SFR, Inc.

[diggity60503]

"Newb" Question/Observation...

Is the observation that Magic Items and Artifacts, while being magical in as much as they have a greater likelihood to generate a result you want at their given "primary" (Magic, Missile, Melee) terrain face, really become less effective away from their "Primary" terrain?

Similarly, Mages are less effective in the scheme of things when not at a Magic faced terrain.

Thoughts?
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465 dice and counting...
now 641 and counting...(the wife isn't suspicious yet)...06/05/13
649...6/12/13
Might have an actual addiction...die 1000 Gold Speed Slipper...07/04/13
Final Count 1212

[DialFforFunky]

Very true. Each unit more or less has a 'primary use' built in, which usually corresponds with the unit description (heavy melee, cavalry, mage, etc.). Some races have units that have units with a very strong 'primary use'-focus while others are more 'a bit of everything' For example, Scalders have insanely focused units, while most Firewalkers can do anything yet excel at nothing (their mages are the exception to this though).
This specialization towards a primary use is even more true for magical items. They provide for whatever they where built for, and little to nothing else. Which kind of makes sense - how would shields help you maneuver, or sigtstones help you kill the enemy at missile range? (I suppose you could throw the stone...)

Most people tend to prefer focused units over less focused ones. In part, this might simply because it removes a bit of randomness - your units do more of what you want them to do at the moments that you want them to. Another argument in favour of the focused unit is that bigger results beat opposing results more easily. You only need to be short of one maneuver to lose a maneuver roll.
Focused units are all about brute force, which in this game is not all that hard to apply. Less focused units are more of a finesse-ting, and usually need a bit more practice before they can be put to good use.

A perhaps remarkable final note: magic items are not all that popular though, despite being really focused. I suppose that for many the inherent disadvantages of magic items (burying upon death, no reserve use, no Id icon) outweigh the advantage of focus.


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717

[cliffwiggs]

Let me try to restate what I think you are saying...

Magic items return one result type. So with a speed slipper, if you want maneuver, you will get maneuver (as an addative modifier). if you want anything else, you will still get maneuver (it just doesn't mean anything)
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Multiplayer Champion Gencon11/Battlefest Champion(tied) GenCon10/World Champion GenCon07/National Champion Origins05/Intermediate Champion GenCon02/Novice Champion Origins99

[chuckpint]

Cliff is correct except about the "additive modifier". Old rules, Cliff, old rules.....

Magic items simply return normal results. So Speed Slippers return maneuvers and those can be modified by spells. And except for magic, the results never help any racial abilities. So the maneuvers from a Speed Slipper cannot be used with Lava Elves' convert maneuvers to saves. Magic on the other hand, you can use (for example) the black magic from a Sight Stone to cast black Lava Elf spells as long as there is at least one Lava Elf in that army.
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First Place at the first ever Daemon Dice sealed starter tournament.
Battlefest tied for first GenCon 2012
Single Race Champion GenCon 2008-2009, Sealed Box Champion GenCon 2007,2009,
My collection is 21,500 Dragon Dice, 20,000 Daemon Dice, and others (too many to count).

[cliffwiggs]