Posted by Kastellyn on December 10, 1999 at 06:35:27:
In Reply to: Defending, who has the upper hand posted by Dalithics on December 09, 1999 at 00:14:15:
> Scourge is a ragers worst nightmare... Scourge is a powerful spell, especially whilst defending the Tower. But I have seen many a mage get his ass handed to him by spamming scourge after all two to four raiding ragers have switched their attacks from the Archmage to the offending Master. Only thing that prevents this is a lucky blind or two...right at the start. On a side note, in my opinion, scourge is not the counterpoint to spellbane, transform is. Transform allows the mage the time to lay out his array of affecting spells against the opponent (weaken, crimson scourge, etc. or slow, soften, etc. for maladictions) before the rager in question beats him down with his three/four (two for me, though...*sigh*) attacks per round. Spellbane counters this by making it about half again as difficult for these spells to stick. Resisting is designed more to counter the fearful damage that Invokers and Conjurors pets can dish out. Bottom line here is that these particular Cabal powers make it possible for each class to stay alive long enough in combat to explore their options/skills/spells more fully, making it much more likely that the more skilled will prevail. Area spellbane (if you have it) counters scourge about 50% of the time. Great for scouts and beserkers, and if you are a defender, you have the means to cure yourself of two of the three ailments scourge gets you with. Smart invokers know how to get around it too, if the situation is right. I think the powers of both Cabals offset the others beautifully. Great insight into game mechanics by whoever did the rework, and my hat is off to them.
> One master, reguardless of class, can defend a group of 3-4 ragers with ease