Brad/Derek, I must confess... I'm abusing the AI with Pull of the Earth

from Elemental Forums

I'm really not a fan of <fill-in-the-blank> is OP'ed threads so I'll say it this way instead... I'm abusing the AI with Pull of the Earth.  The AI has become much better and puts up a really good fight until I get Pull of the Earth.  The problem with Pull of the Earth is that all your heroes get it regardless of what class or magic school they are.  So I take an army of 3 heroes plus a bunch of troops (pick any 6) and lay everybody down with Pull of the Earth and then just poke them to death.  Here are some ways to fix this:

1) Switch Earthquake and Pull of the Earth.  Earthquake is more like Curgen's Volcano anyway (a once a game type spell) and make Pull of the Earth a Earth IV or V spell.  That limits its awesomeness to only heroes with Earth IV or V.

2) Add a 1 turn costing cost.  I hate casting costs.

3) Un-nerf your Horse and Warg overnerf so that the AI can build more prone-immune units

4) Encourage the AI to build more units wearing prone-immune spider boots

7,342 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

To be the fair, the AI spams this spell as well.

I think a casting time is the best way to balance this spell.

 

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

The AI spams this spell on my mounted units ;) 

But yes, it could use some tweaking, the good news is that it should be easy to do yourself if you want to. 

Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting sjaminei, reply 2

The AI spams this spell on my mounted units  
End of sjaminei's quote

True, but it usually hits at least one of my prone-vulnerable units too.

If the AI knew not to target units immune to knockdown, it would really mess you up with this spell. And Trojasmic would be even more right, I suppose.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

Personally I don't think this is as devastating as Titan's Breath, which with a high power mage with -1 turn casting time is basically an "I win" spell against any army which doesn't have a lot of prone immune units, which is most AI armies. If mounts are going to remain fairly rare then I agree the AI should use Boots of the Spider more.

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

It doesn't help that every one of your heroes has access to the spell immediately on acquisition

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

 

Yeah, I like Pull of the Earth, and I think it could be balanced by casting cost and the fact that it's resistable.  But I think BernieTime is exaclty right that the reason it is exploitable is because all champs get access to it.  I'll see what can be done (probably switch it into the earth line or geomancy and put something else in the tech unlock).

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Derek, reply 6

 

Yeah, I like Pull of the Earth, and I think it could be balanced by casting cost and the fact that it's resistable.  But I think BernieTime is exaclty right that the reason it is exploitable is because all champs get access to it.  I'll see what can be done (probably switch it into the earth line or geomancy and put something else in the tech unlock).
End of Derek's quote

Any chance we could unlock the spell that reveals the map, Ineluctable Vision? Not currently available in the game w/o cheats, though perhaps that is intended. If not Ineluctable, then Eyes of The Eagle?