While I'm not generally opposed to non-human forms, that makes it a lot harder to stick to the inherent theme of the Rider in Red. I could imagine that controlling the Rider to do something so different from it's natural inclination (i.e. bite, sting, or use paws instead of a weapon) might make the spell harder to cast. I would like to keep it as close to the original Apparition as possible, so that we get the greatest benefits from the Apparition we have chosen, instead of having to train a completely new moveset. That's not a big problem if we just switch the animal the Rider is riding on, but I could see complications if we go for a scorpion or spider instead.
Warhammer Fantasy: Divided Loyalties - an Advisor's Quest
- Thread starter Boney
- Start date
- Fantasy Users' Choice!
Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
What about if we instead had that bit of a naff ork be a very big goblin instead akin to Grom the Paunch?
- Location
- Brazil
I think we should also think of how the mechanics of the form affect the use of the spell. With the horse being better for trampling and the demigryph being better for killing, that's a weighty consideration right then and there.
Mopman43
Mountain-Hermit of Nitpeak
- Location
- Vermont
For what it's worth, I'm pretty sure Boney said that if Johann hadn't been gilded, his fists would have gone right through it with no damage.
Which certainly adds to the Hexwraiths comparison.
Tasoli
Life is for Living
- Location
- Behind the Keyboard.
Surely you don't want Mathilde to get something she can't put down. That is a bad strategy plus it is grusome.
- Location
- Europa, Jupiter Orbit
This thread moves too damn fast.
Alright!
[ ] Grey Wizard on a Shadow Steed, wielding an Ulgu-y sword, surrounded by enough fog to obscure distinct features
"Ulgu-y sword" is open to interpretation. The hope is that it looks either what the codified "Shadow Sword" might look like or just like a generic version of the Grey Order favorite weapon, but visibly enchanted with something that could be Blessed Weapon and thus also hides the fact that the sword doesn't look like some Wizard's custom made sword under a magical glow or more smoke or whatever.
Alright!
[ ] Grey Wizard on a Shadow Steed, wielding an Ulgu-y sword, surrounded by enough fog to obscure distinct features
"Ulgu-y sword" is open to interpretation. The hope is that it looks either what the codified "Shadow Sword" might look like or just like a generic version of the Grey Order favorite weapon, but visibly enchanted with something that could be Blessed Weapon and thus also hides the fact that the sword doesn't look like some Wizard's custom made sword under a magical glow or more smoke or whatever.
Does this mean we could include magical effects on the sword? Though I guess the whole creature is magical enough to make Blessed Weapon redundant and we chose the wrong order of actions to permanently equip it with a spell we haven't developed yet.
That would work.
If you judged anything Johann could punch out as not having a spot on the battlefield, you'd end up with a lot of very empty battlefields.
No. A Light Wizard doing this might be able to finagle the sparks it creates into a flaming effect on its sword, but that's outside of Ulgu's wheelhouse. But yes, it would count as a magic weapon.
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- Location
- Utrecht
The binding spell may turn out to not be Battle magic at all, and the risk of the spell comes from the Apparition breaking its bond and turning on Mathilde.
I'd rather Mathilde be able to fight and win handily against a rider.
- Location
- being near locations is my passion.
Because Johann already punched them all out.
- Location
- New Brunswick, NJ
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
I believe the intended takeaway here is "Johann is fucking awesome" rather than "Riders in Red are fucking lame." That said, it was always going to be a deployable mook bruiser, not a hero character. It's not going to solo anyone with a name unless combat isn't their idiom.
I checked and no.
Counterproposal: [ ] Mist-shrouded Grey Wizard on a Shadowsteed. Longer write-ins tend to have a harder time.
(I also like building the mist thematics right in the Ulgu binding because that seems likelier to be able to benefit from the Staff of Mistery)
Johann is the guy who punched a varghulf before eating a Battle Magic lightning straight into his extremely conductive face, coming off only slightly worse for wear, and he has since gotten much better at punching.
Are they just reskinned Riders in Red? Riders in Red are also tied to flame (the sparkes and the smoke thing) and Riders in Red are drawn to fire magic and cruelty and destructive spells, and necromancers are definitely no strangers to cruelty and destruction.
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- Location
- Australia
The phrase "absolutely ruining one person" makes me think it may actually be good at soloing a name if it has a demigryph.
Valarauko
Demon of Power
- Location
- Angband
Mopman43
Mountain-Hermit of Nitpeak
- Location
- Vermont
That depends on if Riders in Red are fully ethereal.
It would be hilarious if we accidentally just reinvented the Hexwraith.
- Location
- Europa, Jupiter Orbit
To put it differently, Johann has +34 Martial in a situation like this. That's just 6 less than that Daemon (Greater or Prince or at least similarly looking) we fought near Vlag.
Sure. The sword doesn't have to be specified due to the base version and the mist-shrouded should apply to it as well.
Most likely not. All indications are that even the humanoid Apparitions are limited to animalistic levels of intelligence. The Rider in Red laughs, but it doesn't actually have a sense of humour, that's just the noise it makes when it's hunting.
- Location
- Before the Ninth Gate
So update on new info from this: people in the know aren't going to be scared (yay). As for Hexwraiths being sent by Morr, that's a no, but they are innately anti-evil, so I doubt they are considered demons.
Regardless, this info makes me not worried about a Nazgul/Hexwraith if we are doing a rider on a horse thing.
In fact, I'm all in on Nazgul:
First, as stated above, I don't think we need to be horribly worried about the Nazgul/Hexwraith problem: it's different enough to those in the know, but also we don't care about civilians getting confused: we are the most liked Wizard in the most death obsessed province, we can tell people its fine, and they'll actually believe us that it's fine (they'll have some reason). We just start a rumor there, and we are good. We might not even have to start a rumor.
Second, we don't want something good for fighting a single thing, but an anti-swarm tactic. This is what we are weak against. Hence as Boney pointed out, a Demigryph is good for killing one opponent, a horse for scattering many:
Third, I want this to cause fear. Fear is always a good thing.
Fourth, it looking terrifying is good: we don't want it looking human. Because on a miscast, we want to be blamed for letting it get out of control, not siccing it on our allies. And if it looks like a wizard or knight or other ally, people who don't know magic will look at it like a golem we completely control. Making it look like people will cause more reputation damage. I think @Redshirt Army highlighted this problem?
If we want to go full beast, I think a giant scorpion is the best option. It's very killy, and doesn't waste any limbs for wings that cannot fly.
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That's just not true though. There's a set of scenarios where a bunch of guards have literally just seen Mathiode kill their boss/steal something/break into a restricted place.
In that scenario, which I don't think is unlikely, the people chasing her would have seen her very recently and should be able to recognise if 'she' suddenly looks different.
There are two different scenarios here. Mathilde casting the spell in a wider range of situations, using the Staff of Mistery to make it safe for semi-regular use (if we re at all sensible about the development of the manifestation spell), and other Grey Wozards casting it on the battlefield.
And there are some enemies who might be given things like visions of Mathilde's appearance for the Everchosen-bowl.
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- Location
- Norway
Either has my vote. I like the misdirection feature, and making it more likely to trigger the staff is good.
In the case of the Purple Warboss idea, can Ulgu perform ventriloquism well enough for Mathilde to fake it being a real warboss?