Proper use of the Pendant of Kaeleth
Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 9:48 am
To start, this isn't a topic on if the Pendant is fair but rather on how to use it.
Granted, the pendant is without a doubt our best defensive magic item. At the same time, I think people are just slapping it on their characters just because it's good.
In fact, I feel the pendant is quickly becoming a psychological crutch for people worried that their general will die, then an actually effective and economical use of points. The pendant is an excellent defensive magic item, but often there are a lot of cheaper, and better alternatives that work better.
For starters, the dread lord.
Odds are if your dreadlord is taking all his normal armor upgrades he already has a +1 save. Unless you want him to be fighting a bloodthirster or vampire lord (which he'll likely lose even with the pendant) the +1 save is good enough. In fact, the following things would likely work way better for most dreadlords thinking about taking the pendant
- 2 Null Talismans are less points AND puts a serious monkey wrench into your opponents magic phase.
- A potion of strength will do wonders to your combat phase and is, again, less points.
- The Seal of Ghrond, again less points and a dent in your opponents magic phase.
- Upgrade other characters. The points for the pendant can easily fund an extra sword of str for a unit champion or another banner for another unit. It's better to make your units more effective then worry about your character dying.
Again, even things like battle standards don't need the pendant. While we all want our battle standards to live, the armor of darkness effectively gives a +1 save AND you then save the points for all the armor upgrades AND you can take another magic item on the bsb whereas the pendant would have locked out a lot of other combos.
And Supreme Sorceress, while it's tempting to give them one, consider that there are cheaper and more effective ways to keep them out of combat which will benefit you a lot. Both the focus familiar and the dark pegasus are cheaper then the blasted pendant, and both will make your supreme sorceress way more powerful.
What the pendant really should be used for is characters that are going to see a lot of attacks at them, like guys mounted on dragons/maniticores. With as much artillery and other stuff pouring at them, that's where a pendant will come really in handy. That or super combat characters that you really want to fight things like the Vampire Lord. It's a brave thing to do and with the pendant, it is possible to fight the Vampire Lord, but unless you have your heart set on it, it's better to keep your dreadlord and other characters to support your troops and not go about challenging Chaos Lords to combat.
What I'm trying to say is Don't worry about beating an enemy general in a fight, instead care about defeating his army
Anyways that's it, please feel free to comment.
Granted, the pendant is without a doubt our best defensive magic item. At the same time, I think people are just slapping it on their characters just because it's good.
In fact, I feel the pendant is quickly becoming a psychological crutch for people worried that their general will die, then an actually effective and economical use of points. The pendant is an excellent defensive magic item, but often there are a lot of cheaper, and better alternatives that work better.
For starters, the dread lord.
Odds are if your dreadlord is taking all his normal armor upgrades he already has a +1 save. Unless you want him to be fighting a bloodthirster or vampire lord (which he'll likely lose even with the pendant) the +1 save is good enough. In fact, the following things would likely work way better for most dreadlords thinking about taking the pendant
- 2 Null Talismans are less points AND puts a serious monkey wrench into your opponents magic phase.
- A potion of strength will do wonders to your combat phase and is, again, less points.
- The Seal of Ghrond, again less points and a dent in your opponents magic phase.
- Upgrade other characters. The points for the pendant can easily fund an extra sword of str for a unit champion or another banner for another unit. It's better to make your units more effective then worry about your character dying.
Again, even things like battle standards don't need the pendant. While we all want our battle standards to live, the armor of darkness effectively gives a +1 save AND you then save the points for all the armor upgrades AND you can take another magic item on the bsb whereas the pendant would have locked out a lot of other combos.
And Supreme Sorceress, while it's tempting to give them one, consider that there are cheaper and more effective ways to keep them out of combat which will benefit you a lot. Both the focus familiar and the dark pegasus are cheaper then the blasted pendant, and both will make your supreme sorceress way more powerful.
What the pendant really should be used for is characters that are going to see a lot of attacks at them, like guys mounted on dragons/maniticores. With as much artillery and other stuff pouring at them, that's where a pendant will come really in handy. That or super combat characters that you really want to fight things like the Vampire Lord. It's a brave thing to do and with the pendant, it is possible to fight the Vampire Lord, but unless you have your heart set on it, it's better to keep your dreadlord and other characters to support your troops and not go about challenging Chaos Lords to combat.
What I'm trying to say is Don't worry about beating an enemy general in a fight, instead care about defeating his army
Anyways that's it, please feel free to comment.