

Lurker Question:
-So is a metamagic node good? What sort of spells is it used for? Will I want to use those spells?

Hell yes it's good.

Floating eyes are effing awesome and Dispel Magic is a very useful spell. You'll need Sorcery and some Mages to take advantage of DM but starting with Meta Magic is effing awesome. (OFC you'll need Sorcery to actually hook up that node)

[Mist]

You don't need sorcery, it's a node and it's roaded, you get the mana as soon as it goes into your cultural borders.

[Thoth]

Thanks for the correction Mist.

[Lewwyn]

Next turn in. Nothing much happening. I went SW with my scout and SW with my warrior. EOT the wolf attacked and my warrior gained 2XP.



You can see that its more plains and another desert west of me. Also there aren't any resources in view to the south yet. But oh wait there's a road...

Additionally, Dave took the hint and changed his name. Though its much less fearsome then one might want. I mean come on. You go from Chief to Wizard how is that better than Grand Chief?

[Lewwyn]

So here's our player list:

DaveV - Alexis of Amurites
Ichabod - Arendel of Bannor
Ilios - Dain of Svarts
Tholal - Thessa of Kurios
Tasunke - Perpy of Sheaim
Llewyn - Falamar of Sidar

I don't know this Llewyn guy, but he sounds awesome. He's even playing the same civ as me!

Let's start with DaveVVVVV. His name reminds me of Davey Crockett. Let's hope he meets a similar end. REMEMBER THE ALAMO!

DaveV is (I think) a capable player since he has assuredly played more games of FFH than I have. His experience gives him an edge that I will hope to destroy by playing more. (This may be a similar theme among my opponents). Beyond that edge I don't know much about him. Other than I do not fear him.

His Leader is Alexis - Agg/Phi. I am a strong believer that Phi is overrated. Agg is great early game in BTS, but I'm not sure that it will be THAT important here given that everything seems to gain experience faster and there doesn't seem to be a barracks to allow immediate shock troops for rushing, and all the barbs means that's not going to be used vs. humans. I'm not impressed. I feel like Dain, his civ's restricted leader would have been better than Alexis.

His Civ is the Amurites. Magic guys. Which is why he changed his name to Wizard DaveV. Mage, Dark Mage, Warlock, any of these would have been better than Wizard. Wizard is probably better than Magician, but not a lot else. His civ's world spell is "Arcane Lacuna" which basically is like magic stop for all other civs. Good thing I'm going more recon. Can't wait to snipe some mages with Ghosts.

Cave of ancestors looks cool. They get a bunch of extra XP right off the bat. He's got a cool Hero, but Govannon only grants the ability to cast lvl 1 spells and in my experience, lvl 1 spells aren't that great. Chanters are assassins that can cast escape and run to the home capital. But the Unique unit I'm most intrigued by is the Firebow. Longbow unit that starts with Fire 1 and Channeling 2. Does this mean it can learn fireball? It has channeling 2 after all. Lurkers let me know.

Overall, I see a beeline to Mages. Beyond that not sure, but I'm not afraid of the civ really. Maybe I have to play it to understand the power of the spell casters here.

I did see this:
"The Amurites can gain a Golden Age by being the first to visit the Tile" in reference to the Letum Frigus. I will try to belay that!

I'll talk about my other opponents in due time.

[Mist]

His Leader is Alexis - Agg/Phi. I am a strong believer that Phi is overrated. Agg is great early game in BTS, but I'm not sure that it will be THAT important here given that everything seems to gain experience faster and there doesn't seem to be a barracks to allow immediate shock troops for rushing, and all the barbs means that's not going to be used vs. humans. I'm not impressed. I feel like Dain, his civ's restricted leader would have been better than Alexis.

Promotions are stronger in FFH than in BTS, FFH shock is +40% against melee. Also, while there is no +xp giving barracks there are +xp giving civics, two of which ( Apprenticeship, Conquest ) come fairly early.

His civ's world spell is "Arcane Lacuna" which basically is like magic stop for all other civs. Good thing I'm going more recon. Can't wait to snipe some mages with Ghosts.

It also gives all his arcane units in play +1xp per mana source he has, so at least +3 from palace mana alone.

He's got a cool Hero, but Govannon only grants the ability to cast lvl 1 spells and in my experience, lvl 1 spells aren't that great.

You are underestimating Govannon, line units that can among other things cast Haste ( +1 Movement ), Enchant Weapons ( +20% strength ), Rust ( destroys metal weapons in opponents ), Blur ( first strike immunity ) and Summon Skeleton for a disposable body shield are pretty damn good.

But the Unique unit I'm most intrigued by is the Firebow. Longbow unit that starts with Fire 1 and Channeling 2. Does this mean it can learn fireball? It has channeling 2 after all. Lurkers let me know.

Yes, it can learn fireball.

[Lewwyn]

Yes, it can learn fireball.

Damn.

[Mardoc]

Damn.

Firebows can also learn any lvl 2 spell if Govannon gives them the lvl1 spell of that school.

[Amelia]

Shhh they're called Firebows, not Airbows, Waterbows or Earthbows =)

But yes, basically any unit with Channelling 2 can learn the level 2 spells if Govannon teaches them the level 1 version. Firebows included.