Spell casters

Telchar · **Posted:** Mon Mar 05, 2012 6:19 pm

Jazlotus wrote:

Sauruman only has 3 might tho! I think touched by destiny is so good, that means over 8 Turns Gandalf can call 11 epic actions to Sauruans 3!!!

But saruman can inflict about 20 casualties with spells of Ruin, and is more difficult to duel (Voice of Saruman).

Jazlotus · **Joined:** Mon Feb 21, 2011 11:23 pm **Posts:** 170

Telchar is that who you would play then? Sauruman? I'm really not sure between the 2 to be honest, also Radagast looks good too!

Telchar · **Posted:** Mon Mar 05, 2012 8:20 pm

I'd do Saruman, but that's just down to the fact that: a) he requires less thinking work, and I'm no great tactician
b)I prefer him as a character in the books and movies.

NotLegolasJustTipsy · **Posted:** Mon Mar 05, 2012 10:13 pm

Why does he require less thinking to let's say Gandalf? I'd have thought Gandalf would be easier to play with him being able to call an epic action for free every turn.

GothmogtheWerewolf · **Posted:** Mon Mar 05, 2012 10:25 pm

Jazlotus wrote:

So can Gandalf and Sauruman, so she's not better then those 2

She's cheaper and yet has the same mastery level.

NotLegolasJustTipsy · **Posted:** Mon Mar 05, 2012 10:58 pm

Blinding light has to be worth the extra 25 points though, and the ability to call ruin spells has to be worth 25 points more too, so Sauruman and Gandalf seem better to me

GothmogtheWerewolf · **Posted:** Mon Mar 05, 2012 10:59 pm

Then you have the fact that she is part of the Elven list, whist the wizards can only ever be allies.

NotLegolasJustTipsy · **Posted:** Mon Mar 05, 2012 11:05 pm

Yeah but the elves are rubbish lol

GothmogtheWerewolf · **Posted:** Mon Mar 05, 2012 11:27 pm

Aye, they aren't too good, but than be made well, Galadriel, Thranduil, Haldir and Elf Twins help. as does using all their ally pts on WoMT and KoMT.

Telchar · **Posted:** Tue Mar 06, 2012 7:10 am

NotLegolasJustTipsy wrote:

Why does he require less thinking to let's say Gandalf? I'd have thought Gandalf would be easier to play with him being able to call an epic action for free every turn.

Gandalf requires thinking because his spells are mostly quite subtle, not direct effect spells. Saruman can just do Exsiccate, Dark Fury/Shatter shields, Bolt of Fire each turn.

ElfGeneral · **Joined:** Fri May 11, 2012 6:04 pm **Posts:** 336

Gandalf and Saruman have different roles in an army.

Gandalf is brilliant at support his Epic Renewal (a hero regains a point used up earlier in the game), Counsellor (at the start of the turn you can give 1 or more might to another hero, roll D6 and if it's a six the hero gets 3 might instead of 1), Epic Defence (increase a formations defence by +2) and Touched by Destiny (one free Epic action each turn, amazing for Epic Defence, Renewal and Channelling). His Blinding Light spell allows him to reduce a formations fight skill to 0 for a turn and drive them back D6, his mastery level of 3 in Dismay and Command mean he can reduce enemies courage, increase your units courage, Immobilise/Transfix key formations, heal lost units and make his unit cause terror which can all be used together for devastating effect. He also has Epic Channelling allowing him to re-roll focus test making him an incredible support character and spell caster.

His white version just improves these Overlord (Formations even without a hero can use his might to call any heroic action), Terror (unit is harder to charge/better at charging especially when aided by his spells) and Voice of Command (+1 courage to all formation within 6 inches of his formation)

Saruman however loses lots of these abilities but retains Epic Channelling (so still a very good caster), Epic Renewal and the Command and Dismay spells and gains the Voice of Saruman stopping 50% of charges (meaning he's good at support but no where near as good as Gandalf or Galadriel the lack of Counsellor and Touched by Destiny work against him). He really excels at causing massive damage where other good spell casters can't Epic Ruination (+2 strength to all Ruin spells) and the Spells of Ruin allow him to cause D6 strength 1 hits per company (amazing with Epic Ruination against large low defence units), re-roll 1s and 2s in close combat (all hits if you roll a 6), D6+3 strength 5 hits (amazing against small high defence units with Epic Ruination) and Shatter Shields (removes shields for a turn, or the entire game if you role a 6 which make that group of Morannon Orcs or Easterlings look a lot less scary).

ElfGeneral · **Joined:** Fri May 11, 2012 6:04 pm **Posts:** 336

Gandalf is also easier to use if your playing thematically it reasonable easy to explain that he was passing through doing something important especially in his Grey form as that allows you to say it was before the event of the books, Whereas it's quite hard to explain why Saruman would be fighting for Rohan against the Uruk-hai or for Gondor against any evil army if you're using character such as Aragorn or Pipin that only started fighting for them after he had turned

This is also true for Radagast as he barely travels and is said to be a recluse in the books and Galadriel as she has no reason to randomly be in an army of Gondor, Rohan or even Dwarves on her own

Telchar · **Posted:** Sun May 13, 2012 10:05 am

Gandalf the white is rubbish, Voice of Command is rather useless when he already is an Inspiring Hero (Master) with C6 or 7, Overlord basically does the same as Counsellor, but worse (no chance of extra might), so that leaves just Terror, which isn't worth 100 points.

smaul · **Posted:** Thu May 17, 2012 7:49 pm

My favorite is Radagast for the points, he has no LOS issues, good spells and some nice might, I use him with Gondor on smaller 750-1500 point games for sure.

Spell casters

Who is online