The forces of R’lyeh clashed with Giants in an epic battle over the castle, from which Giants had launched their blitzkrieg invasion into R’leyh territory 4 turns ago.
The air over the battlefield was thick with magic employed by both sides, both global spells and local battle magic. Some of the best front line troops were switching back and forward between the sides during the course of the battle again and again due to astral mages employed by both combatants. It was very amusing to see my traitorous Elder Things in the service of Giants blasting the hell out of some patriotic Woodsmen Giants, who have chosen to pledge allegence to me. Or some of my war trolls switching sides and fighting against their former brethren, who were still loyal to me.
So vast were both armies that there was hardly any space left on the battlefield in the beginning of the battle. But there was hardly anything but empty space at the end of the battle, since 3/4 of troops from each side have perished in this struggle. Essentially 2 armies have annihilated each other to significant degree, with best soldiers from both sides dying on the battlefield.
As far as the course of battle concerned - I have very mixed feelings. I am ashamed to admit that I made a stupid mistake that have cost me dearly. I completely forgot about strong cold aura that my 50 Frozen undeads were emitting. (Yeah, the very same undead tribe from Erikson’s “Malazan Empire” book that I spoke about earlier :) ) They were supposed to be the center stone of my defense in the center. Instead they have frozen almost to death 2 of my 4 main battle mages, severely reducing magical support available to me, and they have killed countless of my own troops with their aura. At the end they turned to be much more dangerous to me than they were to the enemy.
But that was not the worst surprise for me. The second issue which has actualy cost my at least half of my total losses (although this one was not a mistake of mine but a bug in the game) was this:
What the heck is wrong with “Life after death” spell?!???
It seems to be bugged badly, but I never heard of people complaining about it.
The spell’s description clearly said the “This spell gives all friendly units on the battlefield the second life. The affected units will rise after death as soulless and will continue to fight.”
So I have casted it in the beginning of the battle, thinking that if worst come to worst, 900 additional undeads on my site would not hurt.
And with growing shock and horror I’ve been watching the battle unfolding.
Hundreds after hundreds of my troops were being killed by seemingly unstoppable Sacred Woodsmen Juggernaut.
And my nectomantic spell worked. Oh yes!! My slaughtered soldiers were given second life as they died, all right. Hundreds after hundreds of dead R’leyh soldiers were instantly reincarnated as undead, and they charged straight back into the battle.
“TO FIGHT FOR THE GIANTS!!!”
That’s right. In addition to 400 enemy troops. I had to fight 600 of my own soldiers turned undead who were fighting against me, thanks to this bloody necromantic spell that I have casted myself! >:(
At least half of my losses were due to that nasty bug. Not because these undeads were particularly strong, but because they mashed with large giants perfectly, providing the distraction for my troops to attack and preventing giants to be swarmed by my troops, while allowing 100 sacred giants (under GOH) to regenerate most of their their wounds between combat turns.
I am not sure how this very nasty bug could sneak in unnoticed. Are developers currently aware of it?
And before you ask - no, my “Life After Death” caster has not switched sides due to enemy Enslave Mind spell. He casted his necromantic spell with help of the communion and then retreated from battle 4 turns later, as scripted. Also there were several other global enchantments spells present at that time, which may or may not triggered this bug.
At the end I still won the battle, mostly due to sheer number of my troops and several protection spells that I’ve used, since Woodsmen Giants, after destroying most of my army, have started to pass out due to fatigue, as I was hoping they would. But the cost to my forces was huge, and the castle still remains in enemy hands.
