Next test game?

[prokolyo]

No, vials can be freely used.
The classes mainly exists for distributing random abilities at the start of the game in a way that makes sense and results in decent heroes.
Like, you generally don't want your Warlock hero to start the game with Might, etc.

But if you already hired the Warlock and for some reason want to use them in melee anyway, you're free to do so, it's not like it breaks the game or anything.

I have to write that into my personal manual, otherwise I'll be surprised again and again. ;p
 
@Test game: "... Anything that might have balance issues ..."

How about this: 
Alchemy/Channeler/Astrologer/4D/4S, Skeletons, Black Sleep, Wraith Form, Confusion.
Lair monsters and neutrals cannot dispel. Gnolls have the fastest Spearmen.


Edit: Non-ranged heroes cannot use Arcane Power or Capacity vials, but can use a Powershot vial, which does nothing.

Bug, I'll fix that immediately. Powershot was addedin an update quite a while after vials were implemented and I forgot about that detail.

I've started my test game with 5 sorcery, 4 life, 3 nature and High men for now.
Next game I'll try that then, albeit I'm pretty sure we did test that sort of strategy in the DOS version a few years ago.

Would you be posting on Youtube?

[Seravy]

No, not recording it this time.

Would they automatically go away too, or would it be under the player's discretion to cancel them?

They stay but the AI will try to dispel them as usual and obviously if you cast more, it'll give you a diplomacy penalty.

One thing I noticed in my current game : sorcery conjunctions are still kinda OP. Triple SP is already pretty good if you can afford it (tho it generally means you have to stop research and mana production so you had to have mana from treasure before it started) but in additon it also doubles Sorcery node power and guess what people usually have in the early game? Yes, Sorcery nodes. Not only are they the easiest to conquer (partially by design but also by coincidence of Sorcery common creatures being all weak to ranged) but the obvious targets of any sprites, bowmen, longbowmen, etc early lair hunting strategies.

So ultimately, if this triggers around turn 50-90, you get 6x the income from all your nodes, assuming you can afford spending it on SP. That's quite gamebreaking, I have 891 SP income now, 213 from my Sorcery nodes (which would be half without the Conjunction) plus 84 from my cities and hero, all tripled. Without the conjunction I'd have 213/2+84 = 190 SP only, less than 25% of the amount with Conjunction. It's only 1505 February, so turn 62.

Maybe this event should be limited to turn 100 or later?
If it was "only" triple SP without also double power, it would be fair but I don't want to remove that part of the effect as that's the original one and what makes this a "Sorcery Conjunction" in the first place.

[Slingers]

Edit: Non-ranged heroes cannot use Arcane Power or Capacity vials, but can use a Powershot vial, which does nothing.

Bug, I'll fix that immediately. Powershot was added in an update quite a while after vials were implemented and I forgot about that detail. ...

Oh. In case it was missed, I missed this answer yd bc was editing this: 

"Edit: Non-ranged heroes cannot use Arcane Power or Capacity vials, but can use a Powershot vial, which does nothing ... until Focus Magic is used! But how is it now with the first 2? See attached image with Level 3 (Captain) Brax & Ranged: 10 ! "

I was under the impression that Arcane Power & Capacity should also work as Powershot and Ranged value could be wrong. On the other hand, Focus Magic is not always available.

[zitro1987]

I found the triple skill too impactful in game myself, would work best if the effect was doubled, not tripled.

[Suppanut]

I agree with Zitro1987 here that triple SP gain from sorcery conjuncture is too impactful, and also too easy to abuse.

[Seravy]

Edit: Non-ranged heroes cannot use Arcane Power or Capacity vials, but can use a Powershot vial, which does nothing.

Bug, I'll fix that immediately. Powershot was added in an update quite a while after vials were implemented and I forgot about that detail. ...

Oh. In case it was missed, I missed this answer yd bc was editing this: 

"Edit: Non-ranged heroes cannot use Arcane Power or Capacity vials, but can use a Powershot vial, which does nothing ... until Focus Magic is used! But how is it now with the first 2? See attached image with Level 3 (Captain) Brax & Ranged: 10 ! "

I was under the impression that Arcane Power & Capacity should also work as Powershot and Ranged value could be wrong. On the other hand, Focus Magic is not always available.

In theory you should be able to use the vials after casting the Focus Magic on the hero but only those that apply (it's magical ranged so Powershot would not apply to it)

[Slingers]

In theory you should be able to use the vials after casting the Focus Magic on the hero but only those that apply (it's magical ranged so Powershot would not apply to it)

Indeed! Description text says +1 missile Ranged per level. The Dwarf's unexpectedly high Ranged stat came simply from an activating +Attack item.
 
I tested a few more combos and found that Powershot gives +1 Ranged per level to any ranged Attack, no matter what the source. If there is no Ranged Attack it can be applied and does nothing. Arcane Power vial cannot be applied on heroes with magical Ranged from Focus Magic. Capacity cannot be used on a melee hero with Focus Magic.

[Suppanut]

In theory you should be able to use the vials after casting the Focus Magic on the hero but only those that apply (it's magical ranged so Powershot would not apply to it)

Indeed! Description text says +1 missile Ranged per level. The Dwarf's unexpectedly high Ranged stat came simply from an activating +Attack item.
 
I tested a few more combos and found that Powershot gives +1 Ranged per level to any ranged Attack, no matter what the source. If there is no Ranged Attack it can be applied and does nothing. Arcane Power vial cannot be applied on heroes with magical Ranged from Focus Magic. Capacity cannot be used on a melee hero with Focus Magic.

So in theory, I could give powershot to caster hero and he would get pretty much good range attack synergy?