Mordekainen's sword rant

Zartuul · Post by **Zartuul** » Mon Apr 16, 2001 4:30 am

Got my sorcerer up high enough level to get a lvl 7 spell so I checked out Mord's sword. I almost think its an exploit that monsters will attack it but can't hurt it physically. What that allows the mage to do is have a sword out there for a decoy and a bit of damage and then nuke the hell out of everything without much risk at all. That didn't sound appealing to me because it was too easy. What fun is having a summoned sword that can't be killed allowing you to kill everything easily?

I was just about to go with Cacofiend until I realized that I wasn't getting any experience for the mobs that the demon was killing, blah

I ended up going with Efreeti partly because it worked with some of my fighting strategy. When I fight large amounts of mobs I cast Minor glove of inv on myself then just do Fireballs at PB range. Since the efreeti is immune to fire I don't hurt it or agro it. Plus when the Efreeti(s) does his fireball I don't take damage either.

For those that don't know the reason why Efreetis turn on you is when they die. When they die they turn into gaseous form then come back with full life and spells to attack you. If you can keep them from dyiing they won't turn on you.

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Mon Apr 16, 2001 10:19 am

I love this spell (unless casted against you) but it has one major weakness (at least one

) - it is vuneralbe to Magic Missiles, 1 or 2 spells and it is dead.

Don't know if it is vunlerable to other spells.

As for the XP. - I don't know, but dosen't see it as a problem

Sojourner · Post by **Sojourner** » Mon Apr 16, 2001 10:26 am

It's vulnerable to Cloudkill.

Dúnadan · Post by **Dúnadan** » Mon Apr 16, 2001 6:30 pm

Well, it is fun to have five of them unleashing hell on all who would dare to my power... Not to mention Ctrl+Qing them and having your own personal invincible army following you around. In my opinion, though, you should have taken the spell for your sorceror; the programmers put it in there like that, so use it with a clear conscience, I doubt all powerful spells are the result of a bug

.

nael · Post by **nael** » Mon Apr 16, 2001 6:55 pm

mordenkain's sword was probably my favorite spell for my sorcerer. in combination with breach, it was a great way to deal with liches, or any other mages.

Zartuul · Post by **Zartuul** » Mon Apr 16, 2001 7:23 pm

I don't doubt its a good spell, my problem is that its just TOO good. It makes the game too easy IMO. If it had a limiting factor like you could only summon one at a time it would be ok, but presently its overpowered. I'm trying the solo sorcerer game for a challenge, would kind of ruin the experience if I found a way to kill everything without much of a challenge heh.

Not trying to preach to anyone here or tell anyone they can't do what they want in their own game, just stating my opinion that the spell is too good and its not for me.

PS What's this Ctrl Qing stuff?

moriveth · Post by **moriveth** » Mon Apr 16, 2001 8:38 pm

Mordenkainen's Sword is no more overpowered than Wizard Eye, which is also nearly invincible. (Wizard Eye was how I soloed the twisted rune--let the Pit Fiend beat on that while taking care of the rest.)

The sword will often get charmed/dominated by mages and dragons. Also, I can't remember if area effect spells make it turn on you.

Great spell, but it'll only get you so far. And if anyone can play a solo single-class mage/sorceror without any cheesy tactics--Wizard Eye, M's Sword, Simulacrum/Project Image tricks, AI bugs, etc.--well, you're a lot better than I am.

Vehemence · Post by **Vehemence** » Mon Apr 16, 2001 8:51 pm

Originally posted by moriveth:
<STRONG>And if anyone can play a solo single-class mage/sorceror without any cheesy tactics--Wizard Eye, M's Sword, Simulacrum/Project Image tricks, AI bugs, etc.--well, you're a lot better than I am.</STRONG>

I guess that makes me a lot better that you

I actually find the exploitation of cheesy tactics to diminish the actual feeling of the game. But, you do what you want. Who am I to judge?

Rail · Post by **Rail** » Mon Apr 16, 2001 8:58 pm

Originally posted by Zartuul:
<STRONG><snip>Not trying to preach to anyone here or tell anyone they can't do what they want in their own game, just stating my opinion that the spell is too good and its not for me.<snip></STRONG>

Hey, Zartuul, this is the model rant. You did this well. Serious. You said you didn't like something, you said why, and you gave alternatives. Way to go. You didn't say all of us who use the spell are weak and pathetic for doing so. You didn't insult. Thank you. Great board ettiquette!

I agree in many ways. There are certain spells I don't like, such as Similacrum, that make the game too easy. They aren't cheating, they just make the game less fun for me. It's bad AI. Why would Firkraag keep attacking the sword instead of dispelling it, magic missiling it, or attacking the spellcaster? Using a wand of cloudkill out of the line of sight of a creature isn't cheating, but I don't find it very fun. I choose not to use it. To me, this discussion is the same. I DO use mord.'s sword, but I usually use it to supplement my attackers. I sometimes use RAS+2 in the same way. I enjoy using it in this manner. But I do not enjoy it when the creature keeps vainly hacking at the sword while I have all the time in the world to whittle away at it's defenses. I find no challenge in that. I win, sure, but I didn't have fun doing it.

To each his own, but thanks for handling a rant the way you did. Kudos!

silencer · Post by **silencer** » Mon Apr 23, 2001 8:41 pm

After I read this post I loaded up my solo sorcerer's final save and sure enough, even the SLAYER can't hit the dang things! Because of this I would have to agree that it is at least a little too powerful.

Huskylaw · Post by **Huskylaw** » Mon Apr 23, 2001 10:54 pm

My 2 cents on Mord's sword ... I agree it is powerful, but certainly no more than spells like project image or skeletal warriors. Also, Mord's Sword also seems like it gets charmed easily from enemy mages. Perhaps umber hulks can confusion them also ... not sure on that one.

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Tue Apr 24, 2001 1:26 am

Maybe the enemies don't know that they can't hurt it. It has AC -20 I believe so they don't hit it that often. The amulet that the sword is wearing stops to protect it after a dispel magic, this is why it gets charmed and stuff.